It can be difficult when you show alternatives available for $10.
Matt Mazur of Lean Domain Search has posted an analysis of his results showing premium domain names for sale next to available-to-register domain name results.
It’s an interesting read.
After several months showing domains from Sedo’s inventory he has sent hundreds of targeted buyers but hasn’t made a sale.
There are many possible reasons, and he points some of them out.
One of the challenges is that Lean Domain Search finds some pretty good unregistered domains, which makes it hard to push a premium domain instead:
TaskTime is a good domain name, but is it really worth $15,000 more than a domain name like TaskStyle? If you’re only comparing premium domain names it’s easier to convince yourself that an expensive domain name is worth it. But when you have a choice between a $15,000 premium domain name and a $9.99 available one, it’s less likely you’re going to buy the premium one.
It might also be helpful to limit the premium domains to ones priced under $2,000 or so.
Or, as Mazur suggests, it could just be that people who use an available name generator aren’t the type of people that would shell out thousands for a domain.
That’s a shame, as I’m sure there’s a way to promote already registered domains while also suggesting domains available to register. For now, however, Lean Domain Search is ditching the Sedo domains.
Viljami says
Interesting indeed. I think the biggest problem would be that most domainers, especially total rookies, price their domains too high.
For example, tasktime.com for 15000$ is just ridiculous. Of course, if some bigger player absolutely needs it, 15000$ might not be a problem, but in general, tasktime.com, imho, just isn’t that premium.
I’ve been playing with leaddomainsearch quite a lot (nice tool), and tasktime.com for 15000$ is just one of the numerous examples.
Then there’s always the possibility that after people have been directed to Sedo, they have simply bought some other domain via Sedo.
todd says
The answer is very simple. He promotes LeanDomainSearch.com mostly to other domainers and domainers are looking to reg names not by them at a premium. Once the site gets more traction outside of the domainer community he will have sales and lots of them.
Viljami says
Todd, quite the contrary. I’ve seen a lot of posts about lds and 90% of them have been in startup etc. blogs. Plus there’s a lot of discussion about lds @ Hackernews.
Andrew Allemann says
I agree. I don’t think this has been pitched to domainers much at all.
page howe says
anyone else notice that leandomainsearch seems to open up new windows when you exit or search? and sometimes “takes over” your computer.
i get those little “blips” , or maybe im paranoid becuase i just watched die hard 17 with the hacker who gets blown up
page howe
Andrew Allemann says
Page, I think you might need to scan your computer 🙂
Rob says
like i have said in the past, even some of the more experienced domainers often think (or simply try to con buyers into thinking) that their domains are “premium”. baloney. a mere fraction of a fraction of all domains are “premium”. the bulk are just jackpot/extortion domains waiting for (most often) non existent “premium” buyers.
Adam says
There’s a lot of factors here. maybe the issue is the merchant in the affiliate relationship. Are they tracking accurately ? obviously it’s been brought up that your buyer type isn’t the “spender” that wants a premium . . . that’s why they came to your site and not sedo or afternic in the first place. Anyway there are a lot of factors.
I’ve spoken to registrars about premium names, combined with name spinning and they’ve seen success selling premiums. They’re still selling premiums too on most registrars . So you’d think they wouldn’t use that real estate for pitching those names unless it was working well. I think Leandomainsearch might just have a better spinner and a savvy customer base that is going there for cheap names in the first place. You don’t stock gucci and prada at Walmart.
John Berryhill says
Good idea, bad example. “Taskstyle” doesn’t pass the radio test, “Tasktime” does.
The “radio test” addresses phonetic ambiguity – i.e. “if you say it on the radio”, will the name be unambiguously communicated. The consonant collision in “skst” sounds like a mis-pronounce of “tactile” and could sent listeners to “tasktile” or all sorts of other things that they’ll hear.
But, the point is fairly valid aside from that example.
What typically happens is that an organization will brainstorm a variety of names long before checking domain availability. After you’ve paid $X to a “brand consultant” and gotten married to a word pre-launch is a really bad time to find out the corresponding domain is already registered.
Affinity Prepaid says
Branding is an art. $15,000 is peanuts for TaskTime.com (the two “T’s” are key in placing a value on this domain; i.e., it flows well). Most of you have no idea to that which I am referring, and I haven’t the time to explain. Later.