What Makes a Domain "Premium"?
- Short: 1-4 character domains
- Dictionary words: cars.com, hotels.com
- Brandable: Catchy, memorable names
- High-value keywords: Insurance, loans, crypto
- Previously developed: Domains with existing traffic/backlinks
When Premium Domains ARE Worth It
✓ Venture-backed startups
If you've raised funding, a premium domain can be worth the investment for brand credibility.
✓ High-margin businesses
If you're selling $10,000+ products, a $5,000 domain pays for itself quickly.
✓ Competitive SEO niches
Exact-match domains still carry some SEO weight in competitive spaces.
When to Skip Premium Domains
✗ Bootstrapped startups
That $5,000 is better spent on marketing or product. Build brand value, don't buy it.
✗ Side projects
Use a creative alternative. Many billion-dollar companies started with non-premium domains.
✗ "Investment" purposes
Domain investing is largely dead. Most premium domains never sell.
Alternatives to Premium Domains
- Add a word: getslack.com → slack.com (after funding)
- Use a different TLD: notion.so, linear.app
- Create a new word: Spotify, Shopify, Canva
- Abbreviate: hbo.com, ibm.com
Our Advice
Start with a non-premium domain. Build your brand. If the premium domain becomes essential AND you can afford it, buy it later. Many successful companies upgraded their domains after proving product-market fit.
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