question How can I tell if a domain is Premium or High Quality

[Kim Hanks]

Hi! Im learning the biz and am wondering what makes a domain premium? What makes it high quality?
I have 140 domains and im trying to figure this part out.

Looking forward to your advice!

K

 

[Bob Hawkes]

While the list off all time top sales kindly provided by @1Darko is a good guide to super premium, do keep in mind that some of the sales in the list go back as long ago as 1999 and the majority are a number of years ago. While single memorable words with high positive impact remain in vogue, there are changes in trends over the decade.

By the way one really nice feature of the list as pasted by @1Darko is that you can click on each name and go to the NameBio record for it which shows characteristics and stats like CPC etc. for the term. Very helpful!

Looking at the top sales of 2018 e.g. at DNJournal or NameBio (the lists are not exactly the same) will probably give a better feeling for what is currently considered super premium.

However, for most of us, while it is fun to look at 6 and 7 figure sales, a more realistic view of premium names we might hope to own is a bit less exclusive. I find it helpful to look at the say last month of NameBio sales, order it in terms of price, and see what has sold in the top 30 or 40 of that list. This is still a pretty exclusive list, but a bit more own to earth.

Bob

 

[Dave]

@Bob Hawkes Great post

 

[urlurl]

What are Gold names / Lease names?

its a metaphor, gold = premium, Lead = crap

 

[wizard]

Hi! Im learning the biz and am wondering what makes a domain premium? What makes it high quality?
I have 140 domains and im trying to figure this part out.

Looking forward to your advice!

K

Well you have 140 domains what are these you should really start with a few sell some then add more once you have a feel for things...

 

[Kpett]

Hi Kim-
One thing you can check (and many hear don't agree with this approach ... because it is automated), is to run each of your domain names through the GoDaddy Domain Name Value and Appraisal. Sure there is no online (or any other) appraisal that is going to tell you how much you can sell your domain names for, but at least this one will tell you whether you have a name that may be worth something (based on similar names that have sold on GoDaddy) versus being in the other 99% where you have 'brandables" or other names with bad keywords, etc.

Once you run each of the 140 names you have through the GoDaddy appraisal, how many of them come back with a number over $2,500?

Anything under that, I have found, means there is no current market for the name and you will need to work hard to get it sold for any profit - even if it says $1,500 - there are thousands of names that come back like that but aren't really marketable.

If you have names that might have future potential and you want to hold on to them for a while, that is different. There are many here who buy names on speculation - early bitcoin name investors immediately come to mind - that have made money on names that aren't worth much when first purchased, but gain in value based on popularity of the keyword/name.

 

[urlurl]

if you can post a sample of you top 5 or 10 names we can get a better picture

 

[eurorealtor]

what makes a domain premium?

The very first sign is that the real premium domain (.com) won't be available to register (unless you just invented something revolutionary and named it with an available domain name)

how did you go about accumulating 140 domain names, without pondering this question earlier.

I made the same mistake years ago, but it was just few domains.

 

[Kim Hanks]

its a metaphor, gold = premium, Lead = crap

 

[Kim Hanks]

Hi Kim-
One thing you can check (and many hear don't agree with this approach ... because it is automated), is to run each of your domain names through the GoDaddy Domain Name Value and Appraisal. Sure there is no online (or any other) appraisal that is going to tell you how much you can sell your domain names for, but at least this one will tell you whether you have a name that may be worth something (based on similar names that have sold on GoDaddy) versus being in the other 99% where you have 'brandables" or other names with bad keywords, etc.

Once you run each of the 140 names you have through the GoDaddy appraisal, how many of them come back with a number over $2,500?

Anything under that, I have found, means there is no current market for the name and you will need to work hard to get it sold for any profit - even if it says $1,500 - there are thousands of names that come back like that but aren't really marketable.

If you have names that might have future potential and you want to hold on to them for a while, that is different. There are many here who buy names on speculation - early bitcoin name investors immediately come to mind - that have made money on names that aren't worth much when first purchased, but gain in value based on popularity of the keyword/name.

if you can post a sample of you top 5 or 10 names we can get a better picture

if you can post a sample of you top 5 or 10 names we can get a better picture

I have attached the spreadsheet of my domains and their estimate from both GoDaddy and Estibot. In most cases they are wildly different - adding to my confusion....

 

[Kim Hanks]

To add to my confusion, the estimates between GoDaddy and EstiBot are so different that I have no idea at all how to price a domain to sell.. I have attached a spreadsheet with my domains and their appraisals from both GoDaddy and Estibot.

I have a portfolio listed at Flippa and Im still not sure if I have the pricing right...
https://flippa.com/10074510-gaterhosting-com

 

[Kim Hanks]

Hi Kim-
One thing you can check (and many hear don't agree with this approach ... because it is automated), is to run each of your domain names through the GoDaddy Domain Name Value and Appraisal. Sure there is no online (or any other) appraisal that is going to tell you how much you can sell your domain names for, but at least this one will tell you whether you have a name that may be worth something (based on similar names that have sold on GoDaddy) versus being in the other 99% where you have 'brandables" or other names with bad keywords, etc.

Once you run each of the 140 names you have through the GoDaddy appraisal, how many of them come back with a number over $2,500?

Anything under that, I have found, means there is no current market for the name and you will need to work hard to get it sold for any profit - even if it says $1,500 - there are thousands of names that come back like that but aren't really marketable.

If you have names that might have future potential and you want to hold on to them for a while, that is different. There are many here who buy names on speculation - early bitcoin name investors immediately come to mind - that have made money on names that aren't worth much when first purchased, but gain in value based on popularity of the keyword/name.

Thanks! I have seen some marketplaces use the EstiBot appraisal instead of GoDaddy and those estimates for the very same domain are very different. How do I know which one to list as an initial price ?

 

[Kim Hanks]

if you can post a sample of you top 5 or 10 names we can get a better picture

Of course!
WddingClothes.com
BabyCareCompany.com
MyBlogpost.com
eBible.io
TheStorageUnit.com
ShutUp.io
TheGreen.club
Glamour.boutique
BestAutoInsuranceOnline.com
CareBecause.com
InjuryFraud.com
WhirlStudios.com

 

[YourBestTrader]

I do beginner domainer coaching... here are a few tips on getting into the game:

1. Buy Correctly
Remember, you never make money when you sell something. You always make money when you buy it correctly. Read those sentences again. They are critical. There is no money to be made on a domain that is not valuable, or that you've paid too high a price for. This leads us to the next point...

2. Get Educated
In many ways, your self-education is a far more valuable an asset than your domain portfolio. And this goes for most pro domainers. What they hold in their minds is worth far more than what they hold in their registrars. For you can always lose a business or empire, but with what is in your mind... you can get it back. Given the choice of one or the other... the wise will go with education every time!

3. Specialize
There are well over 20 categories of domain... here are just a few of the more popular ones:

EASIER
Liquid Domains (LLL, LLLL, etc.)
Brandable Domain
Discoverable Domain
Dictionary Domain
Exact Match Domain (EMD)

HARDER
Geographical Exact Match Domain (gEMD)
Adult Domains
County Code (ccTLD)
Domain Hacks
Emoji, Pinyin, & IDN Domains
First Names & Last Names
Geodomain (Country, State, City, Suburb, etc.)
New Generic (New gTLD)
Numeric Domains
Partial Match Domain (PMD)
Phrase Domains
Seasonal Domains
Ultra-Short Domains
True Premium

I've separated them into in what is "in my opinion" the easy ones for a beginner to start understanding and profiting on, and the other types which to me seem more specialist and with less clear or harder to learn "rules". Which brings us to the next part.

4. Rules
Each category has it's own floor prices and evaluation rules to determine the optimal buy and sell prices. You will need to immerse yourself in the chosen category and get familiar with all of the jargon and peculiarities around that specific category.

For example with Exact Match domains many find the Rosener formula helpful in determining potential value:

For .com domains: Search Volume X Cost Per Click X 12 X 0.33
For .net & .org domains: Search Volume X Cost Per Click X 12 X 0.33 / 10

Remember that the formula doesn't give you the domain sales price, but an indication of potential value, especially when comparing multiple domains.

Another example of a category would be the Liquid Domains category where for example you would learn about various configurations of 4 letter .coms and how the ones without AEIOUV are known as Chinese Premiums or Chips and are far more valuable than their counterparts... which are also valuable, just for being 4 letter .coms. And how the pronouncable ones are Western Premiums... and even the remainder have decent floor prices. And then you dive deeper and learn that certain letter combinations are more in demand both in patterns, and in which letters are used specifically.

And then there the "brandables", which seem to be gaining strength as there are more start-ups and trending niches than ever before, and more and more sites catering to them. Which takes us to the final point.

5. Marketing
You should never buy a domain unless you have a clear idea of who you are marketing it to, and how you are getting in front of them.

Some people are targeting very specific niches and reach out to them by cold calling companies they see ranking in Google or spending on Ad spend. Others are using various tools to email massive lists of companies that are either in the same niche, or have a related domain name.

Others use facebook groups, linkedin groups, skype groups, and online forums like this one to network and promote their domains.

Others list their domains for sale on auction sites like Sedo, Godaddy, Flippa, Ebay, and many others.

There are also many marketplaces best suited to each category, for example for brandables many would try and get exposure by listing on BrandBucket, BrandRoot, BrandPa, or Namerific for example.

Personally I think the number one neglected thing people should be doing but aren't is having a decent landing page on each domain... a large percent of sales come from people just typing in your domain to see if it is available.

I also personally list my domain on over 100 marketplaces because in this world exposure is a large part of the battle.

6. Bonus Point
The strongest tip I can give besides deeply familiarising yourself with the industry by reading all the blogs, and studying Namebio, etc. would be to try and find a mentor or coach. Obviously if you have a friend who makes good bank doing domaining... try and pick up as much as you can from them.

Make friends with as many people in the industry as you can, and they don't have to be in the top 10 domainers worldwide... just doing better than you... then you can learn from them.

Feel free to reach out to myself or anyone on the forum that sounds like they know a little more than you do, and ask questions... most of us are just happy to pass on some good advice.

Don't be put off when I said I do beginner domainer coaching... I'm happy to give free advice. The coaching is really for people who need that something extra, and not just a few pointers in the right direction.

Stick with it, don't be discouraged... when you make your first 1,000+% profit it will all be worth it.

 

[Bob Hawkes]

Great answer @YourBestTrader with good advice for all of us!

Thanks @Kim Hanks for sharing your list with Estibot and GoValue estimates for each domain. My first piece of advice would be to divide you names into categories to prioritize your selling efforts.
A - quality domain name with many potential buyers
B - good, but some hesitation either re number potential buyers or not quite as good in quality
C - someone might want this name, but whether it sells is doubtful
D - something negative re the domain name, or so specialized hard to see it selling
F - what was I thinking! (or a name that might have been good for personal development but not general sales)

The list will help guide your renewals (A and B should be renewed probably, while F and D not, and probably most C not unless you have had contact re the name in the year.

If you do not already. I would make sure that those in A and B list (at least) have good landers and are on marketplaces (I think they are on Flippa already). Do the same for C ASAP and maybe a few D ones later.

Re your names, here are some thoughts on a few.

Both GV and Esti like WeddingClothes a lot and I agree it is a good name. Best of luck with it.

I see you have a number of .io. Proportionately the extension sells well, but mainly in short single words and acronyms. Also the majority of ales are on .io, at least the reported ones, so finding a place to sell them is more challenging. With the high renewal only keep your best in this category.

While the golden era of webinars are maybe a few years in the past, I like your name BlueWebinar quite a bit. It feels fresh and interesting to me. If you have not already done so, for names like this use NameBio to research past sales with the words 'blue' (a lot!) and 'webinar' (quite a few). I expect you already use NameBio regularly but in case you need help I published on NameTalent an intro guide to using NameBio. The second in the series, out any day now, will look at compound words.

I like ComedyGrade (com) a lot too. Maybe for a comedian performer site, agency, etc.?
I also would place PaymentHut (com) in B or A category.
Even with hyphen green-lawyer (com) is nice.
Net is not as popular as a few years ago, but still some good sales and PlumberPlanet (net) has a nice sound and is memorable.

While the rate of sales of ngTLDs continue to lag .com/.org, There is a market for those that have a good match between two sides of the dot. From your list I liked WeddingDesign(services), WeddingPlans (app) although this extension crazily over-speculated, WeddingCakes(shop), TheGreen(club), etc. Even though I like them, the vast majority of sales in ngTLD are in single word or acronym left of the dot.

I like WeddiingMaker(co) but with renewal probably would not renew if you have not had any offers on it. Same comment re FamilyPet(co).

A few others like ShutUp(club) are cute not sure overall feeling on saleability. Someone might like it.

About those 'poop' domains.... hmmm. For me they would be F.

This is probably showing my ignorance of some current trend (I am a senior) but I noticed you have 'squne' in several iterations. What does it mean?

Anyway, the very best of luck with the portfolio. I truly hope you will have some great sales.

Bob

Edit: I meant to add that I like the name glamour(boutique) a lot [not that glamour applies to me personally ). I can definitely see a shop having interest in the name if you can only connect with them.

 

[Kim Hanks]

Thank you for sharing your advice with these. I appreciate the advice!

 

[Argentum]

Domaining is death for newbies, especially for newbies without funds, at least $100k.
Better to try crypto, there you will have more chances to earn something.

 

[Kim Hanks]

Do you mean domain names with crypto in them?
I have
cryptobuzz.online
cryptocandy.online
cryptoiest.com

 

[wizard]

Domaining is death for newbies, especially for newbies without funds, at least $100k.
Better to try crypto, there you will have more chances to earn something.

So not true dont need anywhere near 100k if they listen then you can make money just dont go crazy...

 

[forge]

Labels, these are just labels. You stick enough labels to second-hand items, it won't take long for them to become meaningless.

 

[Argentum]

Do you mean domain names with crypto in them?
I have
cryptobuzz.online
cryptocandy.online
cryptoiest.com

I meant trading with cryptocurrencies, not domain names.

 

[Kpett]

Thanks for sharing your names @Kim Hanks - I have found the Estibot values are higher when there is traffic to the domain - whether the domain used to be a website and still has backlinks, or is so popular of a name (or great keywords) people type it in - that will give you higher Estibot value. GoDaddy Value does not look at traffic at all - just keywords and recent sales on GoDaddy platform.

Out of my first hundred or so domain names I hand-registered a few years ago, some I still have (I know, I shouldn't be attached ... but I think they will be worth something some day), some I sold (I use landers on my own domain sales website and received offers), some I sold on Flippa (and some I paid for Flippa listing but never sold - even more in the hole), sold a few through outbound emails, but since most weren't that valuable to start with I mostly didn't get any responses. The rest I either sold for peanuts here on NP or let expire. I had a bunch in .net and .io - some of the .io ones were successful. But I only now deal in .com.

From the money I made on the ten or so I sold for profit, I re-invested in names through dropcatch or GoDaddy auction that met my criteria of having a GoDaddy value over 2500 and could be used for some sort of business or website - have been much more successful with those. I think in the last year I only hand-regged a few names - only because I found them to have a possible business attached to them.

For your names, obviously wedding/clothes/com is your best name by far, and of course my/blog/post/com is also a good aged name. I'm guessing you bought these in auction somewhere so you have more of an investment in these. These are your high quality domains. I think the rest you would have a hard time re-selling to domain investors or even on Flippa or Afternic waiting for a buyer. Some look to have good possibilities if a website was built on them - I think that is where you might be able to get something back more than you spent. And, of course, you have to keep the ones that are your name!

Hope this helps ... good luck!

 

[forge]

So not true dont need anywhere near 100k if they listen then you can make money just dont go crazy...

Right.

And would you (me, anyone) rather lose $100k or $0.5k? Good grief!

 

[DOMAIN ILLUMINATI]

How can I tell if a domain is Premium or High Quality

"PREMIUM" or "HIGH QUALITY" or "WHATEVER" are aaalways subjective titles that are primarilyyy used by those who own the asset.
This is not surprising and there is nothing wrong with it - every owner has the right to describe his asset as he sees it and if someone other buys his asset, it means that this someone other has the same or at least a similar viewww

In a deeper (actually in a higher) sense, it all starts with the question howww much you are convinced about your asset and the answer to this question depends at the end also on howww much you are convinced about yourself.

 

[domainer111]

For two word premium dot-coms, simply check each word in NameBio.com. This will help you evaluate the domain.

Example:

FunWorld dot com vs FunDiner dot com.

Checking world vs diner as a suffix on NameBio.com will lead you to conclude that FunWorld has a better chance of selling than FunDiner.

You may also feel FunDiner dot com might be worth it, as "fun" scores very highly on NameBio... so much of domaining today comes down to this type of decision. You are looking for "fun" to carry "diner" - in this case the context is good (jmo).

 

[Votumejero]

Wow, I have learnt a lot here.