seeking advice How would you sell a Politician's Domain Name?

[accurate]

I own a politician's FirstNameLastName in .com.

Currently I have a simple website on it. I don't agree with their political views or what they do. So I have a bunch of links on the domain to opposition organizations and politicians.

This is all legal since I have a disclaimer on the website specifically stating I'm not affiliated with any political organization, individuals, or campaigns.

A couple weeks ago I got an offer via DomainAgents for the domain. Offer is obviously from the politician.

I wasn't going to sell it but was rethinking it recently.

Some might remember, Rand Paul had to buy his .com for $100,000 a few years ago. I figured if they can pay a similar amount or more, why not sell?

Anyone ever sell a politician their matching .com domain? How do those that regularly sell political domains and politicians domain do this? What was the negation process like?

 

[amplify]

You're right, Rand Paul did have to buy his matching .com for $100,000. However, we're ignoring the larger picture of politics here. The Senator raised nearly $39 million campaigning from 2009 to 2021. Furthermore, we're not even taking his $174k federal wages from 2011 to the sale in 2015 into account either.

I think you can tell where I'm going with this now...

...but if not, you can follow the money.

A politician may only receive a piddly $100,000 in campaign donations for a Congressional run. That's barely enough for a couple of thousand flyers.

If you find a politician with more, that's when you can start asking for more. It never hurts to ask for more, especially if you know they have it.

 

[accurate]

Thanks for the advice @amplify.

The way I see it is they need to run again next year. So they are at a huge disadvantage if the political campaign doesn't own the domain. All the competition does own FirstNameLastName in .com.

They used the domain before for campaigning and let it drop.

Looks like they raised between $3 million - $5 million dollars from what I can tell.

I will gladly take all of that.

 

[amplify]

All the competition does own FirstNameLastName in .com.

They could always slap a year after it, but I'd think that this is a psychological mind game.

So, they announce running in 2021 with FirstnameLastname2022.com.

They felt they made change and decide to go for 2024. But, they can't really use their old domain... this is where necessity comes into play as they might be there running for multiple seats.

Looks like they raised between $3 million - $5 million dollars from what I can tell.

Just merely comparing the two, Rand Paul and this person's budget, it doesn't seem unreasonable that they couldn't afford it at that price. I don't know the inner workings of why Rand paid that much, but there could be more to the story. It definitely can give you leverage to ask more though, just don't get greed get to the best of you where you get 0 for two election cycles instead of something now.

My F+L.com portfolio (~15 names and growing) is structured similarly like this with BINs, BINs dependent on popularity, etc., and what I know they can pay (1 month's wages -- nothing for them).
$500
$750
$1000
$2500
$5000
$7500

 

[accurate]

They could always slap a year after it, but I'd think that this is a psychological mind game.

So, they announce running in 2021 with FirstnameLastname2022.com.

That doesn't make any sense but I do see they have some of these still registered.

Just use one domain.

They felt they made change and decide to go for 2024. But, they can't really use their old domain... this is where necessity comes into play as they might be there running for multiple seats.

Exactly.

Just merely comparing the two, Rand Paul and this person's budget, it doesn't seem unreasonable that they couldn't afford it at that price. I don't know the inner workings of why Rand paid that much, but there could be more to the story. It definitely can give you leverage to ask more though, just don't get greed get to the best of you where you get 0 for two election cycles instead of something now.

I will use that sale as an example of value. Inflation over the last 6 years.

My F+L.com portfolio (~15 names and growing) is structured similarly like this with BINs, BINs dependent on popularity, etc., and what I know they can pay (1 month's wages -- nothing for them).
$500
$750
$1000
$2500
$5000
$7500

Generally I don't find FirstName + LastName in .com worth the investment. When you try explain the value to people with that name they usually don't care. If they did, they likely would have a web presence or website.

People are whack and pretty stupid in my experience as far as internet smarts go.

Some people might have a different experience but generally this is what I have found.

 

[Biggie]

A couple weeks ago I got an offer via DomainAgents for the domain. Offer is obviously from the politician.

Hi

do you know for sure it is that person or are you just assuming

anybody, including a domainer, can pay to send an offer

still, over the years i;ve been offered my name a few times and declined
to me.... it's no biggie and i;ve been offered biggie/io before too

imo...

 

[accurate]

do you know for sure it is that person or are you just assuming

There are others with the name. The politician is prepairing a campaign for next year.

anybody, including a domainer, can pay to send an offer

Yes but most won't pay to do it.

 

[accurate]

Quick update.

They refuse to offer more.

I informed the domain broker that I have a catch-all on the domain name though. I see all types of emails coming through.

 

[accurate]

Has anyone reached out to the politician's rivals to sell them the domain name?

 

[accurate]

Interesting info here.

Domain Names, Cybersquatting, Politics and the Law

Hell hath no fury like a politician cybersquatted. Accusations of identity theft, cybersquatting, unfair competition, and violations of legal rules of ethics are all flying at me. This is what you can expect when you register a domain with a politician's name in it. But don't despair. There's…

moz.com