Cyger Selects
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Issue #9: June 9, 2025

Issue #9: June 9, 2025

Cyger Selects... Marketplace benchmark; Truth bomb; 10 ways to increase STR; Beware AI-generated text/images; Call me, maybe

Michael Cyger
June 09, 2025

Michael Cyger

@MichaelCyger

Hi there,

This newsletter and one more newsletter before I take a little break for a family summer vacation.

Lots of good tidbits to glean from others in the industry this week, as always.

Glad to see @LeanneMac is feeling better and back posting on 𝕏. ❤️‍🩹

The bombshell that @GoDaddy is raising DDC membership prices is not sitting well for anyone. Everything you need to know in two pieces of content:

Here are the most interesting 5️⃣ domain tweets from last week.

Have a great week,
Mike

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

#1️⃣ Marketplace benchmark

Leanne

@LeanneMac

Seems like a good time to ask marketplaces to clarify their stance on sales within the 60 day lock. It's a real roadblock we never faced with Dan 🪦 especially if you're outbounding to try and raise some quick cash.

📣Marketplaces- do you:

1️⃣ ask the buyer if they want to push or wait and act accordingly (with payment dependent on that decision)?
2️⃣ take the name from the seller at the point of sale, payout and advise the buyer of their options then?

TIA 🤗

@afternic @sedo @atomHQ @spaceship @Dynadot @Daazcom

May 28, 2025

Optinom

@optinomuk

This is what Afternic does for BIN sales.

If the domain is in a registrar supported by Afternic (they perhaps support the top 10-20 registrars) AND the buyer agrees they facilitate push.

If the buyer doesn't respond,
or doesn't agree to receive the domain outside,
or the name is in a registrar not supported by Afternic - they ask you to wait.

Date unavailable

@LeanneMac then responded, "Yes I know, just wanted to see if any do the Dan method of just taking the name from you at the point of sale and handling everything else without you. No-one's filling that important gap yet."

The problem, as I see it, is that everyone wants a Dan-level of service, but what most people don't realize is that Dan was unprofitable likely the entire time they existed. They took money from investors, then used it to underwrite their services -- as fantastic as they are.

The same is true for Unstoppable Domains (using funding to underwrite the $5 Fridays, when we know the wholesale price of .com domains is $10 and change).

Which is fine if they can grow fast enough.

In the case of Dan, they grew fast enough to create a threat to GoDaddy's Afternic business. And the areas they innovated in, became great opportunities for GoDaddy to replicate/bring to their system.

The original Dan remains the benchmark that all marketplaces strive to surpass.

#2️⃣ Truth bomb

Amit Gupta

@TheNamepreneur

If you want to learn what domains NOT to buy, go to atom wholesale section..

Date unavailable

Take cover! Incoming! 💣

If it weren't so true, it would be a lot funnier for you.

#3️⃣ 10 ways to increase STR

Darpan

@darpanmunjal

Want to improve your sell-through rate?

It’s not just luck. There are deeper patterns behind the names that actually sell.

Let’s break it down 👇🧵

Word Synergy Matters.

The best names combine words that enhance each other or create tension.

- LiquidFire (tension, contradiction)
- Evernote (endurance + memory)
- MorningBrew (ritual + energy)

Each word adds meaning. No filler. No dead weight.
If your name feels like two random words glued together, start over.

Date unavailable

Darpan's thread consists of 12 posts.

Each post after the introduction provides a specific recommendation or insight to improve your portfolio STR (sell-through rate).

Click through and read the original thread... worth it.

Here's a quick summary:

Word Synergy (Post 2): Darpan emphasizes the importance of combining words that enhance each other or create tension (e.g., "LiquidFire"). This is about the semantic relationship between words in a domain name.
Sound and Structure (Post 3): He highlights the need for names to be easy to say and remember (e.g., "Zenvia" vs. "Trunxed"). This focuses on phonetics and memorability.
Imagery and Narrative (Post 4): Great names should spark mental images and suggest a broader narrative (e.g., "Drift" evokes movement). This is about the visual and emotional impact of a name.
Metaphors (Post 5): Using metaphorical names (e.g., "Robinhood" for rebellion and fairness) to create instant emotional resonance with buyers.
High-Performing Root Words (Post 6): Certain root words like "Core," "Spark," and "Nova" consistently outperform others, based on Atom’s data. This is about leveraging proven word patterns.
Suffix Usage (Post 7): Suffixes like "ly" or "ify" can work but only with a strong root word (e.g., "Shopify" vs. "Dripsify"). This focuses on structural modifications to enhance a name.
Basic Naming Rules (Post 8): Short, simple names (1–3 syllables, easy to spell) that fit active industries like SaaS or fintech. This covers fundamental naming principles.
Presentation (Post 9): Using clean logos or lifestyle images to help buyers visualize the brand. This is about how the domain is visually packaged for sale.
Merchandising for Discoverability (Post 10): Fully merchandising a domain on marketplaces like Atom with root words, descriptions, and AI-generated content to improve discoverability (e.g., "MealJet" for food delivery searches).
Analyzing Buyer Signals (Post 11): Looking for patterns in your portfolio, such as repeat visits, Atom Scores of 8+, or multiple TLDs taken, to predict STR potential. This is about data-driven portfolio analysis.

#4️⃣ Beware AI-generated text/images