May 2009 prediction
a) minimum snap bid for the worst L-L-L.com: $12
b) minimum reseller price for the worst L-L-L.com: $10
c) minimum snap price for triple 'premium' L-L-L.com: $35
d) minimum reseller price for a triple 'premium' L-L-L.com: $35
e) end user triple 'premium' L-L-L.com: $1000+

The domain market has been booming since 2003, driven largely by internet traffic and ad spending growth. The traffic and ad outlook remains healthy, but PPC evolution is challenging easy monetization of domains. PPC uncertainty, combined with weakness in the broad global economy, and preceded by a relentless 5-year domain upmarket, make it hard to be bullish on any domain segment over the next 12 months. Expect to see some blue chip traffic names change hands this year at reduced multiples more in line with bond values. It's unlikely that domainer money will flow from traffic names to non-traffic names which have no underlying earning power. Money chasing predictable returns will flow into discounted traffic names while speculative money heads for the exits. Cash strapped end users are more tempted to hand reg hyphenated 2-word descriptive dot coms or non-hyphenated names with less popular extensions instead of paying a premium for an L-L-L. Impressive L-L-L.com end user sales will occur, but fewer speculators will have the risk tolerance to pickup drops or the patience to outlast multiple renewal cycles in the hope of a big payday. The gap between L-L-L.com end user and reseller/snap prices will widen.