Dynadot

analysis Major NET Sales: Price, Type, Length, Venue and Current Use

NameSilo
While .com certainly dominates the domain name aftermarket, significant .net sales continue to take place. For this article, I took a look at NameBio recorded .net sales of $10,000 or more during the period Jan 1, 2015 to Aug 10, 2020. There were 206 .net sales of $10,000 or more during this period, although only 3 were at $100,000 or more. Most of the sales were short names, with many single words. I found that more than half of the names were currently unused for websites, or were listed for sale again. See what else I found below.

Results Summary
  • There were 206 .net sales above $10,000, but only 23 sales were valued at $50,000 or more.
  • Among all .net sales above $10,000, 39.5% were single word, 16.6% two word and 28.3% were short (3 letter or less, but not a word). 9.3% were numeric and another 2.4% alphanumeric.
  • Most were English, although a number of other languages were also represented.
  • Most of the major .net sales were short, 65.6% just 6 characters or less. Names of length 15 characters or more represented less than 3% of the set.
  • The number of high value .net sales per year recently is less than in 2015, but is fairly constant over the last few years.
  • Only 34.5% of the names were currently in use for developed websites, although an additional 8.3% were used for redirection. 20.9% were listed for sale again, while 34.5% were unused, going to no operational lander or site.
  • I had a look at where the sales happened, with 73 at Sedo, 49 at Uniregistry and 35 at NameJet.
  • While this study was 2015-2020, I also looked at the highest .net sales of all time. On that list of higher-value sales, only one.net sale of $150,000 or more was from 2017-2020.

Data

Here are the results of the analysis expressed in graphical form. The data is plotted in terms of number of sales.

Most of the 206 sales (64%) are in the $10,000 to $19,999 range.

PriceNET.png


While single word domains are most popular at 39.5% of the sales, there are also a large number of short (3 letter or less) sales, and a smaller number of multiple word, numeric, and alphanumeric names

TypeNET.png


While most single words were in English, there were a number of other languages represented such as juegos (games in Spanish), pferde (horse in German), apuestas (bets in Spanish), dami (quantity in Filipino), fiable (reliable in French), storia (history in Italian), bilet (ticket in Turkish and some other languages) and fora (net in Portugese).

A number of place names sold, including Portugal, Mallorca and Madrid. Both plural and singular names are in the list, and there were two hyphenated names.

The high value .net sales from 2015 to the present were definitely concentrated in short names. Fully 21.4% of the sample were just 2 characters in length, while names of length 3 added another 18%. Only 6 of the sales were 15 characters or more.

LengthNET.png


I had a look at how many of the $10,000 plus .net sales were from each calendar year. There is some indication of a modest decrease as time goes on, although the last few years have been fairly constant. Note that for 2020 I extrapolated to a predicted number for the entire year assuming the rate of sales stays the same.

YearNET.png


For each of the 206 names, I investigated current use. A total of about 43% were either developed or used for redirection to a developed site. However, more than half were either not used at all or for sale again. Particularly among the very short names, many seem to be simply being held for future sale or use. This pattern of many names that have sold for large amounts not in active use is not unique to .net, however.

UseNET.png


The sales venues are dominated by just a few places, although keep in mind that not all marketplaces report sales to NameBio.

VenueNET.png



Highest Value Sales 2015-2020

Here are .net sales in the NameBio database at prices of $50,000 or more for the period Jan 1, 2015 to Aug 10, 2020.
  • recovery.net $200,000
  • 95.net $140,000
  • co.net $100,000
  • 08.net $87,000
  • career.net $85,000
  • arc.net $80,000
  • odds.net $70,000
  • FM.net $70,000
  • app.net $70,000
  • oge.net $62,000
  • juegos.net $60,000
  • 16.net $60,000
  • HorseRacing.net $60,000
  • BJ.net $60,000
  • RZ.net $58,100
  • DJ.net $55,500
  • coffee.net $55,000
  • FZ.net $55,000
  • JR.net $55,000
  • sudoku.net $52,863
  • PF.net $51,720
  • RS.net $50,600
  • esports.net $50,000
All Time Highest Value NET Sales

I also briefly looked at the highest value .net sales of all time, at least of those recorded in the NameBio database.
  • mobile.net $500,000 (2014)
  • sex.net $454,500 (2006)
  • porn.net $400,000 (2006)
  • RealEstate.net $300,000 (2007)
  • lottery.net $220,000 (2010)
  • recovery.net $200,000 (2016)
  • DIY.net $200,000 (2007)
  • pisos.net $187,500 (2008)
  • CDN.net $185,000 (2012)
  • Chinese.net $180,000 (2019)
  • yes.net $175,000 (2014)
  • RingTones.net $175,000 (2007)
  • cars.net $170,000 (2011)
  • 99.net $150,000 (2014)
  • pizza.net $150,000 (2013)
  • news.net $150,000 (2005)
Note that only one of the sales at $150,000 or more was 2017 or later.

Over all time and sales values, a total of $72.3 million in .net sales volume recorded in NameBio, spread over 44,100 sales, with an average price of $1639. The average price for .net during the last five years is lower, at $905, but still accounts for $19.1 million in sales volume.


Your Input

Feel free to contribute in the comments section.
  1. How do you see the outlook for .net going forward?
  2. What types of names do you think hold greatest current value in the extension?
  3. Which of the listed major sales do you think is the most valuable name, even if it did not fetch the highest price?
  4. Don’t be modest about sharing major .net sales you have made.
  5. Do you hold many .net names in your portfolio? Is that increasing or decreasing?
  6. What is your take on why so many names that sold for large amounts are not currently in active use?

Thanks to NameBio for the data that made this study possible. Domainers, remember that you can report your sales directly to NameBio with their online form.
 
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The views expressed on this page by users and staff are their own, not those of NamePros.
I think RingTones.net will have the value decreased with the new technology and smartphones.

For my concern, I deal mainly with .ORG and .COM extensions only so I can't answer to the question asked in the article.

Thank you for this awesome analysis !
 
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Hey is it bad form to answer my own questions? :xf.eek: Anyway, here goes...
  1. How do you see the outlook for .net going forward? I think .net sales will not change much from current.
  2. What types of names do you think hold greatest current value in the extension? I think that single word .net names especially those where the .net extension is meaningful (technological networks, professional networks, social networks, etc.) hold most promise. The sharing economy will continue to grow, as will things like crowd sourcing, and .net is well suited to both. Philanthropy, causes and charitable work .net may find a market if priced not too high. Education and health, that are hot in general now, are fairly well suited to .net.
  3. Which of the listed major sales do you think is the most valuable name, even if it did not fetch the highest price? I like news.net the best and arc.net second. Both are super strong names, versatility of arc.net.
  4. Don’t be modest about sharing major .net sales you have made. I'm not modest but have none!:xf.frown:
  5. Do you hold many .net names in your portfolio? Is that increasing or decreasing? No real change. I have 7 currently. I have no particularly high value names, although I have an aged name that sold for $1750 previously (not to me) and is a fairly common expression.
  6. What is your take on why so many names that sold for large amounts are not currently in active use? It is not unique to net. I think majority are being held by people that think they will be worth much more in 5 to 10 years. Not sure that is true. Others, probably organizations and businesses that impulse bought them, then never really implemented plans for use. I am concerned that so many sales of all type seem to be unused. I suspect that brandable .com and .io have higher use stats after purchase since more likely bought by those with clear and immediate plans.
There, my answers. Why not share your own? .... Please! :xf.smile:

Bob
 
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UPDATE

  1. How do you see the outlook for .net going forward? I think other extensions are taking advantage over it, and seems .NET lost value from the time, it was the second choice when the .COM is taken, but with the new technologies and all the new extensions, there is many more alternatives ... so the value decrease.
  2. What types of names do you think hold greatest current value in the extension?I think one word domain names only IMO or atleast high searched keywords combination or already settled services that use none TM keywords with high regged extensions ... but this apply also for other extensions.
  3. Which of the listed major sales do you think is the most valuable name, even if it did not fetch the highest price? Me too I like news.net, there is also pizza.net, mobile.net and lottery.net.
  4. Don’t be modest about sharing major .net sales you have made. I own none of them.
  5. Do you hold many .net names in your portfolio? Unfortunately I have none of them
  6. What is your take on why so many names that sold for large amounts are not currently in active use? Many valuable .NET domain name owned since long time ago, and they seen many values on them on that time, but things changes and new techologies, habits comes ... so that people do not afford to let it go just like this after many years of holding, they would prefer to save it for them rather than let it go for a cheap price. This my opinion.
 
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Brilliant article as usual. I also like the news.net sale as both the left and the right of the dot fit perfectly.
 
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Great article as usual, Gives me hope for my one word .net.
 
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Excellent topic since my highest sale so far was a dot net :)

Unfortunately it wouldn't have made your list since it was way back in 2002 and it only sold in the mid $X,XXX.

It was a 5 letter (CVCVC) very common word and if I had waited I might have gotten a lot more but no way to know for sure.

Looking at what did sell for higher, I'm sad I sold it because mine was about the same level - UGH!

A technological network company contacted me and tried to trick me with a lowball offer but I figured out their scheme and the price went up but I guess not enough - oh well.
 
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@Bob Hawkes Thank you very much in depth coverage with regard to .net sales and other deails related to .net. Kudos to you
 
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Why? / How?

I see alot of one words .net selling means interest is high...having a one word in that line, raises hope, especially with 40 extensions taken. Good estibot value, fair amount of exact searches on Google/month, and .com sold for 75k. Hopes are up.
 
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I guess we have read different articles.

180807_26e2f957348b76cc3162eca16309a6f9.png
 
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Thank you @Bob Hawkes

IMO, NET is still the best alternative to .com.
 
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Thanks for the article Bob...great info as usual!
 
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I am past the edit window, but there has been another $10,000 + sale: SportsSurge.net sold for $10,428 at Dynadot on Aug. 12.

Thanks for telling us about the .net sale in 2002 @BradWilson - I imagine you are far from alone in wondering if a name that sold for a good price might have sold for even more!

I can see why both positive and negative messages can be read into this same report. Yes, it seems that the major .net sales have edged downward, but they remain not very different, and the best single words still garner good prices. If i apply a simplistic statistical idea that 2/3 of time a number is within its square root, then 36 sales in a year is 2/3 of the time 30 to 42 sales, for example, then all the years except 2015 probably do not show statistically different variation.

Thanks for the comments so far, and encourage others to share their views on the prospects for .net.

Bob
 
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Years back, last Century actually, we acquired some .net names that were the exact match name for some of our .com names. Those .net sales could be labeled as " defensive purchases ", that is, we owned the .com and " you / competitor " can't own and use the then semi-competitive .net with the name.

Believe some of the .com names that we sold were sold because we also owned that "same name in the.net" rendering the .net name purchase option unavailable ( except from me).

Turned down a couple or so offers for .net names years back though if those same offers came in today I would kiss the messenger and name a child after 'em.

Question # 1 -The Outlook or Future of .net has never been contemplated here, so here is my micro outlook - I'm not looking for .nets to buy though, if I stumbled across an appealing .net name at a low low price like reg fee I might consider it.

Outlook in the real world of domaining is just a guess so - I believe anytime a quality name is made available to the marketplace the " big players " will want it and .net has enough history and recognizability to stay viable.

Question # 2 - Whatever is selling well in .com/.io/.whatever is likely to influence the corresponding name in .net, regardless of sector or niche I would think.

Re Question 3 - wow, would be thrilled to be the owner of mobile.net and news.net believing each would have the potential to be the top dollar .net sale of all time and perhaps, ??, crack the 7 figure ceiling.

Re Question 4 - To the best of my knowledge have never sold a .net name though in reality only had a dozen or so to let go off and my bone head attitude back then ( price greed ? ) stumbled in the way of a few .net sales that would not have changed any of your stats.

Question # 5 - Today have but a small handful, maybe 6 or less, of .net names mainly because (1) I've had 'em forever and someday, someone, somewhere might want 'em and I know that hope is not a sales strategy and ( 2 ) a couple are in use as re-directs to websites. Old .net habits die hard.

Question # 6 - Why are some of the .net names that sold for big dollars not in use at this time - Likely because their respective owners acquired the names for investment purposes rather than development of a massive site.

An excellent presentation of the sales of the top selling .net names Bob!

Very insightful and comprehensive and thought provoking article, as usual!

Thanks Bob!
 
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Thanks Bob.

I love dot nets still buy if i find single words and double word emds.

Have you done any analysis of dot orgs?
Would love to see your analysis of. Orgs
 
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Thanks Bob.

I love dot nets still buy if i find single words and double word emds.

Have you done any analysis of dot orgs?
Would love to see your analysis of. Orgs

I did not do a directly comparable 5 yr + study, but yes I did analyze the top .org sale of 2019, looking at all sales off $5000+. Here is the link. It includes, as well as data similar to here, a look at the sectors that are popular in the extension.

The 5 yr study I did of many major TLDs does include .org and .net. You can see the one on sales volumes here, while I studied trends in average prices here. In general .org i trending up compared to .net down, although .net started higher so the current state not that different.

Thanks for your question.

Bob
 
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I did not do a directly comparable 5 yr + study, but yes I did analyze the top .org sale of 2019, looking at all sales off $5000+. Here is the link. It includes, as well as data similar to here, a look at the sectors that are popular in the extension.

The 5 yr study I did of many major TLDs does include .org and .net. You can see the one on sales volumes here, while I studied trends in average prices here. In general .org i trending up compared to .net down, although .net started higher so the current state not that different.



Thanks for your question.

Bob
Thanks Bob

I have not done any data "based" comparison, but past 3 months i have been scavenging single word and short single syllable pronounciable orgs and nets.

I found more a lot more single word orgs dropping than nets


only 1 or two net drops in a week compared to 3/4 orgs daily. Just my observation
 
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What about cvcv.net or llll.net?

I have two cvcv.net so need to know how to price them
 
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What about cvcv.net or llll.net?

I have two cvcv.net so need to know how to price them
They are not liquid, unless there is an user who has an exact need.
So you can say they are zero value to low xxxx.
Random LLLLs there are hundreds that drop everyday and thousands that can be hand regged
 
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Hi Bob,

I just want to say what a treasure you are and how lucky we, as members are for your continued additions to the learning experience that NamePros was built on.

You really are not only a totally unselfish and outstanding human but a :great: <<< (there used to be an emoji that said Great NP'r and you certainly are.)

Thanks for all you do.

Peace,
Kenny
 
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I see alot of one words .net selling means interest is high...

So based on THIS article (and statistics) you believe that the interest in .net domains is growing?
 
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Wonderful write up Bob, thank you!
 
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