Dear Friends,

Last week we looked at selecting a good domain name for your company. But if the domain name you're looking for isn't available for registration, what's next? You may have to purchase a previously-owned domain name from its present owner. This gets a bit scary, since people who are contacted about your interest in their domain name tend to have visions of dollar signs dancing in their heads. So this week we examine:

• What Is a Domain Name Worth? The Inexact Art of Domain Name Appraisal
• Sidebar: Appraisal Valuation Guides on the Web
• Buying and Selling in Domain Name Auctions

At the end of the month we'll take one final look at domains with "How to Select a Domain Name Vendor," a company that offers both good prices and good service.

I'll also give you an inside peek at appraising a domain name I own -- e-commerce-sales.com -- and may sell. You can see how the paid appraisers valued it, and compare it to the amateur appraisals at Afternic.com. http://afternic.com/index.cfm?a=rs&listid=1001580

God bless you,
Dr. Ralph F. Wilson, Editor

P.S. If you need to advertise your product or service to Web marketers, marketing managers, or small business owners, I can't think of a better place than in my newsletters. More info and availability at http://wilsonweb.com/ads/

What Is a Domain Name Worth? The Inexact Science of Domain Name Appraisal

I've been considering selling a domain I own but no longer use, and decided to have it appraised. But the disparity in appraisals can be disquieting. In this article I consider the pillars of this new domain appraisal art. Read the Article.

Sidebar: Appraisal Valuation Guides on the Web

These provide reasoned yardsticks for determining market value of domain names. They vary widely. See the Sidebar.

Buying and Selling in Domain Name Auctions

A whole industry is churning away concerning after-market domain names, with its own set of auction sites, brokers, appraisers, etc. Here's a peek at how this is done. Read the Article.