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“Interview with Morgan Linton, Author of Domain Investing Handbook”

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Morgan Linton’s Domain Investing Playbook: Turn $7 Domains into Six-Figure Income

In a revealing DomainSherpa interview, Morgan Linton shared how he transformed from a domain newbie (buying 1,200 domains in 2007) into a six-figure earner. Here’s his actionable advice for building a sustainable portfolio.

TL;DR Key Takeaway – spoiler – if you haven’t watch the interview yet:

Morgan’s success hinges on data-driven decisions (Google Keyword Planner) and niche alignment (e.g., .us for government terms). Avoid “get-rich-quick” domains – focus on sustainable revenue, not speculation.

3 Core Principles of Morgan’s Strategy

1. Quality Over Quantity: The 50% Drop Rule

Lesson: Morgan dropped 600/1,200 domains within a year.

Actionable Tip:

Use Google Keyword Planner to check search volume.

Drop domains with <500 exact-match monthly searches or <$2 CPC.

Example: He let go of iwantasegue.com (zero demand) but kept stimuluscheck.us (8,100+ searches).

2. Monetization > Development

Key Insight:

Focus on revenue streams (ads, affiliates, sponsorships), not just content.

stimuluscheck.us earns $250/month via AdSense + ClickBank, despite minimal updates.

Actionable Tip:

Match monetization to audience intent. Kayaking.org uses sponsorships; debt sites use eBooks.

3. Expired Domains: Hidden Gems

Strategy: Buy aged .coms (3+ years) with backlink history.

Example: A skincare magazine domain with 300 backlinks redirected traffic post-acquisition.

Red Flag: Google devalues expired domain backlinks, but traffic remains.

Case Studies: What Works (and What Doesn’t)

Case 1: StimulusCheck.us – $1,000+/Month with Minimal Effort

Niche: Government-related terms (.us TLD adds trust).

Traffic: 20,000+ visitors/month at peak.

Monetization: AdSense + affiliate eBooks.

Case 2: Kayaking.org – Authority via Directories

Model: Geo-targeted directory (e.g., AustinKayaking.com redirected here).

Revenue: Sponsorships (200–500/month from local businesses).

Case 3: TweetCourse.com – Flippa Sale for $1,000

Lesson: Sell sites requiring active management.

Flippa Checklist:
(1) Highlight traffic sources (SEO, direct navigation).
(2) Disclose revenue streams (e.g., $80/month from courses).

Tools & Tactics to Triumph

1. Google Keyword Planner

Use it to

Validate search demand (aim for 500–10,000 exact matches).

Avoid oversaturated niches (e.g., laptops.com needs a $100k SEO budget).

2. Redirect Strategy

Redirect geo-domains (AustinKayaking.com) to a central hub (Kayaking.org).

Result: 500+ monthly visitors from 50+ redirected domains.

3. The 80-20 Rule

20% of domains generate 80% of revenue.

Morgan’s Portfolio: 160 sites earn $100k/year, but 10–20 drive most income.

Morgan’s Hardest Lesson: When to Let Go

Rule: Drop domains costing more in renewals than revenue.

Example: He sold TweetCourse.com to focus on passive income.

Pro Tip: Reinvest savings from dropped domains into high-potential buys.

Hall of Fame

Morgan Linton earns his spot in our Hall of Fame not just for his six-figure success, but for his transparency. Unlike secretive ‘gurus,’ he shares real metrics (like dropping 600 domains) and advocates for ethical domaining. His focus on education (via Domain Investing Handbook) and rejection of get-rich-quick schemes make him a rare role model in a niche riddled with grifters.