Why are some numeric domains more valuable than others?
I look at domain sales almost every day. However, when it comes to numeric domains, I must admit that I’m still ignorant. Often, I find myself not being able to understand why a certain numeric domain could fetch such a high price. Nevertheless, sometimes I do come across a numeric domain that I know is valuable because of its meaning. 7732.com is a good example. The domain sold for $49,500 on October 20.
Numeric domains are unique to China where they can actually be used to run a serious business. For example, 1688.com is a wholesale marketplace owned by Alibaba. 1688.com is valuable because it is easy to remember due to the meaning “making a fortune all the way” in Chinese.
Actually, numeric domains do not have any intrinsic Chinese meanings. Instead, meanings are created. If a meaning can be created for a numeric domain, this makes the domain easy to remember and therefore valuable.
The method is called rhyming. When pronounced in Chinese, 0 to 9 can each rhyme with (sound like) many Pinyin words. I call them (0 to 9) the building blocks. Below is only a small sample of the Pinyin words corresponding to the building blocks, using 7732 as an example.
Building block | Rhyme with |
---|---|
0 | Ling (令=command), Lin (林=forest), Ying (赢=win) |
1 | Yi (依=depend on), Yi (医=medical), Yi (易=easy) |
2 | Er (儿=son), Ai (爱=love), e (饿=hungry) |
3 | Shang (商=business), Shan (山=mountain), Xiang (相=mutual) |
4 | Shi(世=life), Shi (视=view), Si (死=death) |
5 | Wo (我=me), Wu (武=martial), Wu (舞=dance) |
6 | Le (乐=fun), Lu (路=road), Liu (流=flow) |
7 | Qin (亲=kiss), Qi (妻=wife), Qi (奇=wonder) |
8 | Ba (吧=drinking bar), Ba (爸=father), Fa (發=making a fortune) |
9 | Jiu (久=a long time), Jiu (救=save someone), Jiu (酒=wine) |
By combining the building blocks to form a numeric domain, you are actually combining the corresponding Pinyin words. If the combination produces a meaningful Chinese phrase, then the numeric domain becomes easy to remember. For 7732.com, you can form many combinations, and four are suggested in the table below.
7 | 7 | 3 | 2 |
---|---|---|---|
Qin (亲) | Qi (妻) | Shang (商) | Er (儿) |
Qi (妻) | Qi (妻) | Shan (山) | Ai (爱) |
Qi (奇) | Qi (奇) | Xiang (相) | e (饿) |
Qin (亲) | Qin (亲) | Xiang (相) | Ai (爱) |
I then examine each Pinyin combination and see if the combination makes sense as a phrase. In this exercise, Qin Qin Xiang Ai (亲亲相爱=kiss, kiss, love each other) is the best one I’ve found. Based on this meaning, 7732.com can be used in dating, match-making, or anything related to love.
Obviously, this method may be time-consuming. Also, not every numeric domain can have a Chinese meaning. The longer the numeric domain, the more difficult the task becomes. Finally, remember that the meaning is confined to the Chinese culture and will be lost outside China.
Ravi says
Thanks Kassey..
good example and explanation.
would love to see more examples in this similar format…more numeric domains.
Thanks,
Ravi
Kassey Lee says
Thanks. I’ll write about those numeric domains which can actually used by end users.
Mansour says
Kassey Lee,
I hope you are not a Chinese broker or involve in the domain business. Your article is a complete guesswork and has nothing to do with how the Chinese value the numerical domain names, and you are completely right to admit that you are still ignorant. I have sold 46 NNNN.com domains in the past five years and I will tell you how the value of the domain names sold has been determined, but it would take a long time for me to explain, especially because 99% of .com domain names with 4 or less numbers are owned already by the Chinese, so it will not help anyone reading this article to get more money for their 4 numbers or less domain(s). But please avoid any advice said in this post to determine your number domain NNNN.com or less.
0006.com sold $10600 0003.com sold $90,000 first domain sold in 2012 the second 2019 appreciation in value. the highest date end 2015 beginning 2016.
0007.com sold $150,000 USD James Bond 007
Got the idea!! it take long time to explain,
repeated numbers is most expensive. and numbers in sequence also 67 or 89. least value domain has 0 or 4 unless in sequence.
Kassey Lee says
Thanks for sharing your experience. Numeric domains up to 4N are definitely valuable to corporate users as I have mentioned many times, such as in the analysis of the top 100 internet companies in China. 360.com, 58.com, 37.com, 4399.com, 2345.com, and 253.com are all used by these end users. What I never understand are how long numeric domains can practically be used. Yes, I know such domains are traded at good prices, but my focus is on actual use. Hope this helps.
,
muhammad sokoto says
thank you very much for making this clear, am a newbie in domain flipping and I really need a guidance. helping me will make me a pro in domain business. kindly contact me via [email protected] am always anticipating your judicious feedback
Kassey Lee says
Then, please come back and read more as I post regularly.
Saucey says
Great read. Thanks!
Curious to hear your thoughts on sequential numeric/repeating letter combos…
For instance
12345jj or 12345bb etc…
Thanks.
Kassey Lee says
Hi Saucey. a sequential numeric is already easy to remember, so there is no need to resort to rhyming.
John says
What about the 1616.com and 3377.com recently they sold recently over $100k, are they valuable, real sale or not, how come they selling over $100k amazing, lol
John says
What about the 1616.com and 3377.com recently they sold over $100k, are they valuable, real sale or not, how come they selling over $100k amazing, lol