Domain Names – Six Golden Rules for Generic Domain Names
How come that certain domain names sell for over a million dollars while others get no interest what so ever. Two domain names may appear to be almost the same and might even have a couple of different characters, like Beds.com and Bedsx.com, but you’ve got it – The first one is a winner and the second a no hoper.
Keyword domain names become profitable investments if you follow these 6 golden rules and you must read them before buying your own domain name. It doesn’t matter which route you take to buy the domain name, good investigative work will guarantee a winner when it comes to selling.
1. Keyword volume: This is an estimate of how many searches the word or phrase has, which is an indication of it?s popularity. For example, according to Google, the phrase “Hawaii Singles” has 2400 searches a month. If you were bidding on HawaiiSingles.com, you would also want to check Keyword Discovery and/or WordTracker for additional data. You’ll never get more than an indication since each tool measures differently. However, it’s a safe bet if people are searching for a phrase there will be some natural traffic and SEO potential, and if there’s no volume, there will be little or none.
2. Commonality: A lot of people say domains are valued on their scarcity, but if you think about it, all domains, both good and bad, are one of a kind. What I like to look for is the commonality of the phrase the name represents within our society and existing lexicon. Usage, word order, and pluralization are huge factors in valuation. For example, “Discount” is not the same as “Discounted” which is not the same as “Discounts.” SportCars.com is valued less than SportsCars.com, and ShoesRunning.com is practically worthless when pitted against RunningShoes.com. Search for the phrase in quotes on Google to see if people are even using it, much less searching for it.
3. True type-in traffic: Most people always rush into domain investing and are not able to get this type of information to guide them first. Type-in traffic is the key to success and we need long term traffic, so don’t pay any attention to search engine or link traffic as this won’t last.
4. Length: Domain length is important. Shorter names are easier to spell and remember, and are far more likely to get visitors. All of these qualities increase the potential for branding, and can drive up valuations far beyond the reasonable, which is great if you are the one selling;)
5. Prior use: If the domain has a past life, and was acquired through a drop service or from an expired list, you want to know about it. Forget perceived positives like search engine ranking and PR since those will likely disappear after the name is in your hands. Instead, delve into the name’s dark side. Was it ever used for spamming? Is it banned from Google’s index? Did it previously contain questionable content? Overcoming these negatives can be more work than you bargained for, even with an otherwise great name.
6. End user development potential: The common denominator in successful domain names is one that can be easily developed and you just have to ask yourself whether you would be prepared to spend your own money on and if you aren’t, forget it. Use these tips to find a domain that will work and will reap you huge benefits in time.
