Today we sat down with Michael Rose (SnowBird) owner of RegisterBird.com for a one on one interview.
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Eric - You have been a member of NamePros since 2004 and seen lots of the ups and downs of the domain industry over the years. How has the roller coaster ride of the domain industry effected you as a hobbyist domainer?
Michael - I would have to say the biggest impact ive seen over the years on the domain industry is the downfall of the economy. When the economy was better, domainers would tend to take more risk which sometimes resulted in better rewards. Today domainers are being more reserved in their decisions than they use to be. As a hobbyist domainer, this trend of reserved spending definitely puts a damper on selling names that I own. But each generation of new domainers definitely sparks a new influx of interest in the domaining industry which keeps things going nicely.
Eric - As a reseller / registrar, have you been seeing any registration trends happening lately that maybe be a result of the current economy?
Michael - With the way the economy is, I have definitely noticed a more reserved pattern of spending among domainers when it comes to new registrations. Instead of being more risky when registering new domains, I am seeing more orders come through with fewer batches of names in the same transaction. It is an indication to me that people are thinking more about what they want to register before they register it. Which is actually a good sign because id hate to see someone register a huge batch of domains only to see more than half of them expire a year later due to unwise decisions initially on their selection of names.
Eric - What does your typical day consist of as a registrar and how long have you been doing it?
Michael - I typically wake up in the morning and make myself some breakfast to get a good start on my day. I then login to the computer and check my report of how many domains were registered in the previous day and during the current week. Sometimes I may even look to see what names were registered. There is actually one company utilizing a product of RegisterBird for the website of a popular television program in the New England area of the US. So it is good to get an enjoyment out of seeing what our products and services are being used for. I then check my email to make sure I have nothing but satisfied customers. If someone is not satisfied, I make it my goal to always try my best to rectify any problems that might have came up for them that tech support could not take care of. I also run a computer repair business on the side that is accredited by the BBB with an A- rating. If I have any computer repair customers needing attention, that may also take up my time for part of the day. Otherwise I do my best to relax, visit NamePros, and enjoy my day until I go into work 2nd shift at a local community college. Sometimes I even catch an episode or 2 of the Andy Griffith show around lunch time. RegisterBird.com has been in operation since June of 2006 and is still doing well to this day.
Eric - Do you have a favorite extension you invest in when you do buy, if so, what and why?
Michael - It is hard for me to say I have 1 particular favorite domain extension. I would have to say the extensions I try my hardest to register the most is .com, .net, and .org. For some reason I never really caught onto the .us bandwagon even though I probably should have as a US citizen. I have always been more intrigued by the .cc extension. There are still many one word .cc domains available to hand register to this very day and I do like the sound of the extension when you pronounce the domain.
Eric - Being a member since 2004 at NamePros, you've obviously kept coming back for a reason all these years, Have you found the community helpful to your domaining or registration business, if so, in what way?
Michael - The one thing that has kept me returning to NamePros is the community itself. The members here in the past have done a great deal to help me kick start RegisterBird.com and I couldn't have done it without them. I keep returning because not only does the community benefit me, but I look for ways in which I can help benefit the community by becoming involved. When a community member wanted to help strengthen website security, iGosh was formed and RegisterBird.com was right there to help them out by hosting their conferences and meetings online. When a member finds out one of their domains may have been stolen, once again I was there to share my knowledge as a registration provider on what to do next to help rectify the situation. That is one of the great things about an established community. Being able to work together to help each other out when it is needed. Not only that but the NamePros community has always been a great contributor to charities in the past and hopefully that can continue into the future.
Eric - There's lots of speculation regarding the new TLD's coming. Some say they will mostly fail and current extensions will just get stronger. Others say that the new extensions will saturate the market so much that it will flood the industry in a way that sends all domain values crashing till things start to level out again. What are your thoughts about the new TLD's coming in 2013 / 2014?
Michael - This is a very good question and probably one of the most difficult to answer for some including myself. But with a question like this I can only refer to history and say that based on prior domain registration patterns, new extensions have always brought an influx of new registrations. History often repeats itself in my opinion and the new batch of extensions should be no different than before. It will be the perfect time to register that new domain that you could never get in those other extensions that have been around for so long. Sure, some extensions may not be as big of a hit as the others, but what else is new? We have seen extensions burst with energy in the past and we have seen others suffer so badly that registrars had to practically give them away. As for the current TLD extensions getting stronger, they are already strong and will continue to stay that way without question. Otherwise, they wouldn't have the need to introduce more. This will be a great time for registration providers, domainers, and business owners.
Eric - What was the biggest mistake you ever made in domaining so far that you still kick yourself for occasionally?
Michael - I would have to say the biggest mistake ive made was not becoming involved in the domaining industry sooner than I did. It is a market that not many people think about and to make a full time job out of domaining today requires much more effort compared to what was required years ago.
Eric - What would be the top shelf advice you would share with all the new people coming into the industry to help them avoid some of the pitfalls in today’s domain markets?
Michael - Over time I have to say that profiting in the domaining industry has definitely gotten harder than it use to be. But that does not mean it is not a profitable venture for some people. I would have to encourage anyone interested in domaining to read and learn as much as possible about the industry before diving right in. The biggest mistake you can make is to register tons of domains in the beginning only to find that they are worthless when doing your research afterward. I suggest looking at some of the market places and auctions out there to see what domains are selling and what domains aren't. Also, do not be afraid to ask for help. The NamePros community has been around for a very long time and is full of people willing to share their knowledge. The only foolish question is the one you never ask.
Eric - When it comes to registering a domain name, what are some of the key factors you personally look for?
Michael - When registering a domain name, I like my domains to be short in length and easy to remember (no longer than 2 words in most cases). I then look for the domain's potential brandability. Then, the last but most important thing is that the domain has to be pronounceable and easy to understand phonetically.
Eric - When it comes to whether or not someone should Develop or Park a domain debate for revenue till it sells, which side of the fence are you on and why?
Michael - I have learned from my own personal experience that it is better to develop your domains. Parking your domain may be good for those who are planning to flip the domain soon, but parking the domain does not work for those who are looking for a bigger sale or longer term investment. When you develop a site on the domain, you are establishing a brand, generating returning traffic, providing content which search engines love, and you are making the domain more desirable appearance wise. Think about when you sell your home. Some people often have a hard time visualizing the potential a home can have. That is why many real estate agents today do a lot more with home staging. The same thing applies to a domain name. Staging it correctly and presenting it to the right people will help them visualize what the domain currently is and what it can potentially become with the right ingenuity.
Eric - Thank you for taking the time to do this interview with me, I know your time is valuable. Is there anything else you would like to share?
Michael - Eric, it was a pleasure doing this interview. It gave me an opportunity to give back to the community and helping others has always been something ive enjoyed. Thank you for your time as well.
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Disclaimer - If you republish this interview in whole or in part you MUST include a backlink to NamePros.com crediting us as the source of the interview. In addition, this disclaimer MUST remain intact so viewers of your site wanting to republish also credit NamePros.com
-------------------------------------------------
Eric - You have been a member of NamePros since 2004 and seen lots of the ups and downs of the domain industry over the years. How has the roller coaster ride of the domain industry effected you as a hobbyist domainer?
Michael - I would have to say the biggest impact ive seen over the years on the domain industry is the downfall of the economy. When the economy was better, domainers would tend to take more risk which sometimes resulted in better rewards. Today domainers are being more reserved in their decisions than they use to be. As a hobbyist domainer, this trend of reserved spending definitely puts a damper on selling names that I own. But each generation of new domainers definitely sparks a new influx of interest in the domaining industry which keeps things going nicely.
Eric - As a reseller / registrar, have you been seeing any registration trends happening lately that maybe be a result of the current economy?
Michael - With the way the economy is, I have definitely noticed a more reserved pattern of spending among domainers when it comes to new registrations. Instead of being more risky when registering new domains, I am seeing more orders come through with fewer batches of names in the same transaction. It is an indication to me that people are thinking more about what they want to register before they register it. Which is actually a good sign because id hate to see someone register a huge batch of domains only to see more than half of them expire a year later due to unwise decisions initially on their selection of names.
Eric - What does your typical day consist of as a registrar and how long have you been doing it?
Michael - I typically wake up in the morning and make myself some breakfast to get a good start on my day. I then login to the computer and check my report of how many domains were registered in the previous day and during the current week. Sometimes I may even look to see what names were registered. There is actually one company utilizing a product of RegisterBird for the website of a popular television program in the New England area of the US. So it is good to get an enjoyment out of seeing what our products and services are being used for. I then check my email to make sure I have nothing but satisfied customers. If someone is not satisfied, I make it my goal to always try my best to rectify any problems that might have came up for them that tech support could not take care of. I also run a computer repair business on the side that is accredited by the BBB with an A- rating. If I have any computer repair customers needing attention, that may also take up my time for part of the day. Otherwise I do my best to relax, visit NamePros, and enjoy my day until I go into work 2nd shift at a local community college. Sometimes I even catch an episode or 2 of the Andy Griffith show around lunch time. RegisterBird.com has been in operation since June of 2006 and is still doing well to this day.
Eric - Do you have a favorite extension you invest in when you do buy, if so, what and why?
Michael - It is hard for me to say I have 1 particular favorite domain extension. I would have to say the extensions I try my hardest to register the most is .com, .net, and .org. For some reason I never really caught onto the .us bandwagon even though I probably should have as a US citizen. I have always been more intrigued by the .cc extension. There are still many one word .cc domains available to hand register to this very day and I do like the sound of the extension when you pronounce the domain.
Eric - Being a member since 2004 at NamePros, you've obviously kept coming back for a reason all these years, Have you found the community helpful to your domaining or registration business, if so, in what way?
Michael - The one thing that has kept me returning to NamePros is the community itself. The members here in the past have done a great deal to help me kick start RegisterBird.com and I couldn't have done it without them. I keep returning because not only does the community benefit me, but I look for ways in which I can help benefit the community by becoming involved. When a community member wanted to help strengthen website security, iGosh was formed and RegisterBird.com was right there to help them out by hosting their conferences and meetings online. When a member finds out one of their domains may have been stolen, once again I was there to share my knowledge as a registration provider on what to do next to help rectify the situation. That is one of the great things about an established community. Being able to work together to help each other out when it is needed. Not only that but the NamePros community has always been a great contributor to charities in the past and hopefully that can continue into the future.
Eric - There's lots of speculation regarding the new TLD's coming. Some say they will mostly fail and current extensions will just get stronger. Others say that the new extensions will saturate the market so much that it will flood the industry in a way that sends all domain values crashing till things start to level out again. What are your thoughts about the new TLD's coming in 2013 / 2014?
Michael - This is a very good question and probably one of the most difficult to answer for some including myself. But with a question like this I can only refer to history and say that based on prior domain registration patterns, new extensions have always brought an influx of new registrations. History often repeats itself in my opinion and the new batch of extensions should be no different than before. It will be the perfect time to register that new domain that you could never get in those other extensions that have been around for so long. Sure, some extensions may not be as big of a hit as the others, but what else is new? We have seen extensions burst with energy in the past and we have seen others suffer so badly that registrars had to practically give them away. As for the current TLD extensions getting stronger, they are already strong and will continue to stay that way without question. Otherwise, they wouldn't have the need to introduce more. This will be a great time for registration providers, domainers, and business owners.
Eric - What was the biggest mistake you ever made in domaining so far that you still kick yourself for occasionally?
Michael - I would have to say the biggest mistake ive made was not becoming involved in the domaining industry sooner than I did. It is a market that not many people think about and to make a full time job out of domaining today requires much more effort compared to what was required years ago.
Eric - What would be the top shelf advice you would share with all the new people coming into the industry to help them avoid some of the pitfalls in today’s domain markets?
Michael - Over time I have to say that profiting in the domaining industry has definitely gotten harder than it use to be. But that does not mean it is not a profitable venture for some people. I would have to encourage anyone interested in domaining to read and learn as much as possible about the industry before diving right in. The biggest mistake you can make is to register tons of domains in the beginning only to find that they are worthless when doing your research afterward. I suggest looking at some of the market places and auctions out there to see what domains are selling and what domains aren't. Also, do not be afraid to ask for help. The NamePros community has been around for a very long time and is full of people willing to share their knowledge. The only foolish question is the one you never ask.
Eric - When it comes to registering a domain name, what are some of the key factors you personally look for?
Michael - When registering a domain name, I like my domains to be short in length and easy to remember (no longer than 2 words in most cases). I then look for the domain's potential brandability. Then, the last but most important thing is that the domain has to be pronounceable and easy to understand phonetically.
Eric - When it comes to whether or not someone should Develop or Park a domain debate for revenue till it sells, which side of the fence are you on and why?
Michael - I have learned from my own personal experience that it is better to develop your domains. Parking your domain may be good for those who are planning to flip the domain soon, but parking the domain does not work for those who are looking for a bigger sale or longer term investment. When you develop a site on the domain, you are establishing a brand, generating returning traffic, providing content which search engines love, and you are making the domain more desirable appearance wise. Think about when you sell your home. Some people often have a hard time visualizing the potential a home can have. That is why many real estate agents today do a lot more with home staging. The same thing applies to a domain name. Staging it correctly and presenting it to the right people will help them visualize what the domain currently is and what it can potentially become with the right ingenuity.
Eric - Thank you for taking the time to do this interview with me, I know your time is valuable. Is there anything else you would like to share?
Michael - Eric, it was a pleasure doing this interview. It gave me an opportunity to give back to the community and helping others has always been something ive enjoyed. Thank you for your time as well.
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Disclaimer - If you republish this interview in whole or in part you MUST include a backlink to NamePros.com crediting us as the source of the interview. In addition, this disclaimer MUST remain intact so viewers of your site wanting to republish also credit NamePros.com
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