Hey everyone, This is more out of plain curiosity than needing help with anything, but I'd to get an idea of what everyone does domain wise. For instance, I'm mostly a web programmer / designer, but as part of that process I need to register domain names. Sort of a one man band type of thing. As such, domain names in general are an interest to me, but far from my main interest. I got to thinking about it because last night I scooped up 3 names, bringing my total to 9. Of those, 2 are in mid-development (stalled is probably more appropriate), 4 are in the idea phase, and 3 are full fledged active sites that are more or less complete. I don't have any domains that aren't centered around an idea. In other words, I don't buy them to sell them... I buy them to develop them with an idea in mind at the time of purchase. Of the 9 I have, all of them are .com and none of them have any non-alpha characters (hyphens, numbers, etc). If I can't find a decent .com that I like for the name I just forget the idea and move on to the next. Kinda picky that way I guess. Anyway, I was just curious as to everyone else's domain habits. How often do you go looking, for what reason, how many do you have, how picky are you (.com, .net, .info, hyphens, etc), do you sell them, develop them, or both... things like that. Thought it might make for an interesting discussion. I'm also curious as to the methods people use to FIND the right name. Usually I just figure out my idea, what words work with it, and shuffle words and synonyms until I find one I like. Thoughts?
I sometimes go out for a search in a good domain name for which I already have the project in mind after looking at the needs of the market. Other chances are I find some nice domain name and I cannot resist registering it so I register it and keep thinking in back of my mind about developing it and generating revenue from it. The ones that I register and don't lights up the bulb in my mind I sell them off to people who need them more then me Thanks.
I register short pronounceable/meaningful domains if I manage to find them available. I've got about 4 and I go for only .coms
I rarely look for domains anymore. When I do, it is for a specific purpose, or a client, and it's because we have either sold related domains, or need something specific. If you have not started to accumulate any domains in the last 5 years, and are just starting out, you are generally chasing what is already out there, and looking for an opportunity from someone else's short comings or hardship. When I say the good , strong, money domains are all gone, no one believes me, until they start looking around. Everyone who has a strong portfolio knows exactly what they have, and what it is worth, and generally will not budge on the price. Last year premium domains appreciated at over 400% It is not a matter of "if" you will get your price, but when. Even if you invested in a strong domain now at a premium price, it will still appreciate to a higher price, sometimes as soon as weeks later. The problem is that most people who want to get into the market now, have no budget, and they are trying to $100 themselves into player status. It is not going to happen, but if you invested in something for say $5k, today (Something good) I would bet my truck that the odds of selling it for more in the future are better than Lindsay Lohan falling off the wagon. (those are good odds) Domains are at a premium. They are one of a kind. They are commodities. You have to think of them like cyber real estate. He who controls the word, or phrase, unless he is an idiot, can control the market or the niche. Without a LARGE marketing campaign over time, a domain like Borrowmoneyonlinenow.com, will never command the respect, and marketing power of Borrowtoday.com (One of mine obviously). And in the right hands, (even dumb hands) that word or phrase is your billboard on the serps, and your offline power house. If you were searching, which one looks more credible? The mistake that most "webmasters" make is thinking and executing based on their own knowledge and not on the knowledge of the average user. Solid Phrases, and two word combinations with mass marketing appeal are now going for $xx,xxx - $xxx,xxxx. Trying to start out at this point in the game, is difficult, but not impossible to "Luck" up on something good, but considering the mass amounts of "webmasters" with no budget, combined with the amount of domains investors with large budgets, "times are tight". Most new domainers have a portfolio of domains that may sell for a decent price to just the right person, in the right situation, at the right time, but nothing that appeals to a mass market, or big business. Those were gone years ago. If you take a look at a domain like Poker.com, which recently resold for $7 million. Even on it's first go around on the market, back in the late 90's, it sold for $150k. In other words, if you just get in now, without a large budget to accumulate such a portfolio, you will be "Nickel and Diming" it to make the mortgage. Development of average domains is the only way to have a shot at making money, and at that point it is not about domaining, but website development.
Wow, I guess it was , wasn't it? I should really write this stuff down somewhere. Sorry about that, I tend to ramble