What Are Premium Domains (And Are They Worth It)?

Your new website needs a domain name so that visitors know where to find your content. However, you might struggle to find your ideal domain name if you only focus your search on options that haven’t been registered yet.

You can extend the scope of your search to include premium domains. Although these can be more expensive, they tend to be very memorable and closely associated with certain industries. They also use recognizable extensions like .com.

In this post, we’ll look at the difference between premium and standard domains. Then, we’ll discuss the specific benefits of premium domains and show you how to register one. Let’s get started!

What Are Premium Domains (And How Are They Different from Standard Domains)?

Every website needs a domain name. This is the URL that users type into their browsers to visit a site.

Your domain contains your website name paired with a top-level domain (TLD) like .com or .org. For instance, if you have a bookstore, your domain might be bookhaven.com.

There are many other TLDs, including ones that give more information about the nature of the website or business. These include .tech for IT companies, .app and .io for software, .store for online shops, and .ai for companies that specialize in artificial intelligence.

Good domain names can help improve brand recognition. Plus, domains that use well-known TLDs like .com or .net make it easier to establish credibility with new customers.

You can use free tools like our NameHero domain search function to see if your desired name is available:

However, you can expand the scope of your search by also looking at premium domains. These are usually owned by third parties who list them for sale at a premium rate. However, the domain will usually renew at the regular rate (which may be cheaper).

Some domain registrar services also create their own premium domains which they believe provide added value. Typically, these domains will be short, memorable, or closely associated with specific industries. They may even contain keywords that help websites rank well for relevant queries.

That said, if these domains are available and are given a special price by registries, they’ll often cost a lot more. Registry-picked premium domains also tend to renew at that same price (unlike domains that are registered by other users).

Now, if such domains are determined by the registrar, then the domain registration process will likely look the same as it does for standard domains. But, if the domain already has an owner, you may also have to pay a fee to cover the transfer process from one owner to another.

What Are the Benefits of Using a Premium Domain?

Since premium domains are pricier than standard ones, you might be wondering if they’re worth it.

Well, long-term investment in premium domains can yield positive results. These domains can offer a lot of value for businesses that want to drive organic traffic.

Here are some of the main characteristics of premium domain names:

• Premium domains have recognizable TLDs like .com or .co so they can legitimize your brand. This means that your website can be perceived as more trustworthy to new customers.
• Such domains are closely associated with specific industries or topics, so they often contain relevant keywords which can help you stand out in the search results. For example, banking.online is available to buy for $30,660. Meanwhile, therapy.us is up for sale for $107,998.80.
• Search engines consider domain reputation in determining rankings. This primarily refers to the domain’s age and authority. Therefore, a premium domain name can boost SEO and attract more organic traffic.
• Premium domain names tend to be short, memorable, and descriptive, which can improve brand awareness and make it easier to market your business.

Of course, one of the main reasons to consider purchasing a premium domain name is that you’ll be able to secure the exact domain that you want.

Otherwise, you can end up compromising on the perfect premium domain, settling for a different extension, or changing the root domain.

Are Premium Domains Worth It?

Domain names in general should be easy to say and type. It’s also important that they’re memorable and short – one or two words long. When you take into account other factors like marketability and SEO potential, you’ll find that there is a finite number of domains that match these criteria.

As is the case with anything, scarcity adds value to assets. Therefore, a premium domain can be worth it in the long run – especially if you’re just starting out. It offers long-term sustainability and can minimize the likelihood that you’ll ever need to change domain names in the future (as long as you’re happy with your chosen domain).

Many premium domain names have sold for seven figures. For example, voice.com was purchased in 2019 for $30 million while funds.com sold for $12 million in 2008. Therefore, you can make a huge return on investment (ROI) if you ever decide to sell the domain.

That said, if your business can’t afford to purchase a premium domain name, you can still acquire a quality domain. However, you’ll likely have to compromise on some aspect of the name. For example, you may need to add a modifier to the root domain or settle for a less credible TLD.

How Do You Register a Premium Domain? 

There are various places where you can purchase a premium domain name.

Since premium domains have already been registered by third parties, you might start your search on auction websites, marketplaces, and broker sites such as Grit Brokerage:

However, you can use a domain registration service to explore all sorts of options.

NameHero’s free domain search tool is quite extensive, and you can filter the results by industry with options in real estate, business, education, and more:

There’s also a setting that lets you search specifically for premium domains. You can even enable the toggle switch for Available Only if you want to broaden the scope.

This way, you can also search for premium domain names that are taken and aren’t up for sale. If you’re interested in purchasing the domain, you can refer to the WHOIS information to contact the seller and negotiate a cost to transfer the domain into your ownership.

Once you find a domain name that you’re happy with, simply add it to your cart. Note that certain NameHero hosting plans provide free domain registration.

You can add various extras to your order. These include domain privacy protection, email forwarding, and DNS management.

You’ll also need to set your nameservers (unless you’re using NameHero as your web host).

Once you’ve completed the transaction, you’ll be able to manage your domain and enable auto-renewals in the dedicated client area.

Conclusion

Many high-quality domains have already been snatched up by third parties. Luckily, these options can still be listed on domain registrar services and available for you to buy. 

This is good news as it means that you don’t have to compromise on your ideal domain. Plus, premium domains tend to be short and memorable, and contain relevant keywords. This means they can help boost SEO, improve brand recognition, and establish trust with customers.

NameHero offers a free domain search tool for you to browse and register premium domains. Plus, you can access useful add-ons like domain privacy and DNS management. Get started today!