What are the top types of domains to purchase for parking? Can you provide a few examples?

If you're thinking about diving into this arena, you should be aware of several critical factors that could make or break your investment. First off, the top domains for parking generally include those that are short, memorable, and carry some form of inherent value.
One common type is the one-word domains. These are often short and extremely memorable, making them valuable for parking. For instance, domains like "Finance.com" or "Travel.com" are not only highly marketable but also have the potential to attract high traffic and, thus, higher ad revenue. But, of course, acquiring such prime domains might be out of reach due to their astronomical prices.

Another lucrative category is generic keywords. These are domains that consist of generic terms relevant to a specific industry or niche. For example, "CheapFlights.com" or "BestVitamins.com" can be highly sought after. The advantage here is that these domains are often more affordable than single-word domains but still hold significant potential for generating revenue through targeted advertising.

Additionally, geo-targeted domains can be quite profitable. These domains include a location-specific keyword, like "NewYorkPlumbing.com" or "LosAngelesRealEstate.com". They are valuable because they cater to specific local markets, which can be particularly appealing to businesses looking to attract customers from a particular region.

Then we have brandable domains, which are domains that are catchy and easy to remember but don't necessarily have inherent meaning. Names like "ZyloTech.com" or "QwikFix.com" fall into this category. These domains are not only versatile but also allow for a broad range of potential uses, which can be very appealing to various types of businesses.

There's the ever-popular expired domains. These domains were previously owned but are now available again. Sometimes, these domains come with a history of traffic and backlinks, which can be a huge advantage. Domains like "OldTechTrends.com" or "VintageCarsForSale.com" might already have some SEO value, making them a smart choice for parking and future resale.
Why are so many people still buying domains that clearly won't do squat in terms of revenue? It's simple—people often jump on trends without really understanding the underlying value of the domains they're purchasing. You need to do your homework and be prepared to invest in quality, not just quantity. Just don't waste your time and money on domains that sound cool but have no real potential.

Navigating the world of domain traffic is an intricate craft. After five years in the field, I haven't stumbled upon any secret tricks. The factors vary significantly depending on the niche. Here's a condensed version of my findings since I don't have time for detailed explanations:

Alexa is the only reliable indicator for domain traffic. A higher rank provides a more precise forecast. Out of 100 ranked domains, about 20 might be inactive, which is actually considered a good outcome. Be prepared for this.

Examining links is only useful for niche-specific directories and curated sites. This means you can disregard resources like DMOZ.

It's preferable to manually download expired domain lists from zone files (subtract today's list from yesterday's). If that's not an option, use services like NameJet or SnapNames. Another good resource is http://expireddomains.net, but (this is crucial!) don't rely on their traffic metrics.

Why avoid certain services? Because they typically profit more from ads rather than reselling domains. Domain owners aren't necessarily domain experts, leading to inconsistent results. For serious work, develop your own checkers. Alexa data can be accessed via the web without a paid API (just change your IP regularly).

Choosing the right parking service is vital. Different implementations of Google feeds can greatly impact earnings. For instance, the difference between Namedrive (when it was operational) and ParkingCrew for the same domains was up to three times! Above.com is also noteworthy; if you have accounts with major parking services, they can broker your traffic for better returns.

Avoid аdult domains! Despite traffic and clicks, they rarely yield significant profits. High-value niches like finance, real estate, medicine, electronics (especially online stores), and gaming are more lucrative. Gaming traffic is often very hot.

Unless you have specific experience, skip auctions. There's enough potential in expired domains alone.

Check out DNS traffic metrics from Verisain—it's incredibly helpful for live analysis: http://domainscope.com.

Lastly, follow the "golden rule of the domainer": from your list of domains to register, pick only three and register just those. You won't regret it. Good luck!

Parking domains has never been so crucial, especially with certain areas like contextual ads - the level of competition is insane. We've seen a flood of folks from traditional industries entering the scene, armed with hefty budgets. This influx is definitely impacting both auction prices and overall profitability. Back in the day, bids on parking were nowhere near as high—trust me, it was a lot less promising.

Plus, countries that were once off the radar are now starting to convert. With the current exchange rate of the ruble, diving into domains might actually be a good starting point for newcomers. The barrier to entry in the domain world is surprisingly low compared to other areas, and if you put in the work, you could see some great returns. If not, well, the profits will end up with the webmasters instead.