Sold.Com.Au .... Sedo Auction

[333]

I'd class this as a bargain *because* it ;
1. is a 4 letter generic dictionary word with great real estate association.
2. previously sold for 24M
3. has many old links - https://ahrefs.com/site-explorer/overview/subdomains/sold.com.au
4. was a com.au auctioned at sedo..
5. 3AM Australian time auction end etc..

 

[snoopy]

Why not? I have noticed a few agencies around with the words SOLD in the name, example: http://www.sold-it.com.au/

Because it would make for an extremely weak brand and would be totally confusing. Much like a painter calling his company "Paint" or a law firm with a name "Legal Action". "Paint Today" or "Paint Now" = decent brand. Just "Paint" is going to be confusing and largely unprotectable.

If a realestate agent called themselves "Sold" how are people even going to find their website? If you looked at a realestate listing for a house for sale and it says in big lettering "Sold" how much sense would that make?

Example: Say instead of Ray White in the top right corner this page said "Sold"

http://www.raywhite.com/vic/murrumbeena/1059084/

 

[Shane]

That is a cool number plate for an agent, but no agency is going to call their agency "Sold". The numberplate works in that instance, the domain doesn't.

What's the difference between having the SOLD number plate on the car, or having the car wrapped in SOLD.com.au branding?

I know which I'd prefer.

I'm not saying they should call their agency Sold. It's just the same as the plate - a marketing tool, a trophy item.

Plenty of agents who work for the big franchises still have their own personal brand and website. Short of having realestate.com.au, there could be few better domains for an agent than sold.com.au.

 

[snoopy]

What's the difference between having the SOLD number plate on the car, or having the car wrapped in SOLD.com.au branding?

The domain is an attempt to form a brand whilst the number plate is just a word that you like or a description of something you can do. "Sold" works as a number plate, it is eye catching and reinforces the result sellers want, so when the agent turns up for the first meet with a client it will have some impact when they drive off, much like turning up in a $300,000 car would have impact, or telling them you won realestate agent of the year.

I know which I'd prefer.

In know which one I'd prefer also, but that is because I'm a domainer, not an estate agent. I've got no use for a number plate with "Sold" on it.

I'm not saying they should call their agency Sold. It's just the same as the plate - a marketing tool, a trophy item.

Plenty of agents who work for the big franchises still have their own personal brand and website. Short of having realestate.com.au, there could be few better domains for an agent than sold.com.au.

If it is used for marketing where exactly are they going to use it? An agent is going to be promoting their own website wherever possible. If they are in Ray White and they want their own website it is going to be the name of their agency e.g. raywhitefootscray.com.au, not something like sold.com.au.

 

[Horshack]

Don't forget to add 10% for exchange rates. I was the losing bidder at the end and until I bid in the last few minutes the domain was only going to sell for $10856 US. The price was about right I think.

 

[Shane]

An agent is going to be promoting their own website wherever possible. If they are in Ray White and they want their own website it is going to be the name of their agency e.g. raywhitefootscray.com.au, not something like sold.com.au.

That's incorrect. There are plenty of agents who have their own personal brand and website that makes no mention of the franchise they are employed by.

Perhaps you're referring to people who own an agency, when I'm referring to people who work for an agency.

Regardless, if I was a real estate agent I would have snapped it up for $15k and considered it a bargain irrespective of what domainers thought.

 

[snoopy]

That's incorrect. There are plenty of agents who have their own personal brand and website that makes no mention of the franchise they are employed by.

Perhaps you're referring to people who own an agency, when I'm referring to people who work for an agency.

Regardless, if I was a real estate agent I would have snapped it up for $15k and considered it a bargain irrespective of what domainers thought.

Again though, that is because you are a domainer, not a realestate agent. If you were an agent and not a domainer you wouldn't have known or cared about the auction.

Why would an agent spend a significant amount of money on a domain for their own webpage? Is there any history of this? I can guarantee this name will not have been bought by an estate agent. Much like a bunch of domainers wouldn't turn up for the auction of the "sold" numberplate.

The obvious buyer for this name is a domainer. The main enduser potential I think is what it was used for previously, a general auction/listing site.

 

[Ash]

Plenty of agents would like to have this name - it would make a perfect accompaniment to a branded site:

Here's our company website (xyz.com.au) and here's our list of Sold properties so you can see how successful we are for our sellers (sold.com.au).

It's a nice memorable name and you can imagine it standing out after being called in for a listing presentation.

As for it being a bargain... that's up to the buyer.

 

[James]

has many old links - https://ahrefs.com/site-explorer/overview/subdomains/sold.com.au

Sure the old links may be ok, the interesting thing is this domain was a 301 redirect for many many years, only a few weeks ago did the move it to a parked page. So it will be interesting too see how Google treats a new domain on the site (that is if they launch the domain).

Some times it is hit or miss when you have a (long term) 301 redirect on a domain for a long period of time and then try to re use it for a branded site (I have tested and played around with this strategy a bit in the past).
I surely would want a slow natural/ drip feed style strategy and not all guns blazing approach.

 

[findtim]

match it with a great slogan and you have a winner from a branding point of view

and I also think its a bargain


tim

 

[DomainNames]

the forum, further research and valuable input may have changed some peoples minds and mine considerably ! Yes it looks like a bargain at that price. Original prices touted by sedo estimated it would go for $200k. The paperwork for people to bid higher ( over $10k requires more certification, bank statements credit checks etc & the time it closed knocked out most I believe.

Yep month to date stats where very wrong when checked ( typical sedo)

Bargain of the century if you had the money it seems...

rent.com.au seems also to be doing very well

Whats people's thoughts as the best plan for sold.com.au realestate? Auctions?

http://investor.yahoo.net/releasedetail.cfm?releaseid=173860

SYDNEY, Australia -- April 10, 2001 --Yahoo!® Australia & NZ, the wholly owned subsidiary of Yahoo! Inc. (Nasdaq: YHOO), a leading global Internet communications, commerce and media company, today announced it has completed the acquisition of auction site SOLD.com.au.

The acquisition by Yahoo! further supports the company's commitment to its global growth and extension of its leadership position in key markets around the world. The joining of the two companies combines Yahoo!'s global network of properties and resources with SOLD's local industry expertise, and together, they plan to deliver a superior Internet experience to both consumers and businesses in Australia.

"Now that we have finalized the acquisition, we're putting all of our efforts behind successfully integrating the two services in order to enhance the Australian online auction experience," said Nic Jones, managing director, Yahoo! Australia & NZ. "By combining our global network and resources with SOLD's local auction expertise, we plan to make Yahoo! Australia & NZ an essential source for conducting online transactions by delivering an unparalleled user experience."

"Yahoo! is committed to investing in the growth of our local properties and building a leading global consumer and business services company," said Heather Killen, senior vice president of international operations, Yahoo! Inc. "We continue to seek opportunities to team with leading companies worldwide to increase audience reach and deliver a superior Internet experience to individuals and businesses around the world."

SOLD.com.au is one of the leading auctions sites in the local market with more than 180,000 registered users, 185 retail merchants, and completed, over the July-Dec.2000 time frame, more than 129,000 successful auctions, with gross merchandise sales exceeding $11.8 million. SOLD.com.au derives its revenues from listing fees, commissions and advertising.

 

[helloworld]

Again though, that is because you are a domainer, not a realestate agent. If you were an agent and not a domainer you wouldn't have known or cared about the auction.

Why would an agent spend a significant amount of money on a domain for their own webpage? Is there any history of this? I can guarantee this name will not have been bought by an estate agent. Much like a bunch of domainers wouldn't turn up for the auction of the "sold" numberplate.

The obvious buyer for this name is a domainer. The main enduser potential I think is what it was used for previously, a general auction/listing site.

That's BS. A real estate agent is the perfect buyer for this domian.

Set up as park page, run Adwords campaign, improve click through, filters through to brand awareness etc etc

A banner ad on realestate.com.au costs $170K+ per month so for those spending this and wanting to try something a little different, this is the perfect domain.

 

[DomainNames]

http://domainnamewire.com/2013/11/21/yahoo-sells-sandwich-domain/

Sold.com.au ($15,600) – Yahoo! acquired Sold.com.au from the publisher of Sydney Morning Herald for $24 million in 2001.

 

[DomainNames]

That's BS. A real estate agent is the perfect buyer for this domian.

Set up as park page, run Adwords campaign, improve click through, filters through to brand awareness etc etc

A banner ad on realestate.com.au costs $170K+ per month so for those spending this and wanting to try something a little different, this is the perfect domain.

$170k a month for a banner. OMG!!

 

[Shane]

Again though, that is because you are a domainer, not a realestate agent. If you were an agent and not a domainer you wouldn't have known or cared about the auction.

I'm not a domainer though. I run a business with office space, sales staff, support staff and everything else that goes along with it.

I just happen to have an interest in domain names, and have used them to grow my business significantly over the last couple of years.

Heaven forbid that a real estate agent might choose to do something similar by securing a quality domain name...

PS. All I said is that if I was an real estate agent I would snap it up. Whether or not other agents feel the same means nothing to me.

 

[James]

I just messaged a mate who is a big real estate agent, told him about the domain and said would he use it for his business?

His reply:

Robbie says:
Yeah it would be great to use for all our marketing.

 

[snoopy]

That's BS. A real estate agent is the perfect buyer for this domian.

Set up as park page, run Adwords campaign, improve click through, filters through to brand awareness etc etc

A banner ad on realestate.com.au costs $170K+ per month so for those spending this and wanting to try something a little different, this is the perfect domain.

So a realestate should buy it, setup a park page then advertise on adwords? How does that make any sense and what term are they supposed to be improving the ctr on? "sold"?

 

[snoopy]

I just messaged a mate who is a big real estate agent, told him about the domain and said would he use it for his business?

His reply:

Robbie says:
Yeah it would be great to use for all our marketing.

What is his offer?

 

[helloworld]

So a realestate should buy it, setup a park page then advertise on adwords? How does that make any sense and what term are they supposed to be improving the ctr on? "sold"?

A good domain/relative domain will improve ctr.

Ad copy would be something like

Want Your House Sold?
Speak To The Experts. House Sold Guranteed!
www.sold.com.au

vs

www.realestateagentepping.com.au etc

 

[snoopy]

Helloworld, what statistics would you base that on?