I don't get it.

[Stockford Dev.]

Ok so I know what people are gonna say, "read the forums", "watch the marketplaces" but I have, I have been reading and researching every resource I can find. So far since all appraisal sites are apparently BS I have developed the following criteria for choosing to buy names. I want names that are: short, memorable, brandable, no special characters or substitions, have more than one possible way to develop, and that all rank reasonably hi in Estibot which I was using for general appraisals since it seemed to give me consistently the low end of the range for appraisals and I don't want to be counting my chickens before they hatched so to speak. But of course when I put them up here even though they follow a lot of these "rules" that I have been reading about they get appraised as basically worthless. So what am I dong wrong, what criteria should I be using to judge domain names, I don't even bother with non dot coms for the most part. So please somebody tell me what I am doing wrong, or point me in the right direction to find answers I want to take this business seriously but I can't if there is no reputable way t learn what domains are worth anything. Any thoughts anyone? One of the domain names that people here ranked as low XX evaluates on every appraisal site I can find for upwards of $15000??? How does someone learn this trade?

 

[jamesosix]

Regging domains with hyphens can be great if you have the right keywords. For newbies though, I think that they should stay away from hyphens since it tends to make the domain harder to sell 99% of the time.

Aye, thats a fair point

 

[GRIDZY]

I would just stick with two word generic domains. It's been said over and over and over, but its true. And that doesn't really mean ANY two words. Really think about whats out there and what people are commonly searching, and how likely your domain would be in demand for specific end users.

Also GeoBusiness domains. If you can make them .COM's and also keep them at two words, GREAT! Hell I feel that even 3 word geobusiness domains can become very appealing if you find ones that are relevant.

Also be smart, go for demand. So for example, don't get your hopes up if you get NYCPoolGuy.com (available btw), because honestly? How much of that work is really done there?

And how much do you really think someone that cleans pools is gonna pay for a good domain?

Nothin!

 

[alien51]

How are we to know that the guy that sells the xxx$500 domain is actually worth even the $500 that we'll pay?

Between yourself (a newbie), and a professional domainer expert, which one between the two of you will have better chances of picking a domain that is worth $500 ??

That's my point. I did not say the domain owned by an expert is really worth $500. But he has better chances of owning a domain worth $500, compared to you.

and even if it's worth that much, why sell it to us and not to those that want it for $1000-$1500?

He is not selling it to you. YOU are buying it from him, before the real end-user comes in and pays for them.

In effect, you are making it MORE EXPENSIVE for the end-user. Because instead of the end-user paying just $500 for the domain, he was surprised you grabbed it before he does and now you are selling it to him for $1,500.

 

[drifter2]

There are plenty of good names to reg still but nobody is going to find good names to reg unless you have software that checks thousands at a time. There are good new markets to reg names in but no one has the time to think of them or check them one by one.

 

[biggie]

He is not selling it to you. YOU are buying it from him, before the real end-user comes in and pays for them.

In effect, you are making it MORE EXPENSIVE for the end-user. Because instead of the end-user paying just $500 for the domain, he was surprised you grabbed it before he does and now you are selling it to him for $1,500.

:talk:

alien, that's an excellent well said perspective!

I bolded the essence which shows:

that the "seller to buyer relationships", particularly between investors and flippers, are quite different.

where investors typically wait, for you the buyer to come along, while on the other side, the flipper aggressively pursues buyers to sell their domains to.


imo....

 

[serryjw]

Stockford Dev...I think the best way to learn is listening to every vid on domainsherpa.com. Subscribe to their emails...THESE are some of the best of the best domainers. You will learn a lot.

Good Luck!

Remember...a domain has value...HOW much, depends on your selling skills and finding the right buyer. When you are on any auction, you are selling to investors/flippers...not end users.

 

[Stockford Dev.]

Thanks so much again for everyone's advice, I think I am working more toward being a domain investor, that isn't to say that I won't turn a property over fast if the opportunity comes along, but I'm more waiting for the right end user to come along, I haven't bought thousands of domain names, I am keeping an amount that I can afford to renew if needed and I am wracking my brain night and day to come up with better ways to actually sell the names, also since I don't pay $500 for my domain names I can afford to cater to a much smaller business type client, not just the big guys who have thousands of dollars to throw at a category killing name, but the smaller guy who can afford maybe $300 for a decent domain for his new business, if you do the math on buying a name for $10 and selling it for $300 even when all other overhead costs are absorbed I am making a very nice profit. I am not greedy just faced in life with having to find non traditional ways to make money and even though I haven't made a fortune yet or maybe ever will I think domaining could be a part of that income stream I am trying to develop. It isn't the only thing I do and I'm not expecting miracles overnight

 

[JB Lions]

Pay little attention to search volume as people fall into this trap all the time.

Have to disagree with that one a bit, I've seen different people post that. If I plugged in his domains, the best he has is 140, more than half of them 10 or lower and I don't like any of them.

If you look at some of the top sales ever, most have very high search volume. Search volume is simply demand or interest. If I asked anybody here to give me a list of what they consider to be premium keywords, they're going to be generic and high volume search keywords usually. People are looking for this or that. If you have this.com or that.com, it's probably going to be a good domain.

It's not the sole factor I look at, but it is one of many and I think a decent one. Of course generic, no TM, something you can make money with somehow etc. are other factors that goes along with search volume.