May 13, 2022

What is a Premium Domain Name & Why You Should Buy One

written by

Joe Uddeme

Joe Uddeme

What is a Premium Domain Name & Why You Should Buy One

If you have big plans for your business, you’ll be in the market for a domain name to match. Cheap, everyday domains are unlikely to work for you, which is why you’ll need to get your head around the world of premium domain names, as NameExperts.com Principal Joe Uddeme explains.

 

Domain names are the ultimate authority on the web. They can make or break any business with an online presence.

It’s necessary to pick a suitable domain name if you want customers to discover your website with little stress. Most individuals and businesses understand this rule, and that’s why there’s significant demand for the class of domain names known as premium domains.

There are various considerations to what constitutes a premium domain, but the most important thing to know is that they’re often short, catchy, and memorable.

Premium domain names give you greater recognition on the web. If you’re serious about your business, you’ll want to buy one of these pieces of prime digital real estate for your website.

Key Takeaways

  • What makes a premium domain name
  • Valuations of a premium domain name
  • Long-term financial growth possibilities
  • How to buy a premium domain name
Need help buying a domain? We make the domain buying process easy.

What makes a domain name Premium?

The factors that contribute to making a domain name premium include:

Trustworthy TLD

The top-level domain (TLD) refers to the string of characters at the end of a domain name. The most popular ones include .COM, .NET, and .ORG.

There are thousands of TLDs available on the web, and some of them are obscure, e.g., .WOW.TODAY, and .DOT. Any domain name having such TLDs will hardly or, if ever, be considered premium because people rarely encounter them and thus tend to be skeptical when they do.

Most premium domains end with the popular TLDs that customers trust. The best choice for one would be the .COM TLD.

Length and Brevity

A premium domain name is usually as short as possible. Overly long domain names can be difficult to memorize, so they can scarcely be considered premium – no matter how great their combination of words is. For example, are you more likely to remember (and visit) boats.com or greatboatsforsaleonline.com?

Conciseness is also a vital factor in premium domains. Hyphens or punctuations can make domains difficult to remember, so you want to avoid them.

Generic

Premium domain names typically contain generic words that are easy to recall and understand. The more common a domain name sounds, the higher the value it commands.

Take, for example, Insurance.com, which sold for $36 million, and VacationRentals.com, which sold for $35 million.

It’ll be a great advantage if your company’s domain name consists of a word broadly relating to your industry. If so, it’ll be easier to make a lasting impression on customers’ minds when advertising.

For example, Cars.com is a leading automotive classifieds site with hundreds of millions of dollars in annual revenue. The relationship between its domain name and its business carries weight.

Keywords/Search Engine Optimization

Search engines are the biggest medium through which internet users discover websites. Hence, premium domains typically correspond with common search terms. AirlineTickets.comCarRentals.com, and MovieTickets.com are typical examples of premium domains drawing their significance from search engine optimization.

They also prove that a domain name doesn’t have to be a single word to be considered premium.

Why buy a premium domain name?

There are numerous good reasons to buy a premium domain name, but they all converge on one motive: to bring about more business. Companies would not spend sizable sums on premium domains if they weren’t bringing good returns.

The justifications for buying premium domain names include:

Credibility

A premium domain gives your brand more credibility in your industry. A domain name can provide a hint of how serious your business is about flourishing. Don’t believe it?

Try pitching to business professionals or prospective investors with a questionable domain. You’ll be made jest of or continually dismissed, which isn’t a favorable situation to be in.

The domain name you pick also goes a long way in determining the quality of media coverage your business can get. News and industry publications are more receptive to premium domains than non-premium ones.

Brandable

It’s more feasible to build a thriving brand around a premium domain than a non-premium one. A premium domain is usually short and catchy and, therefore, can stick to customers’ minds more easily.

Many people don’t pay much attention to advertising, so it’s wise to give them something memorable in the shortest possible time.

A premium domain has a substantial competitive edge over non-premium domains in enticing customers to patronize a business.

Stripe.comAmazon.com, and Uber.com are examples of businesses whose highly brandable domain names have contributed greatly to their success.

Uber website screengrab to denote valuable domain name

Improved search engine ranking

The battle to rank high on search engines is very fierce. There are millions of websites competing for limited space on the first page, so you need every possible competitive advantage.

A premium domain is more likely to rank higher on search engines than other domains.

Investment

A domain name is not just a tool but also an asset. There would not be a big domain flipping market if this wasn’t true. The past two decades of commercial internet have seen many domain investments reap big windfalls for their owners.

A premium domain can appreciate in value over short periods of time due to high demand. Hence, it’s a proper medium to park some cash with hopes of getting a significant return.

Let’s say a business with a premium domain fails. That domain can be sold for a high price and give some comfort to the owners of the faltered business. Check out our guide to the most expensive domain names ever sold for an eye-opening introduction to this high-value world.

Blocks of gold bars denoting the value of a premium domain name

Is it worth it to buy a premium domain?

In many cases, buying premium domain names for your business can be a great decision. A good domain name corresponds to a solid online identity, which is valuable for any business.

The competition on the internet is intense, so you should strive to differentiate yourself with a premium domain name.

One of the best online business tactics is to buy a premium domain in a booming industry – mental health and artificial intelligence, for example. Such a domain is likely to bring about a great deal of organic growth for your business – or could have a phenomenal resale value.

Do domain names increase in value?

Very often, yes. A domain name you buy may not be in vogue at the moment, but no one is sure of what the future holds. That domain could be useful in a burgeoning industry, making an organization pay a big sum for it.

Another way for a domain to increase in value is if an established business decides to launch a product or rebrand with that name.

For example, when Facebook, the social media giant, rebranded to Meta last year, it had to buy the Meta.com domain name.

The price it paid for the domain wasn’t disclosed, but the company separately bought some trademarked assets relating to the name for $60 million, giving a hint of how valuable the domain was.

Laptop showing rising bar chart to denote growing value of domain names

How much is a premium domain name?

premium domain name can cost between hundreds and millions of dollars. There’s no definitive price range, as it mostly lies on arbitrary terms between the buyer and the seller.

If you’re buying premium domain names directly from a domain registrar, you should expect to pay a few hundred or thousands of dollars. It gets more expensive when there are direct negotiations involved and the value of the name is irrefutably higher.

Some domain owners demand tens or hundreds of thousands for their domains. We advise you to hire a professional domain broker if you’re to buy a premium domain name directly from the seller.

How to buy a premium domain name

You can buy a premium domain name directly from a domain registrar or the owner. Many registrars offer premium domains to their customers, e.g., GoDaddyDomain.com, and BuyDomains.

There are also sites specializing in auctioning expired or deleted domain names, e.g., Sedo.com.

To buy a premium domain name directly, you can sign up on a dedicated marketplace (NameProsAtom.com, etc.) linking sellers up with prospective buyers like you.

An alternative is to hire a domain broker to find the identity of an existing domain owner and negotiate a possible deal. There are many advantages to using a domain name brokerage service, including saving time and money.

Name Experts, for example, has access to a wide network of buyers and sellers. We’ll also handle the legal, escrow and negotiation on your behalf – resulting in a faster, hassle-free process that keeps you safe and protected.

 

About the author

Joe Uddeme is Director and Principal of Name Experts, one of the world’s leading domain name brokerage services. He has overseen domain name sales and acquisitions totaling more than $150 million and is renowned worldwide as a go-to expert in buying and selling premium domains. Using his years of experience, negotiation skills and little black book of contacts, Joe is an expert at helping clients secure premium domain names. Contact him at: [email protected]

Need help buying a domain? We make the domain buying process easy.
Subscribe for More Domain Buying & Selling Advice

Related posts

Image looking over a person's shoulder to indicate anonymity when securing a domain name
What Are The Best Domains To Buy?

Right at the top of the to-do list for any new business is “launch with a great brand name”. You’ll also need a website domain name to match – which is where NameExperts.com Director Joe Uddeme can help. Find out how to choose and register a great URL for your business in this guide.   For more than 15 years, NameExperts.com has been helping brands buy premium domain names that will help them grow. The issue most new firms have today is that pretty much every great domain name they can think of has gone. But that doesn’t necessarily mean they aren’t available. As well as advising fledgling companies on which great brand names to choose, we spend much of our time tracking down domain name owners and reaching out to them on behalf of our clients. It’s what domain brokers do – we’re your secret weapon when trying to get a great name owned by someone else (and not paying over the odds for it). In this post, we’ve rounded up 10 of our best tips for anyone who wants to buy a domain name for their business. And if you get stuck, just reach out to us for some expert help.   What are the best domain names to buy? Stick with the classics! Though it might be tempting to use options like .net, .edu, .biz or even things such as .shop, or .blog, it’s usually better to go with a .com domain name whenever possible. That’s mainly because everyone is familiar with .com. No matter how good the domain name you’ve landed, they won’t remember the all-important last bit (known as the top-level domain or TLD) if it’s something obscure. Everyone will automatically assume your domain is a dot com – so you might as well give your customers what they are expecting. Additionally, the .com name is worth more. Search engines cater to sites that give the user the best experience, and .com sites are seen as more credible to users and help establish brand authority.   Choose a brandable name If you’re just getting started with establishing your brand, choose something brandable. Think about something unique that your competition won’t have. A brandable name might mean that your name doesn’t mean anything at all, as is the case with Etsy or YouTube. You also want your domain to be easy to remember and easy to pronounce. Something else you’ll want to consider is to not choose something that sounds shady or untrustworthy. The goal is to create something that can be developed over time, so choosing the right name is important.     Keep it short and simple If you’re trying to add keywords (terms people will tap into Google when searching for a business like yours) to your domain name, make sure you don’t go overboard. It’s better to have something short and simple that accurately represents your brand. We recommend keeping your domain under 15 characters and avoid using numbers – unless they are specifically a part of your brand. Try to avoid weird or unique spellings of common words. If your name is Smyth and you want to include that in your brand, odds are that every single person will type Smith. Alternatively, if you’re dead set on using your unique brand that might be a variation of a common word or name, you can work with us to buy the domains that include the common misspellings. That way, even if users type it in wrong, it will redirect to your website.   Avoid double letters and hyphens Another tip we would suggest is to avoid double letters or hyphens in your domain. It makes your domain much more complicated. For example, if your website is classset.com, you will probably lose traffic because of typos. Avoiding double or triple letters like this will keep it simple and easier to type and remember. Additionally, always avoid hyphens. Hyphens are typically associated with spam websites, and you don’t want your business or blog to be tainted off the bat. Plus no one will remember the hyphen! If the reason you’re using a hyphen in your name is that a competitor has the domain you want, chances are you’ll be sending clients right to them. So, find a different and unique name. If you’re having trouble, contact us. We love helping clients find the very best domain for their business – and at the right price, too.   Don’t limit yourself with a domain that is too specific Choosing a name related to the industry you’re in is a smart choice because you automatically give users an idea of what your website is about. However, you don’t want to limit yourself and not give your brand the opportunity to expand. If you’re a baker, you might consider the name frostedcupcakes.com – but what if you wanted to include more than just cupcakes in your bakery? Your domain might dissuade users from exploring what other services you offer because they have a preconceived idea of what you do. Try to pick something flexible that can grow with you. Research the history of your domain before you buy This is where an expert domain name broker can really add value. We research your domain to find out who owns it, and then we spend time finding out what the reputation of that domain is. Why? Because sometimes even an “amazing” domain just isn’t worth it. If your desired name is tainted because it’s associated with spam or an inappropriate site, it might be worth looking at another domain name. Keeping that in mind, you don’t want to choose an alternative name that’s too similar to the one you’ve just abandoned because of its bad reputation. You never want your name associated with anything untrustworthy.   Domain names are like real estate Every day, new domains are registered globally. If you find a domain name you want, don’t wait too long! We’ve often described domain names as being similar to real estate. People all over are looking for good brandable names that they can register and then try to sell at better rates later. If you don’t act fast (or consult an expert like us), someone else might go ahead and register your domain name before you do. That being said, not all domain names are worth as much as you might think (or their sellers would have you believe). So don’t just buy domain names just to have them – buy names you actually think you might use in the future. If a name you want is in use, think laterally. Website copywriter Mike Peake, who sometimes helps out on the NameExperts website, had to do this when he tried to register mikepeake.com many years ago, only to discover it was already registered. Rather than choose a .co.uk TLD (he’s a Brit), he went with bymikepeake.com instead.   Make sure you’re set to auto-renew Typically when registering a domain name, you get to choose the registration period – usually a time span between 12-24 months. If you don’t renew your domain after that time, you will miss your window and it will become available to the public to buy. Sometimes, if you fail to renew in the time allotted, brokers and other domain purchasing sites will buy your recently expired domain and then charge you an arm and a leg to get it back. Avoid all that nonsense by setting your payment to auto-renew! Nearly every registrar gives you the option, so better be safe than sorry.   Don’t worry if your domain is taken Honestly – that’s what domain brokers are for! We are in the business of buying domains on your behalf, even if they are already taken. We have a tried and true process that really works. Our service includes a pre-consultation phase, followed by a more detailed consultation and then in-depth research. After that, we contact the seller for you and negotiate the price. We take all the hassle out of the process and make sure your domain gets transferred to you. What are the best domains to buy? It’s all down to you and what you want your brand to represent. But don’t panic if your dream name doesn’t appear to be available. We can work wonders with our ‘little black book’ and negotiation skills – or we can steer you in an exciting new direction if that’s a better route. The goal in both cases is to help you secure the best domain name that works for you.   About the author Joe Uddeme is Director and Principal of Name Experts, one of the world’s leading domain name brokerage services. He has overseen domain name sales and acquisitions totaling more than $150 million and is renowned worldwide as a go-to expert in buying and selling premium domains. Contact us at: [email protected]  

Woman faces the camera while sitting in front of a laptop for blog post about domain names
How to Rebrand Your Business and Domain Name

Even well-established businesses sometimes need to rebrand, and one of the biggest issues can be finding a new domain name to match. In this post, NameExperts.com Director Joe Uddeme looks at the smart way to do it.   Looking to rebrand your business? It’s rarely a walk in the park, with a to-do list that features everything from registering your new name, changing all of your company materials, and, crucially, securing a new domain name that can help your rebranded business to grow. There’s often a significant culture change, too, and it’s important your staff understand why you’re rebranding and what your hopes are for the new-look company. In this post, we’ll look at some key things to consider, including buying the domain name you’ll need. Key Takeaways The compelling reasons behind rebranding Considerations for your audience/marketplace Publicizing your new brand Practical considerations (logos, etc.)   How to rebrand a business Branding is a critical consideration for every business. Branding refers to promoting your products with a distinctive feel and design. It’s an ideal way to differentiate yourself from competitors. No matter how good your products are, you won’t sell them without proper branding and customer awareness. Branding isn’t an easy task. We wouldn’t have many companies struggling to sell themselves if it was. The world is littered with failed branding strategies, even from big brands. Netflix’s struggled early on to use Qwikster to break out its DVD rental service and its streaming service. However, a failed branding strategy isn’t the end of the world. Any business can rebrand and make it right with consumers. Netflix didn’t give up when its Qwikster brand failed. It continued DVD rentals with its usual name (successfully) before pivoting to video streaming later. When your initial branding strategy doesn’t work, the intelligent thing to do is a rebrand, and there are specific factors to consider when doing that. Be clear on what’s driving the rebrand Before initiating rebranding efforts, you must be clear on what’s driving the need for the rebranding. There are varying reasons for a business to rebrand, and each demands different strategies. The most common reasons for rebranding include: Having an outdated brand To reposition your brand Reputation management Brands can become outdated when they fail to keep up with rapid changes in modern style and influence. For example, a social media site from the early internet days won’t survive well in this current internet age when we have vastly different demographics. The early social media platforms became outdated over time, and those that failed to rebrand lost market share. You can also rebrand to reposition your company’s business strategy. If your original name focused on a niche, but has evolved to target a broader offering. FilterEasy to Second Nature is a good example of a brand that changed brand names to better align with their new offering. They originally focused on selling only filters but evolved to sell home care products. Check out our story about the rebranding of Monday.com for another great case study. Businesses also rebrand for reputational purposes. You may have started with a well-meaning name that unfortunately became associated with negative things in the future. A typical example is a Chinese fashion retailer named ISIS that had to rebrand when the name became associated with terrorist activities.   Focus on the Core Messaging Your rebrand should have clear and concise messaging. You should be able to tell a story with your new brand that customers can relate to. Just don’t rebrand without context – because that can irk existing customers. Let them know why you’re rebranding and why it’s better for the business. A simple explanation goes a long way in making your customers empathize with you despite the short-term inconvenience. Let your teams know this, too.   Consider your audience, market, and competition Take time to evaluate how your rebranding would affect your existing audience (customers) and standing against competitors in the market. Ensure you research to validate if your rebranding reasons are appropriate. How would your customers react to an unfamiliar brand name? Is there intense brand competition in your industry? These are good questions to ask before initiating any rebrand. You must be sure that the direction of your rebrand matches what customers want. There are two main types of branding research: quantitative and qualitative. Quantitative research entails collecting and analyzing numerical data to find patterns, while qualitative implies using non-numerical data. Focus groups are a good example.   Publicize your new brand Your rebranding efforts will be futile if you don’t make customers aware of it. Consumers have short attention spans, meaning they can easily forget your old brand. Once you rebrand, assume you’re a newly formed brand and market like one. Buy ads on social media platforms, search engines, TV, etc., to spread the word about your new identity.   How do I rebrand an existing business? 1. Buy a new domain name In this digital age, not having a website puts you on a lower level than your competitors. Hence, the first step to rebranding an existing business is securing the proper domain name. Before choosing your new brand name, check if a corresponding domain name is available. Your domain name is how customers would find you, so you can’t afford to make errors here. You can buy any available domain name through any domain registrar. However, there are cases where a domain you want is already taken, and you see yourself having no other choice. Don’t fret. You can enlist a domain name broker to find and contact the owner with an offer on your behalf. Domain brokerage services are great at negotiation and can take care of the technical side of domain name acquisition, too. 2. Change your logo A logo is an essential aspect of any brand because it’s one of the first things a customer recognizes and identifies with. Hence, you should change your logo during rebranding to signal your new brand identity. You can make your logo simpler for customers. Likewise, you can use unique colors to make your new brand stand out from your former. 3. Change your slogan Many brands have a slogan that customers resonate with, e.g., Nike’s “Just do it” and Disneyland’s “The happiest place on earth.” It would be best if you changed your slogan when rebranding to flaunt your new brand identity. 4. Create new ads You should create advertisements fitting your new brand identity. Your ads will now use a different slogan, color palette, keywords, etc.   What does it mean to rebrand a business? Rebranding is the process of changing an organization’s corporate image. It entails creating a new look and feel for an existing company to influence customer choices. A rebranding company would typically change its name (and domain), logo, slogan, vision, mission statement, etc.   Why would a company rebrand? There are various reasons why a company would rebrand. It could be repositioning themselves for a new business strategy, reputational management, or simply fixing an outdated brand. If a company is switching from a niche market to a larger one, it’s wise to rebrand appropriately to match its new focus. Likewise, if a company’s brand suffers from a poor reputation due to internal or external causes, a rebrand can help avert it.   Should you rebrand your business? Rebranding is a complex and expensive undertaking that you must do only with a clear goal. If you’re not looking to change your strategy, avert a reputational crisis, or face other standard issues that call for rebranding, we advise you to avoid it. However, in the right circumstances, it can give a struggling company or one with immediate challenges a new lease of life.   About the author Joe Uddeme is Director and Principal of Name Experts, one of the world’s leading domain name brokerage services. He has overseen domain name sales and acquisitions totaling more than $150 million and is renowned worldwide as a go-to expert in buying and selling premium domains. Joe has helped with the rebranding of numerous large companies. Contact him at: [email protected]    

Aerial photograph of the Earth from space with words like .com and .co.uk flying up from the surface to denote the importance of top-level domains when choosing a domain name
Buy Domain Names

Buying domain names – premium or high-value ones in particular – is a process. In this guide, NameExperts.com Director Joe Uddeme helps you navigate all the steps.   Want to buy domain names? You’re not alone! Millions are bought and sold every year. When you know how buying domain names works, a potentially overwhelming process becomes a whole lot simpler – although certain complexities enter the equation when you are choosing a seemingly unavailable premium domain name that is owned by someone else. However, the principles of domain buying are reasonably straightforward. This article will guide you through picking a great name, finding out if it’s available, and registering it. Let’s get started on setting up your online presence! Key Takeaways Selecting the right domain name is essential for online presence, emphasizing simplicity, relevance, and the inclusion of keywords for better SEO. Using domain search tools, including domain checkers and generators, facilitates finding available and creative domain names efficiently. Securing your domain promptly after availability verification is crucial, and protecting it with privacy measures and SSL certificates enhances security and trust. Choosing the Perfect Domain Name

Why Work with Name Experts

Name Experts offers personalized domain brokerage services, assisting clients in buying or selling premium domain names with expert appraisal, negotiation, and complete transaction management while ensuring confidentiality.

Some of our most
successful stealth acquisition and sales

Aid.com

Fit.com

Mine.com

GLD.com

Jeff.com

Fora.com

Nori.com

Secure.com

Guitar.com

F*ck.com

Radian.com

MetaData.com

Prize.com

Link.com

Loop.com

Programs.com

Claim.com

Quince.com

Hook.com

QXO.com

NQ.com

Rest.com

Humani.com

Max.com

Need help buying or selling premium domains?