Age

Age really matters when evaluating a domain name. A name that has been existing for many years would be familiar with the search engines and this would boost its value. You can imagine a name that is about 15 years old, it will definitely be more valuable than one that is just a year old. However, you may be wondering where you will be getting these old names - the expired domain market. Aged domains expire every day and a simple search online will reveal many of them.

Generic Keyword-rich Names

Generic names are very valuable especially when they belong to hot online categories. They are also free of any legal issues like trademark infringement and so on. Since they are common words, they will be easy to spell and pronounce. A simple example would be AutoSurvivalKits.com, could be used for basic roadside safety items, to full blown survival kits for long drives. When related to hot keywords, they would definitely be very valuable in your portfolio.

Short

Short domain names are hot cakes. A lot people using the internet like to visit websites with short names because they don't like to bookmark all the time. As a result of this, you must put it at the back of your mind that shortness is a very essential factor to be considered in order to get a good domain value, like Jourge.com simple and easy to remember, and only 6 characters.

Domain Extension

There are different types of extensions like .com, .net, .biz, .info, .academy and so on. The most valuable of them all is the .com and there are many reasons for this. It is the first domain in history and majority of internet users are addicted to it. A lot of browsers also default to .com and the internet has unintentionally adopted it as its major extension.

Brandable

A lot of businesses are looking for brandable domain names. They want something that is short and will create a great impression in the minds of their customers. I think Audibol.com would make a great brand for many different types of businesses. If your domain can be used for branding purposes, it may be a valuable asset in your portfolio.

Passes the Radio Test

When a domain name passes the radio test, it means that it sounds good to the ear when pronounced. It should not be complicated and those hearing it should understand it easily.

Four New Guidelines for Picking Domain Names

Buying domains today is a lot different from buying domains in 1999. For one, the internet has moved from a hyped-up novelty to the very core of our daily lives. Today, we connect with friends, get our news and opinion, share movies and music, and play games online. The guidelines for picking domain names, therefore, have changed accordingly.

1. Rules such as ".com only" for domain extensions are outdated today. The success of sites such as Del.icio.us, Bit.ly, etc. has meant that more and more people are okay with alternate extensions. If you can't find your desired domain in the.com extension, by all means feel free to pick a more creative and "daring" extension.

2. Long or short, the length of your domain doesn't really matter anymore. While past guides would cap the length at around 8 or 9 characters, nowadays, you can have the domain as long as you want, provided it conveys your site's purpose and is easy to remember. Sites with long domains like 'ICanHasCheezburger.com' etc. have maintained popularity despite the twisted name. While you should try to get the shortest domain possible, if you feel that a longer domain would bear more marketing benefits, by all means, pick it.

3. Google, Digg, Scribd, Tumblr - these are examples of sites that have proven to be massively successful despite the apparent misspelling in their names (though Google is a dictionary word today). Creatively misspelled domain names can give you some powerful marketing horsepower. Not to mention that misspelled names are usually available while their correctly spelled counterparts may cost you thousands of dollars. So, get creative and don't hesitate to pick a name that might just not spell right.

4. Lastly, avoid hyphens in your domain name unless your keyword demands it, or when the domain would be difficult to read without it. Hyphens are an old-fashioned way of picking domains and have no obvious benefit other than making your domain name more difficult to type. Avoid them at all costs.

If you are a domain name investor following the above rules could make you a hero, or zero, because it’s extremely difficult to guess what the next big company will be or could be, like houzz, who could of guessed that name, and if someone did, more than likely houzz could be named something different.