As an extension to Sedo's standard online marketplace - and as an alternative to the traditional offer/counter-offer system - Sedo offers live domain auctions. Domains you list in your Sedo account are not automatically put up for auction; they are included in Sedo's Online Marketplace as standard listings. For listed domains, there are two types of auctions available: Marketplace Auctions and GreatDomains or Themed Auction Events. You cannot, however, initiate either type of auction unless certain conditions have been met:
Marketplace Auctions
The process of how you would begin a Marketplace Auction is:
- List your domain for sale through your Sedo account.
- Receive an offer through the standard Sedo marketplace from an interested buyer. (Promoting your domain through Sedo’s Featured Listings improves your chances of receiving an offer.)
- Accept the offer as the starting bid and reserve price for your auction within the first 5 days of the 7-day binding offer. This is usually presented as "Option C" in your bid thread details, if the option is available.
- Wait to receive additional bids during the remaining time of the auction. Since you already have a committed buyer at the reserve price, your auction listing is guaranteed to end in a sale, even if no other bids are made.
Hint! Check out 13 ways you can market your domains and make the most of Sedo's marketplace.
GreatDomains/Themed Auction Events
Condition: The domain you want to auction was submitted (via application) and approved for an Auction Event.
Sedo hosts GreatDomains and Themed Auction Events limited to high quality domain names. Our Auction Events run for 7 days, beginning on the third Thursday of each month. The scheduling for all Auction Events (including Themed Auctions) may be viewed on the Domain Auction Schedule. Domains may be approved if:
- The domain extension (TLD) of the domain is considered premium and has a history of high-value sales (such as .com, .net or .de)
- The domain is generic, describing an existing product or service. E.g. like car.com, creditcard.com, or healthcare.com
- The domain is short, consists of an actual, real word, and is easy to remember
- The domain is easy to spell and not prone to typographical errors
- The TLD geographically matches the language of the domain name
- The domain doesn't violate third party rights (e.g. trademark rights, intellectual property, or other famous names)
Applying: You may submit an application for any domain you've listed in your Sedo account that has not previously been declined:
- Log into your Sedo account.
- Visit My Sedo > My Domains > Domain Management.
- Check off up to five listed domains to be considered for an Auction Event.
- Click the grey “Apply for Auction” button and then select the Auction Event name.
- On the following page enter your reserve and confirm the application.
Note 1: You may only submit five domains for consideration per 24-hour period. These domains must already be listed in your Sedo account.
Note 2: All Auction Events are open only to generic, high-quality domain names. Applications are reviewed by Sedo’s brokerage department; the brokers determine whether a domain meets the criteria and if the suggested reserve price is appropriate. Both conditions must be met to qualify. English .com and .net domains participating in a GreatDomains Auction Event are also featured on GreatDomains.