Cracking the Flippa Domain Name Auction Site Code

Domain auction sites like Flippa is one of the most well-known domain marketplaces to buy and sell domains. 

Flippa appeals to a different market than the standard domain name auction site.  The auction site appeals to individuals that are looking to buy a domain name so that they can create a website.  You’ll notice that these buyers are entrepreneurs and very educated about the Internet.

With that in mind, you may find that some domains that wouldn’t get that much recognition in the typical domain marketplace can find a buyer on Flippa’s platform.  

If you are serious about selling your domains, then Flippa might be the possible solution for your domains.

The Starting Process for Listing Your Domain Name on Flippa:

The tagline is a crucial element that will entice a buyer to click on your domain when they are searching through domain listings on the homepage.  

When adding your description make sure that you add excellent selling points.  The description is your opportunity to incorporate a comprehensive, detailed listing so that buyers can see the potential for your domain names.  

You want to add a few qualities that will show off your domain differently from other domains in Flippa’s auction market.

The description is where you can entice them to buy your domain name.  Imagine what you would like to see in a description if you were looking at domain listings.  

To illustrate, let's say that you would like to buy a laptop computer.  The first thing that you would do is go to a computer store and look at the specs on the computer.  

You Probably Would like to Know 

Basically, you are going to take in all of the qualities listed into consideration before you purchase the laptop computer.  

Likewise, you want potential buyers of your domain to know the pertinent information to help entice them to buy the name. 

• You want the description to be energetic.  
• You want to list opportunities that will trigger the buyer to purchase your domain.  
• You want them to think that “This is a cool idea” or “I didn’t even think about that idea.”  
  
• You are pulling at that one string that gets them stimulated to buy.

Excitement, opportunities, and ideas for the domain name will help stimulate buyers to buy from you. 

You have the description section, which is a key component that Flippa has set up for you that the traditional domain auction marketplace that sell or auction domains may not offer.  Moreover, the description section is your sales opportunity so don’t pass up this feature. 

Give the Potential Buyer Relevant Information About Your Domain

Then follow up with some facts about the domain.  Go to SEMRUSH type in your domain, and you will see a list of phrase matches and related keyword searches.

Find the volume and cpc for your phrase match.  You can copy and paste the numbers into a document.  You should grab maybe the first 100 listings, sort them out and paste them into your description.   Keyword, Volume, CPC this is useful information to add into your description so that buyers can get a general sense of the potential for the domain.

By adding all the extra keyword suggestions, your buyer has more of a visual of all the uses for the domain name.  More or less, you’ve given the buyer 100 plus different terms.  And with that information, they can quickly look over the terms and say “Awe, this could be laptop deals or I could use this for laptop repair,  or I could use this for laptop reviews.”

So definitely include the search phrases along with the number of searches and cost per click, so that potential buyers can link the domain directly with that phrase that you have put in your description. 

Comparable Sales

You can go to Namebio or DNpric.es and enter in your search term, and they will report back a list of comparable sales for your domain.  What you want to do is copy the entire page of comparables from the most expensive to the least expensive and paste them in your description. 

Source: DNPrice.es

You want to list in your description what the other domains sold for and and any other suitable information that you can include in your description. 

If you include what sold in the past, and the search volume that is related to the keyword, this information may present possible buyers with other ideas for the use of the name that you wrote in your description. 

Listing Your Auction

You should list your auction for 30 days to give the domain maximum exposure.  If you want to make a sale and boost your return, then why not 30 days?  Hey, you can do outbound marketing while that auction is listed for those 30 days. 

After that, you want to select your starting price and your reserve price.  The reserve price is the minimum amount that you will sell the domain at auction.  

Estibot and GoDaddy have a free appraisal tool that you can use.  You can enter your domain to find the estimated fair market value for the name.  I would take these numbers with a grain of salt during the pricing stage of your domain listing.  

Estibot and GoDaddy report back two different fair market values for laptop.vegas. Nevertheless, use your best judgment in your pricing structure at any domain auction site.    

Estibot's Fair Market Value for Laptop.Vegas

Godaddy's Fair Market Value for Laptop.Vegas

You also have the option to set a Buy It Now price for the buyer that wants to buy the domain name instantly. 

Also, make sure that you list your option terms for payment at the end of your description.  For instance, you can say payments over ”X” amount has to be paid through Escrow and fees to be paid by the buyer.

You want to add certain stipulations so that you have something to refer back to and let the buyer know that this is what they agreed to in case the buyer squawks about paying the  fees.

Domain Listing Fee

Final Thoughts

Selling a domain is comparable to selling any product.  You have to market your product to get attention, and then you need to transform those potential buyers into actual buyers.  

Yes, you will have to put in some effort to sell your domains.  People visit Flippa's listings all the time and just because your name is on their domain auction platform doesn’t mean all those eyeballs will see your listing.  

Nope, you can’t just set up an auction and wait for bids. You have to promote and attract awareness to your domains earnestly.  

If you know you have a great domain, then people will bid on the name, but you have to give them some ideas for the use of the domain to spark interest in your domain. 

The more views that your domains receive, the more bids you should receive.  Although true, the conversion rate of eyeballs to bids revolve around your ability to sell, but the volume of views for your domains hinge on your marketing ability.  

Yes, Flippa is one of the top domain auction sites.   Still, make sure you are an active participant in promoting your domains.