Outbound marketing is a tough job, it’s not just about sending some emails which a lot of new domainers seem to be doing.
You have to take the time to research the prospects you email. You cannot violate the CAN-Spam Act.
You should never be emailing other domain investors, because as this thread on Namepros points out, people get pissed. Started by @biggie it has over 124,000 views and 1,182 posts.
Over the last few weeks there was a new thread about outbound being tricky, and a member feeling like they wasted their time.
Coupled with that conversation online, I had a conversation offline with someone who wanted to do bodily harm to those that insulted him. They were enraged by the insults hurled their way for trying to sell a domain name.
NASTY Replies
“Raymond I was called everything from a scammer to a thief to a conman!!!”
I replied it can get nasty. You need to think about it, this might not be the best time to be doing outbound.
Again I am never telling anyone how to run their business, you want to do outbound in a global pandemic, do outbound in a global pandemic. (WTF do I know? today is my Birthday and I am blogging about outbound marketing, so I don’t have all the answers. hahaha).
But in all seriousness you do have to be cognizant of the fact that many businesses are trying to stay alive, do whatever it takes to survive.
This might not be the best time to spend money on something they probably don’t need at the moment.
There are exceptions of course, but I don’t think the average domain investor is outbounding with one word .com domains.
But as I told the gentleman on the phone to calm down, look it’s not you, many people get nasty replies. I know some who do outbound right, it’s not spam. They send out a detailed, personalized email for that prospect only. Sometimes it still gets a nasty reply.
I think from reading some posts many think that it’s easy. I decided to do outbound and now the sales will just come rolling it.
PRICING
When you do outbound for the most part you are going to get less than when you receive an inbound offer.
Some lead out with a price, while others try to get the prospect to make an offer, they usually don’t. You contacted them.
Time and Consistency
It can take a lot of time to do outbound properly. You also need to be consistent. You have to think about what happens if two people reply to you. I remember years ago someone asking me what they should do? They emailed a few companies, two replied back.
One company said I will take it for $600 and they were first, the second company said $800 as they thought that was the asking price.
I asked him if his word was worth $200? He said yes and took the second offer for $800. To each their own, but I think if you contact someone and they agree to your price you take it. It was not an auction.
Rohit Goyal who I wrote about here, published a good thread on outbound for beginners.
Think about what you are trying to accomplish and consider the situation those you are contacting are presently in. Don’t get mad and don’t take it personal.
Best of luck
Ronald Smith says
You need to be calm it is never personal. I agree with you this is not the best time to outbound your names unless it’s to a well funded tech organization.
Happy Birthday Raymond, thank you for all you do in this business.
Raymond Hackney says
Thank you Ronald.
J.R. says
Why would someone be trying to sell domains to other speculators, rather than end users anyway?
If you own premium domain names, focus on end users. During this pandemic, many corporations are LOADED with cash to spend, stock market has been at an all-time high. If you have a true premium 1-2 words dot-Com with commercial and/or dictionary meaning – focus on outbounding to corporate END USERS.
Tony says
There’s a certain blogger that repeatedly wrote about outbound marketing from second hand experience like it was a good idea. One of my biggest pet peeves is people passing themselves off like they are experts when they are not or just spreading bad advice.
Acquire good domains and wait for buyers to come to you is the best way to do this.
Happy Birthday, Raymond.
Raymond Hackney says
Thank you Tony.
I do agree with you if you don’t do it and can’t show your wins and losses you cannot recommend or critique something properly.
Emeka says
Why would a domainer add add “s” to a domain then contact other domainers to let them know he sees they own a domain without the “s”.
They rush into domaining after seeing reported sales and dont want to put in the work to get there. Get rich quick syndrome is what most newbies are after. The ones with the vision will enjoy domaining not the ones that lack it.
Raymond Hackney says
Very true, they think it’s easy.