Thoughts

Andrew Miller

December 22, 2024

Overcoming New Challenges

Some domain asset transactions are fast and easy, which is always nice. Many are complicated. In my 26 years of overseeing some of the most important domain transactions recorded, I have had my mix of both. In the 2-1/2 years since Hilco and I formed Hilco Digital Assets , there have been some negotiations that required a different level of expertise, including our sales of Gold*com and Rocket*com. My partners, the trust and credibility of the Hilco name, and the experience we bring to the table, has been a huge asset to me and our clients in getting these deals across the finish line in a win-win. As we close out 2024, I am in the middle of another complex deal, but with years of knowledge, and both sides being open minded and creative, I believe it will get done and it is a biggie from a brand perspective and a great outcome for both sides. This past week, we oversaw the sale of Metahuman*com , in a win-win for the buyer and seller.

A Glimpse at our 2025 Predictions

Last week, I posted strong thoughts on the importance of patience in the domain name asset class. It seemed to resonate with many which is good. What is on my mind today is the difference between exact match and category domains, and the demand for each. I will wait for DN Journal’s review issue to provide my thoughts on 2025, but let me preface this with,  I do have high expectations for category and exact match domains in 2025, as venture investment flows again, M&A activity increases, and tech IPO’s start to be filed. I have been involved in many of the most valuable category defining domains on the Internet, as a Founder/CEO (CreditCards*com/InsuranceQuotes*com), investor and advisor. Any .com one word domain asset that defines a multi-billion dollar industry always will have a buyer at the next level, because if deployed properly, these are the end all be all domain assets. Think Booking*com, Hotels*com, Chat*com, to name a small sample. What happens when the most obvious brands, who may be using a non .com TLD, or 2 words even though their brand is 1, do not understand or are not yet ready to grasp that their exact brand match .com is the most important strategic asset and investment they can make? My experience on that comes back to patience, because one of two things will occur; they will realize it before it’s too late, which happens so often, or someone else will and they will realize the missed opportunity, really the mistake, later. If there are only a handful of exact matches for your domain, and we at HDA are overseeing it, we invest so much time in these relationships, because we know it’s not “if but when”. Capiche?

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