Sudden Influx Of Catalog Bids

[Chris.C]

Over the last month or so I have had a large increase in the number of bids I have received on domains listed on NetFleet's catalog listings.

I was just wondering if anyone else has been experiencing the same thing? and if so what has caused the sudden surge.

 

[Timmy]

Out of curiosity - are they all in the same industry/niche or is it across the board? T

 

[DavidL]

Actually I have too - thought it was just me. Let's hope it's a trend

 

[Chris.C]

Nah it was across the board.

Nice to hear you've been having some luck as well David. And yes, let's hope it's a trend.

 

[pacifier]

I've recently sold few domains to small businesses and thought that more business owners are starting to discover the power of Internet.

Over the last month or so I have had a large increase in the number of bids I have received on domains listed on NetFleet's catalog listings.

I was just wondering if anyone else has been experiencing the same thing? and if so what has caused the sudden surge.

 

[Chris.C]

Not to keep blowing my horn, but I just sold another domain this afternoon...

It appears that something truly is in the water at the moment.

 

[DavidL]

Not to keep blowing my horn, but I just sold another domain this afternoon...

It appears that something truly is in the water at the moment.

Good job!

Had a look and here are my offers through standard listings only

Oct - 8
Nov - 6
Dec - 7
Jan - 7
Feb so far - 22

Although of those 22, 13 were from the same person on a similar range of domains. So adjusting for that, I guess it's 10 unique offer-ers only halfway through the month.

 

[Cooper Mills DomainLawyer]

Good job!

Had a look and here are my offers through standard listings only

Oct - 8
Nov - 6
Dec - 7
Jan - 7
Feb so far - 22

Although of those 22, 13 were from the same person on a similar range of domains. So adjusting for that, I guess it's 10 unique offer-ers only halfway through the month.

I have also noticed that there has been an elevated level of interest from end users, I have brokered a few deals over the past few days..

 

[snoopy]

Same lousy level of interest here. Not sure what has happened but it seems the means of getting exposure is no longer based on domain quality or numbers of offers but instead it is based on "facebook likes" "Google plus one" and paying for the "spot light" section.

The end result is prime front page space being given to gems like "1900sexcall.com.au", "bankingsafely.com.au" & "agedcareinaustralia.com.au" whilst the names that are at least worth something and likely to sell with proper exposure are well hidden where only a sniffer dog would ever find them.

 

[DavidL]

Same lousy level of interest here. Not sure what has happened but it seems the means of getting exposure is no longer based on domain quality or numbers of offers but instead it is based on "facebook likes" "Google plus one" and paying for the "spot light" section.

The end result is prime front page space being given to gems like "1900sexcall.com.au", "bankingsafely.com.au" & "agedcareinaustralia.com.au" whilst the names that are at least worth something and likely to sell with proper exposure are well hidden where only a sniffer dog would ever find them.

Well not a single one of my listings has any FB likes or +1's. Nor are any in the spotlight section.

So for me at least, that assumption is entirely incorrect. Not sure about Chris?

Also, with respect, you only have a handful of .au domains listed on NF don't you? So out of 40,000 the sample size would not be considered anywhere near statistically reliable.

However, credit for trying to put a negative spin on what can only be considered a good news story, snoopy. Every silver lining has a cloud and all that.

Remember, snoopy, end-user buyers will rarely arrive at NF via the homepage (same with sedo etc - quite surprised you didn't know that?) but more likely through the namespinners on the related registrars, through the NF provided landing page - http://www.netfleet.com.au/domain-parking or through a 'Buy this domain' link on a traditional parking page.

 

[snoopy]

Well not a single one of my listings has any FB likes or +1's. Nor are any in the spotlight section.

So for me at least, that assumption is entirely incorrect. Not sure about Chris?

What assumption are you talking about?

The point is that method of putting names on the front page is simply the result of people liking their own names or begging others to do so. It should be based on names likely to sell, not silly social network clicks, shouldn't be based on paying either for names unlikely to ever sell (can understand why that wouldn't be changed though).

But why waste everyone's time putting stuff like sexjob.com.au etc on the front page when a name actually likely to sell could be be listed instead?

 

[Mark]

What assumption are you talking about?

The intuitive leap you took snoopy:

it seems the means of getting exposure is no longer based on domain quality or numbers of offers but instead it is based on "facebook likes" "Google plus one" and paying for the "spot light" section.

Regardless, this is not true. Of course home page exposure will always help, but as David mentioned none of his are FB/G or Spotlighted. However I guess you raise a point as to the organisation of listings, which is being addressed on a bigger scale than just home page arrangement.

In any case, I've checked the stats and the number of offers received is pretty much average. Slight dip in December as you would expect, but picked up since then. I'll get these stats together, along with sales data, and will get published asap (which will also help with DomainNames thread)

 

[DavidL]

What assumption are you talking about?

Why, this sweeping statement:

.. it seems the means of getting exposure is no longer based on domain quality or numbers of offers but instead it is based on "facebook likes" "Google plus one" and paying for the "spot light" section.

The point is that method of putting names on the front page is simply the result of people liking their own names or begging others to do so. It should be based on names likely to sell, not silly social network clicks, shouldn't be based on paying either for names unlikely to ever sell (can understand why that wouldn't be changed though).

But why waste everyone's time putting stuff like sexjob.com.au etc on the front page when a name actually likely to sell could be be listed instead?

Well I no longer work at netfleet and it's changed a bit since I did but when i was involved the problem was that manually choosing the best names to sell is very difficult.

It's not only about the quality of a name but also the expectations of the seller. Sexjob.com.au with no reserve is probably more likely to sell that cloudhosting.com.au with a $500K expectation.

Plus, if Netfleet manually chooses the 'best, most sellable names' for the front page, they risk getting caught up in subjective arguments 'Why isn't my name up there it's as good as the others etc'

Doing it entirely algorithimically makes it completely fair. It also means the more motivated sellers get the exposure as they are the ones that bother to rustle up those 'silly social network clicks' and/or pay a nominal fee to get the front page exposure. Motivated buyers are, *in general*, more realistic even if their expectations are still out of whack.

I'm not sure what revenue the spotlight listings bring but I expect it's pretty minimal so I wouldn't think the strategy is about money.

However, as I said, this is my own personal view - hopefully Anthony or Mark will chime in...

 

[snoopy]

It's not only about the quality of a name but also the expectations of the seller. Sexjob.com.au with no reserve is probably more likely to sell that cloudhosting.com.au with a $500K expectation.

sexjob.com.au shows as being listed because it has one "google plus one". So it has nothing to do with quality or price expectation. From what I remember there used to listing based on quality and price, that would be the right way to do it.

Plus, if Netfleet manually chooses the 'best, most sellable names' for the front page, they risk getting caught up in subjective arguments 'Why isn't my name up there it's as good as the others etc'

You already give names a quality score and have data based on prior offers, no need for any manual picking.

Doing it entirely algorithimically makes it completely fair. It also means the more motivated sellers get the exposure as they are the ones that bother to rustle up those 'silly social network clicks' and/or pay a nominal fee to get the front page exposure. Motivated buyers are, *in general*, more realistic even if their expectations are still out of whack.

The people who "rustle up" social network clicks are often not serious sellers because the names have little chance of selling no matter what they do, again that can be seen from the quality of many of those listings on the front page.

 

[Shane]

I have to agree that the domains getting front page exposure through Google+ and Facebook likes are pretty average.

 

[Chris.C]

So for me at least, that assumption is entirely incorrect. Not sure about Chris?

Nah I don't tend to advertise my domains.

In any case, I've checked the stats and the number of offers received is pretty much average. Slight dip in December as you would expect, but picked up since then. I'll get these stats together, along with sales data, and will get published asap (which will also help with DomainNames thread)

I find those results surprising because yesterday I received yet another offer (albeit via the NF Q&A)...

That said I'm very much looking forward to seeing some aggregated statistics on domains sales/offers.

 

[thrown]

Hi David, I'd be curious to know how many domains you have listed to get that many enquiries? And did you convert any enquiries into sales?

 

[DavidL]

sexjob.com.au shows as being listed because it has one "google plus one". So it has nothing to do with quality or price expectation. From what I remember there used to listing based on quality and price, that would be the right way to do it.

Oh sorry - i thought it was a spotlight domain.

You already give names a quality score and have data based on prior offers, no need for any manual picking.

True, although any automated system will never be able to work out how realistic a seller is if they leave the price open to 'Make Offer'

Anyway you are arguing with the wrong guy. Not my decision. I agree (as we all do) that the best thing is to get the most sellable names the most exposure. I don't think that on the scale of everything homepage exposure makes that much difference in terms of retail interest though.

The people who "rustle up" social network clicks are often not serious sellers because the names have little chance of selling no matter what they do, again that can be seen from the quality of many of those listings on the front page.

Often they aren't I agree. but on balance they are more motivated than someone who lazily adds his listings for the sake of it and then does nothing.

I have to agree that the domains getting front page exposure through Google+ and Facebook likes are pretty average.

I happen to think that the domains on the front page are probably better, on average, than the typical listing actually. But regardless, I think the social media stuff is an indication of the motivation of the seller rather than the quality of the domains.

 

[DavidL]

Hi David, I'd be curious to know how many domains you have listed to get that many enquiries? And did you convert any enquiries into sales?

I think I have about 1000 (very slack in not adding more - really need to get around to it). Have sold 3 standard listings in the last 2 months.

 

[Shane]

I happen to think that the domains on the front page are probably better, on average, than the typical listing actually.

Well I think that says a lot about the quality of domains for sale overall!

The domains listed in the Google+ box are as follows:

• LottoS.com.au
• SexCall.com.au
• 1900SexCall.com.au
• SexCalls.com.au
• 13Call.com.au
• 1800Mining.com.au
• 13Toys.com.au
• BedAndBreakfastQueensland.com.au
• BabiesClothing.com.au
• SexJob.com.au

I mean, we're not exactly promoting the cream of the domain crop here are we? In fact it kind of reinforces the feeling that some people have about the internet being full of porn, given that 4 of the top 10 are about sex calls and sex jobs.

Anyway I'm not generally a seller so it doesn't really bother me. Just giving my 2c