I Paid $500,000 For A Domain Name
Yes, you read it right.
In 2012, I was working for an Asian multi-national. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), was issuing new generic top-level domain (gTLD) names for public bidding.
Anyone can buy:
<NAME>.com
Or any of the
<NAME>.net / <NAME>.org / <NAME>.co.uk
But you can not buy a gTLD. Now, ICANN says you can bid for it in a window of opportunity.
So, what are you bidding for?
gTLD is
Name.<gTLD>
so, companies were all bidding for
Name.NIKON / Name.<COMPANY>
and domain registrars we're bidding for
Name.HOTEL / Name.CLUB / Name.CASINO
And many more...
You get the idea. It was a land rush for new domain name business for the future.
That is why today, you can register domain name under all kinds of gTLD.
Yes, the cost for the entire process to own 1 gTLD, which I successfully bidded for the company I was working for at that time came up to $500,000.
To these companies, they are investing in their brand and using the domain name to strengthen their brand value.
Instead of Nikon.com or Nikon.camera
You have endless possibilities for your brand...
Camera.Nikon / iam.Nikon / nyc.Nikon / photo.Nikon
Now, you may ask...
What does this have to do with me?
I am one person...
Paul Graham, one of Silicon Valley’s most notable Venture Capitalists and co-founder of Y Combinator, have this to say about domain names.
“Unless you’re so big that your reputation precedes you, a marginal domain suggests you’re a marginal company”
You have a name.
You business have a name.
You have a niche business name.
Therefore, you can also build value in your name over the longer term. It may be an asset you can sell in the future.
Domain names registered early with functioning websites with traffic have a resale market.
Something for your consideration.
Of course, due to first mover advantage, popularity and most domain names registered, the ".com" domains have a higher perceived value and demand in the market.
Who knows, your $13 domain name registered here at WA may be worth $500 or $1,000.
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Recent Comments
53
Thanks for sharing with us great post. Keep up the good work. All the best to you on your journey at WA.
They do increase i value for sure. I have one that was registered in 2014, it now shows a worth of $3000. It has brought in far greater than that, so I wouldn't be willing to part with it at such a low price.
Potentially there is the value of cash flow that is missing from the equation when only looking at the books cover, yes?
Yes, typically if you package a website business with a domain name. You would value the business income with several multiples and then add the value of the domain name and goodwill as well.
Yes they do increase in value ... especially if the individual or company I have one that I used for just personally blogs on Go Daddy showed a value of $200!so anything is possible
Great post
Thank You ... $500,000 ... that is wild
My personal domain name that uses edwinbernard is now listed by Go Daddy as being valued at $500. I will develop it one day when I am ready.
Thanks for the heads up.
Edwin
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Yes, Big names were sold by the millions.
Yes, indeed. A branded domain name is an intangible asset you can create value with.
True.