PODCAST: Which is better the singular or the plural?
In this episode I discuss trends in brandable keywords with specific reference to the singular and plural versions of existing brands and recently purchased domain names.
(more…)experience
What’s New In Domaining?
Learn. Help. Support. Smile.
That’s the motto for Michael Cyger’s, soon-to-be legendary, Domain Social event. On this week’s edition, of the best virtual-happy-hour on the planet, Michael reminded me of how long it’s been since I’ve written on DNGeek.
So here I am guilt writing, and sharing, a quick list of my recent domaining discoveries.
What Kind of Domainer Are You? Part Three: Buy and Hold
A great domain name has to ripen. Like planting a fruit tree. In TIME it may bear fruit. I don’t think about selling. Never do. For some Domainers business is a sprint and always running. For others it’s a marathon. I am on the marathon side. Turtle always wins.
– Rick Schwartz, The Domain King
My final entry for this three part series is an exploration of the Buy and Hold style of domaining. Traditionally it’s a long term, passive style of domain investment wherein domains are held for years despite regular, albeit sub-par, offers. Trends and fluctuations in the domain markets don’t affect the Buy and Hold domainer who possesses a deep sense of conviction and unwavering faith in his/her asset’s value and their strong potential for very lucrative paydays.
(more…)How I Evaluate and Acquire Expiring Domains
“In my years of scanning expiring domain name lists I’ve found that only 7% – 12% of all names, that expire, mean anything to more than one person”– Frank Schilling , founder of Uniregistry
There are many resources for acquiring brandable domains such as hand registration, a fellow domainer, or “the drops”. But one of the most popular methods is trolling the vast pool of domains that expire daily.
Aside from the expiring domain auctions at places like GoDaddy and SnapNames many domainers look for gems in the GoDaddy Closeouts. This is a precarious task since all the domains that reach the Closeout marketplace have already been examined by dozens of other domain investors and been deemed unworthy of a bid at auction.
Therefore to be a successful Closeout domain buyer one needs an eye keen enough to see treasure where others saw trash.
(more…)What Kind of Domainer Are You? Part One: Domain Flipping
After being shot down numerous times, I humbled myself and came to the stark realization that this is a much more intricate process.
Before we buy a domain we should have a concrete plan for selling it. For veteran domainers this is an almost instantaneous calculation when they consider a domain purchase. Beginners, on the other hand, may need to write down and think through their plan before hand. In either case a practical plan should include both a buy and sell price, a list of potential customers and preferred methods for transactions (sales venue, payment process, commission and escrow fees etc).
Without a plan we might acquire a domain with little to no marketability or overpay and lose potential profit.
This process will be different for different types of domainers including what I call flippers, trend riders and investors.
(more…)Eight Ways to Fail at Domaining
“A diamond is a chunk of coal that did well under pressure.” — Henry Kissinger
Profitable domainers fail 97% of the time on the way to selling 3% of their inventory each year. Domaining is a highly speculative endeavor. To be profitable means walking a virtual tightrope of income, expenses and probabilities. On top of that we have to compete with thousands of other domainers from around the globe. So if we want to exceed – we have to excel. On the other hand, if we want to fail, there’s at least eight ways to do it:
Read morERetrospective: My Four Years as a Domainer
In many ways, most domain name investment is better labeled as speculation……… Less is more – quality over quantity. Don’t invest unless you understand the quality of a domain, and your options to cash out.
– Alan Dunn at NameCorp
I’ve just completed my fourth year of an exciting and profitable domaining adventure. So today, at the start of a new year, I’m looking back and sharing my reflections on my past successes and failures. This includes insights, stats and some year over year sales analysis.
Keep in mind that I characterize myself as a journeyman domainer investing, almost exclusively, in dot-com, brandable domains. Everyone’s journey is different but here’s the story of mine.