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I have a checklist I use before I buy any domain. I thought it would be beneficial for all if we collectively revised/added to this checklist? Contributions appreciated!
Checklist For Picking Out Good Domains
1. The domain is usually one word or two words. There are some exceptions usually involving the prefix words "cheap", "free" and the like, or a geolocation plus a product/service--e.g. LAAirportShuttle.com.
2. There are no superfluous words--e.g. WhiteHouseUSA.com.
3. At least one, but preferably all, of the words have search engine traffic.
4. No more than one dash/hyphen in the name.
5. No trademark issues--check at http://www.uspto.gov/. Every domain should be checked through the USPTO because even seemingly generic terms may have been registered as a TM.
6. Proper name domains (i.e. a purely brandable domain that is currently used by a business) are risky if you can't sell it to the end user with that name.
7. Generics are best and purely brandable names are risky--e.g. LifeSmart.com. So, significantly discount the brandable names.
8. Always have a plan before buying any domain--hold and develop, flip to end-user, flip to reseller. In other words, don't buy just because you think the name sounds good and that someone may have a use for it in the future.
9. Predetermine the probability of return/breakeven based on your plan (see no. 8) on the following time scales: 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, greater than 1 year. Use those probabilities to determine the maximum price to pay based on your opportunity cost as a result of having tied up your money for that period.
10. Determine if there are any other ways of spelling the name which means exactly the same thing as your domain--e.g. CelebrityPics.com, CelebrityPhotos.com, CelebrityPictures.com.
11. Check to see if the other extensions are taken. If there are developed websites on the other extensions, your domain is worth more.
12. Always check to see that the domain has not been blacklisted as a spam site.
13. Even properly spelled generics are worth less if they are too long or easily misspelled.
Checklist For Picking Out Good Domains
1. The domain is usually one word or two words. There are some exceptions usually involving the prefix words "cheap", "free" and the like, or a geolocation plus a product/service--e.g. LAAirportShuttle.com.
2. There are no superfluous words--e.g. WhiteHouseUSA.com.
3. At least one, but preferably all, of the words have search engine traffic.
4. No more than one dash/hyphen in the name.
5. No trademark issues--check at http://www.uspto.gov/. Every domain should be checked through the USPTO because even seemingly generic terms may have been registered as a TM.
6. Proper name domains (i.e. a purely brandable domain that is currently used by a business) are risky if you can't sell it to the end user with that name.
7. Generics are best and purely brandable names are risky--e.g. LifeSmart.com. So, significantly discount the brandable names.
8. Always have a plan before buying any domain--hold and develop, flip to end-user, flip to reseller. In other words, don't buy just because you think the name sounds good and that someone may have a use for it in the future.
9. Predetermine the probability of return/breakeven based on your plan (see no. 8) on the following time scales: 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, greater than 1 year. Use those probabilities to determine the maximum price to pay based on your opportunity cost as a result of having tied up your money for that period.
10. Determine if there are any other ways of spelling the name which means exactly the same thing as your domain--e.g. CelebrityPics.com, CelebrityPhotos.com, CelebrityPictures.com.
11. Check to see if the other extensions are taken. If there are developed websites on the other extensions, your domain is worth more.
12. Always check to see that the domain has not been blacklisted as a spam site.
13. Even properly spelled generics are worth less if they are too long or easily misspelled.
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