question Do domains with little to no backlinks hold any value?

[MrMDMF]

I run several checks when I'm evaluating a domain. To me, a domain with good DA/PA, search volume and CPC are all useful metrics.
But sometimes a name will only check 3/5 boxes i.e. the name itself being good, high search volumes in various markets and a solid CPC BUT it will have minimal backlinks, if any. thus, lowering the DA/PA. If they do have backlinks they're usually just SEO market spam.

I know domains with tens, hundreds or thousands of spammy backlinks are not a valuable investment as they require an acquisition team to clean, which is costly for them. But what about if it already has a relatively clean slate? Is that a contributing factor for domain investors/end-users when looking to purchase?

-M

 

[bmugford]

I couldn't care less about backlinks. It's not even on my radar when I am looking at domain names.

I evaluate domains based on the underlying value of the domain itself.

Bad domains need something else to have value, like backlinks.

Quality domains don't need anything else to have value.

Out of thousands of domain sales, I don't remember an end user mentioning backlinks even one time.

Brad

 

[MrMDMF]

I couldn't care less about backlinks. It's not even on my radar when I am looking at domain names.

I evaluate domains based on the underlying value of the domain itself.

Bad domains need something else to have value, like backlinks.

Quality domains don't need anything else to have value.

Out of thousands of domain sales, I don't remember an end user mentioning backlinks even one time.

Brad

That is very insightful - Thanks Brad

It is good to know that backlinks don't matter to a buyer.

In your personal experience as both a buyer and a seller, do domain and page authority even come into consideration? My gut instinct tells me no, as DA/PA are usually directly linked to a good backlink profile, which, as you say, does not matter.

Any other name features are superfluous unless the domain's back-end metrics are terrible, flagging up concerns if it is spammed to hell or even blocked. Would this be the right line of thinking?

-M

 

[Future Sensors]

It is good to know that backlinks don't matter to a buyer.

Well, they do to some domain investors that are looking for parking income, but those are not the domains @bmugford is investing in (me neither).

 

[MrMDMF]

Well, they do to some domain investors that are looking for parking income, but those are not the domains @bmugford is investing in (me neither).

Yeah, I’m just clarifying - for the majority of potential buyers they either want to buy for low and sell for high (resellers) or actually develop a brand/idea/website etc. (end-users).

I suspect there are different buyer types who will value SEO metrics differently.

-M

 

[bmugford]

In your personal experience as both a buyer and a seller, do domain and page authority even come into consideration? My gut instinct tells me no, as DA/PA are usually directly linked to a good backlink profile, which, as you say, does not matter.

They don't matter to me.

Basically all the end users I sell domains to are just interested in the domain itself.

Backlinks matter to others, with different business models.

To me, it might add value to an already quality domain.

Any other name features are superfluous unless the domain's back-end metrics are terrible, flagging up concerns if it is spammed to hell or even blocked. Would this be the right line of thinking?

All the metrics have some place but I am just interested in the domain itself.

It's easier to evaluate a domain itself than all the other factors that might bring value.

Quality domains have foundational value, without anything else needed.

Domains that rely on other factors often lose that value over time.

Brad

 

[MrMDMF]

Backlinks matter to others, with different business models.

It's easier to evaluate a domain itself than all the other factors that might add value.

Thank you for simplifying the concept for me. I needed clarity for all the checks I do for investment potential.

I like the idea of a broader target demographic so I will still take backend metrics into consideration.

In short: the many factors of a domain name matter to some, they may add value if they are good, they are not a total dealbreaker if they are non-existence or neutral, they DO matter if they’re bad.

-M

 

[biggie]

Quality domains have foundational value, without anything else needed.

Domains that rely on other factors often lose that value over time.

Hi

i agree.

a point to note is:
on marketplaces, sedo, afternic, etc. sales occur daily without the buyer ever asking about the "metrics" of any domain.
metrics/statistics, are a domainers thing.
everyday general public people don't even know to ask about a metric.

imo...

 

[eyedomainous]

^ I also agree, the 'public' does not care about backlinks.

One metric the public and end users do care about is 'Page Rank'.
As search results on the first page are highly valued by both.

Rank also greatly impacts a domain's valuation and sales, in my experience.

Also, most all domains on the marketplaces, sedo, afternic, etc., including domainer sites, like Brad's, are landing page or parked domains --whose metrics are so bad posting the data would have a negative impact on sales.

There is more to a domain than the quality of the name.

 

[MrMDMF]

on marketplaces, sedo, afternic, etc. sales occur daily without the buyer ever asking about the "metrics" of any domain.
metrics/statistics, are a domainers thing.
everyday general public people don't even know to ask about a metric.

Also, most all domains on the marketplaces, sedo, afternic, etc., including domainer sites, like Brad's, are landing page or parked domains --whose metrics are so bad posting the data would have a negative impact on sales.

That's super insightful and inspired a new train of thought for me. Thank you.

To reiterate what you guys are saying, metrics, good or bad, would only affect a domain's selling potential if the buyer is clued up on metrics/SEO and does their due diligence in background checks, which most people do not do.

Furthermore, I feel obligated to clarify - I'd never sell a domain in bad faith or intentionally sell a domain that has been blacklisted or have several penalties attached to it - saying that, as noted above, it is ultimately down to the buyer to do their due diligence for their investment, this goes for myself, resellers, and end-users alike.

My only concern is acquisition teams, resellers, and end-users leveraging poor metrics against the value of a name. Is this a common occurrence? Would I be leaving money on the table or significantly affecting my potential sales percentage if I didn't consider these factors?

One metric the public and end users do care about is 'Page Rank'.
As search results on the first page are highly valued by both.

Rank also greatly impacts a domain's valuation and sales, in my experience.

I hadn't even considered that, thank you.

I'm slowly allotting metrics into a tier list of sorts, ordered from most important to least.

I'm sure I'm missing some. I've yet to form a comprehensive list, but this is what I have so far.

My list as of now:

The name itself
Global monthly searches
CPC
Page Ranking
Page authority
Domain authority
Spam score
Quality of backlinks
Quantity of backlinks
Age

-M

 

[pb]

I care more about forwardlinks. Always look into the future.

 

[MrMDMF]

My list as of now:

The name itself
Global monthly searches
CPC
Page Ranking
Page authority
Domain authority
Spam score
Quality of backlinks
Quantity of backlinks
Age

Just for further clarity, based on the insight/replies from this thread, this is a list of contributing factors to the quality of any specific domain name, not an all-encompassing list of the direct correlation to how well any given name will sell. All these factors and more add up to small percentages and may or may not have any effect on the final sale of a domain.

-M

 

[Future Sensors]

Personally, I find the results on OpenCorporates/com to be a good indicator, especially when combined with some Google searches (including the News and Images tabs). For a large part, I trust my gut feeling to determine if the name is relevant for naming a business or project, and make a quick assessment about market size and look at recent developments and press releases. I also check if websites in other extensions have been developed. A lot of the metrics in your overview are irrelevant in my domain selection, but as indicated earlier, we may all have our own specific way of selecting the best names for our different business models.

 

[MrMDMF]

Personally, I find the results on OpenCorporates/com to be a good indicator, especially when combined with some Google searches

I recently discovered OC, a fantastic tool. I imagine the best way to use it would be to search for individual keywords related to your name and tweak around with the wording and other potentially related markets associated with it.

 

[Future Sensors]

"Gut feeling" should be made a metric

But gut feeling highly depends on the person making the assessment, and their experience in the field.

 

[Future Sensors]

I recently discovered OC, a fantastic tool. I imagine the best way to use it would be to search for individual keywords related to your name and tweak around with the wording and other potentially related markets associated with it.

That would be a good way for inspiration. You can start with the domain name, or start with OC for brainstorming. Both can lead to results and inspiration.

 

[biggie]

My only concern is acquisition teams, resellers, and end-users leveraging poor metrics against the value of a name.

Hi

when you are offering a domain for sale, as is -
and there are no metrics attached to it...
then
there is nothing to leverage against the name.

however, resellers and the "likeminded" may use past sales comparisons to try to get better deal
but that too, can work for either side of the coin.

above is also one reason why many sellers don't report their sales.

imo...

 

[eyedomainous]

Furthermore, I feel obligated to clarify - I'd never sell a domain in bad faith or intentionally sell a domain that has been blacklisted or have several penalties attached to it - saying that, as noted above, it is ultimately down to the buyer to do their due diligence for their investment, this goes for myself, resellers, and end-users alike.

when you are offering a domain for sale, as is -
and there are no metrics attached to it...
then there is nothing to leverage against the name.

While "Lemon Laws" cover a wide range of products, across the US.
And apply "if the seller has not disclosed any important information to the buyer, such as previous damage".

Note, this also includes covered products sold "as is" -which generally applies to 'implied warranty' products; 'as is' product buyers do not lose their rights under state lemon laws.

So, while state and national consumer policies clearly state it is the seller's job to communicate a used product's defects.

The FTC / Federal Trade Commission's 'Buyer's Remorse' legal framework exempts 'exclusively internet' products.

Nonetheless, I know The Industry can do better... ethically and financially, if we had a metrics based 'Good Housekeeping' Domain Seal of Approval.

 

[Samer]

“Backlinks” are Pseudo-stats!!
Sometimes, the worst name has “best” links.

They nice bonus for SEO, but as others have said:

“Not my style” Actually, last thing i look for!

 

[Abdillahi Abdillahi]

I dont check and I dont ever remember checking. I used to care about PR and how ro increase it back in the days when I was developing websites and it was seen as a great measurement for website quality.