Are members of this forum currently buying domain names or not?

[domsaleuk]

I just thought I would pose the question and open up some debate on this subject.

Obviously there have been a couple of big things going on in the industry lately

First there was the EMD issue - but in my view Google did not reduce the value of exact match they just want to see well developed sites as opposed to 1-2 page landers. Therefore as opposed to reducing the exact match reward as it were I believe they simply put more emphasis on the need for well developed small sites to be attached to the domain in order for exact match to be beneficial - personally I don't see the issue with this at all !

Then there was the initial .UK consultation - but we have now heard the result of that

So my question is actually threefold - Are members of this forum currently buying domain names or not?

If not - why not?

If not - when do you plan to recommence buying ?

I think it should make an interesting area of discussion.

My answers are - No, because I did a lot of buying over the past year or so and am now in sales mode. I plan to recommence buying once I have done a reasonable amount of selling which I hope to be within the next few months.

 

[WealdDomains]

I am happy to register FTR names. I am happy to buy aftermarket names. I am happy to sell existing names. I am happy to let existing names drop.

It's a combination of what has gone on in the industry (Google, direct.uk, etc) and what has gone on in my head/wallet (learning more, improving the quality versus quantity balance, understanding cashflow/risk better, etc).

So, for example, a "correction" in my previous "excessive" registrations that are now coming up for renewal may reduce my holdings but isn't necessarily an explicit kneejerk reaction to direct.uk.

 

[domsaleuk]

Ok, I see your point about taking various things into consideration but on top of this would you say that the Google EMD issue and .UK is having a negative influence on either or both of the following two areas

Buying aftermarket names ?

Selling names ?

 

[Murray]

Ok, I see your point about taking various things into consideration but on top of this would you say that the Google EMD issue and .UK is having a negative influence on either or both of the following two areas

Buying aftermarket names ?

Selling names ?

In the scenario that googles EMD update indeed has put buyers off then you would think it would push them towards brandables thus making them more valuable, so it would balance out in a way with the money lost in EMDs lifting the prices of brandable domains.

From domainlore recently the price of keyword domains still seems stable, but maybe some domainers are behind the times.. I kind of feel that, but I may well be wrong and I guess time will tell.

I personally don't like keywordkeywordkeyword EMDs, imo you would be better off with a branded domain and spending the money on links.

I could say a lot more on the topic but then it would just be me waffling on 8)

 

[MikeJDS]

From what I'm seeing there have been a few more sales of late.
Things have been affected a lot by the 2 things you have mentioned over the last few months.

EMD's - I think this was blown out of proportion. (hot blogging topic) and the affects aren't as bad as some people initially made out. Sure there has been a bit of a downward trend after the big google updates (some of my own sites were hammered) but I think google will swing some of that back in future updates.
At the end of the day EMD's are still the best domains to develop for affiliates regardless.

.UK consultation - This has had a big affect on the reseller market (like on here)
Most people were waiting to see what was going to happen.
Uncertainty is a killer of any market.. Hopefully now people will start to feel a bit more comfortable of investing in .co.uk again.

As for the 'big boys' selling premium names to end users - I think business has just gone on as usual - Some good sales have been reported & I've heard a good few privately too.

From a reseller point of view I'm guessing we may have bottomed out for now.
& yes I'm looking to buy & hopefully sell the odd one.

Just my own thoughts.
Mike

 

[foz]

For .co.uk. Registration fee, yes. Wholesale/resale arena (Domainlore, Acorn Sedo etc) no. With Nominet not drawing a line in the sand over .uk I won't be pouring money into .co.uk.

 

[Bailey]

For .co.uk. Registration fee, yes. Wholesale/resale arena (Domainlore, Acorn Sedo etc) no. With Nominet not drawing a line in the sand over .uk I won't be pouring money into .co.uk.

ditto

I am actually quite glad that the .UK shenanigans have brought my own co.uk holdings into focus for myself. As I'm letting them drop I'm quite pleased to see about a two/thirds pick-up ratio (on the day of drop).

So I'm far more confident about those i'm retaining - but still don't see most of them as sales above £50 or so (quick-fire) or £100-£200 (listed)

 

[Stephen]

I am happy to register FTR names. I am happy to buy aftermarket names. I am happy to sell existing names. I am happy to let existing names drop.

It's a combination of what has gone on in the industry (Google, direct.uk, etc) and what has gone on in my head/wallet (learning more, improving the quality versus quantity balance, understanding cashflow/risk better, etc).

So, for example, a "correction" in my previous "excessive" registrations that are now coming up for renewal may reduce my holdings but isn't necessarily an explicit kneejerk reaction to direct.uk.

Totally agree with that postion but would add that it is the volume of enquiries has reduced and the price point selling domains has also been reduced wether it is the other domainers not buying, recession pressures, lots of other alternative tld's pushed by the registrars or simply the type of domain I offer, I simply don't know!

Anyway the result of this is I dont have as much money coming in to buy domains, so the number acquired is reduced and I can only offer less than I would want to for domains but if its not coming in you cannot spend it!

For example my activity over the weekend (if anybody wants to make an offer?)

Registered:

BuyingFromChina.co.uk
DailyCarRental.co.uk
zand.co.uk
SolarEnergySolutions.co.uk
miniperfume.co.uk
CheapVenetianBlinds.co.uk
ScottishSmokedSalmon.co.uk
CharteredArbitrator.co.uk
partyNails.co.uk
Emphasize.co.uk
Eked.co.uk
Psychologically.co.uk
CuttingKeys.co.uk
Oswins.co.uk
LawInsurance.co.uk
CornishPastiesandPies.co.uk
CheapdeHumidifier.co.uk
TheChristmasGrotto.co.uk
TouchStudios.co.uk
CostumePartyStore.co.uk
DoggyGifts.co.uk
ChefsJob.co.uk
HerbHampers.co.uk​

and acquired 2 .co.uk domain via Domainlore.co.uk
and sold 2 .co.uk domains to pay for the above.

 

[domsaleuk]

Totally agree with that postion but would add that it is the volume of enquiries has reduced and the price point selling domains has also been reduced wether it is the other domainers not buying, recession pressures, lots of other alternative tld's pushed by the registrars or simply the type of domain I offer, I simply don't know!

Anyway the result of this is I dont have as much money coming in to buy domains, so the number acquired is reduced and I can only offer less than I would want to for domains but if its not coming in you cannot spend it!

Hmm - I think you have hit a nail on the head here and it is something that I believe is very concerning for the industry.

I don't believe the TLD issue has made much impact at all yet so I don't think it is this (although I could be wrong) and as far as the recession pressure goes ... it could of course be an influencing factor but I doubt it is the main one.

In my opinion – I don’t think end user sales were adversely affected by the .UK issue on the whole because I don’t think enough end users even knew about it so I don't suppose end user sales have slowed down much!

However I do think domainer to domainer sales have been stopped in their tracks by .UK and by the Google EMD changes which happened shortly beforehand! Considering that domainer purchases are probably one of the key areas that drive the industry forward I see this as a major concern as I think exactly what you outlined would be set to happen.

My view is that as a whole domainers might want to readdress their thoughts on both the EMD issue and .UK issue and quickly as otherwise my opinion is that domainers could be the masters of their own destiny (as it were) in bringing the industry to its knees.

I think that the positives need to be looked at from both the EMD and .UK issues and that people need to strive forward wherever they can if they believe in what they are doing - otherwise I think that the bottleneck that you neatly outlined will be here to stay !

 

[foz]

I think that the positives need to be looked at from both the EMD and .UK issues and that people need to strive forward wherever they can if they believe in what they are doing - otherwise I think that the bottleneck that you neatly outlined will be here to stay !

Never backed EMDs a great deal. What companies use as a domain name and what goes on in the Google search bar are two different plays.

I would imagine some at Nominet are quite happy that speculative investment activity (domaining) has fled the .co.uk space.

 

[figleaf007]

I'm with the thoughts of Weald Domains but for myself would add have gone more for dot com names of late and also just holding back a bit on EMD .co.uk names I would have scooped up a year ago. However, I still buy value where I see it eg shreddingservices on domainlore, 880 exacts and £7 cpc, thought for 60 quid it was worth speculating on.

Also letting names drop, imagine I will have a solid portfolio of around 200 by the end of the year, down from about 230.

 

[Skinner]

I am still buying, but I ain't buying at last years prices which some people still expect, but I guess its their right. Bought of DL in the last few months, sedo been a little longer, still always looking out. A few FTR and a few drop catches so far too, but lots being dropped (and about 60% of them being caught).

I don't know about everyone else but the .uk and emd isn't really affecting clients or potential clients. However cash flow restraints / recession has hit hard with them still having the same expectations as last year but wanting lower prices. This has resulted in some interesting conversations but not many purchases on behalf of clients.

 

[websaway]

Normally just bin these spam emails but thought I'd share what is going on.

Received the email below this morning domain registered 8th march 2013
all other extensions are available.
I think this kind of touting is ruining credibility.



Hi,

My Company owns the Domain Name SignageCo.com, and it is currently for sale.

Please let me know if you have any interest

Kind Regards,

Arif

Main Road Khurai

Sagar 470117, MP

INDIA

+91 9873230165

 

[Skinner]

You find quite often, that many of the emails like that are for names which are currently about to expire or have expired and many times you can go hand reg it from under their nose as they are selling something they haven't even got, I assume they hand reg it in your name.

This isn't one of them, but many times they are.

 

[Domainate]

As someone who doesn't deal really in .uk but in com/net/org, I have noticed at least on the wholesale market a slowdown in sales of EMDs, probably due to the massive misinformation about Google's EMD update. Poor quality EMDs that are seen as spammy got hit, not all EMDs. What will likely happen is that true SEOs will quietly continue buying them up until it's once again spread as an "underground" tactic to get better rankings and they explode again, though perhaps a little bit smarter this time.

What really got hit hard were hyphen EMDs, and those may never really come back.

 

[domsaleuk]

As someone who doesn't deal really in .uk but in com/net/org, I have noticed at least on the wholesale market a slowdown in sales of EMDs, probably due to the massive misinformation about Google's EMD update. Poor quality EMDs that are seen as spammy got hit, not all EMDs. What will likely happen is that true SEOs will quietly continue buying them up until it's once again spread as an "underground" tactic to get better rankings and they explode again, though perhaps a little bit smarter this time.

What really got hit hard were hyphen EMDs, and those may never really come back.

As you say it was not EMD's as such that got hit but sites with just 1 or 2 pages or generally poor sites on EMD's. I don't understand why the domain industry ever put so much emphasis on exact match anyway as in my mind phrase and broad match have always been the metrics to look at when developing and surely the value of domains should be in development potential !

As far as hyphens are concerned I read a very good SEO article where analysis had been done and it seemed to suggest that single hyphens had not been affected badly but again it was the spammy techniques of multiple hyphens that had got hit (I would need to find the link to confirm this though) but it would make logical sense to me

SEO is always evolving and over the years there have been numerous algorythm changes and people in SEO tend to adapt - it seems however that this algorythm change has thrown the domain industry into turmoil stopping many from buying good domains which I just don't understand. As far as I am concerned the phrase and broad match potential has not been affected and these are the areas that I think should be looked at anyway.

 

[CraigGilhooly]

As you say it was not EMD's as such that got hit but sites with just 1 or 2 pages or generally poor sites on EMD's. I don't understand why the domain industry ever put so much emphasis on exact match anyway as in my mind phrase and broad match have always been the metrics to look at when developing and surely the value of domains should be in development potential !

As far as hyphens are concerned I read a very good SEO article where analysis had been done and it seemed to suggest that single hyphens had not been affected badly but again it was the spammy techniques of multiple hyphens that had got hit (I would need to find the link to confirm this though) but it would make logical sense to me

SEO is always evolving and over the years there have been numerous algorythm changes and people in SEO tend to adapt - it seems however that this algorythm change has thrown the domain industry into turmoil stopping many from buying good domains which I just don't understand. As far as I am concerned the phrase and broad match potential has not been affected and these are the areas that I think should be looked at anyway.

I completely agree - I'm an SEO and I have noticed no negative change to singular hyphened domains - and some have even benefited this year. Multiple hyphened domains that aren't content rich have suffered - and rightly so.

 

[Domainate]

As far as hyphens are concerned I read a very good SEO article where analysis had been done and it seemed to suggest that single hyphens had not been affected badly but again it was the spammy techniques of multiple hyphens that had got hit (I would need to find the link to confirm this though) but it would make logical sense to me

I should have clarified - multiple hyphen domains were indeed what got hit more. I probably read the same article you did in fact as the one I read was a pretty conclusive study on it. I do think single hyphen domains may have been affected too in some circumstances, but probably more based on the kind of site on them and the kind of term it is rather than the hyphen being in the domain.

Thankfully most of our domains with hyphens are single hyphen domains, but the double hyphen ones we have left, one of which is a really nice financial 3-word in .com, has not received the interest they used to.

 

[addz123]

I usually only buy domains that I intend to develop, or see really good value in.

Since EMD update, I don't even bothed looking at 3 word EMDs or .nets/orgs (funny because a month before the EMD update I was prepared to pay up to £5k for a 3 word .net EMD). I still see premium .com/co.uk EMDs with the same value as before.

 

[domsaleuk]

Well I am glad I am not alone in my perception of the fact that singular hyphens were largely unaffected by the EMD update.

However sadly, I think there are only a few of us that regularly use this forum that seem to realise that the Google EMD algorithm change was most likely aimed at sifting out bad and spammy sites or domains on 1-2 page sites and as such the EMD value did not deteriorate !! In fact it did not change at all in my opinion but instead Google has made it clear it is looking for quality developed sites on domains and does not want junk taking up its top positions - and frankly I say, rightly so ! I don't think sites need to be particulary large to benefit however from exact/phrase/broad match going forward - I think small sites will be fine - they just need to be quality sites.

I believe when quality sites are married with an EMD, the EMD element should still be beneficial but alongside it being beneficial in driving traffic to the homepage for the core term the more important elements that need to be looked at are the Phrase and Broad match stats which reflect the potential that keywords in the domain hold for build out purposes.

I actually think that many people within the domain community are very badly educated on the true power of the exact match element of a domain and how it influences build out via Phrase and Broad. They seem to be fixated on assigning value to the EMD figure when in actuality all you are doing here is looking at the potential of a one page site which Google has made very clear it does not want!!

Unless I am very badly mistaken which I really don't think I am then it is time to (a) change the metric that is looked at to Phrase and/or Broad and (b) for the domain community to start really looking at what makes a valuable domain - in terms of development potential, SEO potential, marketing potential etc as these are the things that end users will look at and the things that need to be taken into account now if a domain is to achieve good positioning with Google.