If you really think about it, domain name appraisals are really like what the weatherman does everyday.

Domain appraisals are almost always Way Off, but people keep getting them.

Weathermen get the forecast wrong daily, but people keep watching "the weather".

Both can strongly be considered "educated guesses" or a forecast or computer calculations etc. I think the real things to be looking at are The Facts.

In weather, it’s record books. These can provide Average Tempatures, Average Rainfall for a month and so on. Most of time, it’s look out the window, which they seem never to do. For domain names, it’s about the record books as well. Overture for a month, Revenue for a month, Traffic for a month, Keyword strength, current market etc.

To find the "record books" for a domain name, you must find a base. This base will be off  recent domain name sales. The one and only source you need to hit, is www.NameBio.com . Searchable database via keyword, length, extension etc.

Now once you found your keyword or keyword phrase of the domain you want to appraise, jot down the price, date sold and location (Sedo, Snapnames). Now if the date sold is several years old, you will need to make an adjustment for that later.

Now is time to create your "record book" for these domain name. You are using that domain, because you have a price and use Your Domain because you want it appraised. This is what the record book should contain to help guide you.

"Like" domain price. via NameBio.com . Jot down number.

Wordtracker results (exact keyword match(s). These are daily search numbers. Jot down number.

How relevent. Use Google for this and put the "keyword" like that. Jot down search results.

The more you can compare the better. Use Whois.sc and check domain age, how many extensions are taken, are they parked or full sites. Use an accurate Backlink checker. Use the Wayback machine and check those records. Use Alexa.com and compare those stats. Use Compete.com and compare that.

Now once you have gathered the data for both domains, side by side. Use your judgment on if your numbers are better or worse then the domain you know the price for. Put a 1 or 0 beside your domain the ranks higher or lower so it’s easier to tell out of all if your did better or worse total.

Now if your domain has a 1 (better) by every section, it’s clear your domain is better then the other and your asking price should be higher as well. You should have a good idea how much better one compares as well. This process does not help you get an exact number, but will give you a better range. One you shouldn’t sell Lower then the compared numbers, if your domain ranks as good or better. It’s always better to start with a higher asking price, then a lower one.

That should help you guide a little better. Now keep in mind, clearity matters, the extension, exact keywords matter, market trends and demand as well.

The biggest factor is, will somebody really pay the amount that you come up with? Only time will tell, but one of the best judges, is your gut feeling. Stick by it, and when somebody say’s your crazy about your price, Show Them the Facts!

Jamie Zoch