How Would You Improve Domaining Newsletters?

by Morgan on January 31, 2014

I think we’re all subscribed to half a dozen different Domaining newsletters. In most cases these come daily filled with lists of domains along with prices and sometimes a pitch about why a particular name is valuable. I love these newsletters myself and have been subscribed to many for years.

I have had my own newsletter for about five years now. For the most part my newsletter has been focused on content, typically articles similar to what you’d find on my blog but that are exclusive to newsletter subscribers. Now I’m thinking of making a change and I wanted to run this by all of you to see what you think and get your suggestions.

Here’s what I’m thinking:

• Weekly Newsletter (I blog daily so can’t do a daily newsletter, but heck you guys don’t want me emailing you every day do you?)
• One featured article (written exclusively for newsletter subscribers)
• $500 or Less Weekly Domain Deals (domains for sale by me and subscribers who submit names)
• Monthly special offer (special promotion or deal offered by a company in the domain space)

In the $500 or less weekly domain deals I would curate the submissions myself so it doesn’t get filled with junk and make some ground rules like .COM-only and maximum of three words. As a domain investor I’m focused on .COM so I don’t think it would make sense to sell other TLDs through the newsletter since I don’t think much besides .COM makes a good investment.

What do you think? Is this something you would subscribe to? How would you do things differently? Comment and let your voice be heard!

Photo Credit: Christopher S. Penn via Compfight cc

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{ 7 comments… add one }

• 

  Leonard Britt January 31, 2014, 5:38 pm

  Domain newsletters seem to have either dubious-quality domains or those priced for end users. And yet if the recipients of these newsletters are merely domain investors, what’s the point? It seems like an exercise in futility. So either send out investment-quality domains at prices which provide upside to an investor or I want to see on occasion that the newsletter is making sales which appear on DNJournal. I don’t want to submit a domain to a newsletter which is going to send out one email targeted toward domainers and then my domain is locked up for 30 days or longer. Just my view…

  Reply
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  Josh January 31, 2014, 5:51 pm

  I think consistency is key. I usually look at Toby’s newsletter daily because it comes daily and because it usually contains some high quality names. Since yours will be weekly, I think it might help if you release it at the same time on the same day every week. Come up with a name so that your readers come to expect it and recognize it when it hits their inbox. I get tons of newsletters about all sorts of stuff, but the one I ALWAYS read is called “Newberg Report.” It’s a few-times-a-week report on the Texas Rangers baseball team. The name is simple, but it’s also a brand. And when it hits, I know what it is.

  Possible ideas to build readership:
  Run contests or exclusive offers to your subscribers.
  Maybe have a weekly offering of expiring domains you (or your readers) aren’t renewing.
  Add a section each week of new discoveries, like books you’ve read and got something from, apps you’ve tried and liked, domain services, podcasts, etc.
  Give a freebie for opting in.

  Reply
• 

  Josh January 31, 2014, 6:03 pm

  Leonard has a good point. If your main goal is to sell domains to domain investors via your newsletter, to be successful, you will have to provide value in some way. I think value can be provided via pricing.

  No idea if it would work, but I think it would be cool if you had domainers submit domains without pricing. Then you provide your pricing recommendation (at a price that you think could actually sell the name), and the seller could either accept or choose not to list. You could also include “make offer” listings where ANY offer is welcome (maybe lowball can sometimes be fun?).

  Also, you might set yourself apart by accepting a 10% commission instead of the standard 15%.

  Reply
• 

  DonnyM January 31, 2014, 8:01 pm

  Take 10 people have them send you a video of them telling why the domain they are selling is such a great deal in 20 seconds or less. .com only.

  Wrap it all into 2- 4 minute video. Charge them 50 bucks or 10% to do it. Engage the audience with video. Do it twice a month. When you have an auction of 5 or 10 names people can handle that when you a list of 100 names no one really looks at or it a real turn off at least for me it is.

  The lists are just lists, with video everyone can get involved. You then can have your viewers rate each domain on a 1-10 scale. Must be registered of course.

  Reply
• 

  Bruce Diller February 1, 2014, 7:53 am

  We all have way toooooooo much reading just to keep up. I think Donny’s idea of 30 sec video with the ‘why’ (marketing) will have multiple benefits: a) it’s not dry reading b) possibly open the mind of others to new ideas being presented c) it’s something different

  Thanks for ALL your great writing,
  With appreciation
  Bruce

  PS offer video as mp3 download for those that want to listen on the run

  Reply
• 

  Morgan February 1, 2014, 8:09 am

  Fantastic suggestions, I really appreciate it. I will be doing a follow-up post next week and let you all know how I have decided to update the newsletter based on your feedback. Thanks again and have a wonderful weekend! 🙂

  Reply
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  Joe February 3, 2014, 11:29 am

  It was late? well you can always give other ideas in the same category have newsletter keywords then be converted to TLD domain names ………….. each subscriber of your blog to have a space to put a link to your blog and from the each of their subscribers can also do their sales any way they prefer, competition between the subscribers of your blog be themselves and their domain names. Com …..

  Reply