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Shane's Daily Domain Picks for Wednesday September 10th

Shane's Daily Domain Picks for Wednesday September 10th

a brandable can be a moat

Shane Cultra
September 10, 2025

When it comes to data in domain investing, it’s everything and nothing. Nothing when it comes to brandables. I recently listened to a podcast with Rich Barton, the founder of Expedia and Zillow, and he said he ALWAYS makes up a name for his companies. He does this because made-up words are defensible. If you’ve ever noticed, medicine names are always made up because it’s required by law. They have to be words never used before and not easily confused.

Rich does it because if he’s going to build a brand, he wants trademarks and patents on the term and wants to be able to get them without confusion or defense. I know this firsthand, as I spent $5K trying to trademark “Botany” in several categories and was not able to get any. I could have spent another $10K trying to get them within narrow categories, like only hats and not clothing, and then contacting anyone with an existing trademark to get their approval. But that’s not guaranteed. Most likely they’d say no, and then I’d have to challenge their trademark with more cost and uncertainty.

Brandable domains are great for people hoping to avoid all of that. Rich Barton is one of them.

Of course, that doesn’t mean Botany or other generics aren’t fantastic domains. After brandables, you’re looking for domains that are wanted. That’s where the stats come in. What companies have the name but are operating on a lesser extension or added words? You want names in dot com that dozens or even hundreds of people wish they had. If you own non-coms, you’re hoping a new company will want to start a business under that name and will take the alternative. That’s a much smaller chance of selling.

If that’s the case, you look at who’s using the other extensions. Are they big companies that won’t give up their name? Are there better extensions for sale? If yes, you’ve lessened your chances. I write this and it all sounds so basic, yet I’m surprised how many domain investors don’t think like this. They see a word and buy it on the word alone. The data I mentioned above can increase your chance of selling tenfold or reduce it just as easily.

The best domain investors do it this way. The ones with more capital play at the top end, getting the most desirable names, and everything else is settling. Other domain investors buy alternate TLDs, but they know it’s the best available choice,not the best name, just the best they can get.

Domain investing is a simple game, but it’s not simple. It’s a business built on knowledge and data, and if you’re not using them, you’re just buying scratch-offs.

Quote of the Day:“Great investors look for businesses with a moat. In naming, a made-up word can be that moat.” – Rich Barton, founder of Expedia and Zillow

Domain of the Day:QuantitativeTrading.com Not going to stay at $100 but you can dream

Please Note: The list below contains affiliate links and/or names that have been posted for a fee. It is how we pay for our time since it is a free site. More details at bottom of page. Can go to any of the auctions by adding the names at the end like this one

Shane's Daily Domain Picks for Wednesday September 10th

a brandable can be a moat

Godaddy Domains with Bids

Godaddy Names with 1 or NO Bids

Other GoDaddy Names With More Than One Bid