Having domains names and maintaining renewal fees is one cost that is fixed as a domainer (more or less). That we all know. But if you are in the market to sell domains (or keep them), what is a way to evaluate and put a price on domains? If there really is a best way, I don’t know it myself, and I have asked longtime domainers and people in the industry for a ballpark figure of value in the past on a specific domain, and it’s hard to get a solid answer. I can understand why, because if anyone knows the secret sauce, it’s not for public comsumption.
Let’s look at some ideas on various tools and methods leading to domain valuation:
1. Domain value estimator tools: I always feel hopeful that one day I will stumble upon this wonderful tool, and know one else will know. The first one that comes to mind is Estibot. I kinda like the feel of entering something and getting an answer that looks reasonable, if not necessarily usable. I tried it on the domain I sold for $1,180 at silent auction – OrganicBakeries.com – and Estibot gave it a value of $400. Glad I didn’t base my auction reserve on that price! It’s a place to start though, but not where I’d go if I am looking for a serious number.
Next I tried Nameboy. You enter the domain and extension and your e-mail and they mail the results. I would enter the results here, but I checked my e-mail and nothing yet, so I will let you know tomorrow in an update. You can bulk enter domains if you have a list, and there is no limit mentioned. Maybe you need to send it during the day, but I am sure this is all automated. Still Nameboy claims:
Instant – Emailed to you in seconds
Accurate – Appraisals based on demand and currency of words on the internet.
Objective – Consistent, industry standard metrics – no guessing, no bias.
Next, I tried DomainValuation.com. I have never tried this site before. It looks good in that they say they are recommended by Domaining.com (The About Us doesn’t really say who they are). They also say:
For a limited time we are proud to give you access to our famous domain name valuation service at NO charge.
This is the same system used by elite domain professionals who need to quickly valuate domain portfolios.
I submitted OrganicBakeries.com and another domain I haven’t sold, but thinking about selling, just to see what they come up with. Again, I entered the names and fiirst name and e-mail, and this time the site said I will receive a value within 24 hours. Update in the next post.
2. Overture results: Does anyone still use Overture results to evaluate domains? Even after Overture’s Search Tool was shut down some long time domainers were buying Overture databases to use as one metric to evaluate domains. I never understood why since the data was out of date and in the SEO industry, Overture results were considered skewed at best and maybe even manipulated by some. There has to be something to Overture numbers or domainers would have gone elsewhere. Right now Overture is dead anyway, and some people are relying on Wordtracker for search result numbers, but I don’t know about this either.
Oh Wait! There is a remnant of November 2007 Overture numbers here, for those domainers who can’t resist! Thank Chris Beach everyone.
Well, let’s see what the domain tool results are and continue the list in Part II tomorrow. Have a great night!
