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How To Appraise A Domain Name With Online Valuation Tools

If you want to know how much a house is worth, there are a number of online tools that you can reference. Similarly, there are a number of online tools for determining the valuation of Internet real estate – domain names.

Online valuation tools can help you determine the price of your domain name. The three most commonly used domain name valuation tools are Estibot, Valuate, and Website Outlook.

While no tool or formula can provide an exact value for a house or a domain name, they can assist by providing a ballpark estimate. Estibot and Valuate use the same valuation algorithm, which is based primarily on keyword metrics including previous sales data and cost-per-click data, whereas Website Outlook provides a value based on website performance indicators such as Alexa traffic rank, backlinks, and Google Page Rank.

In order to demonstrate domain valuation tools in action, a domain name that I own – VideoGameWriting.com – will be put through each online tool.

Estibot Valuation

In the white search box, type in the domain name VideoGameWriting.com, and click the Appraise button.

estibot-domain-name-valuation

The valuation page indicates that VideoGameWriting.com is valued at $230.

Why is VideoGameWriting.com not worth more than $230? The video game writing market is not a common monthly search, but the domain is worth any value an end-user will pay to acquire it. In my opinion, the domain name is easily worth 10 times the appraisal value. The domain value of $230 is the value Estibot determines as the keyword value. Again, the rule of thumb is to research the overall value of a domain name to determine the market value.

estibot-domain-name-valuation-report

Notice the keywords “video game writing” separated? This is correct. Make sure the keywords are in proper order. Misplaced words may appraise a domain lower than expected, or increase the value of a domain name that is actually less valuable. If your keywords are in improper order, click the “change” link to change the keywords (e.g., change “Scriptwriting Jobs” to “Script Writing Jobs”).

As shown below, the keyword phrase “video game writing” generates average search results of 1,010,000, which means that there 1,010,000 resulting pages indexed by Google for that keyword phrase.

estibot-domain-name-valuation-searches

Actually, Google shows 1,060,000 results, which indicates a lag between Google’s index update and Estibot. The keywords appear in Google with quotes around them to indicate that we are requesting an exact phrase search. Valuable domain names can have less than 100,000 average keyword results. Nonetheless, 1 million average keyword results is a fairly high number.

google-video-game-writing

The average keyword results are right under the keywords. Most of the time, you will notice domainers mentioning their domain name generates several million Google searches. However, they’re suggesting the keywords as scattered instead of being together (broad match instead of exact match). The 108,000,000 keyword results shown below is not an accurate indicator of quality search results, especially since every scattered keyword is counted as a result.

google-video-game-writing-2

Continuing down the Estibot valuation report, below demonstrates the value in the search popularity.

estibot-domain-name-valuation-monthly-searches

The search popularity of 175 is also found on the bottom page of Estibot, is the number of times the keywords are searched in the United States. In Estibot, the number of global searches is located above the local searches. VideoGameWriting.com generates above 1,000+ globally. Local searches above 1,000 are good.

Good domain names can have less than 1,000 searches, and sometimes even no searches. The domain name’s value really depends a number of factors, including the market value, past sales, and demand. DN Journal provides domain sales reports that demonstrate that end-users are willing to pay high prices for domain names, while others pay less than the appraisal value.

Valuate Valuation

Visit Valuate.com. Type the domain name in the box, and click on the Valuate button.

valuate-domain-name-valuation

Valuate’s appraisal is exactly the same as Estibot: $230.

valuate-domain-name-valuation-result

If a domain name has an Alexa ranking, it will be displayed in the Traffic column.

The CPC is the cost per click for the “video game writing” keywords. The $1.58 is the average amount advertisers pay to bid on the keywords. The ad competition is low, demonstrating there are few advertisers competing to advertise in the video game writing category. However, the video game writing industry is quickly growing, and will definitely gather more steam once the Writer’s Guild of America continues to showcase their annual Video Game Writing Awards for the best video game writers.

The CPC adds value to domains with competitive CPC. Keyword domain name that have online education, loans, and college degrees, for instance, have highly competitive CPC rates.

The only difference between Valuate and Estibot valuation systems is that Estibot offers more keyword metrics stats such as global searches, overture, and Google Page Rank.

Website Outlook Valuation

Website Outlook is a website valuation tool – as opposed to just a domain name valuation tool in the two tools listed above.

In the white box near the upper right side of the screen, type the website name VideoGameWriting.com and click on the Calculate button.

website-outlook-domain-name-valuation

In the Overview area, VideoGameWriting.com appraises for $335.80.

website-outlook-domain-name-valuation-result

You can read that the domain has zero backlinks, and the Alexa Traffic Ranking is shown as 7,183,257. However, the daily ad revenue of $0.46 and the 153 page views are inaccurate stats. For the most part, such values are an estimate of what a website will make once it’s developed.

Website Outlook’s web valuation tool is effective in appraising websites with Alexa Traffic Ranking, high unique traffic, a good Google Page Rank, and backlinks. Top performing websites such as Google, Yahoo, IMDB, Facebook, MSN, AOL, and others will appraise anywhere between 7-10 figures.

Additional Domain Valuation Tips

Online valuation tools can be useful to generate approximate domain name appraisal values, but there are many factors to consider when appraising a domain name.

Website Outlook is a good tool for a high performing website with many backlinks, a good Google Page Rank, and Alexa Traffic Rank, but keyword value has no real value on Website Outlook.

The most valuable domain such as AutoInsurance.com may be worth $17,100,000 million on Estibot and Valuate, but only appraise for $5,840 on Website Outlook. Why? The domain name AutoInsurance.com is not being utilized to its fullest advantage. The domain’s performance stats are lacking compared to most high performing domains such as the branded websites that most web users tend to use on a daily basis. Estibot and Valuate appraise some keyword domains high, whereas they may under appraise valuable domains low. In order to research to assess the value of a domain name, you will need to use domain valuation tools, assess the market value (product, niche, service), and compare past sales to determine an accurate appraisal value.

Online domain valuation tools are only to be used for research purposes, and should not serve as the final buying or selling price. If nothing else, domain valuation website such as Estibot, Valuate, and Website Outlook are useful in determining the difference between keyword and website appraisal values.

In the end, the value of a domain name or website is what the market will bear – what someone is willing to pay. Everything else is merely an estimate.

[Photo credit: Alan Cleaver]

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75 Responses to “How To Appraise A Domain Name With Online Valuation Tools”

  1. tweakbox says:

    I am very happy to have found this information that I have been looking for.

  2. Sahil Mann says:

    thanks for the valuable info and pictures.

  3. Thank goodness for technology, valuations are much simpler for it.

  4. Very Valuable Article, Its Help Me To Valuate My Blog. Thanks A Lot

  5. Harry says:

    how to sell .top domain names on ESCROW.COM

  6. alberto adrian aguilar says:

    THE ONLINE DOMAIN NAME VALUTION IS LIKE THE TAROT ONLINE

  7. Vishal says:

    There are now many more website value calculators like above ones you mentioned but most of them are actually need to be treated as SEO tools. Depending totally upo kin a virtual machine is not a correct method but they usually gives a lot of details about a website or domain.

    1. Vishal says:

      There was a typing mistake, I meant to say, “depending totally upon a virtual machine is not a correct method, but these domain valuation tools usually gives a lot of details about a website or domain to understand your website better.

  8. ty for the info .. I am wondering how much less the .com domains are that have the first word being “the” or “and”. Please advise I am a new domain buyer and own several domains that start with the word “the”. ty for your advise on this matter. :)

  9. Laura says:

    Thanks for this post. I am in the early stages of starting up a business, and have found your site extremely helpful when considering my domain name and how to get hold of it! I have a couple domains I could use which would be ok, but would prefer the .com and .co.uk versions of my business name if I can get one of them. As an end user, this whole thing can be daunting, as you have literally no idea what it is likely to cost to buy the domain you really want. Both the .com and .co.uk domains are already owned but not developed, so I’ve been wondering whether it’s worth trying to get them. The .com was due to expire so but has just been renewed for another year. Rough estimates according to Estibot are $900 for the .com and $45 for the .co.uk. I wouldn’t have thought that the domain name is particularly high value as although it’s made up of 2 words, they don’t relate to any particular service or market. How likely is it that I could get them for the estimated amounts? Do they ever sell for less than the online valuation, or always more? As a startup, I don’t have loads of cash to throw about but would also prefer not to change my domain later on.

    1. Hi Laura,

      “How likely is it that I could get them for the estimated amounts?”
      If they were just renewed, then it may not be likely. There’s no way to tell what the expectations of the registrant are without contacting them to ask.

      “Do they ever sell for less than the online valuation, or always more?”
      The valuation is simply an estimate. I buy and sell domains for lower or higher all the time, as do many other people. On the show today, for example, https://www.domainsherpa.com/discussion-20150611/ Michael Berkens bought a domain at auction for $1,111 that sold within 60 days for $50,000 when the Estibot.com value was only $2,300. It’s an outlier, as Michael agrees.

      “As a startup, I don’t have loads of cash to throw about but would also prefer not to change my domain later on.”
      That’s the issue that many, if not most, startups wrestle with. Get the best domain you can afford. If your business takes off, you can later upgrade to a better one. If it fails, you can resell the domain name — hopefully.

      As an entrepreneur myself, I want to see the right domain go to the right use. Email me at michael /at/ this domain name and maybe I can help.

      Either way, good luck!

      Best,
      Michael

      1. Laura says:

        Thanks for the advice Michael – I have emailed you as suggested.
        All the best,
        Laura

  10. Matt says:

    Hi, I wanted help from your experts. Recently I got an email from a guy who assumed himself as a domain broker for a domain buyer who showed interest in one of my domain and was willing to pay more than $60000. But he required me to get an trademark and valuation appraisal certificate for my domain by a service called http://www.cert-tools.org/sell.htm.

    He guided me to a page http://www.answers-google.org/answers/threadview/id/189825.html saying that his nick name was ‘domain broker’. He even refused estibot appraisal for his client.

    Can you throw some light on this site http://www.cert-tools.org and let me know if this site is trustworthy or another scam. Thanks.

    1. If you’re ever unsure of whether something is real or fake and you want to know what others have said about it, go to Google and type this into the search bar:
      scam “[url]”

      Like this:
      scam “www.cert-tools.org”

      You’ll find this as the first result:
      http://www.scamadviser.com/is-cert-tools.org-a-fake-site.html

      While not as definitive as http://www.thedomains.com/2015/02/23/a-different-spin-on-the-appraisal-scam-the-domain-tools-certification/, it leads you to understand there are many scammers. I’d not trust it.

    2. GurusWebWorld says:

      Yes i got the same email. it might be another scam.

  11. Suri says:

    Thanks for the details, its very useful for me.

  12. Ed says:

    Let’s face it, there is no automated tools like what is mentioned above that do a decent job.

  13. Funny no mention of the GoDaddy.com Instant Domain Appraisals service.

  14. Deborah says:

    I think only the market can dictate the value of a domain. These tools especially valute.com don’t give realistic values.

    You never know what you can get until you try to sell it.

  15. Mike says:

    Website Outlook must be dead. All it produces is “no data” for months now.

  16. Sorry but i think they changed it. I still use Epik Aprraise.com but they are very similar (on the price) as Valuate or Estibot with the difference (important for those who need to know thestats) they have complete details about Google Search monthly, Alexa dn Google Page Rank and even the links the domain is receiving from outside.
    You never get it with Valuate for instance.

  17. @Carl,

    Good post. I don’t pay too much attention to the appraisal value. Even so, the exact searches don’t matter to much unless they are career and education domains. I don’t mind acquiring good domains with less than 1,000+ exact matches per month. Online domain valuation tools are merely a guide to assess the domain stats.

    Their pricing format is based on a number of factors. A worthless domain that sells for $50,000 tomorrow will then appraise for that exact amount after the sale is reported. There are several domain platforms that are selling domains at a fraction of their value.

    2,000+ exact match are nice to own. Thanks for the comment.

    JAG

  18. Carl Demers says:

    @businessesman,

    Estibot it’s a great tool, when you start your businesses online.
    All information is pretty good, but when you find a true appraisal tech ,
    the difference is 45 to 60%.

    It’s a big money,when you invest few xxxx,xx for your domain development.

    You coul’d find all you looking for on Google, all you need is few ton patiens,
    and a monster intel.

    Also no body talk, about Exact/Search but ech 2000 exact/search my poket smile………

    businessesman

    1. Well, i respect your joy but if show some of my web site than reaches more than 3.000 exact matches monthly!!!
      The question is always the same: are those web sites with so higher exact matches exactly thre domain/web site you really need? That´s the question.

      1. Sorry to mention the web sites, i meant mainly domains.

  19. @Carlos,

    Thanks for the comment. I use the Epik system to evaluate stats. They don’t set daily limits on appraisals. However, the appraisal values are much higher than Valuate. Website Outlook is not as accurate for under performing domains with no traffic. Valuate, Epik and Estibot all use the same formula to compute an appraisal value. Many realize that appraisals serve as an estimate instead of providing the real value of a domain.

    I find several domain companies such as WWMI and Domain Market selling domains at multiple times their value. WWMI’s sale of NewYorkStrippers.com at $5000 puzzled me. If you own many marketable domains that make sense, I suppose you can sell at far above online domain valuation appraisals. The top domainers own thousands of domains, so they can control the price.

    I find Epik to appraise domains at 3-5 times more than Valuate estimates. For the most part, I like Epik because the system doesn’t set daily appraisal limits. Estibot is a good system to determine which extensions are available and they alert you if the domain is up for sale on Buy Domains. I tend to focus on domain stats and on a descriptive name that is commonly searched for on my niche domains.

    Thanks for your recommendation.

    JAG

    1. Jo says:

      huh? Estibot = Valuate = Epik…….. its all the same appraisal engine.

  20. Tri it with Epik appraisals. They seems to be more rigourous and information is more detailed.

  21. שיפור בגרויות says:

    Big like! – thanks.

  22. @Davinderpal,

    In the comment section, we discussed the various prices using the three domain valuation platforms. Whenever Website Outlook appraises a domain low, it is likely due to low performance – Alexa, backlinks, GPR, and other factors. Even autoinsurance.com has a $6k appraisal. Autoinsurance.org sold for over $400K a few weeks ago.

    Keep in mind that Estibot and Valuate appraisal are also high and low. It takes instinct and experience to determine an appraisal price.

    I disagree that an appraisal is based on the agreement between a buyer and seller. End-users overpay for domains. A domainer will not even pay 10% of the value for a domain. I have proof of this statement.

    Visit (city) dot com are not worth 6 figures. IMO, most European end-users have deep pockets to overpay for domains, whereas domainers will be cautious.

    Is the domain in question a high performing domain? Do you get a ton of traffic? If you read the past comments, you will discover the difference in appraisal systems. I even listed 10 appraisal systems I used.

    The best appraisal is not what another will pay. End-users and domainers will obviously pay different prices. Rich domainers will not buy a domain at end-user price unless they see the potential. There are a number of domains I wouldn’t buy at 10% of domainer price. Demand determines the price. The supply of .com is plentiful, but generic dot com domains in popular niches are not accessible due to owners retaining such domains and wanting high prices.

    Thanks for your comment.

    JAG

  23. I checked one of my domains at these 3 tools. Estibot appraised it for $ 59,000 . It was appraised for $ 69,000 by valuate.com . And websiteoutlook.com appraised it for $ 234.

    Dozens of companies are spending upto $ 75,000 per month on this keyword !!!

    The best appraisal is amount on which buyer and seller agree and complete the deal.

  24. Correction on I don’t regret using…..

    We all know that condos.com wouldn’t last 1 second at $100K. No way! I don’t regret using these tools to find domains. Besides the domain I won in a GoDaddy auction, I never purchased another domain using Website Outlook.

    I don’t regret using domain valuation tools. They’re fun to use because you can determine the difference in appraisal value. I can immediately evaluate the reason a domain has little value on one system while another platform skyrockets the value. WebDetails.org (formerly known as 7Zoom) also uses a similar system to WebsiteOutllook.com.

    The following are domain valuation tools I have used in the past:

    NameBoy
    WebsiteOutlook
    7Zoom
    WebDetails
    Estibot
    URLAppraisal
    Appraise.Epik
    Valuate
    Sedo Price suggestion
    Cube Stat
    Swift Appraisal
    Go Daddy Express Appraisal

    I experimented with these domain valuation tools so I could answer any questions people may have in the future. IMO, Sedo’s system has many flaws, especially on reverse order domains. It’s good to understand every domain valuation system. A few months ago, Domain Name Wire held a vote on the most popular domain valuation tool. Estibot won the category.

    New domainers need time to make a transition. They need to learn about buying domains and other factors because they develop expert appraisal skills. It won’t happen in a matter of a week or within a year. There are many formulas involved in assessing the market value of a domain. Thanks.

    JAG

    JAG

  25. M. Menius says:

    Let’s look at this “Website Outlook” site (mentioned in the article). Per that tool, the estimated worth of Condo.com … is a mere $112,952. MyrtleBeachCondos.com alone sold for $120,107 in 2008.

    Here are the facts. Condo.com is the number #1 condo site in the world ranking #1 in Google, Yahoo, and Bing. It receives an estimated 465,121 visitors/month. Using “Website Outlook’s” own flawed results, it estimates that Condo.com makes $154.73 per day which comes to $56,476 per year (making the domain’s assigned worth just 2x annual estimated revenue). Who sells a category killer generic domain for 2x annual revenue? No one does.

    Case # 2: “Website Outlook” valuates PalmSprings.com at $10,453. Are you laughing yet? Ask Michael or David Castello if they would sell PalmSprings.com for $10 grand.

    Newbies and businesses who happen upon this “tool” do not understand what crap these things are. Again, important assets terribly misrepresented. It needs to stop.

    1. @M Menius,

      I wouldn’t use the tools as a means to appraise major domains. We can’t really put a price on condos.com. It’s one of those domains worth in the mid to high 7 figure range. Website Outlook also appraises AutoInsurance.com at $6K, whereas Estibot appraises it at $20 million. AutoInsurance.org just sold for over $400K a few weeks ago.

      My intentions are to show people the different in the domain valuation tools. We can’t prevent people from using the. They all get plenty of traffic. You will notice a script on Website Outlook that shows many domains being appraised daily. You can’t believe in the daily ad revenue.

      I once bid on a domain based on the daily ad revenue. I still own this domain to date. I want to demonstrate to others that many domains that have virtually no value are selling on GoDaddy auctions. Why? They usually have traffic, which you can partially verify on Compete.com. It may not be totally accurate, but you can find a quick reference to make a decision.

      We all know that condos.com wouldn’t last 1 second at $100K. No way! I regret using these tools to find domains. Besides the domain I won in a GoDaddy auction, I never purchased another domain using Website Outlook.

      if you wan to see overinflated appraisals, check out Appraise.Epik.com and NameBoy. I know I’ll never be able to make a sale at those prices. You have to be realistic on appraisals. You can sell one domain for 10x worth, while another will only fetch 5-6% of the appraisal. It’s on a sale-by-sale basis. Of course, generic domains that hold extreme values such as DUILaywer.com, DUIAttorneys.com, NewYorkCityHotels.com and others are going to be worth more.

      I don’t believe HDMICables.com is worth no $350K. I watched that domain sell in a GoDaddy auction last year at $10-12K. The appraisal was around $150K at the time. You have to use judgment and experience to appraise domains. It puzzles me how an end-user will know what to offer. Their offer will get rejected at $100K.

      Without comparable sales in the category, then there is confusion in the value. How would you know how to price Visit (city).com with no past sales to compare? There has to be comparable sales to help place a fair market price. This article is to communicate to those who actually use the domain valuation tools and have questions. I wouldn’t write an absolute guide on appraising domains, even though I understand enough to make good decisions.

      Category killer domains will usually sell at 10-15x revenue. Category killer domains are not as easy to sell as many think. I attempted to sell several top category killers and no bites. These domains belong to another elite domainer. Sometimes domains are too expensive even for a company that is a leader in the category itself.You’ll be surprised on the excuses these companies make. Thanks for the feedback.

      JAG

  26. M. Menius says:

    A quick example. Whatever the actual value might be for each of these, they should all be within 10 to 20% of one another, i.e. relatively similar in price. If anything, New York City would surpass the others due to its enormous population and the specific high demand there for apartments.

    Unfortunately, Esitbot merely sees 4 words and assigns the lowest value to the most elite domain of the group. Totally counter-intuitive. It is unable to assign any real meaning to the words it is analyzing or their respective markets. The discrepancy (error) illustrated below shows the distortions which invalidate these automated tools.

    HoustonApartments.com $56,000
    TampaApartments.com $32,000
    IndianapolisApartments.com $27,000
    SanFranciscoApartments.com $9,600
    NewYorkCityApartments.com $6,400

    1. @ M Menius,

      I know what you mean with the price discrepancies on the GEO apartment domains. I would definitely like to own the bottom two domains. Those are killer domains in two top rental markets. Sometimes Estibot will give greater or lesser value to long tailed domains based on different formulas.

      I would expect my WestHollywoodJobs dot com to be worth more than $200. This domain has 226,000 average keyword results and 3,000 exact month searches. HollywoodJobs dot com pulls out a $8,300 appraisal based on 435,000 average keyword results and 5,500 exact monthly searches.

      Nonetheless, Hollywood is not an actual city in Los Angeles, whereas West Hollywood is a city with over 40,000 people. Hollywood Jobs usually applies to movie jobs as well as Hollywood, FL jobs. You can see the difference in pricing. Domain age and two words increase the value of HollywoodJobs.com. For the most part, one can use the domain in Hollywood, FL.

      If I’m not mistaken, I believe NewYorkCityApartments.com is a domain that either sold or was placed in an auction with a mid to high 5 figure price range (reserve). SanFranciscoApartments.com is a valuable domain as well.

      One problem with the two cities is the rent control issue that limits the supply of apartments in NYC and SF. Rent control is a relevant issue in these two cities. There is a shortage of apartments in both cities due to the high cost of construction and the lack of profit. People occupy valuable units and pay far less than market value. That’s a whole another topic.

      I appreciate the time you took to provide the examples. Good material. Thanks again.

      JAG

  27. I like to note that this article is how to appraise a domain name with online valuation tools. It’s not titled the How to Appraise Generic domains Names, or how to accurately appraise domain names. If I take out the “with online valuation tools”, then I can understand the criticism.

    For the most part, people use these online valuation tools. They want to know whether to believe the appraisals and what the stats mean. I have one comment showing sarcasm for a recent domain sale that is worth barely a peanut on Website Outlook. The problem is many people don’t understand how these platforms function to know the difference in the values.

    This time last year, Website Outlook generated nearly 400,000 unique per month. While many people here don’t believe in the system, the online valuation is a good tool for traffic domains with GPR and links. You input a generic domain with no web presence into the system and expect it to appraise for $20 million. There is a different formula. Even though Estibot and Valuate use similar online valuation because they are operated in unison, some values are different.

    Estibot allows you to spars keywords. If I owned ibill.com, the domain would be have little value as “ib ill, or ibi ll”. You have to parse the keywords to “ibill” or “i bill”. In essence, this titled is titled how to appraise a domain name with online valuation tools. I think people look too far into the appraisal theme. They assume I’m saying this is the top way to appraise a domain name. When people do searches, they will eventually reach such articles to understand how to use these platforms. Thanks for reading.

    JAG

  28. M. Menius says:

    I’m disappointed to see Estibot featured here, or any authomated appraisal. This subject has been thoroughly examined many times before. The variables that play into domain valuation are much more complex & fluid than what can be represented through Estibot’s metrics and comps. Estibot and the like are more gimmick than science and often produce “estimates” that are way off actual values. This has been shown numerous times in the discussion forums.

    I always preface my criticism with credit to the fellow who created estibot. It’s a noble endeavor, and sort of a fun & interesting pastime to type a domain in and get an automated number out the other side. But if we’re talking serious valuation, tools like these contaminate the market with fake values which misinform buyers and misrepresent portfolio assets. Lower quality domain names, plus their derivatives & easy substitutes, are more subject to valuation using known comps. As you move up the scale toward higher quality names & generics, automated valuation loses it accuracy and reliability.

    1. @M. Menius,

      I understand your concern. I realize the automated system is not accurate. I know that generic domains are valued many times higher. What I convey is that people use these domain valuation systems. The tools have been mentioned on Teen Domainer, Elliot’s Blog, Domain Name Wire and several other blogs as tools.

      I released many domains that appraised in the mid 5 figure range. Several companies that have a web presence acquired these domains. I don’t mind because I tried several time to sell these domains, without having any luck in the process.

      These domain valuation tools have helped me acquire domains because they showed which extensions are available in any keyword. These monthly search stats and keyword results also help. I found a few GPR rank #1 based on Estibot’s system.

      I understand there are many factors that go into appraising domains. You wrote a good comment which actually is intelligent without insulting the website or myself. Many people use these domain valuation tools. They want to know whether to trust the appraisals or order one from a domain company that also balloon the prices.

      I can tell you ibill.com, a 96 domain is a 6 figure domain based on the ibill payment system and other factors. The stats are not as impressive, but the domain generics good monthly unique traffic, is an “i” domain in demand, short, 15 years old, and can represent a company service such as iReport.com did for CNN.

      What I do is lose the new domainers who have hand registrations. I’m not trying to set the standards. I have domains which do perform. I located several quality domains with using the domain valuation tools as guides and not the appraisals. If you dislike Estibot, please visit Epik’s appraisal system. IMO, their appraisal values are much more inflated.

      I don’t think Estibot deserves as much criticism. The domain valuation system is a good tool. It helped me find many domains because it shows .com, .net, .org, .info, .biz, and .us availability. The past domain sales misinform domainers that they think it is possible to ask high amounts for their less appealing domains. End-users drive up prices too high. When you call an end-user, they are nothing like these DNJournal reported sales. End-users will make an excuse on spending $200. Some who paid massive fortunes to acquire domains that are from the 90’s don’t even know how to implement such domains into their company paradigm.

      Nonetheless, you provided a quality post. I give you credit. I apologize you are disappointed in Estibot being featured as one of the domain valuation tools. I know I would receive heavy criticism writing an article on how to appraise a domain based on my personal experience with no automated systems. I think I can write such an article, but I will probably find some heavy criticism from many expert domainers.

      I don’t regret writing about these domain valuation tools. Last year around this time, Estibot generated more unique visits than most of the top domain blogs. In recent time, Estibot’s traffic reduce in half. I think that has to do with charging a membership. I receive many searches on my blog concerning the accuracy of these domain valuation tools. I never tell people such domain valuation tools are the industry standard. I inform them these domain tools are tools like any other we use online. Thanks for you comment.

      JAG

    2. @M. Menius,

      I understand your concern. I realize the automated system is not accurate. I know that generic domains are valued many times higher. What I convey is that people use these domain valuation systems. The tools have been mentioned on Teen Domainer, Elliot’s Blog, Domain Name Wire and several other blogs as tools.

      I released many domains that appraised in the mid 5 figure range. Several companies that have a web presence acquired these domains. I don’t mind because I tried several time to sell these domains, without having any luck in the process.

      These domain valuation tools have helped me acquire domains because they showed which extensions are available in any keyword. These monthly search stats and keyword results also help. I found a few GPR rank #1 based on Estibot’s system.

      I understand there are many factors that go into appraising domains. You wrote a good comment which actually is intelligent without insulting the website or myself. Many people use these domain valuation tools. They want to know whether to trust the appraisals or order one from a domain company that also balloon the prices.

      I can tell you ibill.com, a 96 domain is a 6 figure domain based on the ibill payment system and other factors. The stats are not as impressive, but the domain generics good monthly unique traffic, is an “i” domain in demand, short, 15 years old, and can represent a company service such as iReport.com did for CNN.

      What I do is lose the new domainers who have hand registrations. I’m not trying to set the standards. I have domains which do perform. I located several quality domains with using the domain valuation tools as guides and not the appraisals. If you dislike Estibot, please visit Epik’s appraisal system. IMO, their appraisal values are much more inflated.

      I don’t think Estibot deserves as much criticism. The domain valuation system is a good tool. It helped me find many domains because it shows .com, .net, .org, .info, .biz, and .us availability. The past domain sales misinform domainers that they think it is possible to ask high amounts for their less appealing domains. End-users drive up prices too high. When you call an end-user, they are nothing like these DNJournal reported sales. End-users will make an excuse on spending $200. Some who paid massive fortunes to acquire domains that are from the 90’s don’t even know how to implement such domains into their company paradigm.

      Nonetheless, you provided a quality post. I give you credit. I apologize you are disappointed in Estibot being featured as one of the domain valuation tools. I know I would receive heavy criticism writing an article on how to appraise a domain based on my personal experience with no automated systems. I think I can write such an article, but I will probably find some heavy criticism from many expert domainers.

      I don’t regret writing about these domain valuation tools. Last year around this time, Estibot generated more unique visits than most of the top domain blogs. In recent time, Estibot’s traffic reduce in half. I think that has to do with charging a membership. I receive many searches on my blog concerning the accuracy of these domain valuation tools. I never tell people such domain valuation tools are the industry standard. I inform them these domain tools are tools like any other we use online. Thanks for your comment.

      JAG

  29. @Bulls,

    These domain valuation tools are good for stats. I tend to purchase domains with no searches, but I also acquire many with high searches. The stats give you more leverage to negotiate a sale.

    Many domainers might oppose these sites but there are others that use them. They want to know the difference. Thanks.

    JAG

  30. BullS says:

    Hey Suckers— just pay me $1 and I can tell you whether your domains are worth or not.

    Just click on my signature- all sites are totally useless.

    GTG-time for my smoke

    Passing the peace pipe to you all

    Bulls aka MarijuanaGuy dot com( this domain is priceless)

    1. Have you the bronxtrafficarea.com? i buy it.

  31. I never implied Website Outlook is the standard. I’m trying to convey that there are differences. One expensive domain may be worth nothing on another system. You will see high appraisals on domains with little market value.

    People take these articles too much to heart. They get too emotional. What works for one person may be different for another. I can glance at my domain portfolio and know exactly which domains to retain and which to let drop.

    Some might question why I’m keeping one domain. They don’t monitor my traffic and know how much the domain makes in revenue. Many might not use these domain valuation tools, but others that do want to know what the numbers suggest and if they can trust the appraisals.

    On my domain blog, many domainers search for Estibot’s credibility. Many domainers don’t have $30 to spend on appraisals that won’t help them sell a domain. Most domain companies offer appraisal service using different standards.

    GoDaddy noted my MobileMovies.info was worth $50K. I let that domain drop. Sedo noted that my PursesCoach dot com should be priced at $7K Estibot and Valuate appraised the domain at $23K. I dropped that domain. I let another company bid on the domain.

    It doesn’t matter if you have the domain appraised. An end-user will buy a domain based on their need. There are always alternatives to purchasing a domain. Companies want to know why they should pay $15K on a domain when there is another domain they can purchase for $500.

    For the most part, people get too emotional when Estibot and Valuate are shown as examples. I can handle criticism. I don’t mind insults. I write from experience. You can criticize my article with a closed-,mind or look at it with an open-mind. Either way, I appreciate good and bad comments. Thanks.

    1. Great comments and domain name value examples. Thanks, Jason.

      1. Thanks Mike :) I appreciate the comment.

        JAG

  32. @Domain Guy
    Thanks for feedback. You’re off the mark. How many new domainers are going to acquire a GEO domain of any type? This article is not about DenverHomes.com, NewYorkCityLawyers.com, or SanAntonioHotels.com. I never mentioned this article is the standard.

    End-users don’t determine the price. All they do is drive up the domain market prices like Dot Com did with home prices in the Bay Area. Your feedback does nothing to help any random domainer. I know all about generic domains positioning companies to make sales. Dimension Printing went out and purchased 3DPrinter.com to point to their site. 3D Printers cost a fortune, so they’re hoping to get type-ins to make sales.

    I know that DenverHomes.com is worth more than what these appraisal systems suggest. This article is not all about generic domains, which end-users are overpaying to secure. I know a few end-users that overpaid on domains, only to regret their mistakes after the fact. Many of these domains have little value in their business.

    I hand registered 90 keyword resume domains that have more influence than the $110K a resume company injected in their business. I can easily write content on these domains as well as use my affiliate programs to make revenue. I have nothing to lose because I already gained with one big sale and another reasonable sale. I don’t use appraisal systems to sell.

    Nonetheless, these domain valuation systems are good tools.

    You’re post proves nothing. What did you teach anyone? Are you trying to communicate that DenverHomes.com manages to push leads into home sales? Any average person would know that DenverHomes.com is a valuable domain with the ability to sell homes. Your Domain 101 is one-dimensional. End-user overspend on many bad domains. They end up complaining about their purchases.

    A .com resume domain for the price of $8 can make a person $50-75 per lead to sale. If a person provides quality content on resume companies, they can generate leads to sales. A .com loan domain can push leads to make $92 using a loan affiliate.

    Thanks for your expert input. I don’t care whether you like the article or not. Your criticism doesn’t affect me in any way. You used a GEO home domain that only helps those who own top GEO domains. Go floss your knowledge to teach the know-it-all domainers who think they’re the domain industry experts. Thanks for reading.

  33. @Domain Guy

    Thanks for feedback. You’re off the mark. How many new domainers are going to acquire a GEO domain of any type. This article is not about DenverHomes.com, NewYorkCityLawyers.com, or SanAntonioHotels.com. I never mentioned this article is the standard.

    End-users don’t determine the price. All they do is drive up the prices like Dot Com did with home prices in the Bay Area. Your feedback does nothing to help any random domainer. I know all about generic domainers positioning companies to make sales. Dimension Printing went out and purchase 3DPrinter.com to point to their site. 3D Printers cost a fortune, so they’re hoping to get type-ins to make sales.

    I know that DenverHomes.com is worth more than what these appraisal systems suggest. This article is not all about generic domains, which end-users are overpaying to secure. I know a few end-users that overpaid on domains, only to regret their mistakes after the fact.

    These domains have little value in their busy. I hand registered 90 keyword resume domains that have more influence than the $110K this company injected in their business. I can easily write content on these domains as well as use my affiliate programs to make revenue. I have nothing to lose because I already gained with one big sale and another sale. I don’t use appraisal systems to sell.

    You’re post proves nothing. What did you teach anyone? Are you trying to communicate that DenverHomes.com manages to push leads into home sales? Any average person would know that DenverHomes.com is a valuable domain with the ability to sell homes. Your Domain 101 is one-dimensional. End-user over spend on many bad domains. They end up complaining about their purchases.

    A .com resume domain for the price of $8 can make a person $50-75 per lead to sale. If a person provide quality content on resume companies, they can generate leads. A .com loan domain can push $92 leads to a loan affiliate.

    Thanks for your expert input. I don’t care whether you like the article or not. Your criticism doesn’t affect me in any way. You used a GEO home domain. Go floss your knowledge to teach the know-it-all domainers who think they’re the domain industry experts. Thanks for reading.

  34. domain guy says:

    [This comment has been removed because it included hate speech.]

  35. Jason says:

    To the readers,

    If you think Estibot and Valuate have high appraisals, check out Epik’s domain valuation tools. They use the same formula. However, the appraisals are much higher. I think the domain valuation debate is always an interesting topic. Thanks.

  36. Jason says:

    @Bulls,

    I buy and aporaise domains based on a number of factors. I would like to find an end-user willing to pay market prices on resume domains. I own many good keywords. I even had an end-user that found one of my articles I wrote on the value of buying a keyword resume domain to start a resume service company.

    However, they didn’t find the article on my site to vies the many resume domains I’m selling.I can price my domains without even looking at tools. I know my portfolio enough to determine what price willl produce a sale. I don’t think we can identify these travel agencies buying visit domains as an end-user. Subtract them from the equation and you won’t see another average person paying low 6 figures to buy a visit city .com domain.

    You can use your instinct to price domains. Many over price their domains. They collect dust abs never sell. The stats are gold. If you acquire good keyword domains, people will find you. I don’t like waiting to find a buyer. It could be a long wait. You need to earn revenue while waiting. Thanks.

    JAG

  37. Jason says:

    Thanks Craig. I appreciate the comment.

    JAG

  38. Jason says:

    @max,

    I never said that Website outlook was accurate. ResumeServices.com appraises on that site for $319. The domain sold in a GoDaddy auction in the upper 4 figures. Estibot has it valued at $21k. ResumeService.com sold for $28K when it appraised at $42K on Estibot. Estibot reduced the price down to $28k after the sale. Have you high traffic site with low appraisals on Estibot and Valuate.

    Appraise 4chan.org, Scribd.com Sqidoo.com, and others on the two formats. The problem is that people will depend on the value and not the market value. Who determines the market value? I only came across one end-user who was willing to buy based on my price.
    Most of the time, it’s a grind to make a sale. Setting prices will increase your chances.

    People will want to oppose anything. I’ll respond to every question as well as criticism. I don’t rely on values. The buyer willing to over pay for a domain is not the standard. If there’s no need for a domain, they won’t pay.

    It took me 5 weeks on Sedo to negotiate with another I knew would use the domain as a company. I complimented the buyer, knowing he was getting a mega deal to start a company.

    You can appraise domains all you want on every format. You’ll never find an accurate value. I purchased ResumeEnvelope.com and ResumeEnvelopes.com because I know there is demand for the product. I’ll buy domains without using an appraisal tool. You can use these tools to learn about the stats.

    There will always be biased opinions on anything about
    domains. Domainers are probably the most opinionated people. I’ve seen it many times on many blogs. The 6 figure sale versus the $400+ value is based on lack of performance. WebsiteOutlook measuees backlinks, Alexa, and GPR. AutoInsurance.com has a 4 figure appraisal on WO. The site is an underperforming site. On Estibot, it aporaisases at $20 million. AutoInsurance.org sold at above $400K. Thanks.

    JAG

  39. Jason says:

    @Jeff,

    I agree with you the rewards are worth the wait. For beginners, the waiting game is a challenge. They’ll want crazy prices for newly registered domains. In the past, I used to think domain valuation tools were accurate. I purchased many domains based on appraisals.

    I let many of these high valued domains drop. And popular companies scouped up some of these domains. I even got offers on domains I no longer own. I called many end-users. I emailed many. As Ron mentioned in his interview, you will only sell 1-2% of your domain portfolio per year. I agree with that. If you wait, you’ll have to let go of many domains.

    If you make revenue with these domains, you can afford to wait. Many buyers wait for sellers to set a price. They don’t want to over pay for a domain. I have an email from a top domainer in the works requesting a price on a top domain. He didn’t make an offer. He asked me how much I want. An end-user with a need and who understands domains will make a good offer. Many domainers are not going to get as lucky as Mike, Frank, Rick and the gang.

    These articles are more to build an understaning for the beginners. Advanced domain investors such as yourself use a formula to appraise domains. I use a different criterion to buy and sell domains. The truth is only a small percentage of end-users are forking out the dough to buy domains. It doesn’t matter how appealing your domain is to them. If they have a need, they wilm pay the money. Thanks.

    JAG

  40. Jason says:

    @Jeff,

    The problem is that experts are not going to take the time help people with appraisals. I have done well with using these tools as tools and not the standard. Rick sells domains based on his experience. These so-called experts will tell someone not to buy a domain, when in fact such a domain is worth a ton based on a number of factors, including the daily revenue it brings in.

    Many domainers can’t pay a domain consultant. Should they purchase appraisals at Afternic, GoDaddy, Sedo and other places? I’ll never purchase an appraisal unless the buyer demands it to close a sale. There is no absolute price indicator. You can use these tools to buy and sell domains.

    I don’t believe in many top sales. Many of these domains are overpriced. However, the buyer has one advantage; they own the .com. Ireport.com can sell for $750K because CNN has deep pockets and a plan. Visit domains sell at absurd prices because sellers are dealing with travel agencies with a need. IMO,No average domainer will buy a visit domain for a quarter of a
    million. Thanks for your input.

    JAG

  41. Jason says:

    @Joe,

    Valuate and Estibot use the same system; however, there are many appraisal which are different. I can think of any name now, but the prices are different between the two domain valuation tools. A domain may appraise at $710 on Estibot but appraise at $350 on Valuate.

    I’ll dig up a few. Whereas, many don’t think these domain valuation tools are credible, they have helped me to make buying decisions. Of course, you can’t rely on setting prices on withthe tools.

    I don’t think there is one standard tools to appraise a domain. When I input a domain into the domain valuation tools, I will look at the entire results. why would a GEO job .com appraise for more than another with better stats. Maybe the cpc, average keyword results and other factors contribute to the higher value.

    I own WestHollywoodJobs.com. It only appraises at $200. You can review the stats on that domain. It should ring up a value over $1000+. While the two tools run on the same formula, the values can be different. It has happened many times. Thanks.

    JAG

  42. Hello Jason,

    I would like to comment on this quote of yours :

    “While no tool or formula can provide an exact value for a house or a domain name, they can assist by providing a ballpark estimate”

    Most if not all Domain name valuations are based on Domainers parameters and not on End User Parameters. A so called ballpark valuation can be light years away from what an End Users valuation might be.

    Rick Schwartz has said in the past that Domain Appraisals are most often a cruel joke. Most registrars appraisal valuations if not all are based on a Sellers stand point or view. When in reality a Domains value is determined by the buyer. A registrars valuation is useless for an End User quality name. So if you like us own End User quality names you may wait longer for an End User to show up, but the rewards can be well worth the wait.

    Gratefully, Jeff Schneider (Contact Group) (Metal Tiger)

  43. Jason says:

    @Toni,

    Thanks. The domain valuation tools are excellent for keyword stats. I never believe the values in the appraisals. I even purchased domains with no value that make revenue such as ProfessionalHairService.com.

    I let hundreds of domains drop, even with a handful of them having $20-35K appraisals on Estinoy and Valuate. Once you gain experience, you will be able to appraise domains without depending on the value.

    What the best domain valuation tool? It’s preference. As we’ve seen in recent time, a $1700 domain on Estibot sold for $240k (i.e. VisitBerlin.com). Do I think the domain is worth $240K. No. The owner had comparitive sales to build value in his domain.

    I prefer to use the domain valuation tools to assess the stats. I’ll buy a domain such as NewsletterPad.com that’s worth $0 because I like the name. You don’t have to buy domains with over 1,000+ exact monthly searches, but it helps. I have a coin site that is getting 11-15K unique per month. It has 3,000 exact monthly searches.

    You shouldn’t pay to get an appraisal. Every company uses a different formula to aporaise domains. For the most part, you price a domain with comparing sales, keyword stats, market value and importance, and the competition in the category. Thanks.

    JAG

  44. Max says:

    Navidad.com just sold for $100,000 – Website Outlook appraised it at $423.40 ~ Really???

    1. I agree, Max.

      I tried Website Outlook for a website that I know a) has strong traffic (hundreds of thousands of visitors per month) on public sources like compete.com and alexa.com, b) has keywords within the domain name, c) has high (>$10 CPC rates on Google Adwords) and d) I know makes good money from advertising, and the result was embarrassing low.

      Perhaps Website Outlook has a sweet spot for certain types of websites, like ones with traffic of a few thousand unique visitors per month with revenue of less than $10,000 per year. Who knows? Jason?

      I’ll email the owner at Website Outlook and ask for a comment.

      1. @Mike,

        Website Outlook uses a number of performance factors to value a domain. Essentially, the website provides a future outlook to what one can expect with their domain. There are many domains that are not even generating an appraisal value, even though they are worth $50K.

        The top website brands are going to appraise at enormous amounts. Aside from generic and keyword results and monthly searches, you have to admit that Navidad.com is an under performing domain with virtually no stats to generate a decent appraisal on Website Outlook.

        As previously mentioned, I have one domain that can outperform Navidad’s monthly traffic in 5 hours. I know that Website Outlook has major flaws with appraising AutoInsurance.com at $6.5K. The domain actually peaked out at 40,000+ unique this past June. It also gets type-in traffic and has a high CPC. Then, you have Valuate assigning a $3.950,000 million appraisal with a killer $35 CPC. This domain once appraised on Estibot at $20 million.

        I understood the frustration with people challenging the domain valuation tools. We did title the article as how to appraise a domain name with online valuation tools. The title itself validates the intentions of the article – to help people use these tools. We can’t stop domainers from using them.

        We can do a comparative analysis on several domains to demonstrate the reason they generate different values. I used these domain valuation tools many times to understand them. Thanks.

    2. Navidad.com and AutoInsurance.com have low appraisal values on Website Outlook because these domains under perform. Navidad.com has virtually no traffic. I have one domain that generates more traffic in 5 hours than this domain generates in a month. The domain doesn’t have a GPR, the Alexa rank is subpar at best, the domain has no backlinks and 2 sites linking in.

      Many domainers will not look at the numbers to determine the difference in the appraisals. However, they’re the first to criticize another without backing up their analysis. Why is autoinsurance.com only worth $6K on Website Outlook, while Estibot prices the domain at $20 million. I can look at both domain valuation tools and tell you why in 1 minute.

      I used more than a dozen domain valuation tools. I know all about the differences. The former owner of Navidad.com knew the domain was worth a fortune. They probably ordered a Sedo appraisal to sell the domain. Why? Sedo will not let a domainer price at domain above $10K without a custom appraisal. Their domain price limit is $10K.

      Thanks for mentioning the $423 appraisal. I know the domain is worth far more. There is market value in the Latin community for Navidad (Christmas).

  45. Craig Binat says:

    Enjoyed reading this, very good stuff, thanks.

  46. Trico says:

    “The only difference between Valuate and Estibot valuation systems is that Estibot offers more keyword metrics stats such as global searches, overture, and Google Page Rank. ”

    Hi,

    As Joe said Valuate uses the Estibot engine.

    There is another BIG difference between Valuate and Estibot though.

    As you mentioned in your article, if the keywords are not parsed correctly you have to make the correction to get more relevant results.

    However Valuate does not have the feature to correct keyword placement.

    You can only make changes in Estibot. The corrected keyword placement will then show in Valuate also.

    1. @Trico,

      Epik has an appraisal system which follows the same appraisal formula as Estibto and Valuate. Nonetheless, the appraisals are much higher on their system. I realize a few of my domains are not worth $20K, or even $90K.

      Parsed keyword can chance the value of a domain. ScriptwritingJobs dot com can be parsed as Script writing jobs or scriptwriting jobs. The first choice is worth more than the second choice. Scriptwriting.com parsed as one word will not hold as much value as the two word (script writing).

      I appreciate the feedback. Thanks.

      JAG

    2. @Trico,

      Thanks again for your feedback. You’re absolutely correct about the parsed keywords. I parsed many domains when making purchases in the past. I noticed the keywords were not properly parsed. Epik allows you to parse keywords too.

      On several occasions, Estibot and Valuate generated different appraisal values. Usually Estibot will show a higher value first, then Valuate will adjust their appraisal afterward. I enjoy using the two domain valuation tools to locate the monthly searches.

      I find it a challenge to locate domains with 1,000+ exact monthly searches in correct order. Reverse domains can also display high month searches because many will search for the keywords in that order.

      Many would never think a company would pay $500K+ for girlsforgames.com. Most would want girlgames.com, which is worth $143K. The price for the $500k+ sale increased once the sale was finalized. Thanks again for the feedback.

      JAG

  47. Joe says:

    @Jason Allen Goodlin

    Valuate.com uses Estibot, that’s why they give the same appraisal.

  48. BullS says:

    Instead of following these Vodoo fake valuation tools, why don’t you just follow your heart!!!

    I believe all those who created the websites to valuate a website are freaking bogus scam artists.

    1. Domain Money says:

      Seriously? “Follow your heart”? Are you following in love or operating a business?

      If it’s a business, get a process down. At least the tools allow you to compare domains, whether high, low or on the mark.

      If you’re following your heart, I think you’re BSing yourself too much.

      Just my opinion.

      1. BullS says:

        @Domain Money-
        You called this domain a business…I called it a monkey BS word game business.

        I take this domain as full of BS crap and best of all making money while having fun.

        Since I got no pressure making money, BUT I do make money- it is fun and games.

        BTW- your websites is BS,just click my signature and you know why.

      2. @Domain Money,

        Thanks for the comment. You’re right about developing a system. Intelligent comment. Every person can devise a plan that works best for them.

        It’s good to purchase more domains in a niche that is paying dividends as well as to reduce purchases in a niche with no returns. One niche may not work for one, but another domainer will understand how to push such domains to the right companies.

        Thanks again.

        JAG

  49. Tony says:

    Great post, Jason. They’re good evaluation tools, but clearly you cannot rely on any of the absolute values.

    What’s the best appraisal service you’ve found, if any, to get an absolute value and how much should I pay?

    1. branddo says:

      To get best appraisal value, I think it is better to pay a professional appraisal like Sedo appraisal or other service, because it considers all the elements: the number of search queries, the length of the name of domain, its ease of pronunciation, its ease of ad on media Tv and radio, Alexa rank … etc..
      Good Look!

    2. Dare says:

      I would suggest GoDaddy.com Instant Domain Appraisals service. as well

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