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25 criteria to be a premium domain name in 2022

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redemo

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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?
 
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The views expressed on this page by users and staff are their own, not those of NamePros.
Lexico: " premium " can mean " relating to or denoting a commodity of superior quality and therefore a higher price " so it's this " superior quality " I can't seem to quantify.

  • play-poker.com is not a premium, because have hyphens
Who else agrees that a premium domain name cannot include a hyphen?
 
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Lexico: " premium " can mean " relating to or denoting a commodity of superior quality and therefore a higher price " so it's this " superior quality " I can't seem to quantify.


Who else agrees that a premium domain name cannot include a hyphen?

You can refer to the lexicon, but this does not change my opinion that this is NOT a premium domain. Premium domain is playpoker.com, not play-poker.com. Look at the sales statistics for domains with hyphens. Find me one that sold for more than $100,000 during 2020-2022. What you find is the exception to the rule, not the rule.
 
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You can refer to the lexicon, but this does not change my opinion that this is NOT a premium domain. Premium domain is playpoker.com, not play-poker.com. Look at the sales statistics for domains with hyphens. Find me one that sold for more than $100,000 during 2020-2022. What you find is the exception to the rule, not the rule.
Sci-fi ( science fiction ) is a hyphenated exact match key word term. Sci-fi.com sold at Uniregistry in 2017 for $ 50000. Maybe an exception but I think sci-fi.com is a premium domain name. Scarce, in-demand, short, pronounceable, one of a kind, high key word volume, extremely popular topic. Agree?
 
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Hi

there can be premium domains within the "hyphen category"
like : auto-repair.com, auto-parts.com, carpet-cleaning.com, etc.

such domains are practically guaranteed to receive type-in traffic, because they contain the prime keywords for their respective product/service categories

also note that the puny code for IDN's have hyphens.
just saying/


imo....
 
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Hi

there can be premium domains within the "hyphen category"
like : auto-repair.com, auto-parts.com, carpet-cleaning.com, etc.

such domains are practically guaranteed to receive type-in traffic, because they contain the prime keywords for their respective product/service categories

also note that the puny code for IDN's have hyphens.
just saying/


imo....
think sci-fi.com is a premium domain name?
 
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There is 1 definitive criterion for a premium name: a genuine high-priced sale for the domain name only (i.e. excluding websites, back-links, etc).
 
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Sci-fi ( science fiction ) is a hyphenated exact match key word term. Sci-fi.com sold at Uniregistry in 2017 for $ 50000. Maybe an exception but I think sci-fi.com is a premium domain name. Scarce, in-demand, short, pronounceable, one of a kind, high key word volume, extremely popular topic. Agree?

one that sold for more than $100,000 during 2020-2022
@
Sci-fi.com sold at Uniregistry in 2017 for $ 50000

You find is the exception to the rule, not the rule. Try again.
 
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Sci-fi ( science fiction ) is a hyphenated exact match key word term. Sci-fi.com sold at Uniregistry in 2017 for $ 50000. Maybe an exception but I think sci-fi.com is a premium domain name. Scarce, in-demand, short, pronounceable, one of a kind, high key word volume, extremely popular topic. Agree?
Sometimes, the correct way of writing some English words like sci-fi, check-in, close-up etc don't quite translate to domain names. Scifi will likely sell for more despite the fact that Sci-fi is the right way it's written.

I think this stems from the type-in history of domains (people didn't just like typing in hyphens in url bars) before Google became ubiquitous.

However, hyphens are really popular in German web spaces
 
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one that sold for more than $100,000 during 2020-2022
@
Sci-fi.com sold at Uniregistry in 2017 for $ 50000

You find is the exception to the rule, not the rule. Try again.
Just because a premium domain name doesn't sell it doesn't mean it isn't a premium domain name. All combinations of single letter dot com are premium domain names. a.com, b.com, c.com. Pretty much general consensus on that I will assume. None of them sold between 2020 and 2022. play-poker.com, sci-fi.com, wi-fi.com, buy-cars.com are all premium domain names according to most of the rules shared so far. You cannot exclude hyphens just because they are hyphens. There has to be a logical reason. Who would say sci-fi.com is not worth $20k?
 
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Just because a premium domain name doesn't sell it doesn't mean it isn't a premium domain name. All combinations of single letter dot com are premium domain names. a.com, b.com, c.com. Pretty much general consensus on that I will assume. None of them sold between 2020 and 2022. play-poker.com, sci-fi.com, wi-fi.com, buy-cars.com are all premium domain names according to most of the rules shared so far. You cannot exclude hyphens just because they are hyphens. There has to be a logical reason. Who would say sci-fi.com is not worth $20k?
What I usually ask myself is, "Is there a better version?" If there's something better, then it's not really premium then.

In terms of premium, I consider

Poker.com > PlayPoker com > Play-Poker.com

Wifi.com > Wi-fi.com

Cars.com > BuyCars.com > Buy-Cars.com

That a domain is not premium doesn't mean it's a bad domain. It just means it's not top of the line. Just like in premium cars
 
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are all premium domain names according to most of the rules shared so far
You cannot exclude hyphens just because they are hyphens. There has to be a logical reason.

Thread name: 25 criteria to be a premium domain name in 2022

@
Rule 17 - Doesn't include hyphens.

So what we have? Play-poker, sci-fi, buy-cars - is not premium domains.

None of them sold between 2020 and 2022

You find only one example of successfull sale from last 5 years with price above 20K USD. What about another domains? Nothing. You found nothing (sci-fi.com this is an exception to the rule). Hyphen domains are not premium and difficult to type even with 1 single character.

You form 25 criterias for a premium domains, and then call such "hyphen" domains premium based on "generally accepted rules", although earlier they wrote that these domains are NOT premium.

Genius.
 
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What I usually ask myself is, "Is there a better version?" If there's something better, then it's not really premium really.

In terms of premium, I consider

Poker.com > PlayPoker com > Play-Poker.com

Wifi.com > Wi-fi.com

Cars.com > BuyCars.com > Buy-Cars.com
So we're back to single words again? Or is there a heirachy of premium domain names like this:
  • premium domain name > buy-cars.com
  • super premium domain name > buycars.com
  • ultra premium domain name > cars.com
 
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" No great mind has ever existed without a touch of madness " ( Aristotle ). You're saying domain name sales above a certain amount of money are premium domain names. But you have chosen an arbitrary figure. Is it $ 10000, $ 25000, $ 50000, $ 100000, what is it? Are you saying hyphens aren't premium because they don't sell above a certain amount in the past five years? Then name the amount and why.
 
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W
So we're back to single words again? Or is there a heirachy of premium domain names like this:
  • premium domain name > buy-cars.com
  • super premium domain name > buycars.com
  • ultra premium domain name > cars.com
Wifi in my example is not a single word. More abbreviation/acronym
 
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I think words that we see with hyphens will sell better than the words we don't and example be

X-ray.com might sell better than xray.com
 
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Do you consider it to be a premium domain name? Based on the comments in this discussion, I would say yes.

looks for me like VIP premium
 
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Do you consider it to be a premium domain name? Based on the comments in this discussion, I would say yes.
Hi

for the auto industry, cars.xyz, would be the premium, compared to car.xyz

imo...
 
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#2 means any domain name that has been registered and is not currently available to register and is available to purchase.

So even garbage domain names are premium domain names.

To "pay a premium" usually means to pay a higher price than normal. But even pricing wouldn't be a requirement as there are "premium domains below reg fee LQQK!!" in various bargain bins on the internet.

At the end of the day it's just a marketing buzzword.
 
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Imo a premium is a common one or two word. .com that is obviously worth 6 figures minimum. Your chances of getting one unless you have a healthy pile of capital are slim.
 
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