Daily News & Updates
Just a short while back I met Alan in a domainer group and had the pleasure of learning more about him and the opportunity to join the Branders Union. I've personally met many good people from this group and bought several domains from other investors there. Alan has been a domain investor for a few years now and has put together a very special place for investors to feel empowered and heard. He has a healthy size portfolio and a great understanding of domains and of course brandables. It's great to see Alan and the Branders Union come together to support the domain investing community.
Before we jump into today's interview, let's please send Alan kudos for taking the time to do this for us. It's always great to meet new people in this industry who are giving back to the community.
It's great to have you here and we're all excited to learn more about you and the Branders Union. First let's hear about your background and how you found yourself in domain investing.
My background is in communications and marketing.
A few years ago, I managed the fundraising efforts for a few nonprofits. Building the databases for these efforts gave me some skills and appreciation for data analysis.
In 2018, one of my marketing clients received an email about a geo domain and asked me if I thought it was worth buying. I recommended they buy the domain and found them several more hand-reg domains, for which they gave me a big bonus.
I’ve been going strong with domains ever since.
Give us the good stuff. Tell us about the type of domains you choose to invest in and what size portfolio you have.
Brandables are the core of my investments. Inspired by Umer Khayam and Yogi Solanki, I’m starting to revisit geos and have also dipped into EMDs (Exact Match Domains).
I now carry over 1,000 domains.
Thank you for sharing that with us. Let's hear about a recent sale or acquisition you've made.
A recent sale (
see image below). It was featured in the 8/30/20 Domain Smoke newsletter and bought at auction by another investor. I acquired it through the barter channel in Branders Union.
Outside of domain investing, what do you enjoy doing for fun?
I sing karaoke. A current favorite is
Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey.
I walk in the sun.
And I explore ideas, particularly at the intersection of physics, philosophy, and culture.
How about your favorite food? Are you a tea or coffee guy?
I like to keep a large bag of dried mangoes nearby.
I drink green tea.
The Branders Union, tell us about how it was launched and when it was founded.
Sten Lillestrom approached me about organizing a small group of domain investors to gain some influence on a brandable marketplace for a single issue.
I thought Sten had a great idea, and that, rather than temporarily organizing around a single issue, it could be helpful for the branding community to have a more permanent organization where we could talk shop and advocate for our interests.
Branders Union launched in February, 2020.
Launching a new online community for investors to talk domains and everything industry related is no simple task. What was it like putting things together? Have there been many changes along the way?
There was a lot of uncertainty at first. Even though I had a few friends supporting it, I wasn’t sure the group would take off.
What has motivated me to build and develop it is the sense that this institution needs to be here to represent the branding community. The conviction that we, as a group, need a voice.
The group has evolved. We started out as an informal backchannel for brandable domainers but have since developed a more polished, public, and professional presence.
We’ve experimented with different channels and we now have a Twitter account.
Only if you feel comfortable sharing with us, can you say approximately how many active members you have?
We have over 160 members. While some are more active than others, most of these people are active in the group in some way.
To join the Branders Union, is it free to join or is there a membership fee? Does one need to be approved or vetted before joining?
The group is free to join. The only requirement is that you have a portfolio of brandable domains.
We occasionally verify new members through LinkedIn or NamePros to make sure we have an idea of who everyone is.
Why should investors join or participate at the Branders Union? Anything specifically they will find there and not in other social environments?
Branders Union is for people with a passion for brandable domains.
We can easily flow back and forth between the major brandable marketplaces, discussing strengths, weaknesses, and best practices on each.
What makes us unique above all is our mission to advocate for the collective interests of the brandable domain investor community. Sellers who work hard in the trenches every day now have a place to speak freely about brandable marketplaces, compare notes, and collectively work toward representing our interests on these marketplaces and beyond.
Is there anyone else on the team running things behind the scenes besides yourself? How heavily are things moderated? Is there a set of rules members have to follow?
Branders Union belongs to the community of brandable domain investors. Everyone in the group is an equal owner, and we try to run things as democratically as possible.
I’ve been one of the leading organizational figures but I’d like to see more people take on leadership roles and eventually have a Board of Directors.
There hasn’t been much need for moderation.
The unspoken rules are: be kind. Help each other.
What's the most popular section or channel inside the Branders Union?
Probably the most popular channel is #completed-sales. Everybody loves a good sale
Is there a section or channel that you personally enjoy the most?
On the suggestion of Rob Lasch, we recently added an
#agenda channel.
This might be my favorite part of the group because it helps us stay on top of priorities.
Success Stories from inside the Branders Union, are there any you can share with us?
One of our biggest successes was our
Summer 2020 Marketplace Report, where we surveyed our members and got a feel for everyone’s experience on the brandable marketplaces. This report was published by Raymond Hackney on
The Domains.
Often the marketplaces share updates and newsletters with the seller community so it felt good to see the seller community speaking up for our side of things in a professional, unified way.
Has creating the Branders Union changed or helped you grow in your career as a domain investor?
The group has been a great way for me to get to know fellow domain investors. There are so many smart, creative, hardworking people in this industry and I’m grateful to be part of it.
Branders Union has, at times, been controversial. While it has earned a great deal of respect among many, some people don’t support the cause. What do you say to the critics?
The interactions between sellers and marketplaces can be a lively conversation. At times there are strong feelings and disagreements.
But when genuine dialogue happens, mutual understanding and respect usually follow.
Branders Union is meant to be a positive force for dialogue, understanding, and respect.
Is there anything new coming to the Branders Union we should be on the lookout for?
I’d love to create a “Branders Union Summit” video conference that brings together representatives from the major brandable marketplaces and the seller community, where we can all come together and discuss what we do, what’s working, and what we’d like to see improved.
I think this would be a fun and productive event for the industry.
Thank you for sharing your time and educating us about the Branders Union. Do you have any closing comments or anyone you would like to give a shoutout to?
Thanks to you and Domain Smoke for lifting up the domain world every day with insight and inspiration, and for giving me the opportunity to share Branders Union with your audience.
I invite everyone in the brandable domaining community to join us and add your voice to the group.
We truly are stronger together.
It was a pleasure to have Alan here today and learn more about the Branders Union and what they stand for. If you want to thank Alan for his time or join the Branders Union, get in touch through the details below.
Twitter:
@BrandersUnion
Web:
BrandersUnion.org
Email: We(at)BrandersUnion.org
Sign up at
BrandersUnion.org or email We(at)BrandersUnion.org
Some of my favorite names going to auction today are
bluelantern.com,
wellgreens.com,
casaguru.com,
firstpromise.com,
blockchainshow.com,
passioncbd.com and
luckygambling.com. It's a big list today, enjoy and please share today's newsletter with fellow domainers. It was very kind of Alan to give his time and open the doors for Domain Smoke readers to join the Branders Union. Have an awesome Tuesday out there.
Quote of the Day "Your Greatness is now what you have, it's what you give." - Unknown
Domain's of the Day:
(Our Favorite Names at Auction Today)
crowdtilt.com
popuptest.com
peopleclub.com
cesn.com
mogul.net
bluelantern.com
criminaldefender.com
fictionfactory.com
wellgreens.com
awesomeinsurance.com
swapshare.com
idwise.com
casaguru.com
firstpromise.com
ltav.com
rvma.com
lfoy.com
blockchainshow.com
passioncbd.com
ahpw.com
evdf.com
vrpassion.com
aheartfulloflove.com
pricehq.com
curingamerica.com
luckygambling.com
Click The Links to Access The Live Auctions & Support Domain Smoke
The Dedication For This Newsletter is Fueled By Our Passion For Domains, The Respect For Our Investing Opportunities And Commissions Generated By Names We Share. Many Have Reached Out Asking How They Can Ensure We Get Credited For Our Efforts. It's Simple And Costs You Nothing. Load Your Cart Up With The Domains You're Buying, Then Come Back Here And Click The Corresponding Link Below Inside Of Your Browser Right Before Purchasing. Doing This Will Help Lock In The Credit For Our Hard Work.
Name Cheap Epik Dynadot Flippa GoDaddy
Thank You So Much For Your Support 
Daily Drop List
(GoDaddy Auctions Closing Today - Click to Join the Auction)
crowdtilt.com (Top name on the board today at $11K+, aged 10 years)
popuptest.com (Currently at $1,600+, 18 years old)
peopleclub.com (All humans welcome)
cesn.com (Good letters here, at $950+ right now)
mogul.net (The .us sold for $2,900. 23 years old)
deepershopping.com (When you look everywhere for a deal)
bluelantern.com (nice brandable here, redlantern.com sold for $2,300)
criminaldefender.com (Aged 24 years)
fictionfactory.com (Hey Mr Mark Levine, it's time to set up the factory)
wearefound.com (once we were lost, and now we are found)
wellgreens.com (Get well, the green way)
52667.com
62798.com
dogwoodseattle.com
gaminganalytics.com
vocabula.com
51550.com (Sold for $480 in the past, 18 years old)
awesomeinsurance.com (May your insurance be awesome, sold for $2,900 previously)
singames.com (Previously a video game channel)
trustedadviser.com
richardrothstein.com (A FNLN going for $300+)
range.us (Sold for $670 previously, the .net sold for $2,200)
swapshare.com (The next app to trade etc)
idwise.com (Sold for $2,800 previously)
ckrs.com
protravelgear.com
columbusnightlife.com
casaguru.com
iamresearcher.com
firstpromise.com
lfoy.com
ltav.com
rvma.com
cherryyarn.com
blockchainshow.com
passioncbd.com (Have passion in what you enjoy)
ndyi.com
blackkit.com
potodds.com
betterclassroom.com
viroga.com
litecoin.us (The .de sold for $4,900)
koplo.com
nefariousgame.com
republicanradio.com
evvq.com
premiertiles.com (PremierTile.com sold for $1,400)
controlnetworks.com
gostride.com (Go get your Stride on)
divestop.com
toiletreviews.com (Previously sold for $800)
cannaluna.com
sciencetutoring.com
leocore.com
yguys.com
blogbuild.com
vrpassion.com
metfit.com
windtronics.com
meritu.com
kiddreams.com
beautyque.com
chinasense.com
aheartfulloflove.com (Awee)
fashionstreets.com
corpchat.com
donbet.com
pricehq.com (Nice for a deals/coupons site)
wholesalebot.com
globalchilli.com
plugsales.com
ohiokids.com
whatthebitcoin.com (Would make a cool news site for BTC)
cranberryinn.com
cornerdrugs.com
corenaturals.com
weresorts.com (Plan your next trip to We Resorts today)
healaway.com (Doctor, please do your thing and heal away)
csold.com
oddpro.com
paintzoo.com
dnstrack.com
ahpw.com
evdf.com
slotdata.com
privacycop.com
eighthcontinent.com (Scientists argue we should have an eighth, Zealandia)
spyant.com (Send the little guys to spy on you)
flowernifty.com
realregency.com
superfitnutrition.com
travelindubai.com (TravelinGreece.com sold for $8,500)
seriom.com
alldice.com
supergooddeal.com
burgersandmore.com (bagelsandmore.com sold for $1,200)
thedegrees.com
popupcamp.com
storydesigners.com (StoryDesign.com sold for $3,800)
biznesslab.com
hyperdrops.com
smartRetainer.com
productivityroom.com
purejeans.com
desirableliving.com
afroreview.com
barbershopdaily.com
bigfootcbd.com
westmix.com (Sold previously, 17 years old)
perfectrocks.com (Diamonds)
bainbridgeforums.com (Michael Cyger’s next project)
polarpatrol.com
clubmum.com (ClubMama.com sold for $350)
routecbd.com
rosesflorist.com (sold previously, 16 years old)
habitsense.com
crowdgalaxy.com
blocksourcing.com
coloradvisory.com
happinesslawyer.com (They’ll fight for your happiness)
cupidslife.com
birthinglove.com
minipurple.com
questionweek.com (It’s right after shark week, 1 bidder currently)
racingmufflers.com (Aged 20 years)
notoriousco.com
plutoagency.com
importedbrand.com
outerspaceways.com
curingamerica.com
luckygambling.com
seoanything.com
smartnanobot.com
uniquebees.com
beltboom.com
hiringprogrammers.com
classicgang.com
painfultowatch.com (For me, it was always that show Jackass, those guys loved the pain)
zoompegasus.com
Catched Auctions
(Current Catched Auctions - Click to Join the Auction)
humoristas.es (Ends Today)
adota.pt (Ends Today)
sordo.es
nawa.co
stap.co
abit.co
rafaelalberti.es
sordo.es
co.fo
niu.es
only.pro
com.fo
niu.es
ogc.io
robert.es
oe.vc
Flippa Auctions
(Current Flippa Auctions - Click to Join the Auction)
ThatWasSick.com (Ends Today)
MovieDownloads.com
Bargain Bucket Domain Names
(GoDaddy Discount Domains with No Bids - Grab them fast, they're Buy Now)
luckyyachting.com
guysflowers.com (Guys appreciate them too)
scorpionblog.com
recycletote.com
smartpalz.com
centerdelivery.com (DeliveryCenter.com sold for $4,300)
smartlogout.com
dinkyhomes.com
ourdigitallegacy.com
fadefactions.com
ketonepro.com (KetoPro.com sold for $4,250)
huddleplay.com
consentnow.com
auctionyourself.com
rentingitall.com
skiinginus.com
hermosaclub.com (Hermosa Beach California, Hermosa means beautiful in Spanish)
nonstopnow.com (Can’t stop, won’t stop)
increasedaily.com (your pricing.. haha)
yogifast.com (Yogi went on a diet after eating to many books, so now he is fasting to balance it out)
investmentPayday.com (When that “SOLD” email comes through)
vaporizerreport.com (14 years old)
jumptogive.com
sublimedeals.com
smugliving.com
popstoner.com
supsox.com
moneygnome.com (Would make a fun logo, 15 years old)
daddysnacks.com
Upcoming Names to Watch
(Click the link to Watch & Follow the GoDaddy Auction)
8t.net
healthhaven.com
garrity.com
worse.com
buildyourself.com
shopmind.com
mealclub.com
eate.com
fastdrop.com
proe.com
tadf.com
hpbo.com
gohouse.com
Sponsored Listings
(Click the links below to contact the view the auction or contact the domain owner) Advertising details found here:
Sponsored Listing Info
YOUR AD HERE ------->
Get your domains listed here for exposure on our future newsletters to investors worldwide. You can have them run on specific dates and discounts are available for bulk domain listings.
Names Available For Handreg
(Click through the links to register at GoDaddy.com for just $4.99)
LiveHeadquarters.com
MysticalLive.com
TerrificLive.com
BluebirdLive.com
ExceptionalLive.com
ImpulseLand.com
GamedayLand.com (Sounds like a bar or lounge)
MastermindLand.com
SimplifyLand.com
ScorpionLand.com
WholesaleDiary.com
EverythingDiary.com (Cover it all)
StrategyDiary.com
EnlightenedDiary.com
SamedayDiary.com
RedappleBrands.com
CrossroadBrands.com
Handreg of the Day:
CatGorilla.com (Try it on BB or SH)
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