Dashes? Advice needed....

[BostonDomainer]

Ok ladies and gents, I'm far from a newbie, been in the industry for about 4 years now and have some 700 domains but I have never in my life purchased a domain with a dash in it. However, while monitoring future drops, I've been seeing some very nice keyword rich, nice 2 word combo dashes. Are names like that worth registering? For those who speculate on dashed names, how's the resell potential on the boards, to resellers, and to end users. I tend to avoid them like the plague but am not sure if it would be worth it for me as 1) I do not develop ( I do direct cold contact sales or wait to be contacted) 2) I have no understanding of this niche particular in terms of pricing (what would a great dashed name sale for, are then any recent dnjournal makers?

Appreciation all the info and feedback. I would stay to closed minded to a niche that may have potential... hell, I took a gamble on .mobi and it paid off tremoundously well!! (though comparing is a stretch)

Thanks in advance for the help all!!!

 

[Johnn]

Resellers (both Pros & Amateurs) don't like the dash names and they normally end up in the nickel & dime pricing.

Surprisingly end-users love them. I bough several dash names cheap and sell them with good price. The trick is to look for end-users.

Bought one for $15 and sold mid $xxx not too long ago.

 

[Gerry]

end-users end-users.

Sorry, Johnn. Couldn't resist.

One of my largest sales came from an L-L.com. I have a few longer hyphenated domains that are parked and doing very nicely in the PPC due to the keyword rich content.

So take a little bit of Johnn's advice if you're thinking end user and a little bit of my advice regarding parking those that are keyword rich and you may pick up a winner.

What's it gonna cost? Reg fee? For one year's worth of trial and error? A possible sale? Possibly paying for itself in the PPC category?

If it feels right for you, go for it.

 

[BidNo]

I don't personally buy but here's some that have sold over $1k within last 12 months:

Domain TLD SalePrice SaleDate SaleThru
Myrtle-Beach com $25,250 Mar-06 SnapNames
Music-Videos com $25,000 Apr-06 Afternic
Travail-Emploi com $20,457 Mar-06 Sedo
Global-Law com $20,000 May-06 Afternic
London-Escorts com $11,150 Oct-06 SnapNames
Dating-Service com $10,225 Sep-06 Moniker/DomainSystems
E-Buddy com $10,220 Jun-06 Moniker/DomainSystems
Medical-Billing com $9,000 Dec-06 Afternic
Baby-Sitting com $8,300 Dec-06 Sedo
Saint-Barthelemy com $8,000 Nov-06 Sedo
Music-Lyrics com $7,450 Apr-06 Afternic
Antec-Inc com $7,300 Sep-06 SnapNames
Free-Music-Downloads com $7,000 Apr-06 Afternic
A-E com $6,400 Jun-06 Sedo
Hong-Kong com $6,356 May-06 SnapNames
E-C com $5,500 Jun-06 Sedo
Eco-Portal com $5,300 Nov-06 SnapNames
e-Bets com $5,250 Mar-06 Afternic
Rap-Music com $5,000 Apr-06 Afternic
Internet-Mall com $5,000 Jun-06 Sedo
Ad-WareSE com $5,000 Dec-06 Afternic
Show-Off com $5,000 Jan-07 BuyDomains
Saint-Louis com $4,688 Dec-06 BuyDomains
Derm-Infonet com $4,655 Sep-06 SnapNames
Industrial-Robots com $4,113 Apr-06 SnapNames
Christian-Music com $3,750 Apr-06 Afternic
E-C com $3,684 Feb-07 TDNam
Id-Data com $3,500 Jul-06 Sedo
Gab-Design com $3,433 Aug-06 SnapNames
Great-Lakes com $3,433 Oct-06 SnapNames
SMS-Immo com $3,168 Oct-06 Sedo
Dts-Hd com $3,000 Aug-06 Sedo
Address-Search com $3,000 Apr-06 Afternic
E-Valuations com $3,000 Oct-06 BuyDomains
Work-At-Home com $2,900 Dec-06 SnapNames
Free-Music-Videos com $2,875 Apr-06 Afternic
Cyber-Tech com $2,850 Mar-06 Snapnames
Automobile-Insurance com $2,800 Nov-06 BuyDomains
Al-Foro com $2,767 Jul-06 Sedo
Neo-Modus com $2,750 May-06 SnapNames
e-Investing com $2,655 Sep-06 SnapNames
CopperCanyon-Mexico com $2,627 Mar-06 SnapNames
Internet-Banking com $2,601 Nov-06 SnapNames
Internet-Casino com $2,600 May-06 SnapNames
e-Investments com $2,600 Sep-06 SnapNames
DWI-Texas com $2,555 May-06 SnapNames
Set-Top-Box com $2,538 Jun-06 Sedo
Casting-X com $2,534 Oct-06 Sedo
Merida-Bikes com $2,500 Mar-06 Sedo
M-O-I com $2,500 Dec-06 BuyDomains
Bush-Music com $2,494 Aug-06 SnapNames
BodyBuilding-Supplements com $2,488 May-06 Afternic
Investment-Properties com $2,488 Jan-07 BuyDomains
SW-Asia com $2,380 Apr-06 SnapNames
Fashion-Tees com $2,300 Mar-06 Sedo
Universal-Home com $2,288 Feb-07 BuyDomains
BA-HR com $2,288 Dec-06 BuyDomains
VL-Theatre com $2,250 Mar-06 SnapNames
Erim-Int com $2,250 May-06 SnapNames
Virtual-Voice com $2,215 Jul-06 SnapNames
St-Louis-CVC com $2,173 Oct-06 SnapNames
Leather-Jacket com $2,115 Nov-06 BuyDomains
Race-Parts com $2,088 Feb-07 BuyDomains
ExclusiveHotels-Paris com $2,050 Oct-06 SnapNames
Ladies-of-the-Heart com $2,050 Jul-06 SnapNames
Executive-Search com $2,050 Mar-06 Snapnames
G-L com $2,015 Feb-07 SnapNames
File-Ext com $2,007 Sep-06 SnapNames
Pow-Wow com $2,000 Oct-06 BuyDomains
x-Internet com $2,000 Nov-06 BuyDomains
C-Concepts com $2,000 Aug-06 Afternic
Paid-Survey com $2,000 Apr-06 Afternic
Child-Safety com $2,000 Feb-07 SnapNames
Solar-Power com $2,000 Jan-07 BuyDomains
Quantum-Health com $2,000 Jan-07 Sedo
E-Na com $2,000 Jan-07 BuyDomains
Fashion-Books com $1,908 Sep-06 Sedo
Las-Vegas-Nevada com $1,815 Apr-06 Sedo
Got-Money com $1,750 Jan-07 Afternic
Paul-Thomas com $1,642 Apr-06 Sedo
Senior-Hotels com $1,561 Dec-06 Sedo
Free-Kink com $1,515 Jan-07 TDNam
Free-Love-Personals com $1,500 Dec-06 Sedo
Bank-Loans com $1,500 May-06 Drop Wizard
Classic-Bikes com $1,500 Apr-06 Sedo
Hospital-Jobs com $1,500 Nov-06 Afternic
Vp-Travel com $1,500 Nov-06 Sedo
Engadin-StMoritz com $1,500 Dec-06 Sedo
Moving-Boxes com $1,500 Sep-06 Sedo
Hi-EndClub com $1,490 Aug-06 Afternic
One-Cast com $1,488 Sep-06 Afternic
New-Kitchen com $1,378 Jan-07 Sedo
Hooligans-WW com $1,308 Dec-06 TDNam
Sun-Destinations com $1,300 Jun-06 Afternic
Vacances-In-France com $1,294 Jan-07 Sedo
Black-Eyed com $1,292 Jan-07 Sedo
Gas-Credit-Card com $1,272 Oct-06 Sedo
Sterling-Silver-Jewelry com $1,222 Dec-06 Afternic
FleshLight-Mall com $1,205 Feb-07 TDNam
e-Tivities com $1,200 Feb-07 Afternic
Power-Shopping com $1,200 Jan-07 Afternic
Bird-House com $1,200 Jan-07 Sedo
Decision-Maker com $1,200 May-06 Afternic
E-Brochure com $1,140 Mar-06 Afternic
Word-Search com $1,050 Mar-06 Afternic
Program-Tv com $1,014 Sep-06 Sedo
Foto-Nudo com $1,005 Jan-07 TDNam

Cheers,
BidNo

 

[Gerry]

I don't personally buy but here's some that have sold over $1k within last 12 months:

Domain TLD SalePrice SaleDate SaleThru
Myrtle-Beach com $25,250 Mar-06 SnapNames
Music-Videos com $25,000 Apr-06 Afternic
Travail-Emploi com $20,457 Mar-06 Sedo
Global-Law com $20,000 May-06 Afternic
London-Escorts com $11,150 Oct-06 SnapNames
Dating-Service com $10,225 Sep-06 Moniker/DomainSystems
E-Buddy com $10,220 Jun-06 Moniker/DomainSystems
Medical-Billing com $9,000 Dec-06 Afternic
Baby-Sitting com $8,300 Dec-06 Sedo
Saint-Barthelemy com $8,000 Nov-06 Sedo
Music-Lyrics com $7,450 Apr-06 Afternic
Antec-Inc com $7,300 Sep-06 SnapNames
Free-Music-Downloads com $7,000 Apr-06 Afternic
A-E com $6,400 Jun-06 Sedo
Hong-Kong com $6,356 May-06 SnapNames
E-C com $5,500 Jun-06 Sedo
Eco-Portal com $5,300 Nov-06 SnapNames
e-Bets com $5,250 Mar-06 Afternic
Rap-Music com $5,000 Apr-06 Afternic
Internet-Mall com $5,000 Jun-06 Sedo
Ad-WareSE com $5,000 Dec-06 Afternic
Show-Off com $5,000 Jan-07 BuyDomains
Saint-Louis com $4,688 Dec-06 BuyDomains
Derm-Infonet com $4,655 Sep-06 SnapNames
Industrial-Robots com $4,113 Apr-06 SnapNames
Christian-Music com $3,750 Apr-06 Afternic
E-C com $3,684 Feb-07 TDNam
Id-Data com $3,500 Jul-06 Sedo
Gab-Design com $3,433 Aug-06 SnapNames
Great-Lakes com $3,433 Oct-06 SnapNames
SMS-Immo com $3,168 Oct-06 Sedo
Dts-Hd com $3,000 Aug-06 Sedo
Address-Search com $3,000 Apr-06 Afternic
E-Valuations com $3,000 Oct-06 BuyDomains
Work-At-Home com $2,900 Dec-06 SnapNames
Free-Music-Videos com $2,875 Apr-06 Afternic
Cyber-Tech com $2,850 Mar-06 Snapnames
Automobile-Insurance com $2,800 Nov-06 BuyDomains
Al-Foro com $2,767 Jul-06 Sedo
Neo-Modus com $2,750 May-06 SnapNames
e-Investing com $2,655 Sep-06 SnapNames
CopperCanyon-Mexico com $2,627 Mar-06 SnapNames
Internet-Banking com $2,601 Nov-06 SnapNames
Internet-Casino com $2,600 May-06 SnapNames
e-Investments com $2,600 Sep-06 SnapNames
DWI-Texas com $2,555 May-06 SnapNames
Set-Top-Box com $2,538 Jun-06 Sedo
Casting-X com $2,534 Oct-06 Sedo
Merida-Bikes com $2,500 Mar-06 Sedo
M-O-I com $2,500 Dec-06 BuyDomains
Bush-Music com $2,494 Aug-06 SnapNames
BodyBuilding-Supplements com $2,488 May-06 Afternic
Investment-Properties com $2,488 Jan-07 BuyDomains
SW-Asia com $2,380 Apr-06 SnapNames
Fashion-Tees com $2,300 Mar-06 Sedo
Universal-Home com $2,288 Feb-07 BuyDomains
BA-HR com $2,288 Dec-06 BuyDomains
VL-Theatre com $2,250 Mar-06 SnapNames
Erim-Int com $2,250 May-06 SnapNames
Virtual-Voice com $2,215 Jul-06 SnapNames
St-Louis-CVC com $2,173 Oct-06 SnapNames
Leather-Jacket com $2,115 Nov-06 BuyDomains
Race-Parts com $2,088 Feb-07 BuyDomains
ExclusiveHotels-Paris com $2,050 Oct-06 SnapNames
Ladies-of-the-Heart com $2,050 Jul-06 SnapNames
Executive-Search com $2,050 Mar-06 Snapnames
G-L com $2,015 Feb-07 SnapNames
File-Ext com $2,007 Sep-06 SnapNames
Pow-Wow com $2,000 Oct-06 BuyDomains
x-Internet com $2,000 Nov-06 BuyDomains
C-Concepts com $2,000 Aug-06 Afternic
Paid-Survey com $2,000 Apr-06 Afternic
Child-Safety com $2,000 Feb-07 SnapNames
Solar-Power com $2,000 Jan-07 BuyDomains
Quantum-Health com $2,000 Jan-07 Sedo
E-Na com $2,000 Jan-07 BuyDomains
Fashion-Books com $1,908 Sep-06 Sedo
Las-Vegas-Nevada com $1,815 Apr-06 Sedo
Got-Money com $1,750 Jan-07 Afternic
Paul-Thomas com $1,642 Apr-06 Sedo
Senior-Hotels com $1,561 Dec-06 Sedo
Free-Kink com $1,515 Jan-07 TDNam
Free-Love-Personals com $1,500 Dec-06 Sedo
Bank-Loans com $1,500 May-06 Drop Wizard
Classic-Bikes com $1,500 Apr-06 Sedo
Hospital-Jobs com $1,500 Nov-06 Afternic
Vp-Travel com $1,500 Nov-06 Sedo
Engadin-StMoritz com $1,500 Dec-06 Sedo
Moving-Boxes com $1,500 Sep-06 Sedo
Hi-EndClub com $1,490 Aug-06 Afternic
One-Cast com $1,488 Sep-06 Afternic
New-Kitchen com $1,378 Jan-07 Sedo
Hooligans-WW com $1,308 Dec-06 TDNam
Sun-Destinations com $1,300 Jun-06 Afternic
Vacances-In-France com $1,294 Jan-07 Sedo
Black-Eyed com $1,292 Jan-07 Sedo
Gas-Credit-Card com $1,272 Oct-06 Sedo
Sterling-Silver-Jewelry com $1,222 Dec-06 Afternic
FleshLight-Mall com $1,205 Feb-07 TDNam
e-Tivities com $1,200 Feb-07 Afternic
Power-Shopping com $1,200 Jan-07 Afternic
Bird-House com $1,200 Jan-07 Sedo
Decision-Maker com $1,200 May-06 Afternic
E-Brochure com $1,140 Mar-06 Afternic
Word-Search com $1,050 Mar-06 Afternic
Program-Tv com $1,014 Sep-06 Sedo
Foto-Nudo com $1,005 Jan-07 TDNam

Cheers,
BidNo

Can you provide any more examples? Need more convincing! :first:

Great job!

There is no rhyme or reason behind any of this...it is whatever the buyer is willing to pay and hopefully you have something they want.

London-Escorts com $11,150 Oct-06 SnapNames Looks strangely familiar...

 

[BostonDomainer]

Can you provide any more examples? Need more convincing! :first:

Great job!

There is no rhyme or reason behind any of this...it is whatever the buyer is willing to pay and hopefully you have something they want.

London-Escorts com $11,150 Oct-06 SnapNames Looks strangely familiar...

Hmmm interesting.... thanks alot Bidno.... helped a ton.... looks like the real top notch 2 letter combos sold pretty high.... (few exceptions noted) I think I'll take a handful of penny-stock style gamble this week!!!

 

[Gerry]

looks like the real top notch 2 letter combos sold pretty high.... (few exceptions noted) I think I'll take a handful of penny-stock style gamble this week!!!

I sold E-C.com last year for the $5.5K. Great sale, great profit.

But as you can see, the hyphen in many cases is a non factor in the end user's opinion and that seems to be the only opinion that really matters...the cash factor.

 

[BostonDomainer]

I sold E-C.com last year for the $5.5K. Great sale, great profit.

But as you can see, the hyphen in many cases is a non factor in the end user's opinion and that seems to be the only opinion that really matters...the cash factor.

Very nice circa1850.... I've been streatching myself much further as a domainer this year by venturing into niches/territories that I'm unfamilliar with. Thank you for the inputs and I hope for more.

 

[tassos]

L Acoustics is one of the top 5 in Proffesional Audio companies in the world
their site is:
http://www.l-acoustics.com
i have

www.lacoustics.com
they didn t even bother to ask for it

same with http://www.funktion-one.com
i have the funktionone.com ... seems they don t need it..

i am proud i have karl-marx.xom ..lol

 

[BostonDomainer]

So is this a niche focused solely on enduser sale rather then reseller sells... or is it keyword galore to the less gifted end-user. (focus on everything)

 

[Gerry]

So is this a niche focused solely on enduser sale rather then reseller sells... or is it keyword galore to the less gifted end-user. (focus on everything)

Yes and yes. But I wouldn't go as far to say it is a "less gifted end user". Imagine how much MyrtleBeach.com would have sold for. Or my EC.com. The end user does not necessarily want to pay a few hundred thousand dollars but is willing to put down good money on a good alternative. If they are going to pump that kind of money into a hyphenated name then there is a good chance they have plans for that domain and will do the branding and name recognition for it. I don't think many of these buyers are squatters.

I buy because I like it. I go into it thinking that if it doesn't do good, do I want to be stuck with it? Or is it so appealing that it is worth the risk of reg fee which is not that much of a risk.

Like I said, I have some hyphenated words right now that are parked at sedo that are doing well.

 

[hugegrowth]

I think it has to be a strong two word combo with the dash, like a term without the dash that would be premium for it's industry. Or, a place name like New-York. Place names with a dash that make sense are also good for .info, which is why I bought Big-Island()info, for example. You will find most strong two word terms with a dash are already regged, so that tells you something. Looks like three character domains (including the dash) are also hot, but those must be all gone by now.

 

[stockshark]

I like "e-" domains attached to strong keywords (i.e. e-publishing, e-commerce, e-mail, e-books, etc.). I have one e- domain that gets steady type-in traffic (about 100 per day consistently), so I know there are plenty of surfers out there that have no problem typing the hyphen in. Although I know the hyphen reduces the value compared to the corresponding non-hyphenated domain, these domains are far from worthless and so I don't understand the aversion that some domainers have towards them. I personally feel that strong keyword hyphen domains have a lot more potential for price appreciation over the next few years than people give them credit for. I mean lets face it - the supply of strong keyword domain names is shrinking as owners take them off the market to develop them or park them for PPC, yet the demand for those domains hasn't gone anywhere....if anything it is increasing. A strong keyword hyphen domain is a viable alternative to a strong keyword non-hyphen domain that isn't available for sale, much less for millions of dollars, and the increase in hyphen domain sales and values supports this.

P.S. Here's this weeks from DNJournal:

sex-positions.com $2,238
only-maps.com $3,600
e-xperience.com $4,088
max-well $2,488
e-mail.org $2,316 (IMO, I think this one was a steal at this price)
native-net.org $1,355