Miz-pellings can be quite profitable!
Buying and selling domain names, including commonly misspelled versions of popular ones, has proven lucrative for some savvy individuals.
12/2/20242 min read
This strategy capitalizes on user errors, such as typos, and redirects traffic to monetized content or resells the domains for a profit. Below are three notable examples with dollar amounts and reasoning:
1. Insure.com
Sale Price: $16 million (2009)
Reasoning:
While this isn’t a misspelled domain, it demonstrates how single-word, highly relevant domains in competitive industries like insurance can fetch astronomical prices.
Similar domains such as "insurence.com" or "ensurance.com" (common misspellings) have been purchased to redirect typo traffic to competitors or ad-driven pages.
2. Google Typo-squatting Domains
Example: "Gogle.com"
Sale Price: Specific sales figures aren’t public, but Google itself reportedly acquired several typo domains (like "Gogle.com" and "Gooogle.com") to prevent misuse.
Reasoning:
Typo domains capitalize on accidental traffic from users who mistype popular websites.
These domains are valuable because of the direct traffic they attract and their potential for monetization or phishing (though the latter is unethical and often illegal).
3. Vodka.com
Sale Price: $3 million (2006)
Reasoning:
Though this was not a misspelled domain, high-value generic names show how typo variations (e.g., "vodcka.com" or "vokda.com") could still attract attention for resale or traffic.
The demand for premium or typo-traffic-related domains in industries like alcohol demonstrates the broader profitability of this strategy.
How Misspelled Domains Generate Revenue
Direct Traffic: These domains receive significant hits from people accidentally mistyping a URL.
Pay-Per-Click Ads: Owners monetize traffic by displaying ads on these pages.
Resale Value: Companies or individuals often buy typo domains to protect their brand, creating a resale market.
These examples highlight the power of domain speculation, whether through exact matches, industry-relevant terms, or commonly misspelled variations. While some figures are directly tied to typo domains, the underlying principles of capturing traffic or securing brand-related names drive the demand.
4. Cars.com
Sale Price: $872 million (2015 valuation by Gannett Co.)
Reasoning:
While not a typo domain, this sale underscores the astronomical value of industry-specific generic domains.
Common typo domains like "carz.com" or "carrs.com" were also strategically purchased to capture traffic redirected to competing or related sites.
5. Candy.com
Sale Price: $3 million (2009)
Reasoning:
A straightforward, memorable domain name for a competitive consumer industry like candy.
Variations like "kandy.com" or "candyshop.com" can capitalize on user errors or target niche markets, adding additional value for buyers.
6. Facebok.com
Type of Domain: Typo of Facebook.com
Reasoning:
Facebook acquired many typo domains, such as "Facebok.com" and "Fasebook.com," to protect its brand and redirect users who make typing errors.
Although specific sale prices weren’t disclosed, the value lies in brand protection and user experience. Typo-squatting on a high-traffic site like Facebook could otherwise mislead millions of users.
7. Flickr Misspellings
Example: Flicker.com (redirect for Flickr.com)
Sale Price: Yahoo (which owned Flickr) reportedly spent $600,000 to acquire Flicker.com.
Reasoning:
Flickr, a popular photo-sharing website, had a non-standard spelling without the "e." Yahoo secured "Flicker.com" to avoid losing traffic to the correctly spelled but unused domain.
This illustrates the importance of owning common misspellings to maximize web traffic and prevent competitor misuse.
How Typo Domains Increase Value
Protecting Traffic: Companies often purchase these domains to safeguard against losing traffic to errors.
Preventing Abuse: Misleading or fraudulent sites can damage brand trust.
Resale Profitability: Opportunistic individuals can buy and resell typo domains for a profit, particularly for high-profile brands.
These examples highlight how the domain market, including typos, offers opportunities for significant profit through smart speculation and strategic acquisitions.