| Although the Internet's formative years stretch back | | | | $5,100,000 - Sold for $5,000,000 2000 -Sold for |
| to the late 1960's, the year 1995 is generally | | | | $5,500,000 - Sold for $3,500,000 |
| accepted as the year that marked the beginning of | | | | While some were businesses attached to these |
| the web as we know it today. It was also the year | | | | names, some were not. By now you might be saying |
| that two present-day giants kicked off their | | | | something like - "The good one-word, English, generic |
| operations. They were eBay and Amazon. | | | | names are all gone." That is only partially correct as |
| As we have come to know with many innovators | | | | you will see from another list: |
| with a vision, these were operations which had the | | | | Sold for $3,000,000 Sold for $3,000,000 Sold for |
| decided advantage of being there first with a | | | | $1,659,000 Sold for $1,600,000 Sold for $1,500,000 |
| product, service or concept. Yahoo was another | | | | Sold for $1,230,000 Sold for $1,020,000 Sold for |
| concept that claimed this early dominance. In recent | | | | $1,000,000 Sold for $1,000,000 |
| years Google has surpassed Yahoo, but a recent | | | | Note that, as one-word generics are snapped up, the |
| alliance with Microsoft and Yahoo may go some way | | | | two and three word combinations tend to grow in |
| to redress the current market position enjoyed by | | | | value. At this stage we have only discussed the |
| Google. Note here that these enterprises combined a | | | | names with the most valuable extension, ) A year or |
| traditional business model of brand-building combined | | | | two ago, names having.net or.org extensions could |
| with their inherent 'here first' position. It also took | | | | be purchased relatively cheaply. In this booming |
| them several years to achieve their current status. | | | | market, that was only a temporary situation. It may |
| They, like many others, suffered when the 'dotcom | | | | be no surprise then, to hear that Poker.org sold |
| bubble' burst in early 2000. The NASDAQ stock index | | | | recently for $1,000,000! This obviously illustrates a |
| had virtually doubled in value from the previous year. | | | | trend for a product or investment vehicle that has |
| The ensuing crash wiped out $5 trillion in market | | | | largely weathered the cyclical storms that more |
| value of technology companies from March 2000 to | | | | traditional financial instruments have had to endure. |
| October 2002. This downturn then seem to translate | | | | Although this statistical information provided here is |
| to the bricks and mortar sector with the sub-prime | | | | thought to be largely correct, it has been drawn |
| crash of 2008. This market has still not recovered. | | | | from various sources around the Internet. Verification |
| Note here also, that a similar situation that happened | | | | is advised via, either domain registry companies or |
| earlier in Japan has not been fully resolved even after | | | | industry publications such as the DN Journal. Most |
| a decade and a half. The interesting point to note | | | | domains sold today will go for far less than those |
| here, is that domain name investment has not | | | | listed in this article, but if the one you really want is |
| suffered the same 'boom and bust' cycle that has | | | | registered by someone else, you may not have a lot |
| plagued other industry sectors. Another critical aspect | | | | of choice in negotiating a final price. As always, do |
| of Internet real estate had arisen in this same time | | | | your research as there is no definitive guidebook to |
| period. That is of generic, keyword domain names. | | | | pricing domains as there is with many other goods |
| Again, those with foresight were able to quickly | | | | and commodities. You can also visit the website listed |
| secure these valuable addresses and resell them for | | | | below for more information and a list of keyword |
| a massive profit. Look at this list: | | | | domains that may suit your development or |
| - Sold for $9,999,950, - Sold for $7,500,000 - Sold for | | | | investment profile. |
| $7,500,000 - Sold for $7,000,000 - Sold for | | | | |