You’ve got a digital asset sitting there doing nothing. Maybe you bought it for a startup that never launched, or perhaps you just had a "brilliant" idea at 3 AM three years ago that hasn't materialized into a million-dollar company yet. Now you're wondering how to sell my domain name without getting ripped off or waiting a decade for a buyer who might never show up. Honestly, the secondary domain market is a bit of a Wild West. It’s weird. It’s speculative. It’s often frustrating.
But people make real money here.
Most beginners think they can just list a name for $5,000 and wait for the cash to roll in. It doesn't work like that. Selling a domain requires a mix of realistic valuation, picking the right platform, and—this is the part people hate—a lot of patience. If you're looking for a quick exit, you're probably going to leave money on the table. If you want top dollar, you have to play the long game.
Figuring out what your domain is actually worth
Price is where everyone trips up first. You might think PizzaDelivery.com is worth a fortune (and it is), but Cheap-Pizza-Delivery-In-Des-Moines-99.net is essentially worthless. The gap between "premium" and "junk" is massive.
GoDaddy has an automated appraisal tool. Use it, but don't treat it as gospel. These algorithms look at historical sales and keyword volume, but they can't account for "brandability" or the current vibe of the tech industry. For a more nuanced look, check out NameBio. It’s a massive database of actual historical domain sales. You can search for keywords similar to yours and see what they actually sold for, not just what people are asking.
The reality of the "Liquid" market
There’s a concept in this industry called "liquidity." Short, three-letter .com domains are liquid. They sell fast because they have a floor price. If you own JLX.com, you can sell it tomorrow because there is a constant demand from investors. If you own BestOrganicPetFoodTips.com, that is not liquid. You have to wait for a very specific buyer who wants that exact phrase.
Investors often look at "comparables" or comps. If CloudData.com sold for $50,000, your CloudStoragePro.com might be worth $5,000. Or it might be worth $500. It depends on the TLD (Top Level Domain). Despite the rise of .ai and .io, .com is still the undisputed king for resale value.
Where should you actually list it?
You have options. Too many, honestly.
Afternic and Sedo are the two heavy hitters. Afternic is owned by GoDaddy, which is a huge advantage. When you list there, your domain can show up in search results when someone tries to register that name on GoDaddy. It’s like putting your "For Sale" sign in the busiest intersection in the world.
Sedo is great for international buyers. They have a massive footprint in Europe. Then there’s Dan.com (also now under the GoDaddy umbrella), which has the best-looking landing pages. When someone types your domain into their browser, Dan.com shows them a clean, professional "This Domain is For Sale" page with a clear "Buy It Now" button.
The "Buy It Now" vs. "Make Offer" debate
This is a point of contention among pro brokers. "Make Offer" listings often scare away small business owners who don't want to haggle. They see "Make Offer" and assume it's too expensive, so they move on to a name they can just click and buy. However, if you have a truly high-value domain, "Buy It Now" might cap your profit. If you list a name for $2,000 and a Fortune 500 company was willing to pay $20,000, you just lost out.
For most domains valued under $5,000, a Buy It Now price is usually the way to go. It reduces friction. People like friction-less.
How to sell my domain name using outbound outreach
Waiting for a buyer is "passive" selling. If you’re proactive, you can try outbound. This is basically digital door-knocking.
Find companies that should own your domain. If you own SolarInstallersMiami.com, look for solar companies in Florida that have terrible, long, or hard-to-spell domains. Don't spam them. Write a personal email to the owner or the marketing director.
"Hey, I own this domain, I'm selling it, and I thought it might fit your brand. Let me know if you're interested."
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That's it. Keep it short. If they don't reply, move on. Most won't. But one "yes" is all you need. Keep in mind that some platforms forbid you from doing your own outreach if you’ve given them an exclusive right to sell, so read the fine print.
The technical stuff: Transfers and Escrow
Never, ever just "push" a domain to someone's account before you have the money. This is how people get scammed.
Use an escrow service. Escrow.com is the industry standard. They hold the buyer's money, you transfer the domain, and once the buyer confirms they have it, the money is released to you. It protects both sides. Most major marketplaces like Sedo and Afternic have their own built-in escrow services, which simplifies things significantly.
Moving the domain
You'll need an Auth Code (sometimes called an EPP code) from your registrar. This is basically the "key" to the domain. Once the buyer has this and initiates the transfer, you’ll get a notification to approve it.
Be aware of the 60-day lock. ICANN (the organization that manages domains) often prevents you from transferring a domain to a different registrar if you've recently changed your contact information or just bought the domain. This can annoy buyers who want the name now.
Why your domain might not be selling
It’s probably the price.
I know, you think it’s worth a fortune. But the market is cold right now for "middle-of-the-road" names. With hundreds of new extensions like .app, .dev, and .guru, the scarcity isn't what it used to be. Unless you have a short, catchy, or high-intent .com, you might be overestimating your position.
Check your "Landers." A "Lander" is the page someone sees when they visit your domain. If it’s just a blank white screen or a "404 Not Found" error, you’re losing sales. Use a service like Squadhelp or Logos.com to put a professional face on your asset. Sometimes adding a simple logo to the domain listing makes a buyer "see" the vision of a real company, which justifies a higher price in their mind.
Taxes and Fees
Don't forget that marketplaces take a cut. It’s usually between 10% and 25%. If you sell a domain for $1,000 on Afternic, you might only see $800 after commissions. Factor this into your "floor price"—the absolute minimum you are willing to accept.
Immediate steps to get your domain sold
Stop sitting on it. If you're serious about offloading the asset, you need a structured approach.
- Set up a professional landing page. Use Dan.com or a similar provider so the "For Sale" sign is visible to anyone who types the URL.
- List on the "Big Three" marketplaces. Get your name on Afternic, Sedo, and Squadhelp. Ensure you opt-in for the "Fast Transfer" network if your registrar supports it; this puts your domain in the search results of hundreds of other registrars.
- Audit your price. Look at NameBio for 2024 and 2025 sales in your niche. If you’re asking $5,000 but similar names are selling for $800, drop your price.
- Verify your WHOIS info. Make sure your contact email is current. If a broker or buyer tries to reach out through a WHOIS privacy service and your email is an old inbox you never check, the deal is dead before it starts.
- Clean up the registration. Ensure the domain isn't expiring in the next 30 days. Buyers get nervous if they see a domain is about to lapse.
Once these pieces are in place, the best thing you can do is forget about it for a few months. Domain selling is a game of "hurry up and wait." As long as the "For Sale" sign is up in the right places, the right buyer will eventually stumble across it.