Number of domains sold increased by 75% during the period between 2004 and 2005; reported Sedo.

According to data analysis conducted by Sedo, an online marketplace for the buying and selling of secondary domain names, 2005 witnessed significant growth across the domain name market. Sedo analyzed data from more than 25,000 domain sales which demonstrated significant increase in interest and value derived from domain names.

The company mentioned that based on all 6,500 sales reported on DNJournal.com from October 2003 to January 2006 and from more than 18,000 Sedo sales during the same period, the analysis presents a clear picture for the state of the domain market. Between 2004 and 2005, the volume of reported domain sales grew by 58 percent, to more than $60 million. During that period, the number of domains sold increased dramatically by 75 percent, from 9,000 to more than 16,000 domains sold.

"2005 was a significant year for the domain name market, from new top level domains approved and put into circulation to the heightened role of domain parking services to drive quality Web traffic," said Matt Bentley, Chief Strategy Officer of Sedo.com. "The significant increase in sales volume – $60 million – and domains sold on the secondary market in 2005 – more than 16,000 – illustrates how valuable domain names can be and that people are trying to improve their online presence whether for personal or business reasons."

"The domain name market continues to evolve and drive greater value each year, whether for owners of comprehensive domain portfolios, businesses driving quality traffic to their Web sites or for hobbyists,” said Ron Jackson, editor of DN Journal.