Auction Domains on eBay - The Complete Guide

Domain names have become an asset lately. Once we bought domain names so people could find us online, but now it seems the majority of people buy domain names to sell for huge profits.

Many people start to buy up domain names without giving it any real thought, and end up with a stack of domains that wouldn't even sell for the amount they paid to acquire it in the first place. On the other hand, however, some domains have really great value. Once you realize that you have a domain in your possession that has some worth, you'll probably take some time to consider all the possible ways you can market it to a targeted audience.

When You're on a Winner...

So, you have a real winner in hand, now what? The first thing to realize is that, if you own a good domain name, you needn't be in any rush to sell it. If it holds value now, it'll probably hold value tomorrow, and, most likely, several months or even years from now.

The first thing to consider is who would be attracted to the name? Next, think about what platform you'll use to sell it, and how you'll sell it via that platform. Should media such as:

• auctions,
• sites that list domains for sale,
• word of mouth,
• advertisements, etc.

be used? Today we'll look at selling domain names via auctions, one of the most popular means to offload valuable domains. And one of the best auction sites to sell domain names, or virtually anything, is eBay.

Domains can be purchased quite cheaply through some sites, namely Stargate for US $13.95, or Godaddy for US $8.95. These can then be sold on eBay for minimum US$30-40, but if you sell to the right person, on the right day, names can go for much more. This may sound iffy, but if a domain is marketed correctly, the chances of a larger profit will be maximized.

How Do Domain Auctions Work?

If you think auctioning domains sounds like it's worth a try, then your first step is to get set up at eBay.

1. Get Registered

To sell anything on eBay, registration is required. Registration is free, but there is a small fee to list items for sale. Buying is free, and can begin right away -- and there are no eBay fees to buy, only to sell.

In order to sell, as of this writing, details of a credit card must be put on file with eBay. They then verify the credit card (as an anti-fraud precaution), but also to verify rights to the bank account that you, as the seller, have listed. Once verification is complete, you can start to list items for sale.

2. Do your Homework

After you've registered successfully, do a little research to find out where domains should be placed for sale. eBay has dozens of categories, and one is of course the Domain Names directory: .com Domain Listings, while the other is the Businesses for sale--> Websites section (if the domain being sold points to a developed site): Businesses for sale ----> Web sites.

Now, before you list any items, remember that eBay charges a percentage fee for listing items. Read the details of selling fees here.

eBay currently offers an ongoing promotion, as of this writing, in which people can list items in two categories for the price of one. Of course, the more categories in which you list an item, the better chance you'll have to attract a wide, interested buyer audience. The two categories mentioned above are your best bets for selling a domain on eBay.

3. Choose your Listing Type

Next, to help you sell your domain, eBay provides you with different ways to list your auctions, in order to help maximize each auction's exposure to targeted potential buyers.

Featured Listing

For a fee, eBay also offers listings in bold text, and special placement of your auctions at the tops of pages. This is called a Featured Listing, and it costs a total of US$49 to include your auction as a featured listing in both categories. This is a completely optional expense, and I personally use it mainly for domain names that I believe really have excellent sales potential. You can find the featured listing details here.