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Issue #4: May 5, 2025

Issue #4: May 5, 2025

Michael Cyger
May 05, 2025

Michael Cyger

@MichaelCyger

Hi there,

Here are five interesting 𝕏 posts I’ve curated from people discussing domain names and related topics. 🫡

Have a great week,
Mike

P.S. I publish my best posts and opinions in Cyger Says every Friday morning.

#1️⃣ One quick lesson

Domain Smoke 💨💨

@DomainSmoke

What’s one domaining lesson you had to learn the hard way? 🙄

Apr 30, 2025

AbdulBasit Makrani

@abmakrani

Don't invest in any niche where there is a lot of hype. Stick to the basics using smartness.

Apr 30, 2025

AbdulBasit's lesson is worth noting.

I contributed to the thread:
"Researching the use in commerce of an SLD can help you build your 'gut feel' for how good a domain name is."

The entire thread is worth a read.

#2️⃣ Selling 60-day locked domains

[email protected]

@JoshDotCo

Got this one earlier today 😭

Apr 30, 2025

Top Shelf Names

@TopShelfNames

Last year I had two LTO sales within the 60-day lock canceled by Afternic (not the buyer) as they said they had no way to take control of the names, which was quite disappointing. I hope that's something they're working on options for as well.

Apr 30, 2025

Turns out @Afternic was able to take possession of the domain name and complete the transaction after all.

I confirmed with @JamesIles that if the names are at GoDaddy and they’re within the 60-day lock, then GoDaddy can take control and push a domain name to the buyer.

However, there are hundreds of registrars, and GoDaddy doesn't have relationships with every one of them, so it's not a guarantee that they can make it happen.

#3️⃣ Staging your domain

Darpan

@darpanmunjal

Do logos help improve domain sales?

We analyzed only our standard listings — where logos are optional.

Domains with logos achieved 1.6X higher sell-through rate over the same 12-month period.

When buyers can picture the brand, they’re more likely to act.

Wonder if you could track what percentage of buyers kept the logo that came with the domain name.

Apr 29, 2025

Not only did I find the original post by Darpan interesting, Elliot asked a great follow-up question.

Darpan responded, "The real value is helping buyers visualize the brand potential early on. Once they purchase, most invest in a custom brand identity. Think of it like staging a house — the furniture isn’t what the buyer keeps, but it helps them picture themselves living there."

#4️⃣ Wrong information

Aras

@MustaAras

So today i learned that @afternic can cancel your transaction 2.5 months after you receive the “sold” notification.

Apr 30, 2025

Mark Chavez - My Brand Domains

@MyBrandDomains

IMO, I suspect the buyer did a "charge back" (disputed the charge with their bank or card issuer). Companies almost always have no choice to fold on charge backs, or they fight it by providing evidence. The buyer/bank probably used the "non-delivery of goods" reason. IMO

Apr 30, 2025

I believe Mark is correct.

Just because @Afternic doesn't do a great job communicating what's going on shouldn't mean that you should assume the worst-case scenario about them.

Yes, Afternic should do a better job communicating.

But they didn't cancel a transaction on their own.

The buyer likely canceled or did a chargeback because the domain name couldn't be delivered. (It was evident since the seller wasn't paid.)

That's the beauty of using GoDaddy/Afternic. When a transaction is PAID, GoDaddy assumes the risk of a chargeback.

For the 15%+ that we pay GoDaddy, it includes credit card fees, their network/promotion, the transaction assurance, and a guarantee they're not going to come back and take money back from the seller.

That's a fair deal.

Because chargebacks are a real thing. Search 𝕏 for "chargeback" and you'll see tons of entrepreneurs complaining about chargeback fraud.

I'm grateful I don't have to worry about that with GoDaddy/Afternic sales.

#5️⃣ 45% of consumers don't care about domains