In Persian mythology, the Huma (هما) is a Phoenix-like bird — part male, part female — that lives “its entire life flying invisibly high above the earth, and never alighting on the ground”. Its shadow falling on one’s head would foretell kingship. This meaning probably did not inspire the $11.5k sale of HUMA.com at NameJet last week. That domain could be some sort of acronym or even stand for Hillary Clinton’s personal aide. There’s also a “chia energy gel” called Hüma — yes, with Mötley-Crüe-like faux umlaut.
DormRoom.com ($12.5k) conveys “college student” as few brand names can. Granted, students have no trouble finding actual dorm rooms on campus; so this domain will probably be used to brand some form of entertainment site — with college students either the audience (e.g. humor) or the attraction (i.e. porn). Both ColoradoProperties.com ($4.1k) and StormShelters.com ($7k) pertain to lucrative Midwestern real estate. Storm shelters are a life-and-death matter for anyone in tornado-prone areas.
Domain Name | End $ | Domain Name | End $ |
---|---|---|---|
DormRoom.com | 12450 | HUMA.com | 11502 |
StormShelters.com | 7000 | ColoradoProperties.com | 4132 |
Daniella.com | 3800 | BeachBums.com | 3385 |
NYCTravel.com | 2544 | Lally.com | 2466 |
Bright.org | 2010 | FDMC.com | 1600 |
Vitana.com | 1600 | IAAM.org | 1500 |
ReadySet.com | 1005 | iRack.com | 1001 |
DarylKoop.com | 960 | AcrisDesign.com | 920 |
DSW.net | 863 | PPDG.net | 830 |
BrandConsultancy.com | 770 | UFG.net | 701 |
Luxit.com | 676 | FreeLebanon.org | 610 |
AFSB.com | 530 | FetishShop.com | 511 |
86817.com | 501 | CyberMeeting.com | 467 |
TheClassicCarAttic.com | 431 | 81719.com | 410 |
Perspective.net | 405 | HistoreSearch.com [sic] | 395 |
WaveLan.com | 391 | 81786.com | 383 |
GoPublic.org | 356 | 67200.com | 290 |
NPRT.com | 270 | MessDudes.com | 220 |
TeenVideoCam.com | 206 | OFDM.com | 173 |
Persuasion.org | 160 | IcelandConvention.com | 160 |
ModernChoice.com | 135 | Schoolie.com | 126 |
CashLoansBadCredit.com | 85 | MiniSite.org | 80 |
SoulFood.tv | 69 | JackOff.net | 69 |
BeachBums.com ($3.4k) makes a great lifestyle brand for coastal areas — whether it’s a clothing line, a surf shop, a podcast, or a restaurant. It seems to me that $3.8k is a lot to pay for the name Daniella.com unless some Daniella is herself acting as a brand. We also saw the surname Lally.com go for $2.5k; and even the full name of DarylKoop.com reached nearly a thousand bucks. So clearly some people pay up for their own name.
.TV seems like a natural fit for cooking shows. So I’d expect to find hush puppies, shrimp ‘n grits, and biscuits and gravy at SoulFood.tv sometime soon. New York City is a popular tourist destination, and it can be difficult to navigate for the uninitiated. Therefore NYCTravel.com ($2.5k) ought to find a steady stream of tourist customers. I also saw some .ORG and .NET domains worth building on: Bright.org ($2k), GoPublic.org ($356), and Perspective.net ($405).
Several years ago, when mini sites were all the rage among domainers frustrated by falling parking revenue, MiniSite.org would have sold for more than $80. Since then, Google algorithm updates have made web development and achieving search engine rankings a more intimidating proposition.
A disheartening side effect of writing about the expired domain market is regularly seeing aspirations fail, projects abandoned, or domains neglected by organizations that unwittingly let them expire. CitizenEffect.org is something I would prefer to find still in use rather than selling for $6.3k at GoDaddy Auctions. That organization “completed hundreds of high-impact community projects in over 20 countries” such as rebuilding in Japan after the 2011 tsunami. Other domains are merely dropped by speculators or else have run their course as websites with only temporary intentions (e.g. SciCal2013.com or LondresOlimpicos.com, which is Spanish for “London Olympics”).
Luck is worth money. SweepstakesMama.com claimed $3.7k; and 88Bet.com, which uses those Chinese lucky 8s, did even better at $4.5k. Here too we have someone paying up for his full name: JoeBageant.com ($2.6k). I assume the buyer is the author of “Deer Hunting with Jesus”. If a domainer bought that one, he will have nowhere else to sell it, which gives the squattee more leverage than the squatter. FloydNutrition.com ($2.5k) follows close on Joe’s heels, representing a different way of using personal names within a domain.
GoodWife.com ($1.5k) dates back to 2000 as a dating site from “The Mail Order Bride Warehouse”. Warehoused women? Are they kept in crates? By 2005, TheBosh.com was offering “trash”, “gossip”, and “celebrity”. Alas, no more! RLTR.com ($1250) matches the stock symbol for Reeltime Rentals Inc. Two different companies — one for software (EnvionSoftware.com), one for air humidifers (EnvionProducts.com) — will duke it out for Envion.com, which sold for $1.3k. Or maybe they just did.
Domain Name | End $ | Domain Name | End $ |
---|---|---|---|
CitizenEffect.org | 6350 | 88Bet.com | 4500 |
SweepstakesMama.com | 3660 | JoeBageant.com | 2550 |
FloydNutrition.com | 2500 | GoodWife.com | 1527 |
TheBosh.com | 1275 | EncoreBridal.com | 1275 |
RLTR.com | 1250 | Envion.com | 1225 |
CelebrityWallPapers.com | 1125 | StClairChamber.com | 1125 |
CostumeSuperstore.com | 1050 | Unidym.com | 1000 |
G4UU.com | 990 | EmpowerMe2b.org | 986 |
Building-Cincinnati.com | 965 | SimplyBikeBlog.com | 965 |
LYKY.com | 960 | Jueku.com | 911 |
BankingADDA.com | 897 | CivilWarRoster.com | 871 |
HindsightLTD.com | 860 | UKRConsulate.com | 860 |
PepperTreeAuburn.com | 835 | IndyCars.com | 820 |
OYCF.org | 814 | ForensicAnthro.com | 810 |
Hypnotherapy.net | 810 | SciCal2013.com | 800 |
WarnerGrand.org | 778 | ThePursuitAesthetic.com | 766 |
Tomorrow-Web.com | 760 | HigherEdWatch.org | 760 |
CanningUSASupply Store.com |
755 | SportsBetting Software.com |
735 |
SocialSport.com | 715 | Sehks.org | 710 |
TCDaysInn.com | 709 | TRSConsulting.com | 680 |
KisPorn.com [sic] | 661 | OhioVOAD.org | 660 |
Global-Commission.org | 660 | Tecor.com | 610 |
TopDocumentaries.com | 584 | Redwa.com | 560 |
MeeMix.com | 542 | TeatRace.org | 530 |
LoomisGroup.com | 524 | Licco.com | 515 |
ProjectCED.org | 510 | CitizensGrandJury.com | 510 |
IrenaFriedland.com | 510 | GamesDownloadFile.com | 497 |
URLQ.us | 496 | JohnQ.com | 495 |
CentralValleyMed Group.com |
490 | Yodha.com | 485 |
OurGameMagazine.com | 474 | Raptor.org | 457 |
Glibee.com | 456 | XOGY.com | 455 |
TheLifeThing.com | 455 | iGargoyle.com | 435 |
InternationalDirectory.biz | 430 | CoolMomGuide.com | 426 |
NightEye.com | 425 | DreamResource Center.org |
416 |
ReelGreenMedia.com | 414 | MonthlyDevelopments.org | 412 |
YaySports.com | 411 | AlakaiRealty.com | 411 |
OblivionMovie2013.com | 407 | PHPDB.org | 407 |
MineCraftGamePlay.org | 407 | EvaRestaurantLA.com | 405 |
CFG-INC.com | 405 | RadiantVista.com | 400 |
EHIC.org | 400 | HVACR-Jobs.com | 400 |
PepperTreeSpokane.com | 395 | FayettevilleTShirt Printing.com |
376 |
NosLivresAJustePrix.com | 375 | TBWABlog.com | 360 |
RyanSazRealty.com | 357 | KillerTestimonials.com | 355 |
XAYS.com | 355 | PEPX.com | 355 |
MagicalHypnotist.com | 355 | WizardTheme.com | 355 |
OrlandoFatFishBlue.com | 351 | VisitaCP.org | 350 |
BlankLabelGroup.com | 333 | Kelotel.com | 330 |
AMSAC.org | 325 | YepThat.com | 325 |
MottleysComedy.com | 325 | JaneEaglen.com | 325 |
TwitterBackgrounds.com | 325 | 75112.com | 320 |
TechHog.com | 316 | Ankeena.com | 316 |
CabinsPlusMore.com | 310 | GlobalResorts Network.com |
310 |
DrDish.com | 306 | OpenWidePDX.com | 306 |
ARCCT.com | 305 | EastTimorPress.com | 305 |
BestAmerican Universities.com |
305 | YouTubeToMP3 Converter.com |
302 |
NMFreePress.com | 300 | HanabUSA2010.com | 296 |
WriteBalance.com | 290 | ExplorisMiddleSchool.org | 280 |
DirigoHealth.com | 280 | ChicagoAccident InjuryLawyer.com |
280 |
AndalaCafe.com | 280 | DartsMarts.com | 280 |
ShoppingTips AndTricks.com |
275 | EUIP.com | 270 |
2013MedicareChanges.org | 257 | AppleValleyRedCross.org | 255 |
Teivago.com | 255 | GreenGablesMotel.com | 255 |
GeezPete.com | 255 | YABL.com | 253 |
SouliersDeDanse.com | 250 | Culture11.com | 246 |
GarishChristian Louboutin.com |
245 | Groovenomics.com | 245 |
SimpleText.ws | 240 | 39935.com | 238 |
DURV.com | 235 | SprocketHoled.com | 235 |
Humax.net | 235 | MehMetler.com | 230 |
SeePrettyThings.com | 225 | ImmigrationAtty Jambusaria.com |
225 |
PennBadgleyWeb.com | 220 | C4BB.org | 206 |
Zenit-Camera.com | 206 | TurquoiseShop.com | 205 |
TheoSMBlog.com | 205 | FlickWit.net | 205 |
RedCrossLife.org | 205 | Planet-Architecture.org | 205 |
NBDO.com | 205 | JBMElectronics.com | 205 |
No-Source.info | 205 | RCIEducacion.org | 205 |
GirlsEntertainment Network.com |
205 | AMillionFracking Letters.com |
205 |
BrooklynNYNews.com | 205 | GrandTowers.com | 203 |
JamesMotorCompany.com | 203 | TheBeaconFarmers Market.com |
201 |
HIPX.com | 200 | GMFD.com | 200 |
Best-Home-Business- Ideas.net |
200 | KenyaTrainTravel.com | 195 |
RetoEscuelaSegura.com | 194 | FilmStreamingOnline.net | 190 |
EWCDHH.org | 190 | UTQOnline.net | 187 |
Confronta- Assicurazioni.com |
186 | PHFN.com | 185 |
F911TIX.com | 180 | Improvd.com [sic] | 177 |
RedHolloway.com | 175 | ConURLs.com | 174 |
NandDarshan.com | 170 | SkiingReviews.net | 170 |
MajidBinMohammed.com | 170 | FlashTemplatesWeb.com | 170 |
TZMZ.com | 168 | FenceScreen4Less.com | 167 |
SunCompSVC.com | 165 | BackwoodSanglerTV.com | 165 |
NHBO.com | 165 | PGJT.com | 163 |
HypericonOnline.com | 161 | XXWB.com | 160 |
ZeroToBusiness.com | 160 | Soft45.com | 160 |
UdupiHotels.com | 158 | SaveTheTrails.us | 156 |
BigLakersFan.net | 156 | MortgageCapitalUSA.com | 155 |
ChapterBoard.com | 155 | HelpHaitiNow.org | 155 |
KillerSitesUniversity.com | 155 | DSourceVA.com | 155 |
SiteMaven-Design.com | 155 | UDXTRA.com | 146 |
62NSDC.com | 145 | QuebecRanking.com | 145 |
LetsMix.com | 140 | CravePizza.com | 136 |
TheRetirer.com | 135 | RawLuxury.com | 130 |
Family-Lawyers.com | 120 | FCJR.com | 120 |
GlobalHawaii.org | 118 | InsideTheCircle.net | 115 |
DigiBox.ws | 110 | ChaceIt.com | 105 |
TurnMeLoose Charters.com |
105 | RadioStationsOnline.org | 102 |
APathBeyond.com | 95 | HotelSempre.com | 91 |
GotMyPlan.com | 88 | NoelFielding.org | 85 |
Relaborate.com | 85 | SEOPosicionamiento Web.com |
85 |
CarPennyAuction.com | 77 | LosAngeles PartyBuses.com |
76 |
XGFN.com | 72 | Insidernet.com | 60 |
28824.com | 47 | 46433.com | 43 |
44940.com | 38 | LondresOlimpicos.com | 35 |
What to point out within such a big list? Hypnotherapy.net ($810) ought to be in high demand among professional hypnotherapists. I don’t know how SportsBettingSoftware.com ($735) would play out, but it is an intriguing idea. Penny auctions are popular these days; so CarPennyAuction.com may be worth more than its $77. Improvd.com ($177) probably escaped notice from people who mistook it for an “improved” typo, rather than a short brand name for musical improvisation or comedy improv.
Was EastTimorPress.com ($305) related to the release of .PRESS? Someone apparently heard that adding an “i” prefix is a good idea … but iGargoyle.com ($435)? We saw a couple of .WS domains repurchased, which never ought to have been bought in the first place: SimpleText.ws ($240) and DigiBox.ws ($110). Family-Lawyers.com ($120) illustrates the typically low value of hyphenated domains here in the USA. Then again, Building-Cincinnati.com sold for $965 and Tomorrow-Web.com for $760. I assume back links are responsible for those prices; but that assumption is worth testing.
TwitterBackgrounds.com ($325) and YouTubeToMP3Converter.com ($302) reveal some of the spinoff services that cling to major media companies like symbiotic birds on a rhino’s back, snacking on parasites. Why pay for music when Google has it all as Youtube slide shows? Poor Napster! Anachronistically, I actually own a few CDs (remember them?) by JaneEaglen.com ($325), one of the world’s foremost dramatic sopranos. She played Turandot opposite Luciano Pavarotti and gave audiences a hefty dose of Wagner.
Another celebrity found in the chart above is British comic and professional lunatic NoelFielding.org ($85), co-star of “The Mighty Boosh” and creator of the more recent series “Luxury Comedy”. Really, I see no value in that .ORG domain. But it’s an excuse to introduce the only British comedy as bizarre as Monte Python.
Michel says
Dang, I can’t even sell DormCity.com for $7,500.
Tony says
“dorm city” is not a combination of 2 words that are commonly spoken in conjunction amongs the teenagers that are around age 18, in preparation for college, where they are discussing “dorm room” related topics amongs their buddies, so “dorm room” is a combination that captures the attention of the teenagers as opposed to “dorm city”, which is not going to capture. It sounds more like a pun against an environment/community where there are many dorms and literally is as if it’s a “city of dorm rooms”.
Michel says
Thanks for the explanation Tony. I haven’t been on a campus for over 40 years. I guess I need to catch up! 🙂
Domainer Extroidinare says
Translation: dormroom.com = good dormcity.com = pure crap.
Joseph Peterson says
“Dorm City” is a viable brand name — hardly “pure crap”.
Nevertheless, there is a difference with DormRoom.com, which is not only a real thing but a phrase regularly used.
One needs to be invented; the other already exists.
Raj Domains says
nice sale of domain name DormRoom.com for $12.5k… and cool sounding domain name too.
Phil Moore says
Hypnotherapy.net for $810 was an absolute steal!