What a year it’s been for emoji domains! From fanatics to hardcore critics, emoji domains are carving a niche of their own in an already multifaceted industry.

As many rushed to become emoji domain owners with initial latte-priced registration fees in the last year or so, scores of emoji domains are currently landing in GoDaddy’s expiring domain auction block daily due to pricey emoji domain renewals.

This december alone has yielded approximately 2,500 and counting expiring emoji domains in auction, which is roughly 12% of the estimated 21,000 emoji domains registered over the last 1-2 years.

However, what’s yet to be seen is if emoji domain registrations will continue to shed in increasing number.

That said, it’s worth noting and keeping an eye on the trove of emoji domain renewals coming due in Q2 2018 thanks to DomainSherpa’s episode: Why Emoji Domain Names May Take Over the World.

As of today, GoDaddy is ending the year with approximately 200 expiring emoji domains in auction and closing December 31st.

Out of the nearly 200 expiring emoji domains, the following 38 emoji domains caught my as I perused the auction list:

↕.ws – top/bottom, up/down, north/south
??.ws – old man with skin tone
??.ws – weightlifter with skin tone
??.ws – hand clap with skin tone
??.ws – just in time for new years
??.ws – sleeping pill
??.ws – plumbing or bathroom remodeling company
??.ws – lab rats
?❤.ws – key to my heart
???.ws – US-based sunglass company
???.ws – United States Federal Reserve Bank
???.ws – USA hotel
???.ws – US-based vineyard
???.ws – USA money
??.ws – eye candy
??.ws – stop or no sleeping
??.ws – door bell
??.ws – Lady Liberty helicopter tours
??.ws – chocolate milk
??.ws – cow bell
??.ws – snake boots
??.ws – gator boots
??.ws – purse purse or handbag handbag
???.ws – chocolate chocolate chocolate
??.ws – good games
☁?.ws – cloud candy
❤?.ws – love boats or love boat
??.ws – lemon water or lemonade
??.ws – Spicy hot dog or chili dog(?)
??.ws – candy apple
??.ws – key hole
?☠.ws – kiss of death
????.ws – Applebee’s
???.ws – maybe “Ironman”(?)
??.ws – Bus stop, charter or bus company
??.ws – back to school, education, book club
??.ws – cheeseburger
??.ws – tiger shrimp

The list above caught my eye due to being somewhat clever although a few leave one scratching their head in confusion as to why someone would have wasted their time and money, to say the least.

Not all emoji domains are worth investing in, so please DO YOUR HOMEWORK before getting click or bid happy!

If I had to guess, only a handful of the aforementioned expiring emoji domains are likely to receive meaningful bids.

Now and in the coming year, best guess is single emoji domains are likely to gain traction based on increasing public and expiring domain sales comps over the past year.

In addition, it’ll be interesting to see if expiring and active emoji domains containing the USA flag gain any sales and valuation traction due to flag censorship.

All in all, there’s likely a growing number of double, triple+, and ASCII/emoji domain combos soon entering into GoDaddy’s expiry aftermarket as emoji domain owners come to terms with steep renewal pricing of domain niche in its infancy.

As this post and an exciting year in domains comes to a close, I hope you’ve had a productive and profitable year filled with joyful memories and lasting relationships.

As the new year approaches, I wish you and yours a Happy New Year and many blessings to come!