What is a Premium Domain Name?

written by

Joe Uddeme

Joe Uddeme

What is a Premium Domain Name?

Domain Buying Guides

Every business needs to have an online presence in this current age. The internet is one of the primary channels to entice potential customers, so businesses that don’t have an online presence are doing themselves a disservice.

The best way to showcase yourself online is by having a website stating clearly what you or your organization offers with a premium domain name to match.

The domain name is how people will find you on the web, so it’s necessary to have a good one.

What are Premium Domains?

Premium domain names are high-quality domain names giving you greater recognition on the internet. They’re often short, catchy, and memorable. They’re the domain names that people are likely to search for and trust over other names.

A premium domain name would go a long way in drawing organic traffic to your website. They’re usually costly, but one of the best investments you can make.

It’s not a coincidence that most of the successful online businesses we know have premium domain names (e.g., Stripe.com, Amazon.com, Google.com, etc).

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How Do You Know if a Domain Name is Premium?

The easiest way to determine if a domain name is premium is the price you see when you search for it for a domain registrar. Likewise, you can use a premium domain checker for this task.

Premium domain names often range from a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars or tens of thousands occasionally. There are also specific characteristics differentiating premium domain names from the pool of all domains, and they include:

Length

“The shorter the name, the better” is the rule of thumb governing domain names. Most two or three-letter domains are considered premium because they’re easy to imprint on customers’ minds.

These short names are also usually abbreviations adopted by various companies, so there’s intense competition for them.

Generic Value

Domain names consisting of generic words fetch a higher value than those with non-generic words. Generic names are easy to remember and brand, so there’s significant demand for them.

You’d have an advantage over competitors if your domain name consists of a word that broadly relates to your industry.

For example, Checkout.com, Bill.com, and Authorize.net are leading payment providers. Crypto.com and Blockchain.com are two famous cryptocurrency exchanges.

Customers need little effort to memorize such generic domain names, so it gives these companies a significant marketing advantage compared to their peers.

Search engine optimization

Search engines are the primary way people discover websites. Hence, any domain name matching what people mostly search for carries more weight.

CreditCards.com, HouseRepairs.com, and RentalCars.com are examples of domain names with high value stemming from search engine optimization.

Buyer Demand

Some domain names don’t look attractive at first glance but see great demand from prospective buyers for various reasons. These domains command high values because of the bidding war over them.

Numerous domain registrars let you check for available domain names, and it’s easy to identify the premium ones based on their prices and the other factors stated above.

If the domain name you want is already taken, don’t give up. You could still acquire it by making a direct offer (more on that below).

How Do You Get a Premium Domain?

The first step to buying a premium domain name is knowing if it’s available using a premium domain checker. You can buy it straight away if it is. If not, you’ll need to find the owner.

Many domain names are registered but not utilized to a considerable extent. Sometimes, you’ll see a homepage filled with advertisements and affiliate links but hardly any content.

This is an attempt by the owner to monetize what’s basically an abandoned site. If you encounter such a website, then it’s positive news for you. The owner is more likely to sell than someone actively hosting a site.

If the website has a contact form, you can use it to reach out to the owner with an offer. If not, you must get creative in finding them. The easiest way to do this is through the WHOIS database.

It is a public database containing the information collected when someone registers a domain name or adjusts their DNS settings. ICANN, or the International Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, regulates the WHOIS database.

Searching the WHOIS database

ICANN allows anyone to search its public database for domain name ownership information. You can do that through the agency’s online lookup tool or your PC’s command prompt.

Searching WHOIS Online

The official URL of ICANN’s WHOIS lookup tool is lookup.icann.org. Once you open that page, you’ll see a search bar where you can type in any domain name and press the lookup button. We searched for Microsoft.com to demonstrate, and we got the results shown below;

You can see the email assigned to Microsoft’s domain name is [email protected]. Hypothetically, we can contact that email with an offer for the Microsoft.com domain name, but we’re sure the well-known technology company isn’t willing to sell.

Searching WHOIS via Command Prompt

Searching WHOIS through your Windows command prompt is a complex process, so we recommend that only computer geeks take this route.

Step 1:

Download the whois.exe file from this link.

Step 2:

Open the command prompt terminal.

Step 3:

Set the command prompt directory to the folder where you save the whois.exe file in.

Step 4:

Type in your query in the following format: Whois domain.com or Whois64 domain.com if you’re running a 64-bit computer. If you want to search for Microsoft’s domain name info, then type Whois Microsoft.com, and you’ll see the contact information.

Sometimes, a domain name owner may have enabled privacy protection through their registrar, meaning you can’t see their information. It implies that they’re likely not interested in selling their domain.

With the contact information, it’s time to negotiate a domain name sale. The process can be hectic and take long periods, so we advise you to hire an experienced domain name broker to help you.

Why Should I Buy a Premium Domain Name?

A premium domain name carries more authority on the web, meaning you’re more likely to get found through search engines or social media. It also brings about better brand recognition, making it easy to attract customers through advertisements.

Many domain registrars have a premium domain checker for their users to find and bid for premium domains without stress. Examples include Name.com and Domain.com.

Who Owns Premium Domain Names?

Anybody or any organization can own a premium domain name. Some are owned by business-savvy people or companies looking to flip them for a profit. Some are owned by domain name registrars themselves hoping to find buyers.

How Do You Value a Premium Domain?

There are various factors to consider when valuing a domain name. They include length, genericness, search engine recognition, and historical domain name sales data.

There are numerous appraisal tools available online that combine these attributes to value individual domain names. A good example is GoDaddy’s Domain Name Value & Appraisal tool.

Why are Premium Domains So Expensive?

Premium domains are so expensive because there’s considerable demand for them. The number of premium domain names is significantly less than the number of potential customers vying for them. Hence, premium domain owners can charge high prices and still make easy sales.

In this article, we answered some critical questions webmasters always ask. What are premium domains? How can you get one? Why are they so expensive? We believe our answers to these questions should help in your quest to get the best possible domain names for your website.

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Biggest Trends That Will Help You Buy Premium Domain Names In 2020

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How to Buy a Domain Name Owned by Someone Else

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A few providers include: GoDaddy- web hosting companies, domain name registrar and marketplace offering many domain extensions to find your desired domain. Namecheap- domain name registrar and marketplace, whois database search and domain name registration ti register a domain name. Bluehost- web hosting service and domain registrar Google Domains-domain registration and registrar’s site offering different extensions Register the Domain Once you’ve chosen a domain name registrar, follow these steps: Create an Account: 1. Sign up with the domain name registrar. 2. Add to Cart: Select your desired web address and add it to your cart. 3. Domain Name Registration Process: Decide how long you want to hold the domain registration. (typically 1-10 years). Auto renewal is another option to virtually own the asset forever. Choose your domain name registrars wisely! 4. Enable Domain Privacy Protection (optional): This hides your contact details from public records for added privacy protection. 5. Make Sure Domain is Locked: To avoid unauthorized use or theft, make sure the domain is locked in the current registrar. 6. Pay for the Domain extensions Enter your payment details and complete the purchase for your desired domain name registration. 7. Set Up Your Website’s domain Connect the unique domain to a website or email service, or hold onto it for future use. That’s it! You now own the domain name as long as you continue to pay the yearly renewal costs within the registration period. Keep domain privacy enabled when registering a new domain. Buy a domain name with a broker Find a Broker: Choose a domain broker service (e.g., NameExperts, GoDaddy Domain Broker, Sedo). Submit a Request: Provide the domain name you want to acquire and your budget. Broker Negotiation: The broker contacts the current domain owner and negotiates on your behalf. Agreement: Once a price is agreed upon, the broker secures the domain. Transaction: Complete payment through the broker’s secure system. Transfer: The domain is transferred to your account. This simplifies the process by letting the broker handle negotiations and logistics on your behalf. The broker can typically save you money with their expert negotiation tactics and industry-wide relationships. They can also provide the necessary domain name contract. From a marketing perspective, having the right domain is especially important and you don’t want to settle for an unworthy alternative. Maybe you’ve already tried to find decent alternatives, but they’re not really the ones you want. Or, you have thought about using a different TLD (Top-Level Domain). While that is a feasible option, it can also confuse potential website visitors who might try to visit the .com when you own the .net version of a domain. Don’t give up just yet! You might be able to buy your ideal domain name directly from its current owner. Here’s how the process works for buying a domain name that is already taken. How To Buy A Domain Name That is Taken At Name Experts, we deal with buying and selling domain names on a regular basis and have helped many clients buy their ideal domain. We help you understand how to buy a domain name and the process to secure your perfect brand. Here is the 6-step process we follow when someone is interested in buying a domain name that is owned by someone else: Evaluate your Internet domain name Find out who owns the domain Target the right contact person Determine your spending limit Negotiate without emotional attachment Transfer ownership of the domain 1. Evaluating Your Preferred Domain Name We know that a lot of work goes into finding the right domain name. The first step is to think about your long term goals for your company and make sure that your desired domain is a good fit for your business and what you intend to do with it. Once you’re sure that the domain you want is a good fit, you’ll need to evaluate the website currently on the domain. Is there a real working website there? Has it been updated recently? If it is, then most likely the owner won’t be interested in selling. However, if it’s really outdated or is just a placeholder website, then you can approach the owner with the confidence that you might be able to make a deal. Sometimes owners of certain domains are just waiting for the right buyer to come their way and make an offer. Investigating the domain is crucial in making sure it is available and allows you to determine if buying a domain that is already owned by someone else is a realistic option. 2. 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Once you agree on terms; in most instances you would then either enter into a contract or purchase and sales agreement with the prospective seller, or simply move right to one of the formidable escrow providers such as Escrow.com. Contracts and documents can become tricky and need to be completed diligently and professionally if necessary. You will also need to have proper legal representation to make sure you are protected accordingly. Documents can get stuck in legal, or need board approval and can certainly slow down the overall acquisition process. 6. Transfer Ownership of the Domain So now you have made proper contact, negotiated a price, handled the paperwork and set up the Escrow transaction. The buyer has agreed to terms and now you are ready to transfer the domain name. Domain transfers can sometimes be tricky but typically follow two forms for completion. The easiest way to transfer a domain name is by, “pushing” the domain name within the current registrar. Alternatively, you may also choose to transfer your domain name to another registrar. To complete this, you will need an authorization code from the seller. Make sure the domain name is unlocked, and privacy removed before you try and transfer the domain name. Once the transfer has been completed, you can release the funds to the seller and mark the transaction complete. The entire process for a domain name transaction can be completed in as short as 3-5 days, however most transactions take longer. Some transactions take months to come to fruition, but when it is complete you will have successfully purchased a domain name that was owned by someone else. What To Do if You Can’t Find the Domain Owner? If the Whois lookup doesn’t provide the contact information you need, it does not mean your path to purchasing the domain ends. Instead, reach out to a domain broker to continue the research process. They can conduct additional investigations into who owns a domain, or at least begin to track down contacts who can get them closer to finding that information. Partnering with a broker at this phase of the process is a great step to take anyways as everything that follows can be challenging to do on your own. Not only is it time consuming, but they’re experts at this and spend every day figuring out how to help people find their perfect domain. Getting Support in Buying A Domain Name That is Already Taken Working with a broker can be difficult to navigate. It’s important to align with your broker representative. Working with successful brokers can save you a lot of time, money, and hassle when it comes to getting the domain name you want. Reach out to us and let us help you grow your business.We’d love to answer any of your questions about our services and get you feeling more confident when it comes to buying and selling domains. Here are key reasons why you should buy a domain name: 1. Professionalism and Credibility Owning a custom domain (e.g., yourbusiness.com) makes your business look more professional and credible compared to using free services like yourbusiness.wordpress.com or Gmail addresses. 2. Brand Control A domain name helps establish and protect your brand identity. It ensures your business name is uniquely represented online and prevents others from using it. 3. Easy Online Access A custom domain makes it easier for customers to find your website, improving your online visibility and brand recognition so consumers can find your site properly. 4. Custom Email Addresses A domain allows you to create personalized, professional email addresses (e.g., [email protected]) that look more professional than generic ones. 5. SEO Benefits Having a relevant domain name can improve your search engine rankings, making it easier for potential customers to discover your website through organic search. 6. Long-Term Investment A domain name is a valuable digital asset that can appreciate over time, especially if it’s a premium or in-demand name. 7. Security Owning your domain means you have full control over your online presence and don’t rely on third-party platforms that could change policies or shut down. Buying a domain helps you establish a unique and trusted online presence, improve credibility, and create opportunities for future growth.  
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The Best Places to Buy and Sell Domain Names

1. Sedo Sedo is a dedicated domain marketplace (similar to GoDaddy) with millions of users. It has been around for over two decades, making it a trusted marketplace for buying and selling domains. Any domain name owner can sign up for free and list their domain for sale on the website, and prospective buyers can easily contact them through the platform to buy domains. On Sedo, sellers can set a fixed price for their domain, put it up for auction, or indicate that they’re entertaining offers with an unspecified price range. When buyers come to the site, they can search for any keyword and check if anyone has listed a related domain name on the market. Sedo Search Sample: The first three results are bikes.org, bikes.co, and bikes.biz, which are premium domain names and Sedo also includes other domain names that are closely related to your search phrase to sell domains. The first two domains in this example have a Make Offer buttons next to them, while the last has a Buy It Now button for your popular domain. This indicates that the domain sellers of the first two domains put them up for auction, while the third domain’s owner set a fixed price for their marketing strategy. As a buyer, you’re free to search for any specific URL and find related domains listed on Sedo to find the perfect domain. Purchasing from the domain marketplace requires added registration and jumping through a few other hoops, but it’s worth it as Sedo has such a large selection of premium domains available for acquisition. Search for domains on Sedo: Sedo Domain Marketplace 2. NamePros NamePros is an online community for domain name owners to interact and discuss events related to their industry. In the forum’s early days, users commonly posted they had domain names available for sale and wanted to connect with potential buyers. Observing this, the owner of the forum launched an official domain marketplace section for buying and selling domain names. On NamePros, any registered user can list the domain names they have available in a forum post. To make the domains easy for prospective buyers to find, NamePros has formal categories that users can attach to their posts to find the perfect domain. How much is it worth? Namepros can also share pertinent details of recently sold domains that are similar in nature to your domain search. Because it is a forum, NamePros only helps buyers and owners find each other and it’s up to them to negotiate and decide how they’ll handle payments for the domain. This is unlike Sedo, which facilitates payments and domain transfers for its users among other services. When using NamePros to buy a domain you should be more careful about your purchase. Set specific terms with the seller before proceeding on any deal and use a trusted online escrow service (e.g. Escrow.com) to ensure that the payment goes through only after the seller has transferred the domain name to your preferred registrar. You can find a large variety of domain names for sale on NamePros, making it one of the best domain marketplaces in the World. Search for domains on NamePros: NamePros Domain Marketplace 3. Flippa Flippa is a marketplace competing with Godaddy for buying and selling online properties, including websites and domain names. The platform has facilitated millions of dollars in domain name sales since its inception in 2009 and has built a reputation as one of the most trusted domain name marketplaces to find the perfect domain name. The most expensive domain name deal arranged on Flippa was StockPhoto.com, which sold for $250,000. Any domain name owner can sign up on Flippa and list their domains, but it requires a payment; $29 for a base listing and $99 for an enhanced listing. Sellers often pick the second option because it makes their domains more visible to potential buyers looking for the perfect domain name. As a buyer, you can create a free account on Flippa and find domain names matching your taste. You can then search for a specific keyword and find related domain names listed by domain owners to buy domain names based on cost, features and budget. Easy to use: To demonstrate, we searched for “cars” and got the results displayed in the image below:

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.

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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

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