discuss Is it worth my time to go after domains appraised over $1,500 on GoDaddy?

[Outsomniac]

I know that some of you don't believe in the appraisal tools, and I know that some of you do.

I'm in the middle- not completely sure how to feel about them.

Am I wasting my time honing in on names that are appraised at or above $1,500 through the GoDaddy appraisal tool?

It doesn't really feel right to me to leave any names on the table if the appraisal is high.

What do you all think?

 

[Outsomniac]

I think basing your decision (to register or not) just on appraisal value ALONE is wrong. Of course, there may be exceptions.

I agree. I've come to fully realize now that it's definitely unwise to do that. Thankfully I haven't just registered name after name because of a high appraisal (though I was tempted to). I'm now focusing on other factors outside of a robo-appraisal.

 

[Outsomniac]

what did domainers do, before there were any appraisal sites?

they sold domains based on prices they conceived themselves or by consulting with peers who could give some insight.

nowadays, bot and algo's, have replaced thinking, and many have become the "end-users" of these tools.

the more you rely on them, increases the control they will have on pricing.

imo...

Good point- if we buy into these appraisal bots then we're basically validating them, and saying that they're okay to use- which is not the best idea.

 

[Outsomniac]

Exactly, and it's just one tool in your arsenal - personally, I totally disregard the specific dollar value of the appraisal and instead concentrate on its relative positioning against others.

For example, if you take 10 random domains valued at $1500 and 10 random domains valued at $5000, I can guarantee that the majority from the $5K group will be preferable and more marketable than the majority from the $1.5K group.

It's really just a sorting tool prior to the "eye test" and other factors. The dollar amount doesn't matter in the least.

Yeah, honestly that's how I have recently been looking at it. 9 times out of 10, a name that is robo-appraised at $5,000 will probably be more sought after than a name appraised at $500. But like you said, it's at least a way to sort through potential decent and potential terrible domains before evaluating and researching more in-depth.

 

[trelgor]

This.

first decide how worthwhile a domain name is based on criteria such as the value it would have to an end user, the potential pool of end users, past similar sales, the aesthetics of the name, etc. Do that before you ask for or get an appraisal - i.e. first make up your own mind after analytical work.


Bob

 

[Dnj]

The issue is, how do you actually determine a domain name that will attract buyers attention?

 

[Outsomniac]

the main problem with the appraisal tools is not that you register worthless domains
but that you underestimate a valuable domain and sell it by far to cheap

the next main problem is that you don't train your brain
and / or neglect what your intellect tells you
and instead trust those tools

that will never work

Great input! It's all too easy to see a name and think "Wow this is super catchy! I like it." which holds no weight because the next domainer in line may look at the name and think it's garbage.

 

[doofer]

I came across a domain on Godday valuation site for sale for $200 which they give a valuation of $5,500 ! If it were genuinely worth that, why would they be selling it for $200 !? What's more, freevaluator value the exact same domain at less than $50 !! I think these valuation sites are best ignored !

 

[NonHipster]

Domain assets (except for a small percentage of very liquid ones) are very difficult for people or robots to appraise with much precision.

I think the best way to view both appraisals (of the human kind) here or elsewhere, and automated machine ones such as Estibot, GoValue and NameWorth, is as a second opinion. By that, I mean first decide how worthwhile a domain name is based on criteria such as the value it would have to an end user, the potential pool of end users, past similar sales, the aesthetics of the name, etc. Do that before you ask for or get an appraisal - i.e. first make up your own mind after analytical work.

Then, after you have in your mind decided the relative worth of say 5 names you are considering, and perhaps a range of values for each, why not consult the automated tools to see if they confirm your opinion? They will along the way add information you might not have had (GoValue almost always does a good job with comparators and have sales not in NameBio, for example; while you can get the search/advertiser information in Estibot elsewhere, it is presented in a nice format, especially with the temporal graphs). If your opinion, and the opinion of others on NPs in appraisal thread or the automated worth estimates are very different, try to decide why. A second opinion is usually worth knowing, even if you don't think it is very accurate.

GoValue tends to appraise a huge number of coms in the $900 to $1900 range, so it may not be very discriminating.

Finally, even from the tiny sample of end users I have interacted with, at least in North America those who are seriously considering spending mid $$$ or more on a domain have probably stumbled on GoValue because GoDaddy is so big. So your potential buyers will know GV even if you disagree with it. I think that is why some well known names are angry with GoValue. I have sometimes picked up names even if I think the GV is way too low, but it is a negative to me, as it means potential buyers may well consult GD and think the domain should go cheap in those cases.

Bob

Estibot? Seriously? They are the absolute worst!

 

[Andrew Knox]

Why would the registrar benefit? It is a free tool... I would understand benefits if it was a paid tool.

How would Facebook benefit from people using its free tool...

 

[Giroud]

They are not accurate, but I use GoDaddy appraisal tool to get an idea about the related sales to a domain.