It is clear now that when some poor guy wants to start a web site the first problem is to get a descent domain name. Every domain name he can think of, is already registered. Even if he finds some name which is going to drop in a week or so, there is no chance that he will get it. Domineer all around the world are waiting right there with their backorders placed on that name.

3 character domains cannot be found for registrations not even 4 letters nowadays. All TLD's like .com, .net, .info and .org have been regged to the 4 letters limit. While I am writing this there are less then hundred 3 character domains left in '.net' and '.org' extensions with a mixture of letters and numbers. And around 2000 junk letter names in LLLL combination.
<<snip>>

So every domineer likes to have a 3 letter 4 letter and some dictionary and some brand able domains in his or her portfolio. There are more flavors too. Like LLL.com's, LNL.com's, NNN.com's and generic domains.

There are millions of domains registered. Imagine just $5 average per domain registration. And you will know how big this domain industry is. From where I am seeing it, there is no downfall of this domaining business. People who are breaking Trademarks and registering company names are also being hit hard nowadays. But still you can't file a case against some John for registering JOHN.COM and the show goes on.

I'm sure it varies by business, but you can find decent domain names with enough brainstorming. Probably not a 4 letter one, but something with a word or two strung together that is easy to read, matches the business, etc. Certainly can be tricky though, but can be done.

Have to agree, good names are out there, just have to look hard and be creative.

future of the domain name is in the dark because almost all the good domains have been already taken... and because of their marketting value many people are registering the domain name to sell it at higher price.

early bird catches the worm, right.

I believe you guys are all right. What about the people that are starting out on the internet? Would they have to suffer from "low-profit" domains? In the future, I am sure there will be different domains. Ones that will be better than .com or .net.

I was thinking of the future gen. I myself could not get hold of any decent name.
What would my kids get? 10-letter domains?? LOL.. Hope we get another .com in the making.

I was thinking of the future gen. I myself could not get hold of any decent name.
What would my kids get? 10-letter domains?? LOL.. Hope we get another .com in the making.

that would be an idea com2 :agree::cool:

so we could start everything over.

future of the domain name is in the dark because almost all the good domains have been already taken... and because of their marketting value many people are registering the domain name to sell it at higher price.

I own over 300 domains and I get new GOOD ONES constantly. I just bought a dozen in the last week that are all excellent with type in traffic.

Gregg

Understandably, all of the great domain names are pretty much gone in the .com world. However, if you stay on top of the domain name industry by following the organization that manages the domain name industry, you are sure to jump on the next wave. The organization is called ICANN. You can view information about it at icann.org.

Just recently, the domain extension .mobi was released to the public and people scooped up these domain names faster than one can imagine. Nevertheless, I was checking domain availability for really good two word domain names in the .mobi extension on the first day of the release and I found tons. I didn't register any but my point is that you should be able to get excellent domain names if you just keep up with the industry and the new releases.

If you are bent over on getting a good domain name in a .com, I would contact the owner if it is already registered and make an offer. You may have to make a high offer for the owner to sell it; however, if you have the right plan in mind for the domain name, it will easily earn you well over what you paid for especially for premium domain names. Also, valuations in domain names are going sky high and will continue to in my opinion, especially for brandable/generic domain names. Just look at the domain name sales tracking site at dnjournal.com and you will see the weekly/yearly sales of many generics. It's enough to make me cough up the big bucks for a generic and still walk away with a smile ear to ear knowing the future will be bright!

Nowadays the domain industry is highly competitive unlike the olden days. Luckily i managed to secure myfirstname.com (actually a drop catch). The future is unpredictable. Perhaps other extensions like .info, .us etc will also gain equivalent level of value once all possible .com's are taken. Currently, we can easily grab a 3 letter .net, .org, .info etc @ reg fee which can be scarce in the near future.

Although the great names are already taken or being auctioned for big money, you still can get into the action if you use your imagination. Hint: Go local and keep up with the news.

Nowadays the domain industry is highly competitive unlike the olden days. Luckily i managed to secure myfirstname.com (actually a drop catch). The future is unpredictable. Perhaps other extensions like .info, .us etc will also gain equivalent level of value once all possible .com's are taken. Currently, we can easily grab a 3 letter .net, .org, .info etc @ reg fee which can be scarce in the near future.


3letter .net at reg fee? where? I don't think thats been possible for many years now. Even in the other extensions.

I think the future will be a great place where lots of greedy people who have snapped up all the good names wont be able to sell them because they arent needed anymore. I am looking forward to that day.

in the future more top TLDs will be available, so the cycle will start again.

People push .com as THE extension because of the value it will then have..
The more tld's become mainstream the less domains are worth all around, which is not good for anyone.
If you are a domainer trying to earn money purely on domains, then you're a bit late into the game now, but if you're just a casual internet user looking to get a website, there are plenty of cool domains out there and other tld's for you to build your website on. And also sometimes you can find a cheap auction, a drop nobody catched, and snag a good name that way.

But my point is the absolute premium domains are obviously taken, but they have to be for value to go up..

It is clear now that when some poor guy wants to start a web site the first problem is to get a descent domain name.

The first problem is to determine what kind of site you are looking to have. There are lots of customers who want a site but don't know what is the objetive of the site.

Every domain name he can think of, is already registered. Even if he finds some name which is going to drop in a week or so, there is no chance that he will get it. Domineer all around the world are waiting right there with their backorders placed on that name.

Greatly exaggerated.

3 character domains cannot be found for registrations not even 4 letters nowadays. All TLD's like .com, .net, .info and .org have been regged to the 4 letters limit. While I am writing this there are less then hundred 3 character domains left in '.net' and '.org' extensions with a mixture of letters and numbers. And around 2000 junk letter names in LLLL combination.

No junk here. AWWM could be the perfect domain if you have a company named "A World Wide Mall" (in fact, in the past I had my sites hosted with AWWM)

By the way I just got a never registered before 4-char domain name perfect for a new company I'm launching.


There are millions of domains registered. Imagine just $5 average per domain registration. And you will know how big this domain industry is.

http://www.icannwiki.com/Domain_Statistics

I think the solution might be to eliminate domain sampling, and increase the price. If a domain name is $20 a month, like it was back in the NetSol days, suddenly its not economical to keep it, since ad revenue will never pay for the site.

I think the solution might be to eliminate domain sampling, and increase the price. If a domain name is $20 a month, like it was back in the NetSol days, suddenly its not economical to keep it, since ad revenue will never pay for the site.

In 1998 domain registration was $70 (2 years) and renews $35/year

If you are bent over on getting a good domain name in a .com, I would contact the owner if it is already registered and make an offer. You may have to make a high offer for the owner to sell it; however, if you have the right plan in mind for the domain name, it will easily earn you well over what you paid for especially for premium domain names.

Domain names are today's real estate... To get good domain names today you need imagination or money...

In 1998 domain registration was $70 (2 years) and renews $35/year
Before that it was $100 for the first 2 years and $50 for a one year renewal. Network Solutions "lowered" the price to $70/$35 after being called out by too many people for price gouging.

And before that, it was free. Yes, kiddies, dust off those history books and look it up! The first two domains I registered were $0 a year. It wasn't exactly a point and click process in those days, but it was do-able if you knew which hoops to jump through. Then when Network solutions took over, they sent bills for $100 payment due to all those free domain owners.

There was a period of a few months there when you could get practically anything you wanted, because a lot of the original registrants didn't see the point of paying $100 just to keep their domains (especially if they had registered a few dozen and were just sitting on them), so they let them lapse.

Ahh, you shoulda been there!

Before that it was $100 for the first 2 years and $50 for a one year renewal. Network Solutions "lowered" the price to $70/$35 after being called out by too many people for price gouging.

And before that, it was free. Yes, kiddies, dust off those history books and look it up! The first two domains I registered were $0 a year. It wasn't exactly a point and click process in those days, but it was do-able if you knew which hoops to jump through. Then when Network solutions took over, they sent bills for $100 payment due to all those free domain owners.

There was a period of a few months there when you could get practically anything you wanted, because a lot of the original registrants didn't see the point of paying $100 just to keep their domains (especially if they had registered a few dozen and were just sitting on them), so they let them lapse.

Ahh, you shoulda been there!


I was... and just looked...

Although, I did correctly say back then that domains had the potential to be big. But of course, I did nothing so here I sit still working hard. lol

There are some good domains still out there. I picked up a sweet 5 letter domain a few days back, that is screaming BRAND ME! I'll do something with it no doubt. :D

There are some good domains still out there. I picked up a sweet 5 letter domain a few days back, that is screaming BRAND ME! I'll do something with it no doubt. :D

Oh, yes, there are still TONS of good domains out there. Funny thing is, you only have to take the time to find them.

I have over 100 domains now... some developed and doing very well (some way better than planned), others on ppc doing OK, and some in various states... developed a bit, not developed, used for email, etc...

I want to get back on track with development. Think I'm done buying names for a while... focus on what I have and make them work.

Why is .com more valuable?
Is it because it is the first?

It is simply because it is the most popular extension. Everybody knows that extension someone who is not using a search engine is most likely going to try something.com then anything else.

Why is .com more valuable?
Is it because it is the first?

i would like to know this answer :)

Why is .com more valuable?
Is it because it is the first?

IMO (I'm not an expert)

.com is more valuable because it is the most used and recognized.

But then "value" can be difficult, since a LLL.info might cost more than a LLLLLLL.com. And value is whatever you can sell the domain for at the time. If you had a domain and no one would pay you over $1200 for it, what is the value? How about if two days later no one would pay you $600 for it? What is the value now? How about if a .info you had went for $10,000...

But in general .com is better for me. For me it is easier to build a brand with a .com... I've tried with other extensions as well... not that you can't, just more difficult, IMO. Even more so if you don't own the .com of the extension you are trying to use.

.com is the most valuable because that is how the world learned about, and still looks at, the internet.

In 1999 people weren't flocking to buy worthless stock in .net's or .org's - the were buying into (worthless) DOT COM companies (whether the domains really ended in .com or not), and that's how the internet came into most people's consciousness.

"When the dot com bubble burst..." - how many times have you heard that? Or, "The new dot com bubble."

"dot com" = internet. Get it?

When you need to blow your nose you say, "Hey, give me a Kleenex," whether it's a Kleenex or not (well, if you're in America you do, and America is all that matters, so there you go).

Maybe in the future I will just type "Robert2500" into a keyboard somewhere and your web site will flash onto my wall and I can see you and talk to you and you can hand me hundreds of dollars for some transaction...

And maybe we'll all be driving hovercars and our dinners will rise automatically out of the kitchen counter after we press a button. That's what they told us in the 1960's. They said we'd have all that "by the year 2000."

Who made your dinner last night?

Is your home router set up to handle IP6? Do you even know what IPv6 is?

I'll bet your cell phone doesn't even work most of the time.

That's why .com is valuable. Because it will mean "internet" to lots and lots of people for a long, long time.

It was hard for me to find a domain as well. I wish there was a easy way to buy domains.

it is still possible to get decent names in the aftermarket for $100 - $300.. that is what it would have costed you if you got the same domain 10 yrs ago and pay the reg. fees for 10 yrs... So why complain ;)

.com is the most valuable because that is how the world learned about, and still looks at, the internet.



True but in the near future I believe that will change. It's fast coming apparent there are many other TLDs out there. And they are being utilized.

It is clear now that when some poor guy wants to start a web site the first problem is to get a descent domain name.

Some poor guy can get a decent domain name very reasonable, if they have a little imagination.

What I think needs to stop is people who register domains but don't use them. There needs to be a law against this.

Stuff like this: http://ax.com

They just register it for no reason then redirect to some stupid ad page.

They really need to put a stop to this. Most of the 2-3 letter domains are used by people like this.

Hey Red Squirrel . how many 2-3 letter domains do youown?

What I think needs to stop is people who register domains but don't use them. There needs to be a law against this.

Stuff like this: http://ax.com

They just register it for no reason then redirect to some stupid ad page.

They really need to put a stop to this. Most of the 2-3 letter domains are used by people like this.

They do it for a reason in most cases. They're generate revenue from that name.

[QUOTE=Red Squirrel;5074843]What I think needs to stop is people who register domains but don't use them. There needs to be a law against this.

QUOTE]

Please don't get goverment involved in regulating this, they mismanage enough now :)

Hey Red Squirrel . how many 2-3 letter domains do youown?

I don't own any and I don't have the need for any, but it just pisses me off to see any domain being registered but not in proper use by the owner. Now I can see a vague domain not in use as the person just wants to reserve it, but people who purposely register a domain that they know someone will want, to me that should be illegal.

Kind of like if company xyz did not have a domain name, so someone registers it in hope xyz pays them millions for it. This should be illegal. But guess its true, the goverment should not have their nose in that.

its called first come first serve. And capitalism. If any domain is being used in bad faith then it can be grounds for a lawsuit. Then Again even some big companies abuse the lawsuit against the little guys. Read up on the story behind www.Nissan.com I am glad that Uzi is fighting it and winning too
:)


I don't squat on domains but i but them and then find buyers and resell them.

I don't have a problem with someone registering a domain to plop ads on it and just sit on it and collect their $2.00 a month in AdSense revenue. I think that the industry needs to adopt some specific rules when it comes to domain name registration and ownership. I think that purchase prices should be determined by your worthiness to own the domain. ie. if you have a registered business name and want to buy a domain name based on that registered business name, you should pay the lowest rate (ex. 7.95). If you want to buy that domain simply to put ads on it, you should pay the highest rate. (ex. 29.95) This would discourage companies from registering a zillion domains every year to "test the waters" with.

With that said, I think that in the future people are, whether they like it or not, going to have to let go of their mentality that .com's are the only domains that matter. You will begin to see legitimate and large companies marketing with different TLD's and soon the market will adjust in that way.

That's my prediction, at least.

domains have become the new real estate where those garnering more and more names profit from minor traffic to cover their costs while the value increases over time.

I do agree there are still names to be found - just be creative and look until you find but it is getting to be a shorter supply daily

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) approved the new gTLD ProgramGuidebook and made a historic decision to initiate the new gTLD process.

At the 41st International Meeting in Singapore, ICANN’s decision was met by enthusiastic cheering and a standing ovation. The meeting, attended by some of the biggest names in Domain Industry, saw the ICANN board approve the new gTLD program with a vote of 13 to 1.

Over the last week, this development quickly became the biggest news the Domain Industry has seen in recent times. Our CEO, Bhavin Turakhia, who was one of the few Industry leaders at the event, had some truly remarkable words to say:

“We witnessed history in the making on Monday when after 6 years the ICANN board finally approved the launch of new gTLDs. This is a once in a lifetime, iconic moment for our industry, and an exciting time. We’ve been at the forefront of the domain name industry for nearly a decade now and we intend on aggressively committing ourselves to the new gTLD process too.”

Anyone can apply for new gTLDs

Currently, applicants ranging from brands like Canon (.CANON) to industries like Music (.MUSIC) and hotels (.HOTEL) have been identified.
The Application process is slated to begin early next year, with the possibility of seeing new extensions sometime in 2013.

What you should know

The new gTLDs will have an immense impact on this Industry, the full potential of which we’ll see only in the years to come.

Looks like for now it'll be ".CO"