Dynadot

25 criteria to be a premium domain name in 2022

Spaceship Spaceship
Watch

redemo

Mug RuithTop Member
Impact
3,028
Ok so I hear a lot of domainers call their domain names " premium domain names " or " super premium domain names " or " ultra premium domain names " and I'd like to know what exactly that means in 2022? To me a premium domain name is one very popular English word with dot com at the end. That's my opinion and I'm not for one minute suggesting it's the same for anybody else. Maybe it's a purely subjective phrase without any established criteria? Below I have quoted several notable websites definition of what is a premium domain name, and then I've compiled a combined list of key features from them. Do you agree with the list? My objective here is to have a specific checklist to reference when a domainer calls their domain name a premium domain name, rather than just anyone being able to use this phrase without any criteria and I have to accept it as fact. Related question for @Alfa Mod Team are there any rules about using the phrase " premium domain name " in a sales thread or can anyone use this phrase without restriction? Can I say df345egrh-trg-ewfwef-qerg-4th4t.com is a premium domain name, for example? Also for the record I have 60 domain names in my portfolio and I don't consider any of them to be premium domain names. And before anyone asks yes I used Namepros search and found one old thread from 2017 started by @mirecart and the last comment was by @strugar on November 4th 2017, so yes I checked out previous Namepros threads, yes I looked through Namepros help section and yes I scoured all content by the legend @Bob Hawkes. Still very puzzled by this important topic.

Notable websites description of a premium domain name

1. Domain.com


" Premium domain names are high-quality domains that have been previously registered but are available for sale at today's market value. A domain is considered to be high quality if the name is shorter, regularly searched, closely associated to the actual service or industry, and typically uses a TLD such as .com, .net, or .org. Such domains are easier to spell, easier to remember, and more intuitive. " domain.com/domains/premium

2. Forbes.com

" Trustworthy TLD. The top-level domain (TLD) is the string of characters at the end of a domain. To be worth anything at all, a domain name needs to have a good TLD that doesn't compromise your ability to reach potential customers. In general, premium domain names will usually use the .com TLD or a relevant country code that suits the target audience. Brevity. Overly long domain names can be harder to remember. Likewise, domains with hyphens or other punctuation can be less successful due to this complexity. Any domain name needs to be concise in a practical sense that makes it more memorable. As a result, premium domain names usually consist of one to two words or two to four individual characters. Generic value. Many of the most valuable domain sales of all time dealt with domain names that had deeply generic names. For instance, consider CarInsurance.com, which sold for nearly $50 million. This sort of generic value dramatically increases demand thanks to industry-wide appeal, and it serves to amplify value in the process. Contains keywords and high domain authority. SEO is one of the keys to running a successful web presence in the modern day, and domain names can help. While Google has reported it does not weigh keywords in domain names, I've found it's generally true that domain names with keywords make up an outsized share of the first-page results. There are many potential reasons for this, but it is a trend worth keeping in mind. Two elements of a domain name that absolutely do affect SEO are age and domain authority. Domain authority is a value that shows the regard that Google holds a domain in, and purchasing an authoritative domain can save months or years on your SEO efforts. " forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2021/07/06/what-exactly-is-a-premium-domain-name

3. Godaddy.com

" Premium domain names are short, catchy, memorable names that are already registered to a person, entity or organization. The cost of a premium domain can range from a 3‐figure number to a 7‐figure number, depending on the demand. " godaddy.com/help/what-is-a-premium-domain-name-2878

4. Name.com

" A Premium Domain is a domain that already has an owner, but is being resold at a higher value to a potential end user. (Or, with the debut of New TLDs, a domain that the registry has reserved as Premium stock and thus priced higher than normal.) These domains tend to be short, keyword rich, and (in most cases) come with a hefty price tag. But despite the higher cost, they’re considered some of the most valuable domain names on the market. Just think of a few of the most expensive Premium Domains to ever sell: they included the likes of insurance.com, hotels.com, and casinos.com, all of which take advantage of relative, generic keywords that millions of people search for online on a regular basis. " name.com/blog/domains/premium-domains/2017/09/whats-a-premium-domain/

5. Networksolutions.com

" Not all domain names are created equal. Some are inherently worth more than others, especially to the right buyer. A premium domain name purchase is an investment in your business and your brand. Despite the heftier price tag, premium names pay off in the long run. Below, we'll look at various qualities characteristic of these domain names to help us understand why they're so desirable and commandeer a premium price. Qualities of a Premium Domain Name Short and to the point Brevity isn't just the soul of wit; it's at the heart of a great premium domain name. Short domain names are more memorable than longer names, and it pays to be the brand that people easily recall when in need of your goods or services. So, when selecting a premium domain name, don't get lost in too much text or "clever" usage of numbers and symbols. Contains relevant keywords A keyword-rich domain name lends itself well to your SEO efforts. Many websites that appear on the first page of search results have keywords in the domain name or are single-word domains. Widely-recognized TLD There's a reason why people say .com is king — it's widely recognizable and trusted. However, most .com domain names are already registered (at least the good ones, anyway.) If you want to purchase a one-word, keyword-specific domain name or a domain name that's an exact match for your business or brand name, you're going to pay a premium. You can also find premium names that utilize other trusted TLDs, like .org. Older domain and high authority Two SEO ranking factors that involve your domain are age and authority. Premium domain names are often older domain names seeing as they've been registered previously. And authority, a ranking factor developed by Moz, refers to how likely a domain is to appear in SERPs. Traffic history A premium domain name used in the past can have decent traffic history. And some traffic may still attempt to visit the domain and related site. Think of that traffic as potentially qualified prospects you didn't have to pay to attract to your site. Brandable Building a brand is easier when your domain name is memorable and recognizable. A brandable domain name demands a higher price because it's a great advantage to have in a competitive and crowded market. " networksolutions.com/blog/establish/domains/guide-to-premium-domain-names

6. Ionos.com

" Due to the large number of websites on the internet, it's not always easy to secure the most attractive domain for your project. Fortunately, when a high value domain expires it becomes available for re-registration, which is known as a premium domain. However, not all expired domains automatically become premium – an expired domain is simply one that has been previously used but not re-registered by the original domain owner. Premium names, on the other hand, are those that have retained their high marketing value to you as a business or individual. Premium domain names differ from ordinary ones because they often contain important keywords, are short and snappy, and have a proven track record of driving web traffic. For example, 'bestcars.com', 'discountgas.com', and 'luxuryholidays.com' are all memorable and clearly display the purpose of the site. Because of these qualities, they are highly sought after and can also be identified by their relatively high price compared to other domains. " ionos.com/domains/premium-domains

7. Wordpress.com

" Premium domains have a higher perceived value because they are short and memorable. Therefore, they are more expensive than a standard domain. Premium pricing can vary from being slightly higher than the standard price or up to ten, a hundred, or a thousand times more! The price of a premium domain is largely determined by the registry for each TLD. TLD stands for “top-level domain”, sometimes referred to as an extension. These are the characters to the right of the dot – for example .com or .blog. Since registrars (that’s us) must pay the registry for each domain, registrars must factor in the registry’s pricing model to determine how much to charge customers. At a high level, registries assign one of two main pricing models to domains – standard and premium. The prices of standard domain TLDs are listed on our Domain Pricing page. To view the price of a standard or premium domain, go to My Site → Domains → Add domain to this site and search for the domain you’re interested in. " wordpress.com/support/premium-domains/

8. Namebright.com

" The right domain name is one of the most important business decisions you will make. That is why NameBright offers you the option to purchase a Premium Domain name. A premium domain name is domain that can better convey your business to the world. They are pre-owned domains originally purchased years ago, but available to you now, on a premium basis. A premium domain can set your business apart and give the impression of a much longer online business history. Try our Premium Domain search and open up a whole new world of valuable domain name options! " namebright.com/PremiumDomains

List of 25 criteria to be a premium domain name
  1. Previously registered or
  2. already registered
  3. Short
  4. Catchy
  5. Snappy
  6. Highly brandable
  7. Older than most domain names
  8. Previously developed with traffic history
  9. Regularly searched key words by millions of people
  10. Generic key words
  11. Service or industry related
  12. Uses the top level domain .com, .net or .org ( or other trustworthy T.L.D. ) or
  13. uses a relevant country code top level domain or
  14. uses a new top level domain and has been reserved as premium stock by the registry
  15. Easy to spell
  16. Easy to remember
  17. Doesn't include hyphens
  18. Doesn't include numbers
  19. Doesn't attempt to be clever
  20. One or two words
  21. Two to four characters ( if not a word )
  22. Large price tag
  23. High marketing value
  24. Clearly displays website's purpose
  25. Sets your business apart from others
Do you agree or disagree with this list of premium domain name features?
 
Last edited:
24
•••
The views expressed on this page by users and staff are their own, not those of NamePros.
Search ' premium domain name criteria ' and this thread is already 5th on Google. Posted 3 hours ago. This must be a premium thread to occupy such a premium position.
 
0
•••
in high demand. A new word or expression could become premium in a matter of hours if not seconds.
 
6
•••
If you took the time to type this out, I've got some respect for that

Regarding the 25 criteria: Yes, a lot of it sounds fair. IMO
 
Last edited:
3
•••
I wouldn't consider Godaddy, NetworkSolutions or Wordpress to be premium. I think of these more of brandable type domains.

To me premium would be one word, that's commonly used.

Or 2 words that are exact match for a popular service or generic product: CarWash, SepticTank, GarageSale...

Or CITYNAME+SERVICE of a big city and popular service: DenverRoofing, HoustonPlumbing, SeattleConstruction, PortlandHomes...
 
Last edited:
18
•••
I'd take out #18. I'd consider these premium.

100.com
22.com
888.com
 
5
•••
In other words, Premium=Subjective, for most part.
 
6
•••
In other words, Premium=Subjective, for most part.
I completely agree what is premium is subjective even going off the op’s list many of those points are subjective.

The word is overused and therefore meaningless. People can’t even agree what “brandable” means let alone premium.
 
4
•••
If we could all agree on even 3 basic criteria for what a premium domain name is then it would be much harder for people to misuse the word, and therefore render it virtually meaningless. I still take automatic notice of the word premium in thread titles. So the word still holds some value.
 
Last edited:
2
•••
We have been defining premium as we go and the name values are hindered as much as they grow. Eg there are keywords that won't change hands so the top name isn't sold giving the keyword a value. A non premium being next closest name is never showing or indicating potential of the top name that is never offered..
 
Last edited:
1
•••
I have a definition of Premium, that I just invented and that no one can beat :) :

If 10 out of 10 domainers are willing to pay $1000 right away for a domain name with a clear resale purpose - that's a Premium name.
 
Last edited:
13
•••
I have a definition of Premium, that I just invented and that no one can beat :) :

If 10 out of 10 domainers are willing to pay $1000 right away for a domain name with a clear resale purpose - that's a Premium name.
10 out of 10 domainers are willing to pay $1001 right away for a domain name with a clear resale purpose - that's a Premium name. Beat it by $1.
 
2
•••
I have a definition of Premium, that I just invented and that no one can beat :) :

If 10 out of 10 domainers are willing to pay $1000 right away for a domain name with a clear resale purpose - that's a Premium name.
Actually they still try a $100 as everyone is looking for the flip.
 
Last edited:
3
•••
"ultra premium domain names " and I'd like to know what exactly that means in 2022?

Ultra Premium Domains Names could affect Large Areas of internal and external entities
Best example is an eco system

Can I say df345egrh-trg-ewfwef-qerg-4th4t.com is a premium domain name

Sure you could say that moreover lets say if someone buys that domain name then a hosting provider may have access to sell you domain names
so in other words its possible it could be a premium name however trying to figure out how you found that exact key of integers be equally valueble

Lets try a simple one
0012325.com
 
0
•••
Actually they still try a $100 as everyone is looking for the flip.
Oh, that's for sure, you bet. If not $10. :xf.smile::xf.smile:
 
2
•••
A premium domain should have recognizable value and liquidity to both investors and non-investors.
 
2
•••
recognizable value

Subjective!

and liquidity

Not always, as such a DN may be unaffordable to many.
 
2
•••
@Bob Hawkes do you have a comment or thread about this? Cheers.
 
0
•••
@Bob Hawkes do you have a comment or thread about this? Cheers.
I think it is almost impossible to define premium in a way that encompasses all possibilities.

Your list includes many general rules that are accepted by many, not all, as representing higher quality names. Thank you for creating it.

A few things confuse me. You say that a new extension name can only be premium if the registry designate it as premium price. But some registries designate many more names as premium than others. Does that make the same word premium in those TLDs, but not in another, even if the other TLD has wider use and higher aftermarket sales? If we look at the top 15 sales in .xyz from last year, I think only 1 was designated registry premium. I don't think this should be a factor.

You say in 4 that it should be catchy, but in 19 it should not attempt to be clever. In my mind many catchy names are in fact successful attempts to be clever, like slight alterations to a common phrase.

Is snappy different from short? Perhaps. The word snappy did sell as one of top 100 sales of last year.

It seems to me the best way to validate such a list, is to apply it to a list of names that have sold for good prices, such as the NameBio Top 100 Sales of 2021, and see how the different rules hold up.

When I go through that sales list it is easy to find exceptions to many of the rules. For example, you said no numbers, but surely BTC365 is a strong name, and sold for over $130,000.

21 says 2 to 4L if not a word, but surely Z.org that sold for a strong price is premium?

Rule 20 says only 1 or 2 words, but RVsForSale sold for $194,000 last year.

Does 23, high marketing value, mean that the name has a solid search volume and cost per click? At least 5 of the top sales of last year have 0 search volume, and numerous others very modest search volumes.

Does 24 'clearly display a website's purpose' mean that premium names are exact or suggestive product or service names? Because it seems many big sales are not in recent years, and many branding exercises go to a name not specifically related.

When 6 says highly brandable, it seems logical, but the more I think about it, what does that mean exactly? Like if you mean get a TM on the word, if the word is generic and you are in that sector (like word boot and you have a company that manufactures boots) in most cases that generic word can not be TMed as I understand it (you could TM it for something that has nothing to do with footwear). Made up terms that no one currently uses can be TM, but are they premium? Maybe.

8 says previously developed with history. But many names that sell for a lot were never previously significantly developed. Some regard that as a positive. They prefer a name with no history. A clean slate. A great name that has been registered for ages, but not used. Of course some names do sell for their link history which the buyer hopes to repurpose for a similar website.

15 says easy to spell, and in general agree that is highly desired, but there are many names that sell that would be a challenge to spell.

Please don't take this as a criticism of what you have done, but rather my view that what you set out to do is impossible for anyone to do precisely. That is partly why domain investing is so challenging, and interesting!

I would say a premium name is one that the majority of a representative group of successful business owners would regard as valuable, and that a majority of experienced domain investors would regard as of high quality. While accepting that neither group would be unanimous on any particular name.

Thank you for your contributions.

Bob
 
Last edited:
19
•••
I wouldn't consider Godaddy, NetworkSolutions or Wordpress to be premium.
To me premium would be one word, that's commonly used.
Or 2 words that are exact match for a popular service or generic product
You wouldn't consider 'networksolutions' or 'wordpress' to be exact match?
 
Last edited:
1
•••
Actually they still try a $100 as everyone is looking for the flip.

Except the sellers. They usually are not looking for a flip for their premium domains, because they have their opinion what "premium" means :)
 
3
•••
Thanks @Bob Hawkes I'll amend this list and post an updated one.
 
0
•••
what you set out to do is impossible for anyone to do precisely. That is partly why domain investing is so challenging, and interesting!
Hi

totally agree!

there are hundreds of previous threads on the subject, and the consensus is that:
"premium domains, speak for themselves"


imo..
 
7
•••
there are hundreds of previous threads on the subject,
I couldn't find one decent Namepros about what is a premium domain name let alone hundreds of threads about premium domain names. Sure you're not just making this up bro?
and the consensus is that:
"premium domains, speak for themselves"
I'm looking for a specific set of criteria rather than a general consensus. For example all LL.com are premium domain names. All LLL.com are premium domain names. Those are specific not subjective. So far the only premium thing about most " premium " domains is the premium price tag. Why use a word which has no meaning?
 
Last edited:
0
•••
When I go through that sales list it is easy to find exceptions to many of the rules. For example, you said no numbers, but surely BTC365 is a strong name, and sold for over $130,000.

21 says 2 to 4L if not a word, but surely Z.org that sold for a strong price is premium?

Rule 20 says only 1 or 2 words, but RVsForSale sold for $194,000 last year.
In my opinion, that a domain sells for some substantial money or at all doesn't necessarily mean premium. It might just simply mean that the domain is nice, has a use-case and someone had the money to pay for it.

In your example, I will consider Z.org as a premium domain but not BTC365 and RVsForSale. Now BTC.com or RV.com, I will consider premium.
 
4
•••
Back