Number-word domains probably aren’t good domain investments.
We know corporate China loves numeric domains. For example, 6.cn, 37.com, 360.com, and 2345.com are all owned by Top 100 internet companies in China. But how about a number mixed with an English word? Will this type of domain sell?
Recently, I read in financial news report that 51job Inc. was bought out by a consortium of investors. This Nasdaq-listed job platform is based in China with little presence outside the country. The company was founded in 1998 and currently ranks No. 61 on the Top 100 (in Chinese) internet companies in China.
51Job.com was registered in 1999 and Wayback Machine records suggest that it was likely acquired by the company for the standard registration fee. Since 51 rhymes with Wo Yao (我要=I want), job seekers know what the “I want job” platform can offer.
This numeric naming approach was also used by ecommerce platform Jing Dong, which likely acquired 360Buy.com in 2004 for the standard registration fee. Since 360 means “all, everything”, consumers know what the “buy everything” platform can offer.
Jing Dong later acquired the brand-matching JingDong.com and then upgraded to JD.com. Today, Jing Dong is the 3rd largest internet company in the world.
The issue with 51Job is that its corporate brand is actually “Wu You” (based on 51Job.com and related 51Jingying.com). Incidentally, 51 also rhymes with Wu You (无忧=without worries). Therefore, if they want to follow Jing Dong’s path and upgrade, they should consider acquiring Wuyou .com (developed, so unlikely) or even WY .com (forwards to Weyerhaeuser.com).
Before you get excited and try to find number-word combos, keep in mind why these companies settled on 51Job.com and 360Buy.com. They were acquired mostly likely because of their low costs (aka registration fees). For this reason, this kind of domain might not sell for much on the aftermarket and probably isn’t a good investment.
Richard B Morris says
They probably aren’t very good investments, but because of what just happened to me at NamePro’s yesterday, I just registered the domain;
2woSides.com. It’s because there are two sides to every story that I registered this domain for a possible book title, blog or website.
Kassey Lee says
Good luck then, Richard.
fred says
FORMULA1.COM
Mattress1.com
Mobil1.com
every major keyword +1 is taken and in use.
Kassey Lee says
May work if keyword is very popular, due to the ripple effect.
Yemi Alade says
I think domain names mixed with numbers and alphabets doesn’t really matter as long as the content and overall SEO work is good.
Kassey Lee says
If that’s the case, what do you think is the reason Elon Musk spent years chasing Tesla.com and then invested $11 million to acquire it in 2016. Will Tesla123.com work well?
Anunt says
i like my domain Money247
Kassey Lee says
It’s meaningful, not random numbers.
Jeff Schneider says
Hello Aunt,
We happen to like Money247 Nice Creation !
JAS 7/5/2021
Kassey Lee says
Valuable if in .com.
Jeff Schneider says
Hello Andrew,
We agree with you mostly, but like life there are exceptions.
What We found interesting is your comment on not getting too excited, because they may have purchased these names out of ignorance of Strategic Marketing with URL’s , much like the SEO advocates that think non-description URL’s are the way to go. This could not be a bigger Lie.
SEO advocates wrongly think SEO and SEM marketing strategies override the need for a Quality Business URL. These advocates are very happy to have their clients lost in the Google Matrix, making them indisposable or so they think.
They are working for Googles best Interests, not Traffic Starved Train Wrecks within the Google Matrix. After Google starves these new platforms of Traffic. They and other Tech. Titans enjoy the spoils of buying Traffic starved Tech platforms for pennies on the dollar.
This process has been going on since Googles Inception, decimating our countries Equity Infrastructure. This has created an equity infrastructure dominated by a very few. Google is a Prolific Destroyer of Online Competition. The Chinese have clamped down on this pattern, Why our Country Continues to Tolerate this is beyond our apprehension. JAS 7/5/021
Gratefully and Respectfully, Jeff Schneider (Contact Group)
Metal Tiger
FORMER – (Rockefeller I.B.E.C. Strategic Marketing Analyst/Strategist ) , Iicensed C.B.O.E. Hedge Strategist
Jeff Schneider says
Sorry Kassey, ! Should be Hello Kassey not Andrewi
Kassey Lee says
No problem. I always say why depend on the kindness of strangers (Google, Facebook, etc.) and live under their roof when you can have your own address which you can freely control? SEO is only part of the business. There is also a powerful tool called word-of-mouth which is still very popular even in the internet age. That’s why the best companies use brand-matching domains such as Apple.com, Alibaba.com, and Toyota.com.
Babak says
Dear Kassey,
What do you think about a domain like OK2.com ?
Kassey Lee says
All 3C .com domains are valuable simply because of their length. On top of that, “OK” is meaningful. I like it.
Babak says
Thank you for your nice response. You are right. “OK” in OK2.com, has made it meaningful and more valuable because in all languages, “OK” has positive meaning. moreover this combination is easy to remember, too.
Any way, we are looking for any potential buyer. Guys, you can find my email address in homepage of OK2.com.
Best regards
Babak
Kassey Lee says
OK also happens to be an acronym for https://chinese.yabla.com/chinese-english-pinyin-dictionary.php?define=欧科 which is the name of a large blockchain company in China. See OK.cn
joesaba2014 says
I have several like these:
b1bike.com
b1fintech.com
8pfintech.com
8insale.com
8pmobile.com
8ptools.com
8forsale.com
all8china.com