Are .com domains now worth more or less?

[WineGuy]

Just a few questions for the experts here. Which statements hold up or what is your argument for or against the following:

Because of the current ease and speed of producing dynamic websites with plugin scripts and lower cost programmers, good .com domain names are demanding higher prices.

Because of the current ease and speed of producing dynamic websites with plugin scripts and lower cost programmers, there is more developer competition for good .com domain names.

Because of the availability of hundreds of different TLDs and keyword domains available in those new TLDs combined with good SEO, good .com domains are worth less than previously.

The availability of hundreds of different TLDs and keyword domains available in those new TLDs combined with good SEO has no effect on the pricing of good .com names.

In the next two years, on average, a good .com domain name will rise in value.

In the next two years, on average, a good .com domain name will decrease in value.

Thanks and Cheers!

WineGuy

 

[Jeff]

Because of the current ease and speed of producing dynamic websites with plugin scripts and lower cost programmers, there is more developer competition for good .com domain names.

In the next two years, on average, a good .com domain name will rise in value.

Good and/or developable, and, of course, great .com domain names ... will always rise in value! :music: :imho:

Happy Holidays.
-Jeff :santa:

 

[WineGuy]

Thanks Jeff for the response. What is the argument for your statement though even though I partially agree with it..

The reason I am asking these questions is that a lot of us in this biz for a while assumed ever rising markets, but new factors continue to come into the equation. For instance in a few years if there ever is created a voice interface to query your computer, how will it perform a search for a site, will sites even be neccesary if a search for specific info can be assembled into say a general report on the subject you are querying from the information capture from dozens or even hundreds of sources? Will searchable, mashable databases be more important to a search engine than say keywords?

The landscape keeps changing faster everyday and we need to stay ahead of the eight ball.

Cheers!

WG

 

[Spade]

Wine Guy -

I think you bring up an interesting argument. But the bottom line is are .com domain names rising in value? and why?

The answer is obviously yes. There is plenty sales information listed to support this answer. Dot Com domain sales are going through the roof, domains that only a year ago you could buy at under $100 are easily demanding $1000.

Why is this? Well a lot of it is based on the growth of the market and the new influx of investors seeing oppertunity.

Does the ccTLD hurt .com? Yes, but I believe it is very very minor. Dot com has become the standard of online business and I believe will continue to be. The reason I believe this is because as new TLD's are available on a weekly basis - they are flooding their own niche market and are ruining any chance of any other ccTLD or TLD to become popular.

Is the future .com - the immediate future, yes. In the distance will search engines even bother using keyword domains? I think only a few dreamers know the answer to this question.

Justin

 

[WineGuy]

Thanks Justin, Good points.

What do you think the profile is for the new investors coming into the market? Is it an individual speculator or does it veer toward corporate entities?

Cheers!

WG

 

[Mike]

Simple answer: Yes, .com(s) will increase in value.

Reason:
Much like with real estate, there is only so much landmass available before you run out of the opportunity to discover new and valuable land. Thus trading of existing landmass begins. However, at the same time, witty "land owners"/domainers are knowledgeable enough to make a clear and concise decision as to when it pays off to let land just "sit there and gain in value" or to accelerate the value increase by developing their land. Unlike true real estate, if virtual land mass is developed unskilled, wrong or simply unusable, the costs and speed to fix it are absolutely affordable. I guess the picture i'm trying to paint here becomes relatively clear.
:imho: there is next to no way to lose with a good .com name, or even with a not so good .com if you're willing to put some thought, development and skill into it.

 

[Keynes]

Chris,

I believe commercial real estate provides a good roadmap for the future of domain pricing. Just as there are developments on the periphery (suburban development) and alternatives for certain industries (catalog instead of store, home office instead of office), prime internet real estate will continue to rise in value for the forseeable future. Importantly, quality will increasingly matter and delivery of branding/customers will remain key to valuations -- over time, PPC will be one of many metrics used to determine proper values. We will see large fluctations of PPC over the coming years, and likely a movement to CPA/CPL driven advertising, but the development potential of prime .coms will increase as the mindshare of .com will maintain its preeiminent status among all the extensions.

 

[Spade]

Thanks Justin, Good points.

What do you think the profile is for the new investors coming into the market? Is it an individual speculator or does it veer toward corporate entities?

Cheers!

WG

Wine -

I believe it is both. You have people who are forming entities to pick up domain names because they see the value and they also believe domains (ie - .com's) will gain value. As more and more domain sales become headline news - more and more new investors will come to the game.

Consider domaining like mining for Diamonds. Its easy and cheap to try, and plenty of promising places to mine. Its attractive as a hobby and when you get your first sale, can be very rewarding. I think this appeals to a lot of people who maybe not saavy, but see a fun oppertunity thats cheaper and easier then playing with the stock market. (I also believe better returns).

Justin

 

[Jeffrey]

Just like GOLD or a piece of land, great .COMs will continually increase in value.

 

[WineGuy]

Well thought out replies. Thank you. Anyone disagree with these assertions?

Cheers!

WG