Six years ago, my marketing agency was struggling. Client work was draining, margins were thin, and I was on the burnout express. Then I accidentally discovered domain flipping, and it changed everything.
It started when I bought WeddingCaterers.com on a hunch for $1,200. Eight months later, I sold it to a catering company for $8,700. That profit margin made me sit up straight.
Unlike client work, domains don’t email at midnight with “emergency” revisions. They don’t scope-creep.They just sit there, quietly appreciating while you sleep.
So I began studying the market. I noticed patterns in what sold versus what gathered dust. Domain values aren’t random—they’re driven by commercial intent, search volume, and emerging business trends.
My strategy evolved: buy domains in growing niches with clear commercial intent, preferably exact-match phrases people actually type into search bars. CannabisInsurance.com. RemoteTeamTools.com. MentalHealthApps.com.
The ROI isn’t always quick—sometimes you’re holding domains for years—but the returns consistently outperform almost any other investment vehicle I’ve tried. My domain portfolio now generates more profit than my agency ever did, with about 5% of the headache.
For entrepreneurs looking to diversify, domain investing offers something uniquely valuable: it leverages your existing market knowledge. You already know which industries are heating up, which keywords matter, which business models are gaining traction. That instinct has serious monetary value in the domain world.
The barrier to entry is refreshingly low, but the learning curve is real. You’ll make mistakes (like my unfortunate bulk purchase of travel domains right before COVID). But unlike most business ventures, your downside is limited to your registration fees if you’re patient enough to wait out market fluctuations.
Want to start? Begin with what you know. Identify undervalued domains in your industry, make reasonable offers, and be prepared to hold. The biggest returns go to those who spot value before it’s obvious to everyone else.