discuss Various End-user Objectives for Buying Domains

[Smooth]

What are the potential purposes for end-users to buy domains? I see plenty of high value domains being bought, but never used.. Sometimes these names expire too.

Let me start tabulating a few reasons, why end-users buy

1. To use it as their main domain (Eg. they have an inferior domain already - with hyphen, .net etc)
2. To protect their brand (Eg Apple might want to have iPad.com)
3. Thought Leadership (Eg Walmart buying Shoes.com)
4. SEO (Most Geo domains - NewyorkPlumber.com etc)
5. To use it as the main domain for new Business

Do you see any objectives I've missed out here?

 

[wormfood]

To keep it from the competition.
For an advertising campaign. Maybe their slogan or some other catchphrase.
Traffic, if it gets a substantial amount.
Pure vanity.
Localization - buying ccTLDs.

 

[Smooth]

Thanks.. I think some of those are clearly objectives where companies would have smaller budgets - compared to larger objectives.

BTW you mentioned traffic names .. You're referring to brand name misspells ?

Have you guys seen other objectives?

 

[biggie]

basically, they buy cuz they got the money.

but there are domainers who spend just as much money and will do the same thing.

imo...

 

[Wannabean]

I'd add rebranding.

 

[Asfas1000]

- Name of poduct or service they provide
- Name of poduct or service they will / might provide in the future