Meet the Team - April 2012

Apr/12/12| Meet the Team - April 2012 Go Behind the Scenes at Sedo with Lianne van Hoorn Name: Lianne van Hoorn
Title: Senior Regional Manager - BeNeLux / Account Manager - Scandinavia
Team: Inside Sales Team
Location: Cologne, Germany

Q: When did you join the Sedo team, and how did you discover Sedo?
A: I moved from The Netherlands to Germany 3 years ago, because my (German) boyfriend and I decided to live together in Cologne. I was looking for a new challenge in my professional life, and, because I worked as an account manager before, I applied for the “Regional Manager – Benelux” position at Sedo.

Q: Did you know about Sedo or domains before starting?
A: I did not know much about domains or the domain industry to be honest. In The Netherlands I used to organize corporate events, so that was something totally different. But I was amazed to find out how professional and big the domain industry is. And how few women are working in this industry…

Q: What is your role at Sedo?
A: I am responsible for the Dutch-speaking market (basically exists the Netherlands and Belgium). The Dutch market is already strong and very active, and I expect it to grow more in the future, so I try my best to develop it. I am also an account manager for our Scandinavian clients.

Q: What does that role entail?
A: The role of a country or regional manager is one of the most diverse positions at Sedo – I am in daily contact with clients, registrars, and other business partners. I am a broker for the Dutch market, and I make sure Sedo regularly pops up in the Dutch press. Next to that, I am always looking for new ways to improve the market.

Q: What does a typical day at Sedo look like for you?
A: First I need my coffee! But not a German “Filterkaffee” (brewed coffee). I bring my own Senseo Coffee Pods to the office. After coffee, every day is different… That’s what I like so much about this job!

Q: What’s your favorite aspect of your job?
A: The diversity of the job would have to be my favorite part, but also the great atmosphere at work between colleagues, and the daily contact with different types of clients from my markets.

Q: What’s the funniest thing that’s happened to you while working at Sedo?
A: Working together with so many different cultures and languages leads to funny situations almost daily. But one thing that pops into my mind was a meeting with a big adult portfolio holder during my first few weeks at Sedo. We discussed opportunities to sell the portfolio, and the explicit words and phrases that came up early that morning make me laugh, but I can’t say what they are here. Needless to say, I left that client’s office knowing a few new words and wondering how I would explain my new job to others!

Q: If you were a domain extension, which would you be and why?
A: Definitely a .NL! It’s funny how it works, but after moving to a different country, the affinity with your birth country grows stronger somehow.

Q: If you could register or buy any domain, what would it be, and why?
A: At the moment it would probably be a name like wedding.com, because I am getting married in a couple of weeks! But I would not say no to sex.com either, since it’s the industry’s biggest sale on record so far at 13 Million USD.

Q: What’s unique about the typical Dutch domainer?
A: Dutch domainers are direct, down to earth, and they go for it when they want something. They love to negotiate and are very good at it too. A lot of domain sales are sold on a confidential basis. And even better, Dutch domainers are also great to drink a beer with!

Q: What advice would you give to people who are interested in buying, parking, or selling domains for the first time?
A: Make sure that you own domains in a niche that you know about. And keep your price expectations realistic when you offer a domain for sale. You might miss a great chance to sell your domain when your price expectations are too high. A few smaller sales are sometimes more interesting than waiting for that one big sale to come along.

Q: What’s on your desk at Sedo?
A: A black and white cow that starts waggling when the sun starts shining. It was a birthday present from my 86-year-old grandfather.

Q: What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
A: Visiting friends, cooking together, exploring the world with a backpack, diving or… just reading a book

Q: The one thing you have with you at all times is…? (And why?)
A: My iPhone. I am addicted to Wordfeud.

Q: What’s your favorite quote?
A: “Not every change is an improvement, but every improvement is a change.”

Q: And, most importantly, what’s your (zodiac) sign?
A: Sagittarius.

The entire Sedo team would like to wish Lianne a very big congratulations on her upcoming wedding!

Is there someone at Sedo you’d like to know more about? Email shout[at]sedo.com!