DomainConsultant.com

strength in numbers

DM2, The Conference: Sold Out

Mar 10

Posted by admin in DomainConsultant News | No Comments

The conference portion of Domain Madness 2 at the Palms in Las Vegas has quickly sold out – although that is more because of a very limited number of spaces than a mad rush to register. This is an experience designed for no more than a dozen domainers (thus helping keep our own primary focus on the auction).

Still we’re proud to announce those spaces are filled – mostly by last year’s attendees. For all who didn’t make the roster, we invite you to join us online for our live auction finale and show at the Palms on March 23rd.

We apologize to anyone who received an invite but cannot attend or missed making the roster, we advised there were only a very few spots on the squad and they went fast.

We look forward to seeing you in Vegas, baby, Vegas!

I Sold a Domain…at a Rest Stop

Mar 9

Posted by admin in Commentary, DomainConsultant News | 1 Comment

If you skip through the articles archived here on the site, you’ll find we have tried to be open and straightforward about auctions and the auction process. We’ve attempted, on several occasions, to add some insight to bidding and buyers, results, selections and submissions.

In terms of submission, the subject here, there is an odd variable that comes into play when having discussions with potential sellers: expectations rise, sometimes to unattainable levels.

The oddity here is, if they HAVE a price, why not allow us to attempt to sell it?

Because the truth is, again if you have a price, do you really care how we get it? Even if I sold it out of a cardboard box on a street corner?

Collectively we have roughly $40m under our belts in sales and acquisitions – and growing. We have working and personal relationships with all the best buyers, bloggers, writers, promoters, etc. We can sell a domain if the market accepts the price.

In fact most domains are sold the “old fashioned” way, via email and conversation. Sedo and others send me emails all the time that sell domains – no promotion, no bidding, no nothing. Did the owners care Sedo sold their name in one push? I doubt it.

But mention adding it to an auction, one of the best ways to create awareness and competition, and the expectations suddenly rise and everyone becomes emperor of their ‘domain.’

Of Course, this is to generalize because there are many other factors involved but the truth remains that most of our sales are attained in simple ways – by connecting buyer to seller. This we can do, beyond simple brokerage, by creating a ‘competitive’ environment through widespread awareness. It is one of the reasons we retain the highest STR to date.

So if you have a domain and a price, don’t shoot the ‘broker’ because the truth is I once sold a domain name at a rest stop for five figures.

If it was yours, and you got your price, would you care?

Got an Offer? History Says Push it to Auction

Mar 9

Posted by admin in Industry News, Information | 1 Comment

Our recent call for submissions got me thinking about when might be the right time to offer up a domain in a public auction. What would be the single premo moment to put it out, get it promoted, make everyone ‘aware’ of its presence and price and value?

In my experience with public auctions, I think it is pretty clear the single best time is when you have reached that point when you have an offer you are considering taking. Adding it to the public realm at that moment, has proven to be a very profitable strategy.

See, domainers don’t benefit as much from single-buyer scenarios. It’s what you want as a buyer but not as a seller. As buyers, we do all we can to keep the ‘word’ off the street. But as a seller, you want two competing and equally motivated groups fighting over ownership.

I can prove the point with some auction history: we have consistently found that domains with existing offers tend to sell for much more once they are sent to the public arena. Prime example would be last year a seller put up the name Indiatube.com as he had a $2250 offer he was going to accept.  It sold for $10,000.

If anything, you are getting the market as a whole to validate the offer. So if you get no more bidders, then chances are the offer is solid and beyond the aftermarket. It can be an excellent way to gauge value and interest.

In the end, the right time and place to sell is a subjective choice but I would recommend that when you reach that point, when you are about to snag that offer, push it to auction, let the rest of us valuate.

Remember, ‘awareness’ can be a buyer’s worst enemy – I’ve lost many a great deal because word got out. Haven’t you?

DM2, The Auction: Call for Submissions

Mar 8

Posted by admin in DomainConsultant News, Information | 4 Comments

DomainConsultant.com is proud to announce Domain Madness 2, The Auction - the expanded sequel to last year’s highly successful event.

This year we are parring it down and looking for only a dozen or so premium names to auction. ‘Premium’ being the key word here.

For domain owners, it means taking advantage of a huge promotional campaign that will put your name in front of buyers – within and outside the industry. You’ll benefit from our huge buyer network, banners and blogs, articles and forums, PR and more. We leave no promotional stone unturned.

At nearly 70% overall, our STR remains the highest in the biz to date and partly because of the effort we put into each and every domain we work on. And now you can benefit too.

What we’re looking for
We ask that you submit no more than twenty of your best domains for consideration. Best bets are single word generics in .com, .net, .org, ccTLDs. Must include pricing as well. Again, no more than 20 per submitter.

How to Submit
Auction will be held online beginning on March 16 and ending with a live show on the 23rd. To submit, simply send us an email with your info and domains and prices. You must be able to verify ownership of course if chosen. Pricing your names is important.

Sellers not only get the benefit of rock-star promotion, they also get a great rate on the sale of the name, with highly favorable terms. Means we’re dropping our commission rate from 15% to 8% to make this event a success for everyone.

Again, auction will be open from the 16th to the 23rd with finale live from the Palms in Las Vegas. We invite everyone to join us.

Last year’s event is still one of the single most attended in auction history and this year should be no different. Don’t miss this opportunity to cash in.

Domainer 101 – Part Two, Buying and Selling

Mar 7

Posted by admin in Domain History, Entertainment | 5 Comments

In this edition we continue to examine some of the beliefs and habits of the veteran domainer. These are observances from many years of working and knowing them. This is not a scientific study although three animals were hurt in the making of this piece. Happy Sunday…

- Don’t sell to anyone who asks for ’stats.’

- Don’t buy anything without stats.

- Domainers always ‘better deal’ you. “Hey, I got usedcars.com.” Response: “Cars.com is better.”

- Domainers almost always get sellers and alternately, buyers remorse. I still have regrets about every name I’ve ever sold and question every bid right after I confirm it.

- Even the great ones have made awful purchases.

- Every veteran domainer has a great story about the “one that got away.”

- Domainers tend to exaggerate their stats in conversation.

- Domaining does involve measures of luck too.

- Domainers want to bid against somebody for a name, it makes them feel better about the purchase knowing someone else is equally as interested. Problem is this idea produced shill bidding.

- Domainers look for affirmation of their big purchases. “What do you think of thebestprice.com? Got it for $10m, down from $18.”

- Domainers in general will pull a name from under your feet if you make them ‘aware.’ Careful…

- Some of the original domainer crew has been dubbed the ‘dirty dozen’ because they all look better now than they did back when they were broke, lol!

IDNs and the Slippery Slope

Mar 6

Posted by admin in Commentary, Industry News | 19 Comments

I encourage anyone hoarding names in a market void of demand and plump with supply to read my piece on the Founding Fathers. It is meant as a historical analogy to our times, to the Internet itself and particularily to extensions and ideas which may hold promise but for which time may be an enemy. This is not about right or wrong, it’s about timing, resources and strategy.

As it relates to IDNs , the main issue I see is: where to start?

If I were to focus on my native language, Spanish, would I gather names for Mexican Spanish or Caribbean Spanish or Spanish Spanish? If Mexico, then which dialect? There are dozens of dialects in each language and culture, land and tribe. Think of the barriers in e-commerce alone from IDN to IDN when we cannot even get e-commerce between countries right.

And so as a matter of resources and timing, investors would be wise to work in areas with more standardized usage and fewer vacant lots.

Besides, it dismisses a subtle truth that while French is the language of international business, English is the language of the PC and the Internet. For one very simple reason: all the code is in English. Consequence being legions of people being educated and employed by learning the language of the web – whether in customer service, development, code, dating,  etc. It’s the benefit of being first.

And America’s founding fathers were first and they were right when they hoarded as much land as they could. Problem was, in their lifetimes, there was never a lack of land to go around. And still isn’t, so you have to buy carefully, in the right area (not Detroit).

Domains are no different. Because if we discuss them like a commodity or property, then we base our investment choices on the same principles of supply and demand.

For .com, there is basis for assessment, a market based on past performance and slim availability of quality ‘land.’ For IDNs, there is no basis, more of a simple understanding of a wildly varying need combined with an endless supply extending to the horizon and beyond.

In other words, caveat emptor, speculator beware.

Domain Madness…The Sequel

Mar 4

Posted by admin in DomainConsultant News, Industry News | 1 Comment

Few who attended last year’s event will forget the mix of five-star fun and business in Sin City and this year we are expanding it into a full blown trade-party the likes of which have never been seen.

We’re rolling out the pool cabanas and masseurs and the booze and the food to create the perfect environment where domainers can relax, talk biz and have a great time. Conference includes an auction (TBA) plus several scheduled ‘gatherings’ including a Q&A, Domain Exchange and Revenue Summit – all of them based around the question: “how can I make more with what I have?”

DM2 is an all-inclusive, invitation-only experience – all you have to do is get there and we’ll take care of the rest including meals, room, clubs and access to all our amenities, events and locales.  We’ll spare no expense to create a top quality environment in which to do business and expand on ideas, attuned to the city and the domainer lifestyle…like no other.

Domain Madness 2 will be held at the Palms Hotel in Las Vegas on Monday March 22nd and Tuesday the 23rd. Stay tuned for more.

Why .com must be king

Mar 4

Posted by admin in Commentary, Information | 5 Comments

It is seldom understood but in the discussion of country codes, .com should be defined as the official code of the United States. Sorry, .us.

Thusly, if the US is to continue to be a beacon of global business, the modern financial mecca, it should work to make sure that .com remains king. And partly because, simply, someone has to be king in a globalized globe to expedite free trade.

With over fifteen years of almost constant exposure, .com is not just an extension but a global brand by itself perhaps better known than even our own country phone code, +1.  If someone need be king, .com is the best candidate…by far.

There is little question country codes will continue to thrive and have a role…a regional one. They will become the best option within borders but if one is to expand outward, it must turn to the .com to gain global recognition and presence. Serving ads for a .fr in Spain doesn’t make sense whereas using a .com does.

At the moment, a  great .com is not just market share, it is instant entry, credibility, traffic, SEO and cache.  It is tapping into every single commercial, billboard, ad, etc, that has or has ever had a .com address in it. Think of the trillions that have likely been spent to market “.com” – likely more than any other commodity, product or service outside the Bible.

If ICANN had wits, it would focus on strengthening country codes and recognition, including .com as the continued realm of global economics and promotion. It should reject inclusion of anything beyond as they have already proven to be mere vehicles of the speculative field. Sorry, .pro.

There has to be a king, a leader, a marketplace for the earth’s consumers to unite and exchange. In other words, for a globalized future, we must provide a definitive address for the planet to organize and socialize and transact.

And thanks to millions of hours of ads and usage, .com is already wearing the crown.

Dating.org is not a Category Killer

Mar 2

Posted by admin in Commentary, Industry News | 4 Comments

I very much enjoyed the article at Fusible that discusses the $22k sale of dating.org. The story offers excellent insight into  the dating industry and the money within. It’s the old saying, “sex sells, especially when real!”

Still, pardon me for pointing out but dating.org is not a category killer. In fact, by mere definition, a .org cannot be a category killer.

“Category Killer” can be described as the single best domain name in any given industry. For cars, it is ‘cars.com’. For dating, it is ‘dating.com’, not dating.org.

Part of the reason is that if you attempt to promote and market the .org, you unintentionally market and brand and provide traffic for the .com version. Who is killing who here?

A category killer will grab market share, literally, from day one while .org must be developed and indexed and spread to attain the same measure of ’share.’

There is no doubt dating.org is a nice name with a big foot in the right door but kill the category it does not.

Mental Health: 9/11 x 1,000

Mar 1

Posted by admin in Entertainment | 1 Comment

It is very five minutes ago to post video on your blog. I prefer great audio and sound bytes as I believe we need to use our eyes less, our ears more. Enjoy!