Buyers will have a difficult time contacting you.
Over 150,000 .App domain names have already been registered. While some of these are being put to use, domain name investors are certainly a big reason the numbers are so high.
People wishing to sell their .app domains are going to face a challenge. This challenge goes above and beyond the question of what a new TLD is worth in the aftermarket. The question is:
How the heck are domain buyers going to find you?
.App domain names don’t work unless you have an SSL certificate installed on the domain name. This means you can’t park the domain names unless you set up an SSL for the domain.
SSLs can be obtained for free, but it requires some work.
I thought you’d be able to just forward your .app domain to a secure page, but that’s not the case. (It works on the Safari mobile browser because apparently, that doesn’t use the HSTS preload list, but other major browsers do.)
Clearly, putting a “for sale” billboard on your .app domain will require a lot more work than with most other domains.
OK, OK…but can’t people just look you up in Whois?
Nope.
Google Registry’s Whois records only show the state and country of the domain owner. Records also show your organization name if you have one.
There’s no email address. No phone number. Not even a snail mail address.
That really just leaves marketplaces like Sedo and Afternic for selling these domains. (Currently, Afternic supports .app but Sedo doesn’t.) You can hope that someone is savvy enough to go to one of those marketplaces and find your domain but it seems like syndicated listings at registrars will be your best best.
Or you need to suck it up and get an SSL cert or an SSL-friendly landing page service for your domains.
My thoughts exactly.
Now try to convince those who think otherwise: https://www.namepros.com/threads/google-says-app-domain-helps-apps-get-discovered.1080357/
I’m not sure that our “thoughts exactly” align on this. My article isn’t about the value of the domains. It’s about how people can find you to buy them.
That said, I think people are grossly misinterpreting a Google marketing message about .app in that post you link to.
Try motivating domain flippers to go to extended efforts – not worth it.
“My thoughts exactly” on the overall sentiment that .app is crap.
OK, then for the record…I don’t think .app is crap
OK, free mantra of the day: If you don’t have / produce an app (software application) .app is crap. Might as well invest in .XYZ
Learn it, love it.
Well, yeah. If you aren’t an app producer it doesn’t make sense. But there are a lot of apps out there
Lots of a domainers are going to have to learn setting up Let’s encrypt.
Fortunately I managed to get a free ssl certificate for. but not for xvdo.app and zblue.app and loveguru.app. Is Vip1.app good buy?
Excellent points, Andrew.
I like the extension and I did pick up a few names which will be developed.
But the aftermarket sales face several challenges, including the high renewals for premium key words, which of course any prospective savvy buyer will use to her/his advantage.
A few first-time domainers contacted me to appraise their app domains. They picked up some amazing domains — and probably spent well above 100 K USD for their app portfolios. BTW — they’re already soliciting buyers.
I believe we’ll see some high sales. But this will not be an easy path to get an immediate ROI.
First time domainers spent $100k on .app domains???
A few spent 5 figures at least, on names with premium renewals. Good luck.
The SSL requirements reminds me of the old days, when ‘domainers’ bought .tel domains and were surprised they couldn’t park them !
So Kate….interesting running into you here. Any more word from UDRP about the mix up? Maybe you should check with J. Berryhill to see if he’s heard anything. I bought just one App domain, and that’s GolfCaddy.App It may have some value especially it it’s marketed directly to end users in the Golf World. Who knows, they play a lot of golf DownUnder and maybe Greg Norman (the Shark), Adam Scott or even Jason Day might be interested investing GolfCaddy.App. What do you think?
Maybe I’ll see you at Merge….Have a Blessed Day!!!
Will markets like Uniregistry be able to have .app domains resolve on their parked pages? Rick Schwartz had some encouraging remarks about .app this morning, though it’s still early.
I guess people searching for .app domains will have to use Safari browser for now, if they know about it. You can set up the Safari browser on a PC too, I’ve tried and it works for .app parked on Uniregistry.
It’s possible that safari just hasn’t updated the hsts list
Safari for Windows dates from 2012, and has had not development since. Notably, no security patches. So, um, less than fully wise.
Start listing your names at the registrars right away. The demand is hot right now. I think you could have these names listed in the registration path immediately. Buy for $65 sell tomorrow for a premium. Flip ’em quick
“You can hope that someone is savvy enough to go to one of those marketplaces and find your domain but it seems like syndicated listings at registrars will be your best best.”
Andrew…this is yet another reason why the domain industry is such a joke imho! Having owned businesses serving the financial service industries and the healthcare industries, I was sure that doing business the “old domain way” simply won’t work. I’ve made contact with a number of leaders in this industry, even Mike Cyger formerly of Domain Sherpa, and he reluctantly agrees with me for which I have proof.
Thanks for providing this platform from where I can point out how hosed up the domain industry really is. A few people have told me that I need to follow the rules to be successful to which I say BULLONEY!!! I intend to be successful the REAL old fashioned way. Care to know how? Just ask!.
Good points Andrew I’ve thought the same. So people can contact through uni as I’ve had 3 contacts already about black.app so I know that’s working. As for market places I don’t see the big deal as a lot of deal flow comes through those already. This will be no different.
The other points are correct about needing certs. However due to changes in chrome coming up it’s somethung everyone is going to have to figure out anyway and very soon. It’s annoying but in theory if your domain is not worth that effort, perhaps it’s not worth buying? That alone should save domain investors some money.
Everyone else that is really mad just missed the boat on ultra short/generics … not just missed the boat, saw it pull up, people jump on it and sail off all in slow motion.
Ps if you have a link to Ricks comments please post it’s hard to follow all the dotapp info
http://www.ricksblog.com/2018/05/google-breaks-the-new-gtld-jinx-with-app/#.WvSjoNTyssY.
I think the comments are here on Ricks Blog.
Thank you!
Blackjack.app … worked on my phone like a charm even without the cert….
125 bucks a year carrying cost. 2k flat fee…. too easy.
Didn’t work on my Android Galaxy S8. Great way to advertise the domain though.
Yeah cause your my target market for a sale of any sort… lol
Your target market must be incredibly specific then if you’re not concerned about lack of access.
So far, based on your criteria, your target market is yourself because you know you can use your phone.
Be smart, get an SSL cert and expand your reach.
My target market is not selling to domainers it’s end users.
Ps… read my comments it’s pretty clear I’m advocating setting up ssl pages…
you paid $125 for blackjack.app? where you buy it? i paid $14 for hotwings.app with google domain.
“”I thought you’d be able to just forward your .app domain to a secure page, but that’s not the case.””
Interesting. I just typed in the 2 .apps I picked up, and they forward to my https BrandableNames.com page in IE/Edge, but not so in Chrome and FireFox. Hopefully they will eventually.
Only if your .app is hosted on Google Domain.
Yes, first time domainers in the legal and investment professions spending over 100 K on app domains —- several keyword 2 letter words that would sell for over a million for a .com and premium key words that would fetch high six figures in .com.
I asked them if they would like to buy some premium .com domains I own?
Response: No, we’re not ready for .com yet.
I don’t think you can compare .app to .mobi,, but no doubt the aegis of “Google” creates an over-optimism bias (remember the abc.xyz news, and the subsequent .xyz mania). & I remember the hazy affiliation of .mobi with Nokia, Microsoft, etc lured first time domainers into false cognitive optimism biases with their substantial mobi investments.
I’m very happy I didn’t pull the triggers on buying crypto.app, blockchain.app, and office.app — they were in my shopping carts — but those huge renewal fees deterred me — so I pressed delete/remove
And of course, next week there will be news of Crypto.app selling for six figures — it’s OK,
If I had 100k as a first timer I’d put it all in .com
Regardless of whether you put 100K into .com, gTLD’s. or a combination of the two, you need a better liquidation plan than the domain industry recommends.
Going directly to end users and “educating” them is the key. The “name” business isn’t rocket science, and if you apply the KISS principle, DOMAINS will be your oyster….just ask Shakespeare!!!
Enjoy living in the past!
.com will continue to be king – but .app isn’t a bad gamble in the world of domains.
You can be pro-active and look for companies who have apps and are not optimized to be brandable – maybe the domain name length in their URL is too long for example. You can reach out to these companies directly. I will do a post on Linkedin shortly with a screen shot. I wish aftermarket companies would support domain investors find the buyers for their keyword domains. The data is at their fingertips – that would be good value provided to domain investors as well.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/samfrida/
Do not swim in the Google ocean. There are riptides and undertows. For those of you that make it to sure, congratulations.
Should we only use Bing?
Do not swim in the Google ocean. There are riptides and undertows. For those of you that make it to shore, congratulations.
You thought this comment was so brilliant that you had to post it twice, eh?
“If I had 100k as a first timer I’d put it all in .com”
Well, yes, but you would need to know the market — viewed sales, read the leading blogs like this one, analyzed comps, know the auction listings, be aware of trends, tech, etc.
For example, if I recall providers.com recently sold for 100 K, which is a great deal for buyer and seller.
I remember the .mobi evangelists thinking their .mobi investments could be worth 1/10 of the valuations of the same key words in .com
Flowers
Dating
Casino
I believe we’re seeing some of the same thinking with .App.
Owning premium key words such as Drone, Bet, Enterprise, Wallet, Coin in .app (in conjunction with the alignment with the juggernaut Google) are sexier, for these first time domainers, than owning a sure thing domain like providers.com
I don’t know how you compare studying the .com market to investing in .app domains. .App domains are more of a gamble…there’s nothing to study, it’s just a big bet.
You’re comparing the .app market to the .com market 20 years later. I can’t wait to read your comments in 5 years, which will read similar to the people in 2008 who said the iPhone will never take off.
Google will ditch it like a hot potato. Look at Google’s I/O launch video on .app, the people running it have no clue, they are low level people and Google has people minimal importance on the project.
Look at the examples they talked about like Albert.app, in truth the company uses Albert.com and Albert.app is just duplicate content.
Google’s “other divisions” will penalise sites like Albert.app whilst the people running .app tell people it is a great example of usage.
Maybe Uniregistry can provide new alternative name servers:
NS1 (dot) BUY-DOMAIN-AT-UNIREGISTRY (dot) UNIREGISTRY (dot) LINK
NS2 (dot) SELLING-LIKE-HOTCAKES (dot) UNIREGISTRY (dot) LINK
Buyers of dot app domains will be technically sophisticated people, they will figure out what to do next.
“App domains are more of a gamble…there’s nothing to study, it’s just a big bet.”
I concur.
& that’s why I chose not to gamble, except for the few I purchased purely for development.
As mentioned before, .app domain regs are way down on the list of product priorities with Google. Data capture within the apps and/or developed .app ecosystem for monetization will be challenging with the new privacy laws and regulations
Steve, could you get in touch with me please, I’ve also purchased a few domains and wonder what would be the best way to potentially sell, new to that part of the equation. my email is
vipmodeling a/t gm ail .com
cheers
Dennis
Dennis,
If you managed to acquire some premium key word .app domains, I’d suggest putting all those you have no intention of developing on the market as early as next week — as the extension still has some heat, which should last for a while — there should be a solid aftermarket for .app domains, especially for those who like to own key words they can’t afford in .com
I assume you can begin setting prices on them on Godaddy/Afternic. Sedo? not sure
But I’d sell them while they’re still hot – or at least those with no dev plans on your part
Good luck!
Any advice on the pricing strategies? Right now it seems godaddy is the only auction working. Action, is, best I can put it, is puzzling with few domains at 5 figures and rest dead. I think it is still early?
Wow 5 figures for .app domains already? Or did I missunderstand something
like I said I’m new to this, but if you search by bids/offers yes there are couple 5 figure ones.
http://www.black.app
Live… a bit of hassle playing around with Godaddy UX. I bet cheaper options out there but for now this works. Godaddy support is insanely good I must add.
There is a way: use Blogger, the SSL certificate is offered. Check example here: http://www.jovenet.app
Is there a charge?
It is a gamble. I decided to take a chance but only with regular reg fees. I bought some that have the .com domain already registered and for sale at a premium.
Bought Fedcoin.app & reservaciones.app *
I will see if it works out.
Thanks for the nice article!
Bought bankroll.app and gainweight.app as I think that these two will have a high value for app developers. I mean, how many fitness/budget managing apps are there already? I hope that I can make some profit with those!
Parking and selling platforms can have automatic Let’s Encrypt activation. Just some integration work needs to be done, no recurring fees.
Actually, if you bought your .APPs through Google Domain, you won’t run into SSL issues hosting them anywhere else. The problem only occurred if your .APPs were purchased through other registras.
I use Undeveloped.com to sell .APP domains I bought through Google Domain (https://undeveloped.com/buy-domain/hotwings.app) and they work out fine.
$1.25 million oh. my. god. lol. I bought 75+ premium, 1-word .app names. I can’t imagine what I can get for them if this is the precedent!
This is why I created DomainSales.app
It provides free SSL forwarding for .app domains.
Can’t sell them, if you can’t land them. 🙂
Let me try to link that.. https://domainsales.app
Michael, thanks for creating this. I just set it up. What’s happening in the background to make this work?
No problem. Just trying to help the domain market get these names out until everyone gets with the program and implements SSL redirection/SSL certificates for each domain. This will become more of a requirement as time goes on….
To create this site it took:
Couple of days of custom code.
The process is:
Site entered into the database
DNS entries created, site created.
Little magic.
LetsEncrypt – automated to create the SSL
Update webserver with certificate
Little more magic
Code to redirect the https version of your domain to the lander’s URL.
Epik and Efty forwarding is now supported.
Afternic, Sedo, Undeveloped, and Uniregistry supported as before.
Hopefully the big boys will get their act together soon and support SSL across all domains on landers.
So once again if you need to forward your .app domain feel free to use https://domainsales.app , well, for free.
I bought a few .app domains and landed them. Let’s see whats going to happen now. Http:/www.visitlondon.app , http:/www.visitabudhabi.app , http:/www.racinguk.app , http:/www.pokernews.app and http:/www.hasanat.app
Just secured the https://www.buuy.app for our forth coming global app.
It just got a little easier to sell your .App domains… Undeveloped now offers SSL Landers. I highly recommend them.
I got websecurity.app and nonstop.app. Both are Premium domains. Any Advice how to resale it ??
The ones I have are being programmed by my partners and computer engineers.
Happy Day. Jose
Hi, Can I Start My Website with .App Domain Name?
Example – xyz.app ?? it is good for website?