How do you guys know that an available domain is good?

[Skinny]

Okay that title was garbage .

What a I mean to say is as newbies we sometimes look at a domain and say wow that's an amazing name.

Then once you register it you realize the name is garbage.

How do you know that an available name is good or will be good.

I use OVT but I can't find any terms that are available.

Seems like a hit an miss for me.

Do you guys have an strategies you'd like to share so that you can better find kick butt available names?

Skinny

 

[DotWeekly]

I use these rules and it seems to work well.

Ask yourself these questions, if the answer is YES to 3 or more, buy it.

1.) Do people Search for this Term?

2.) Is it Easy to Spell and Type? No words like To, Too, Two, 2 etc

3.) Does the domain make sense?

4.) Is this domain short and brandable for a company with no TM issues?

5.) If I owned this domain, can I make money with it?

6.) Is the domain a .com? .net sell for only about 10% of .com!

 

[Spade]

I use these rules and it seems to work well.

Ask yourself these questions, if the answer is YES to 3 or more, buy it.

1.) Do people Search for this Term?

2.) Is it Easy to Spell and Type? No words like To, Too, Two, 2 etc

3.) Does the domain make sense?

4.) Is this domain short and brandable for a company with no TM issues?

5.) If I owned this domain, can I make money with it?

6.) Is the domain a .com? .net sell for only about 10% of .com!

Now, If I remember, step #7 for you is ask Justin... is it not? :hehe:

I do recommend finding someone on the forum you can talk to and trust. Jamie and I bounce domains off of eachother all day...

 

[000]

To be honest, I just follow my gut instincts -- and I've rarely gone wrong. But if you're a newbie to domaining, I wouldn't suggest this route. Follow Jamie's guidelines.

Also, a little trial and error is a good way to test how wise your gut is when it comes to domaining.

 

[Skinny]

Cool,

My gut has gotten better but it's really tough finding strong available .coms nowadays.

Like for example I recently registered relaxing cruise.com. I'm still not sure whether that was a great reg or not?

Then how would a value a domain?

Skinny

 

[smashfactory]

you also have to have patience- i have been seeing on a few forums newbies selling all and getting out-

it takes time to learn and to sell- i have had names i bought that i thought rocked- no bites for months! but, someone came along and bought at some point-

and, go with a registrar that lets you taste- if you really got a stinker, and you ask the forum, you can return it

 

[Sameh]

You can check too :

- PR
- DMOZ
- Archive
- Alexa
- Related sales
- other TLDs listed for sale
- how many of TLDs are taken

 

[wow!]

Just 2 simple rules for you:
1. If you are saying wow! on the domain...
2. If you are not sure just ask wow! here...

 

[DotWeekly]

Now, If I remember, step #7 for you is ask Justin... is it not? :hehe:

I do recommend finding someone on the forum you can talk to and trust. Jamie and I bounce domains off of eachother all day...

Ahhh I forgot the most important, lucky #7! Yes, it is always good to ask another person you can trust that will not go and reg the domain.

I think the Real Fact here is..... You are not going to find real gems that drop and get by tasters, people using software, auction houses etc. You might find one or two in a month, but the time spent, could be spent paying a couple bucks more for domains from other people, auction house such as Tdnam, bazarr, or contacting people thru whois. :imho:

 

[000]

My gut has gotten better but it's really tough finding strong available .coms nowadays.

Exactly. The .com extension has been around for quite some time, so most everything of much value is taken (of course, various industries, products, ideas, etc, are coming out all the time, so there will always be good names out there somewhere). Until you gain further knowledge about the value of domains, it might be a good idea to look at deleting domains lists. You obviously must still be quite careful, but in my opinion you have a better chance of finding a decent domain this way than by just checking random names for availability. I've found some nice domains in the past using this tool: www.justdropped.com. Not mine, but as I said I have had luck with that. Just play around with it and you just might come across something worth registering! (Not to brag, but last year I registered a domain that I found on a JustDropped list, and sold it here at NP a couple months later for $600 -- just a minor "success story" to encourage those who regularly peruse such lists).

And as Justin recommended, it's always good to ask the opinion of a trusted and experienced domainer before making a questionable reg. I'd be willing to provide insight if you ever need it, just PM me.

Good luck!

 

[Name Trader]

5.) If I owned this domain, can I make money with it?

If the answer to this is no, then I wouldn't buy it. (Assuming Jamie also meant including resale and not just income).

 

[yandig]

I tend to go with my gut instinct. Back in 2004, I registered my first seven domains. After the first year, when i didn't sell any, i thought maybe they weren't any good. The next year, I sold one for $500, two for $200 each, one for $180, and one for $15. I still have the other two.

Trust your instincts, and be patient. Also be willing to renew the domain if you believe in its power.

 

[DotWeekly]

If the answer to this is no, then I wouldn't buy it. (Assuming Jamie also meant including resale and not just income).

When I wrote this, I was thinking of the Buyer. The buyer/owner should be able to make money with the domain, Yes.

 

[Name Trader]

My comment was whether you meant you though you could earn income from the domain or you could profit by selling the domain, or both. If income only, then how much income.

 

[DotWeekly]

My comment was whether you meant you though you could earn income from the domain or you could profit by selling the domain, or both. If income only, then how much income.

Either or would work, as long as it's income (Profit). But I was thinking more in the lines of, if you could sell something on the site. Some domains are better for info, some are better for non-profit org's, and most you can make money on, selling something, which you should be able to turn a profit.

Example

DiscountParts.com you can make money with

YourTownNewsDepartment.com would be hard to make money on. lol

 

[cache]

check the recent sales.

 

[Spade]

check the recent sales.

Yup - See Sig!

 

[Skinny]

Checking it out.

Nice tool Justin.

Skinny

 

[Spade]

Checking it out.

Nice tool Justin.

Skinny

Thanks Skinny. Working hard on it.