Has anyone any comments on using NAMEBOY, ESTIBIT DNSCOOP etc I know that a robot can't possibly value a domain accurately, but I use them just to give me a gut feel whether there is any validity in a name. Estibot always values very low and nameboy just the opposite. Pete
I dont believe any tool can give you the true value of a domain as there are too many variables and at the end of the day a script can not take them all into consideration.
My advice is to use them only for novelty purposes. Nameboy is a complete joke. Estibot would be the best out of them, but still not great.
I use Estibot as a first sort. Domains that it values highly get a second look. Look at Google, PPC and Overture (mind that Overture does not distinguish singular and plural, although Estibot does). Project what kind of profitable website would want the name. If a domain it values low seems good to me I need to do some checking. Sometimes it is a misspelling of what I thought it was. Sometimes it is a "brandable" and I might chance it. Sometimes, like four letter.coms right now, the market is moving so quickly that the sales information that Estibot uses is out of date. Most of the time, though, it is a dud and Estibot has saved me money. It is a great tool but you still gotta do your homework.
I also use Estibot b/c it is a good starting point. It does a lot of the major investigation for you in one place. I feel it is a good tool but you also have to know the market as well. Don't just rely on one tool but use it as a part of your whole process. Estibot will help you avoid a lot of mistakes starting out as well though, so just use it with your knowledge and gut.