Using Comparable Sales to Estimate Domain Value Like a Pro
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What Are Comparable Sales?
Comparable sales (or “comps”) refer to previously sold domains with similar characteristics — such as keywords, length, and extension — used to gauge current market value.
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Researching Past Sales
Use platforms like NameBio, DNJournal, and GoDaddy Auctions to review historical sales data and understand how domains similar to yours performed.
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Matching Key Attributes
When selecting comps, align attributes like TLD (.com, .io), domain length, niche relevance, and keyword strength for accurate comparisons.
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Analyzing Sale Prices
Study price ranges of comparable names and note patterns — such as the premium paid for shorter, more brandable, or industry-specific domains.
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Adjusting for Market Changes
Domain trends evolve. A name that sold high two years ago may not hold the same value today — factor in current market demand and emerging niches.
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Using Multiple Data Points
Don’t rely on one sale. Use a collection of similar transactions to find an average price range and build a more reliable valuation baseline.
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Evaluating Extension Impact
A .com sale might not directly compare to a .net or .ai. Adjust expectations based on how desirable each TLD is within its target industry.
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Understanding Buyer Motivation
Consider whether the buyer was an investor or an end user — end users typically pay more, which can influence perceived value for similar names.
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Learning from Outliers
Extremely high or low sales can reveal market psychology. Analyze why those domains deviated — branding strength, keyword power, or timing.
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Building Your Own Comparable Database
Maintain a private log of past domain sales and outcomes. Over time, this dataset becomes your personal pricing reference for smarter valuations.
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The Pro Strategy
Combine comparable sales analysis with intuition, market trends, and keyword research to arrive at a fair, data-driven domain valuation.