One of the most common questions I got in LA was about ‘developing’ domains – something for which I have extensive experience.

I’ve been designing sites since 1997 and spent a good chunk of time as the head designer for a very large public Internet firm, creating designs in the process for 3M, Motorola, Nabisco and more. I designed and programmed all the original MLB stores and was the main force behind NatGeo’s first shop as well. First time people voted for MLB All-Stars online was because of the work I did. I too am responsible for the TRAFFIC logo so well used in this biz, you’re welcome King!

So ‘bona-fides’ hopefully aside, I can give domainers some advice on development:

1. Develop or Develop
There are two types of ‘development’ we need to discuss here. The first is the ‘mini-site’ type development and the second is TRUE development, the source of innovation or compliment of a niche market.

The first type of development will only take you so far, the second is costly and difficult and long term – something domainers generally avoid.

Point is that all the investors that came in with dreams of large networks of sites were eaten up by their own lack of innovation. Mere ‘presence’ is no longer sufficient, you have to provide something of value.

2. The right domain CAN make all the difference
The moment HappyBirthday.com opened, it grabbed market share. If you are serious about the idea and the strategy behind it, then the value of the name grows exponentially in your mind’s eye.

But here lies the rub for domainers – they have a great idea for every domain they buy!

Again, you need to decide if you want to “develop or develop.” And then think again - I really want domainers to come to grips with the difficulty and expense as they seem to underestimate the impact of both on any given project.

I would recommend developing and working the idea a bit first, before spending great sums on a domain simply because of all the sugarplums dancing in your head.

3. Instant Gratification
From day one, the best thing to sell online has been anything that leads to instant results like adult or software or ebooks. Stay away from products and ideas that require additional outside labor, stick to “e-goods”.

4. Start Simple
I have a friend who spent nearly $250,000 just in the development of the site. It lasted less than a year. Start slow and small and expand from there.

5. Automate!
Every site I ever built was designed with automation in mind. Offer products and services and sites that run themselves, stay away from ideas that require heavy staffing.

6. K.I.S.S.

7. Focus on Quality
For one of my properties, I have simply focused from the first day on creating the best possible site I could, with the hope that simply doing so would make it stand out. And this may be the most important lesson of all.

It worked, it is a top 5,000 site in the US that got there organically and virally, is profitable, is loved by the search engines and has grown in brand and value. And all because the sole focus, and no other, was to build the best possible offering…period.

Based on the famous tenets of: if you built it really, really well…they will come.

Take that to the bank, or better yet, put it in an online savings account.