How do dumb names with no PR or backlinks and no Monthly searches sell for $1000's?

[MoBoo]

So I've been studying domain flipping for the past week until my eyeballs started to fall out of my head. I also research recent domain sales as I'm searching long and hard to find great domains to flip. I can't seem to figure out how names like GetsPark.com and FindEvents.com sell for 3 and 4 thousand dollars when they barely get enough searches and are undeveloped (parked) domains.

Also going through the appraisals on NamePros and reading the comments posted there, I don't seem to understand how these types of domains are selling on Sedo and Afternic for the prices stated above.

Can any of you give me and others reading this thread some insight on this?

It would be appreciated.

 

[mosilager]

Well the answer really is simple, there's no formula or algorithm that dictates the true value of a domain name, a domain name is only as valuable as the buyer is willing to pay for it!.:D

So I've been studying domain flipping for the past week until my eyeballs started to fall out of my head. I also research recent domain sales as I'm searching long and hard to find great domains to flip. I can't seem to figure out how names like GetsPark.com and FindEvents.com sell for 3 and 4 thousand dollars when they barely get enough searches and are undeveloped (parked) domains.

Also going through the appraisals on NamePros and reading the comments posted there, I don't seem to understand how these types of domains are selling on Sedo and Afternic for the prices stated above.

Can any of you give me and others reading this thread some insight on this?

It would be appreciated.

 

[Debt.tv]

You also have to look at domaintools.com

Domain age plays a big role in domain sales. You also have to run a search at name.com or any other register, see if it's available in any other extensions.

For Example

FindEvents(com) - Sounds good, easy to remember, created in 2001, and is taken in all major extensions including a few major cctld extensions such as .co.uk and .de.

The best way to "flip" domains is to go to namejet, snapnames or pool and pay 69-200 per domain and flip it. The pre-release names don't lose their history. It may cost more, but you can blow a lot of money, $8 at a time, on junk names that never sell. I know this for a fact.

Getspark(com)....seems to be one of those fluke names.

 

[dragtastic]

You also have to look at domaintools.com

Domain age plays a big role in domain sales. You also have to run a search at name.com or any other register, see if it's available in any other extensions.

For Example

FindEvents(com) - Sounds good, easy to remember, created in 2001, and is taken in all major extensions including a few major cctld extensions such as .co.uk and .de.

The best way to "flip" domains is to go to namejet, snapnames or pool and pay 69-200 per domain and flip it. The pre-release names don't lose their history. It may cost more, but you can blow a lot of money, $8 at a time, on junk names that never sell. I know this for a fact.

Getspark(com)....seems to be one of those fluke names.

I'd have to agree with this. Finding domains that expired for $8 are much harder to flip right away - unless you grab a good one, and either develop it or park it for a few years. If you want to flip a domain ASAP i would backorder a domain with PR and is developed.

 

[Smiler]

Actually, don't search for a domain on any of the registrar until you're ready to register it at that moment because if the domain happen to be really good and it has a potential to generate money from parking they (the registrar) will register for themselves if you decided to skip on it. No Joke. It happened to me at least a couple of times.

 

[DomainHead]

Actually, don't search for a domain on any of the registrar until you're ready to register it at that moment because if the domain happen to be really good and it has a potential to generate money from parking they (the registrar) will register for themselves if you decided to skip on it. No Joke. It happened to me at least a couple of times.

That sounds very paranoid never heard this happen before, maybe the name or names were that good they were bound to get snapped up and you just missed the gun?

 

[hollywood]

That sounds very paranoid never heard this happen before ...

It happens every day, it's just not the part of the business that registrars choose to tell you about during their super bowl ads.

If you want to be successful at domaining, I would recommend that you accept the reality and deal with it.

 

[Ben42]

Those end user prices are anomalies, but they do exist.

Every once in a while a bad name can sell for thousands, because a perfect buyer happened by to a keen seller. This looks like it may happen a lot, but even 500 sales like this when compared to 50million domains available is a lot like winning the lottery. It happens.

Any purchase is a gamble, but you want to gamble on the best possible horse. The 100-1 odds horse will win in a blue moon and you'll lose overall on reg fees. Find the horse with the 5-1 or 2-1 odds.

BTW FindEvents.com is actually a pretty good odds name!

 

[DubDubDubDot]

Simply put, end users care less about PR, backlinks and monthly searches than domainers do. The domain industry clings to these metrics because they are the closest thing we've got to a standardized valuation process.

An end user able to pay $3,000 for a seemingly low value domain is probably able to create their own PR and backlinks through development.


p.s. The chatter in this thread about registrars stealing domain ideas is garbage that doesn't belong on a domainer forum. There is zero evidence to support this practice. The closest thing we've seen are automated systems that present searchers with alternative available domains based on prior searches by other customers. Many of the idea theft claims can probably be attributed to this.

 

[hollywood]

p.s. The chatter in this thread about registrars stealing domain ideas is garbage that doesn't belong on a domainer forum. There is zero evidence to support this practice. The closest thing we've seen are automated systems that present searchers with alternative available domains based on prior searches by other customers. Many of the idea theft claims can probably be attributed to this.

Yes I know you are a longimer here at NP, it's just too bad you cannot read.

I wouldn't otherwise respond except that you are spreading false information DubDubDubDot.

The most recent example I can think of is demand media which clearly discloses in their prospectus how their "algorithms" take advantage of user searches for the company's benefit. Your ignorance doesn't bug me, that's why I post these things. What really rubs me the wrong way is your sanctimonious attitude.

 

[floname]

Now, Now play nice...

It's a valid concern for domainers having their ideas stolen by unscrupulous registrars. If I'm brainstorming hand regs at GD, I see a list of all my ideas via the "previously searched" list within the page that shows which ones are taken and available. I make note of the ones that I might register, however obscure they may be. As a rule, if there is any doubt in my mind about a particular name, I sleep on it or mull it over for a couple days and see how the name looks later. There have been those times when I decide to register a few and alas, they've been regged??? I curse about it for a while and then get even more pissed when the whois info is private. Obviously, the registrars can and do collect search data and nobody knows for sure how its used because the industry is so widely unregulated.

The domain industry clings to these metrics because they are the closest thing we've got to a standardized valuation process

Agreed! End users are less concerned with this data and while it can serve to substantiate a name's value, if someone wants the name they'll pay for it.

 

[MoBoo]

You all have some very valid points though. I guess it's best to find an end-user if you want more money.