Valuate.com tool brings new blood to the automated domain evaluation table

[Theo]

What's that saying, "keep it simple stupid"? The new valuate.com tool appears to be the simplest method thus far for a quick, clean, automated domain evaluation tool.

I was never a fan of estibot as it seems to bounce all over the place in its valuations. The new Valuate.com gadget - comes in the form of both a web site to mass-valuate domains and as a Google toolbar plugin - appears to be rather consistent with its estimates.

I ran a test against several domains, testing the following:

browsergame.com
bubbler.com
resumes.com
software.co.uk
seduction.com
paris.com

The ones that were recent reported sales at DNJournal appeared to be on the spot; I am not sure if the database is queried but regardless, the results turned out to be accurate. Paris.com was valuated at $1.25 million, which Francois would most likely disagree with - the point must be moved one digit to the right, in my opinion.

I tested also domains that were undisclosed sales of mine; the tool performed less favorably which is an indication that automated valuation requires a lot of input data to be accurate. Still, it was interesting to have an alternative to estibot.

Valuate.com seems to be giving a lot of emphasis to the frequency of the term, along with its average PPC. Currently, it evaluates English domains only and it seems to be more intelligent than estibot.

The Google toolbar gadget makes it a snap to get estimates of value as you visit each domain, which is handy and saves time. There's a limit of 50 estimates "in bulk" if you're not logged in to your Domaning.com account and 200 domains can be evaluated "in bulk" once you are.

Overall, it's good to have a secondary tool other than the established estibot; time will tell how much the algorithms will improve. Until then, seasoned domainers will have to use their gut feeling as well before pricing a domain

 

[randomo]

Overall, it's good to have a secondary tool other than the established estibot

Um, the Valuate homepage says "This service is powered by Estibot 2.0" - is it coming up with different valuations?

Also, it would be nice if they explained what some of the results mean (e.g., what is "Avg Comp."?).

 

[Theo]

True - I don't know what the mechanics of the tool are, that would probably be a trade secret I simply reported what I got from an end-user standpoint.

 

[David G]

A bug is it deletes the hyphen and gives values based on the non-hyphen name. Maybe other bugs too if this obvious one is there.

 

[DomainingCom]

Theo:

First thanks a lot for having tested the Valuate.com tool and posted your experience.

Yes the valuation engine is signed Estibot, but it's the new version 2.0 that is still no available to the public through their site.
Esa partnered with Luc Lezon (a lot of domainers know the DRT creator) for this new version (and futures).
I had the chance to be of the few who participated in the testing these past 9 months and it has been very exciting.
I really think what they made will ring the begining of many changes into the domaining sphere and many new services will be created or improved using this technology.
For info we also launched ClosingAuctions.com with it.


Trader:

I introduced the hyphen bug so the tool doesn't look so perfect ... LOL
Ok, you won, it was a bug that has just been fixed.

...

What is really cool is you can now be surfing the net and click a valuate button in your Google toolbar to immediately get the domain valuation.

 

[David G]

Any privacy or security implications to the toolbar?

 

[Gerry]

Esa partnered with Luc Lezon (a lot of domainers know the DRT creator) for this new version (and futures).

I have really enjoyed communicating with Luc. Topnotch!

 

[DomainingCom]

http://toolbar.google.com/privacy.html

 

[David G]

Very cool and handy tool with the google gadget addon installed.

Can't believe no one else came out with this before.

 

[Seraphim]

The tool is fun, however inaccurate with non English names. I ran a few European names through it, and it came up with XXX figures. These are domains that I would pay 50K for all day long.

Keep fine tuning it, especially pay attention to non English names and values. Cheers.

 

[randomo]

The tool is fun, however inaccurate with non English names.

Well, their disclaimer clearly states "We ONLY valuate ENGLISH DOMAINS!" Like any tool, it will work better if you employ it for its intended and stated purpose.

 

[Seraphim]

Well, their disclaimer clearly states "We ONLY valuate ENGLISH DOMAINS!" Like any tool, it will work better if you employ it for its intended and stated purpose.

I should have said "European geos".

 

[David G]

I wish it was a lot more accurate, especially regarding traffic names

Examples, a popular childrens category dot-org of mine owned for many yrs with 32,000 visits so far this year and more than 50% typeins but value only $100. A name I would not let go for less than 50k.

Another one I more or less randomly checked, a sports category dot com of mine I had for years with 82,000 visits in just 10-months (on track for 100,000 visits this year) and a really amazing 98% by direct navigation, valued at just $2,200. A name I would not sell for under 75k.

Maybe the tool valuations can be improved as it looks good overall and sometimes appears fairly accurate.

 

[Mike Cruz]

Thank you for the info, looks promising...

 

[David G]

Yes, it looks promising, however I tested about 20 names with the vast majority showing values of <$100 to <$1000 but most of the ones I tested were good traffic names in well paying good categories, such as a common medical condition .org with about 10k visitors this year but only valued at 1k

This looked good at first glance but after testing seems quite unreliable overall with far too low values for names which get good trafffic (but not necessarily high enough to be listed as traffic names in Alexa, meaning few names qualify as traffic names) and also appears to do poorly with non-com names, .org in particular, which I tested.

Seems to be far too heavily slanted toward Alexa, the extension and possibly domain length too.

 

[DomainingCom]

Hi,

I want to tell you about 2 significant improvements:

a) Now when you compare domains you can sort them how you want: by value, traffic, search popularity, ... simply click the top of the column you want the listing ordered.

b) Our prefilter script was "terrific" and we added a "pre-filter" button so you can use valuate just to pre-filter listed of names. In addition you can now select your filter preferences.

 

[Stian]

Valuate.com really loves a couple of my domains.

Thanks for a great util and alternative to Estibot!

 

[Biggie]

Thanks for a great util and alternative to Estibot!

is it really an alternative...


though overtime, it may reduce the number of visitors to estibot's website

Yes the valuation engine is signed Estibot, but it's the new version 2.0 that is still no available to the public through their site.
Esa partnered with Luc Lezon (a lot of domainers know the DRT creator) for this new version (and futures).

so, does the future of the bot rest with valuate,

or do i see a potential merger coming...

will "two point O bots" survive as seperate entities?

what will version 4.0 be like?

tune in to the future and see

imo...

 

[PRED]

is it really an alternative...


though overtime, it may reduce the number of visitors to estibot's website




so, does the future of the bot rest with valuate,

or do i see a potential merger coming...

will "two point O bots" survive as seperate entities?

what will version 4.0 be like?

tune in to the future and see

imo...

lol!

don't forget guys and girls 'two bots don't make a right'

waste of a great domain imho
appraisals are really not worth a deal. maybe a manual appraisal site where real 'experts' :uhoh:, look at the names for a fee. i know moniker do one and i think monte himself does them and he knows a thing or two about domains, but 99% of appraisal sites and bots are c r a p imho

research, learn, read, invest, make mistakes, dont repeat them, repeat process and rinse over the years and you're close to getting there

the pred

 

[Vision]

Valuate says 3DTV.com is valued at $5,000

Cybertonic does a good job at improving upon estibot --

But, nothing beats experience, industry knowledge, foresight, and comparable domain sales --