Glossary
Business

Premium Domain

A domain name with higher-than-standard pricing due to its desirability or value.

Premium domains are domain names that cost more than standard registration fees due to their perceived value. They're priced higher because they're short, contain valuable keywords, or are highly brandable.

Types of Premium Domains:

Registry Premium: Set by the TLD registry (Verisign, Donuts, etc.)

  • Predetermined list of valuable names
  • Higher initial AND renewal costs
  • Examples: insurance.co, business.app

Aftermarket Premium: Previously registered, now for sale

  • Price set by current owner
  • Standard renewal after purchase
  • Traded on platforms like Sedo, Afternic

Why Domains Become Premium:

  • Short length (1-4 letters)
  • Dictionary words
  • High-value keywords
  • Exact match for popular searches
  • Memorable brandable names

Premium Price Ranges:

TierCharacteristicsPrice Range
Entry6-8 letter .com, moderate keyword$100 - $1,000
Mid5-6 letter .com, good keyword$1,000 - $10,000
High4-5 letter, strong keyword$10,000 - $100,000
Ultra1-3 letter, dictionary word$100,000 - $10M+

Why It Matters

Premium domains can be smart investments that provide instant credibility and memorability. However, you must balance the cost against actual value to your business.

Practical Example

You want loans.com but it's $5 million. Instead, you find quickloans.com for $15,000 on Afternic. It's premium-priced but far more affordable while still being memorable and keyword-rich.

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