Sometimes, agreeing on a price is the simple part of a domain name transaction. There can be all sorts of hurdles to completing the deal.

For example, what if one of the parties doesn’t want to complete Know Your Customer requirements for escrow? What if a seller is in the middle of bankruptcy or a divorce? How can you handle complicated payment plans? And what if the buyer or seller wants to meet in person for an all-cash deal? (Hey, it happens!)

Bill Sweetman of Name Ninja has seen it all. On today’s show, he talks about some of these tricky complications and how to resolve them.

Also: BigCommerce’s big buy, domain investor sentenced, Tucows earnings and more 

Sponsor: Sav.com domain auctions

Every year, InterNetX and Sedo release a Global Domain Report. On this week’s show, I speak with representatives of the two companies to understand more about the 2025 report. 

First, Simone Catania of InterNetX joins me to explain what goes into developing the report and provide background.

Then, Semra Körner and Dave Evanson of Sedo discuss what the report reveals about the domain name aftermarket.

Download the 2025 Global Domain Report.

Also: GoDaddy and NameSilo earnings, domain transfers, expired domains and more. 

Sponsor: Sav.com domain transfers

On this week’s show, I run through some of the big news stories from the past week. This includes an explanation of why Verisign’s stock popped on Friday, how a domain seller is in in hot water after backing out of a deal, which law firm filed its FIFTH reverse domain name hijacking case, and an interesting lawsuit involving a premium domain under a new top level domain.

Then, I discuss a new domain valuation tool that shows both the promise and perils of AI. I conclude by sharing my domain sales results so far this year.

Sponsor: Sell your domains with Sav.com domain landers

Above.com has played an integral role in domain name monetization since the early days of parking. It has navigated many changes in monetization, and sees both challenges and opportunities in Google’s recent changes to its parking business.

On today’s show, Above.com and Trillion founder David Warmuz talks about how direct advertising will play a bigger role in monetization. He also recounts the long road he went on to acquired Trillion.com.

Sponsor:  Sav.com backorders

Domain investor Josh Reason joins me this week to share insights from managing his 5,500-domain portfolio. He discusses what types of domains he’s investing in, where and how he sells domains, and how his strategy is evolving. Josh also shares details on some recent sales and discusses his platform, DNX.com, which helps investors discover quality domains to buy.

Also: Tariffs, domains in the courts, and more.

Sponsor: Sav.com domain auctions

Braden Pollock had a record year last year, selling $6.5 million of domains. Many of his sales are headline-grabbing, but he also does a robust business with less expensive domains.

Today, he reveals some of his recent domain sales, explains how he prices domains, and discusses some of his success with non-.com domains.

Sponsor: Sav.com domain transfers

It’s time for our recurring podcast with domain investors Mark Levine and Logan Flatt! Mark and Logan come on the show frequently to share their domain investing results, talk about what’s working, and what’s not working for them. On today’s show, they detail their 2024 domain investing results. You’ll hear which top level domains they’re selling, how and where they are acquiring them, and how they are optimizing their portfolios.

Sponsor: Sell your domains with Sav.com domain landers

Afternic launched a basic self-brokering option last week. On today’s show, GoDaddy Sr. Director of Domain Investor Product Alan Shiflett joins us to talk about self-brokering. He discusses the company’s iterative approach to launching this feature (and others). We also discuss how the company is experimenting with AI in the aftermarket and how it has reduced shill bidding.

Also: Amazon’s new domains, Global Domain Report, which registrars are growing.

Sponsor:  Sav.com backorders

The domain name industry gathered in Seattle last week for ICANN’s annual community forum. During the show, I caught up on what’s happening with two important topics: Adsense for Domains and new top level domains. 

On today’s show I recap what I learned. You will then here from some other people who were at the show last week.

Also: .SU, Snoop Dogg, and Meta lawsuit appealed 

Sponsor: Sav.com domain auctions

At least one company is going big in the next round of new top level domain expansion.

On today’s show, Yoni Belousov explains why his company Nova Registry plans to apply for around 200 new top level domains in the next round.

Nova didn’t participate in the last round, and only entered the business with the acquisition of .link in 2022.

Why is Nova Registry going so big? What types of domains will it go after? And how does it plan to shake up the domain business? Find out on today’s show.

Also: Quantifying Adsense for Domains, Minting as a Service, and domain auctions

Sponsor: Sav.com domain transfers