“It’s all about matching the right domains to the right buyers.” 💎
On day two of DomainX Bangalore 2015, I met Frank Tillmanns, a premium domain broker at Sedo, and Sophie Pieck, who works on Sedo’s Indian market. Frank was holding up a domain for sale: Software.com. 🎙️
📊 In this episode, we unpacked:
- 🏨 From hotel booking to brokerage
- 💎 Seven-figure packages
- 🎯 How a premium broker sells
- ⚠️ Trademarks, typos and overpaying
- 🇮🇳 Why .in could take off
🎥 Watch the full episode:
🏨 From Hotel Booking to Brokerage
Frank was managing director of an online hotel booking site in Germany. While exploring domain ideas there, he came across Sedo and was intrigued. Connections followed, Sedo needed a broker, and he made the switch about eight years before this interview. 🏨
For how DNJournal covered Sedo’s early days, read Ron Jackson’s interview. 🔗
💎 Seven-Figure Packages
Frank couldn’t give an exact count of seven-figure domains at Sedo, but Software.com was at the highest level: a full package with freeware.com, shareware.com and software.co.uk. Another was Files.com, packaged with country extensions like files.de, in the lower seven figures. 💎
Many high-value end-user sales stay confidential, because companies don’t want to reveal what they spend. One public example he recalled was booker.org, which he believed sold for about $1 million. For another big domain buy, read Jon Yau’s $250K domain story. 🔗
Frank and his colleagues take great domains under exclusive contract, do lots of research, and reach out to natural buyers: companies, or startups that want maximum attention from day one. 🎯
Generic keyword domains are the most valuable for visibility. A forgettable name has no memorability or value. Generally, English keyword .coms and two-letter .coms are worth the most, but strong names exist elsewhere: a commercially usable German keyword on .de can be very valuable.
⚠️ Trademarks, Typos and Overpaying
Nobody can trademark a generic term like “software”, so those are safe. Be careful with packages that include trademarks, and stay away from typos of known brands, which can bring legal trouble. ⚠️
Beyond that, it depends on your intent. Investors flipping names must not overpay. End users building a company need to choose the domain that gets the best results. For the legal side, read Zak Muscovitch’s interview. 🔗
🇮🇳 Why .in Could Take Off
It was Frank’s first time in India, and he was struck by how warm and motivated everyone was. German companies favor .de over .com, and he hoped .in would follow. It can even tell a story like a new gTLD, with names like come.in or go.in. 🇮🇳
Sophie, about a year into the industry, said Sedo already worked widely with Indian customers and saw chances for business partnerships. For another Indian domain view, read Manmeet Pal Singh’s interview. 🔗
📝 Key Takeaways From the Team Sedo Interview
- 🎯 Brokers match great names with natural buyers
- 💎 Generic keyword .coms are the most valuable
- ⚠️ Avoid trademark typos
- 💰 Investors must not overpay
- 🇮🇳 ccTLDs like .de and .in can be strong
❓ FAQs About Frank Tillmanns and Sophie Pieck
Who is Frank Tillmanns?
A premium domain broker at Sedo who previously ran an online hotel booking site in Germany.
Which domains are most valuable?
Generally, English generic keyword .coms and two-letter .coms, though strong keywords in other extensions can be valuable too.
What should domain buyers avoid?
Trademarked names and typos of known brands, and overpaying if you plan to resell.
🎙️ More Inside A Hustler’s Brain Interviews You’ll Love
- Brian Michitti Sedo Domain Broker Interview at Domainfest 2015
- Interview with Arvind Reddy Big Time Domainer at DomainX 2015
- Deepak Daftari Founder of eSiksha.com Sharing his Domain Business Journey
- Interview with Raymond King from Top Level Design at Domainfest 2015
Would you rather own a premium .com or a great keyword on .in? Tell me in the comments. 💬
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Jitendra Vaswani is a well-known expert in SEO and AI-driven digital marketing. He has spoken at international events and founded Digiexe, a digital marketing agency, and AffiliateBooster, WordPress plugin designed specifically for affiliate marketers. With over 10 years of experience, Jitendra has helped many businesses succeed online. His bestselling book, Inside A Hustler’s Brain: In Pursuit of Financial Freedom, with over 20,000 copies sold globally, underscores his influence and commitment to empowering digital marketers.