From the desk of David Utke
Subj: How to turn domain names into cash (watch on YouTube here)
Let’s turn your unused domain names into cash.
The process of selling domain names through GoDaddy is surprisingly straightforward, though it does involve connecting to a separate service called Afternic (which GoDaddy also owns).
In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about selling your GoDaddy domains, from the initial setup to optimizing your listings for maximum sales potential.
Why Sell Your Domain Instead of Letting It Expire?
Before you abandon your domain unused domain name, at least try to sell it first.
By listing it for sale, you have the opportunity to:
- Recover your initial investment at a minimum
- Potentially make a nice profit if your domain is qualify
Even if your domain doesn’t seem particularly valuable to you, it might be exactly what someone else is looking for.
I bought TeachandGo.com from a domainer. Before I was using TeachandGo.co so the .com version was quite valuable to me.
Understanding the GoDaddy/Afternic Connection
While you register your domain with GoDaddy, the actual marketplace where your domain gets listed for sale is Afternic. Afternic is owned by GoDaddy and serves as their domain marketplace platform.
This means you’ll need to work with both platforms:
- GoDaddy: Where you manage your domain registration and initiate the sale process
- Afternic: Where your domain gets listed and where buyers can find it
Don’t worry though, the integration between these platforms is seamless, easy, and you can use your existing GoDaddy account to access Afternic.
Getting Started: Registering Your Domain (If You Haven’t Already)
If you already have a domain registered with GoDaddy, you can skip this section. But for those who are starting from scratch, here’s how to register a domain name:
- Visit GoDaddy.com and use the search bar at the top of the page
- Enter your desired domain name and click “Search Domains..”
- Review the results – you’ll see your exact match on the left, bundle offers on the right, and alternative suggestions below.
- Click “Don’t Miss Out” when you find the domain you want.
- Review your cart – you can adjust the registration term (1-10 years).
- Skip unnecessary add-ons – I personally don’t recommend the full domain protection service.
- Create your account or sign in if you already have one.
- Complete the checkout process.
A few notes about the registration process:
- The free domain privacy for life is included and worth keeping.
- You can skip the “build your site” and email upsells if you don’t need them.
- Make sure to keep your GoDaddy account secure since you’ll be managing valuable assets.
Step-by-Step: Listing Your Domain for Sale
Now let’s actually list your domain for sale. This process happens entirely within your GoDaddy account, but it connects to Afternic behind the scenes.
Step 1: Navigate to Your Domain Portfolio in GoDaddy
- Log into your GoDaddy account
- Click on your account name (top right corner)
- Select “My Products” from the dropdown menu
- Scroll down to find your domains section
- Click “Manage All” (not just “Manage” – this takes you to a different page)
You’ll now see your domain portfolio with various options like auto-renew, lock, domain privacy, etc.
Step 2: Initiate the Sale Process
- Click the checkbox next to the domain you want to sell
- Look for the “List for Sale” button that appears in the toolbar
- Click “List for Sale”
- Click “Get Started” in the popup that appears
Step 3: Set Your Pricing Strategy
This is where strategy comes into play. You’ll need to set two important prices:
Buy Now Price: This is the price at which someone can immediately purchase your domain without any negotiation. Set this at the highest amount you’d be happy to receive for an instant sale.
Floor Price: This is your absolute minimum, the lowest amount you’d accept for the domain. If someone makes an offer at or above this price, Afternic representatives will automatically sell the domain on your behalf.
Here’s my approach to pricing:
- Set the Buy Now price higher than what you expect to get (but still reasonable).
- Set the Floor price at your true minimum, the least you’d accept.
For example, if you think your domain is worth around $500:
- Buy Now Price: $497 up $1000.
- Floor Price: $300-$400.
Step 4: Enable the Sales Landing Page
Always check “Add a sales page. When enabled, this replaces your domain’s current content (like a “coming soon” page) with a professional sales landing page that tells visitors the domain is for sale.
Don’t worry about losing content, if you’re selling the domain anyway, you won’t need whatever was there before.
Step 5: Confirm Your Changes
- Click “Next” to proceed
- Confirm that you want to replace existing content (if prompted)
- Re-enter your GoDaddy credentials for verification
- Wait for the confirmation message
Troubleshooting: DNS and Name Server Issues
Sometimes you might see a yellow warning box saying that GoDaddy couldn’t create the sales landing page automatically.
This just means you need to check your DNS settings manually.
Checking Your Name Servers
- Go back to your domain portfolio
- Click the three dots next to your domain name
- Select “Edit DNS”
- Click on “Name Servers”
- Verify they’re pointing to Afternic (should be NS1.AFTERNIC.COM and NS2.AFTERNIC.COM.
If they’re still pointing to GoDaddy’s servers, you’ll need to update them:
- Click “Change Name Servers”
- Select “Custom”
- Enter the Afternic name servers:
- NS1.AFTERNIC.COM
- NS2.AFTERNIC.COM
- Save your changes
Important: DNS changes can take a few minutes to propagate, so be patient. Test your domain in a different browser or incognito mode to see the sales page.
For me, the DNS setting updated correctly but I still got that yellow warning box. My nameservers for TheMagic.store were NS3 and NS4 for Afternic. Totally fine if you manually check the DNS settings and they updated correctly.
I personally have no idea why I got this error message but everything was working on the backend as expected.
Verifying Your Afternic Account
Once your domain is listed, you should verify everything is working correctly by logging into your Afternic account and also checking to see if your domain name has a lander “for sale” page:
- Visit Afternic.com
- Click “Sign In”
- Choose “Sign in with GoDaddy” (no need to create a separate account)
- Navigate to “Portfolio” > “All Domains”
- Confirm your domain appears with the correct pricing
If it’s listed then you’re good to go. Next, manually check your domain name by visiting it in your web browser. A landing page should appear saying your domain name is for sale.
Optimizing Your Sales Landing Page
In your Afternic account, you can customize how your sales page appears to potential buyers. You have several options:
Landing Page Types
Request Price: Visitors see your domain is for sale but must contact you for pricing information. This can work well for premium domains where you want to negotiate.
Buy It Now: Shows your asking price upfront and allows immediate purchase. I personally prefer this approach because it:
- Creates urgency
- Eliminates back-and-forth communication
- Leads to faster sales
- Provides a better user experience
Advanced Options
Lease to Own: This feature is particularly useful for higher-value domains (think $5,000+). It allows buyers to pay in monthly installments over 12-24 months, making expensive domains more accessible. This can significantly expand your potential buyer pool.
Cash Parking: If your domain receives natural type-in traffic, you can monetize it with display ads while it’s for sale. This works best for generic, memorable domains that people might type directly into their browser.
Setting Up Payment Information
Don’t forget, you need to tell Afternic where to send your money when a sale occurs:
- Go to “Settings” in your Afternic account
- Click “Payments”
- Add your tax information (varies by jurisdiction)
- Set up your payment method:
- Local bank transfer
- SEPA transfer (for European accounts)
- Wire transfer
- PayPal
Make sure this information is accurate and up-to-date – you don’t want payment delays when you make a sale!
Understanding Afternic Boost
By default, your domains are enrolled in “Afternic Boost,” which includes:
- Standard commission plus an additional 5% fee
- GoDaddy verified checkmark on your listings
- Enhanced placement in search results
- Inclusion in email marketing campaigns
Is it worth it? In my opinion, yes.
The additional 5% fee is justified by the increased visibility and credibility you get.
The verified checkmark and enhanced placement can significantly improve your chances of making a sale, especially in a competitive marketplace.
Tips for Successful Domain Sales
Selling a domain name is pretty straight forward, but the key thing is to price your domain name to market expectations.
Research Comparable Sales
Before setting your prices, research what similar domains have sold for. Look for domains with:
- Similar keywords.
- Same extension (.com, .net, etc.).
- Comparable length and memorability.
You can use a website like NameBio.com to get exact information on how much comparable domains sold for. Most domains sell for modest amounts.
Price competitively to attract genuine buyers.
Be Patient
Domain sales can take time, sometimes months or even years. Simple set your domain names for sale with Afternic and forget it.
What Happens When Your Domain Sells
When someone purchases your domain:
- Payment is processed through Afternic/GoDaddy.
- Funds are held during a verification period.
- Domain transfer is initiated to the buyer.
- You receive payment via your chosen method (minus commissions).
- Transfer is completed and the domain is no longer yours.
The entire process is handled automatically, making it hassle-free for both parties. You may need to “unlock” your domain to release it, so just be on the look out for any emails saying that your domain name sold.
Common Mistakes
The biggest mistake I see is setting unrealistic prices. You can do need to look at what similar domain sold for and price accordingly.
On top of that, periodically review and adjust your pricing based on market feedback and interest levels.
Conclusion
Selling domain names through GoDaddy and Afternic is a straightforward process that can help you monetize unused domains rather than letting them expire.
With the right approach, selling domains can become a profitable little side business. If you have any questions or comments reach me via the contact page.
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