IT.COM

interviews Inside Interview: Behind the Rebranding of DoorBot to Ring.com

NameSilo

What's your valuation of the domain name Ring.com?

  • This poll is still running and the standings may change.
  • Less than $100k

    24 
    votes
    11.3%
  • $100k-$250k

    35 
    votes
    16.4%
  • $250k-$500k

    49 
    votes
    23.0%
  • $500k-$1m

    46 
    votes
    21.6%
  • $1m+

    59 
    votes
    27.7%
  • This poll is still running and the standings may change.

In 2011, an inventor named Jamie Siminoff brought together a team of 5 engineers to work out of his garage to create a product that would become DoorBot; a doorbell system that allows you to see and speak to visitors from your smartphone.

This small team - with a lack of real funding - was able to launch DoorBot to the public in December 2012 and started to ship orders less than a year later. After appearing on Shark Tank in 2013 (and failing to attract an investment from the Sharks), DoorBot raised $5.5mm in funding and rebranded to Ring in late 2014. Of course, they also acquired Ring.com.

On Ring's blog, Jamie Siminoff describes the name DoorBot as being "too techie" as they became a mainstream product. He also notes that Ring has two meanings; firstly the sound that a doorbell makes, and secondly for the ring of security that is created around your home by using a Ring doorbell system.

Jamie Siminoff is now Chief Inventor and Founder of Ring, and I was very grateful to him for taking some time to take part in our Inside Interviews series. Many of the details of the purchase of Ring.com remain confidential, but Jamie gave us all he could disclose about the domain and his company below.


1. Can you give us a background of your company?

Ring makes the wifi video doorbell for your smartphone that allows you to see and speak with visitors from anywhere using your smartphones or tablets.


2. Why did you decide to rebrand from DoorBot to Ring?

DoorBot was an awesome name but not a name that you can build a long lasting meaningful business around. Ring is the type of name that gives you the foundation to build something unique and special from.


3. Was there any other name you'd considered rebranding to before Ring?

No, Ring was the first name we came up with and once we had it we knew it was the name.


4. Why was Ring.com such an important purchase for you?

While I am not [into] domains as an investment I think the ultra premium ones do make a big difference. When we talk to a partner and give them an email address, [email protected], they always say "wow." Also from a viral perspective everyone can remember Ring.com. I think it is not one thing but many variables that make the ultra premium domains still valuable for companies.


5. Would you ever have considered using another domain (such as Ring.net, Ring.co or Ring.io) or was Ring.com always your target?

We were only interested in the best and .com is still the gold standard around the world in our opinion.


6. How did you go about buying Ring.com?

With something that was such a premium domain, we went straight to the owner through their broker.


7. How did the negotiations progress in order for you to close a deal for Ring.com?

There was a lot of back and forth, and negotiations were very difficult. It took a long time.


8. Can you reveal the price you paid for Ring.com?

I will not (confidential information) but we definitely overpaid in terms of what the direct asset is worth in my opinion. However when used with the business it was a great investment.


9. Have you seen a rise in web traffic and sales that can be attributed to rebranding?

Yes, massive. [Editor's Note: the traffic and sales statistics are classified information, but I am told that sales grew by a "multiple of x" after rebranding to Ring.com]


10. Do you think you could have achieved the same level of success without owning Ring.com?

It is never one thing that creates a success; however, I think the domain has been key to our rise as a leader in the consumer electronics and security business.

--

Thanks to Jamie for taking the time to answer our questions. There are some excellent insights in his interview, especially his reasoning as to why Ring.com was important for them to acquire.

If you want to know more about Ring's home security system, here's a quick video:


Ring's Video Doorbell is available to buy at Ring.com for $199.

Amended to correct grammatical errors



Inside Interviews is a blog series profiling the buyers of high-value domain names. Find out their motives, negotiation tactics, and their opinions on popular domaining topics only on the NamePros Blog.
 
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The views expressed on this page by users and staff are their own, not those of NamePros.
When I first thought of Ring.com, it was finger rings, etc., that crossed my mind; not doorbell security systems.

But after watching the product demo video, I agree with the inventor that [Ring.com is a name/brand] you can build a long lasting meaningful business around.

With that said, at $199, it's definitely a nice product to have — if indeed it works as advertised.
 
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Ring.com in the right hands is exceptionally valuable I think. I probably voted too low. Great article.
 
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Great domain and great interview, but I agree with @Potential.Domains - it's probably not the best domain for this type of business. When I think of a door security system, I do not think of Ring.com, but obviously a premium domain like this can become a known brand over time.
 
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Ring.com instantly made me think of a boxing site. I didn't even know this product existed but I have to say I think it sounds brilliant! Gonna have to get me a ring...
 
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Hmmm maybe bell.com would have been more appropriate and probably cheaper.
 
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@UniflexDomains - I prefer Ring.com for the reasons Jamie gave in the interview... Plus bell.com is owned by Verizon, I doubt they'd sell!
 
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@jamesiles - yeah I checked after I posted that comment and thought maybe it wouldn't have been cheaper after all. I guess Ring.com would have been more suited to a lot of other content but if a name is marketed properly, it can be totally unrelated to the product it represents (not that it is in this situation), and still become a recognised brand. After all, now when I hear the word ring, I'll think of a doorbell so it's worked on one person at least.
 
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When I think of one person or company wanting one domain name so badly that they'll pay an ultra-premium price for it, I'm reminded of Gollum (from the Lord of the Rings) and his ultra-obsession with one particular entity.

"We must have ring.com", said Jamie Siminof, to 5 engineers who sat in his garage drinking off-brand sodas made with high fructose syrup, subsidized by government grants, by the same government who spends money trying to stop American consumers from buying and consuming food products made with high-fructose corn syrup.

"We must have ring.com", said Jamie Siminof, to his wife and family, later that night.

"We must have ring.com", said Jamie Siminof, to himself.

And now Jamie Siminof dances, by himself, to no music whatsoever chanting, "Now we have ring.com". Followed by maniacal laughter.

For now Jamie Siminof is Lord of the Ring.com.
 
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Oh, and let me answer the poll by saying
F: none of the above.
Ring.com is worth your soul.

Please sign here, on the dotted line, in blood. And here's a pin so you can prick yourself.
 
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