Domain Name Categories
Domain names are typically classified into categories and sub-categories. This serves an important search function because much of the built-in value of a domain has to do with how well it describes a particular niche.
I find that the basic search of most aftermarket sites is far too general. Instead, I much prefer the advanced search because of the extra detail and specificity provided. This is particularly true when scanning long domain lists where there are thousands of domains to sift through.
For example, one can search for “Business” at Sedo and a list of over a half million domains is produced. Fortunately, 14 sub-categories are provided to refine the “Business” seach down to a more manageable size. Even with this improvement, the smallest biz category (B2B) contains 15,246 entries. Ever try to scan through 15,000 domain names? You will be cross-eyed & drunk from exhaustion before you get halfway through. 
A few other helpful tools are available such as excluding hyphens & numerals, setting a price range, and choosing from various tld extensions. As my interests have become very specific over the years, I can perform a useful search by simply typing in a geo-location and/or business sub-category to produce a targeted list of possible acquisitions.
While I rarely scan expiring drop lists anymore, I recall catching many nice quality domains at 5:20 a.m. EST in 2006 and 2007. I competed against a number of like-minded domainers as we literally raced through the freshly released expiring domain lists looking for one or two good names among hundreds and hundreds of duds. Some of the successful drop-catch registrars released their list (and drop catch slots) in the early afternoon … requiring a duplication of the frenzied effort to snag a single vacant slot for a particular high-interest domain. If that doesn’t qualify you as a nerd, nothing will.
In any event, I appreciate advanced tools. Ultimately, they save time. And they shape your destiny. Every little advantage you find … helps speed your path to success. Perhaps one day we’ll be lucky enough to have a domainer “insider tips”. A compilation of trade secrets from all the domain experts. I mean the really good stuff … that domainers keep to themselves. Something to look forward to.
