by Ben Falk, Transfer Consultant and Monica Ibrahim, Brokerage AssociateThe .com extension remains the top seller of Top-Level Domains (TLDs) with almost every word in the Webster’s Dictionary already registered with a .com extension. Even if a generic .com domain is available for sale, the hefty price tag attached makes it hard to commit to the investment. It’s often a difficult and daunting task to get your dream .com domain; from the .com you’ve been hoping to brand your business around to the one you planned on turning into a political blog after recent events. Well, all hope is not lost as now in particular, there is an availability of alternate extensions. TLDs like the .eu, .asia, .mobi, .info, and .me can provide the appeal of a .com in targeted markets without the overwhelming cost. In today’s economic climate it is more important than ever to diversify your domain portfolio. A healthy portfolio should have a number of quality extensions that make it marketable not only for selling purposes but monetization (commonly known as parking ) as well. According to Sedo transfer statistics, .info, .net and .biz domains still do very well in sales as they are often sought after as the less expensive counterparts to their .com cousins.
The .org extension is another heavy hitter due to its marketability to domain investors looking for a respectable name at a reasonable price. Churches, nongovernmental organizations and non-profits all over the world implement the .org as their go-to extension. For that reason alone, a serious domainer would be at a loss without a few .org domains in their portfolio.
The value of the .eu and .asia extensions is just now being realized. With the continued growth of the European and Asian markets, it is vital to have the .eu and .asia counterparts to the .com. In fact, Sedo is looking to do a themed auction in the upcoming year, so make sure to keep an eye for auctions based on country code Top-Level Domains (ccTLDs) like these!
There is no one perfect way to organize your portfolio; the volume of domain names you maintain is entirely up to you and your goals. Since market fluctuations are often baffling in these uncertain times, maximizing your return while keeping your overhead low is essential for any portfolio. Your domains are your assets and you should be aware of which are making you a profit and which are holding you back. By diversifying your portfolio with different extensions you can test the waters beyond the .com without draining your wallet dry.
Source: Sedo.com -- Reprinted with permission -- November 11, 2008