All the good names are taken?
Some of the large portfolio owners would like people to believe that all the good names are taken – which is probably true to a large part for the generic names. Finding the right name for your Internet start-up has become a major problem these days.
The cost of creating an Internet startup has significantly dropped these days: Hardware, Bandwith and Development (for example based on OpenSource software) have become much cheaper. Now if you want to add a nice generic one word domain to the mix, it can significantly increase your cost. Getting the additional type-in traffic may be worth the money, but if you are working without investors (and even if you have some additional capital), spending $15,000 for the right name might not be an option.
Dennis Forbes posted some “Interesting Facts about Domain Names” on his blog. His stats include the information how many 2, 3, 4 and 5 letter sequences are available. Turns out that if you try going for the short names, combinations with letters and numbers seem to be your best bet in order to find one that is still available.
His article reminded me of Paul Graham’s “Startup Names“, which basically states that it’s “uncool” to have a name that was bought of “squatters” (I’d rather call them speculators). This probably depends on your target audience. I am not quite convinced that this applies to your average Joe web-surfer.
As stated above, I think any one could use the traffic and credibility that a generic name might bring along can be an asset for any business, the question is just if the business is at a stage were it can afford the name. So in the beginning a fantasy name can just be good enough, but it might take more effort to get the buzz started.
[Thanks Idan]
Why do these companies own these generic domains?
Worrying about what domains have or have not been bought by someone means you’re not ready to play in the internet marketing game.
The idea is to BUY the domain that describes your product/service and OWN THAT SPACE. Why would anyone type in SNURF.com? Maybe I don’t know, and maybe I do, but it makes me about a dollar a day.
contact me at domainnames@mailite.com and I’ll tell you why. Dennis has done some fun card tricks here with his analysis and stats, but it doesn’t help you MAKE MONEY with domains. You have to understand why a domain is selling for $2500 right now, and if that domain will sell for $10,000 next year. Personally, I’d forgo buying the HDTV and instead buying the domain name that describes my knowledge and interests for $3,000. Why?
Because I know that buying a domain from someone for $3000 today will mean that domain will be worth $6000 next year. That’s the trend. The big companies are swallowing up domains that describe their product/services… you think they don’t know what they are doing?
Here’s some examples… just a drop in the bucket.
HomeEquity.com Ohio Savings Bank
HomeFinance.com Davison Financial Corporation
Cookies.com Adirondack Cookie Company, Inc.
Books.com – Barnes & Noble
Book.com – Barnes & Noble
Baby.com – Johnson & Johnson
Shoes.com – Brown Shoe Company
Computer.com – TechDepot.com (Office Depot)
Bread.com – Integrated Bakery Resources, Inc.
Finance.com – Citibank Corp.
Tennis.com – Tennis Magazine
Soccer.com – Sports Endeavors, Inc.
Watch.com – Bizrate.com
Socks.com – Bellview Hosiery
LoftLiving.com – New Homes Online
Software.com – Open Wave, Inc.
If you want more info and you’re for real, contact me for consultation. Do NOT contact me if you don’t have at least $1000 in the bank to buy a domain. SAVE YOUR MONEY AND BUY DOMAINS, EVEN FROM A PREVIOUS OWNER.
Stephen Douglas
Successclick
Domainrelevance.com
domainnames@mailite.com
You sell domainrelevance.com for 900$?
Is that all your company ’s name worth?
Stupid idea.
Vinch, funny find. Indeed Stephen’s Website (see comment above) lists domainrelevance.com (which seems to be his main site) with a starting price of $900 and a Buy it Now price (BIN) of $3,600.
http://domainrelevance.com/index.php?act=search&q=domainrelevance
I wonder if this includes his website
/Frank
Sure, you can buy my domain for $3600. I bought the domain for $7.
Who is stupid and who is not? You don’t get the website, you get the domain. I have about 15 other domains to promote for my domain sales.
Don’t assume you know everything in this business when you don’t have a clue. Frank might have a clue, but he’s not as fat as me, so he just wonders how I got that way. LOL
Nice seeing you at the Domain Roundtable Conference 2007, Frank! We had some fun and I am looking forward to seeing you again. BTW, i thought it was hilarious that you were running “cover” for Vern on his bids when you discovered we had cameras following the bidders on the DRT Live Domain Auction (LDA) on Aug 15. Turning your laptop sideways was a valiant effort, but you didn’t realize there was a camera on the OTHER SIDE of the overhead rigging. LOL
Vern is a very cool dude… he looks like an action hero to me…
So, Domainrelevance.com is NOT my main website. I don’t have time to even have my websites built out because I’m consumed with my domain consulting and producing the DRT with the LDA. But… maybe in the next few months, you’ll see my other websites come up that will hopefully interest you (and others… gaaah!). I own a more powerful website I’m trying to finish (all of you out there know how that is — that final touch that says ‘LAUNCH BABY LAUNCH!) It’s called BulkSaleDomains.com and it features domains that you can buy in bulk for cheap if you can afford $1000 minimum purchase. And all the domains listed MUST be keyword generic domains.
Much success to all…