Last week, the World Domain Conference was held in Wuzhen, China. Domain investors from all over the world attended the event to discuss a number of topics such as the development of new gTLDs, the domain name aftermarket and domain investment strategies. In attendance were industry leaders such as Frank Schilling of Uniregistry and Thunayan Al-Ghanim of Future Media Architects.
Also in attendance were two of NamePros' community members, Jordi Gasull Cros (@NameAgency) and Manmeet Pal Singh (@Soofi). Jordi is the CEO of European domain brokerage company NameAgency, whilst Manmeet is a prolific Indian domain investor who is also the organizer of the DomainX conference.
There are many reports of the conference available, but to give you an idea of what it was really like to attend the conference, we've asked Jordi and Manmeet several questions based on their experience of this conference, with advice for you if you're thinking of visiting a domain conference in the future.
First, we have Jordi's responses:
NP: What did you learn from the conference?
Jordi: Actually, I attended without expecting anything in particular, but what I found in China has been totally amazing. Not only from the warmth of Chinese people (investors, organization and all the staff), but also from the other attendees from all around the world. I learned that the big names in the industry are really humble in the short distance and I've consolidated my, up to this moment, virtual relationships. I was especially honored to meet all the Indian guys and I would recommend you to attend the next DomainX conference in August.
I was sceptic about big conferences and meetings. After this event in Wuzhen, my perception has totally changed.
NP: Was it worth the time and money for you to attend the conference?
Jordi: I was invited by the organization, so I did not pay any additional fee to attend, apart from the flight cost. It really is worth the time (and money too).
NP: Do you have a better understanding of the Chinese domain market now?
Jordi: Profit is the key factor and what moves the market. I did not find any miracle answer (nor did I expect it), but I've talked with some of the largest domain investors and listened to them at the conference and I've understood that Chinese market is definitively different from the Western market.
The English language doesn't have the same weight and importance that it has in the rest of the world. For instance, only very popular English words could be interesting for a Chinese investor to invest in. China has a population of 1.4bn. Thats a huge market by itself and they have their own needs and demands.
NP: Has your perception of Chinese investing changed?
Jordi: Yes, before attending the Wuzhen conference, I imagined Chinese investors in an abstract mode. Now, I know that they are persons with concerns and questions about domain investing, just like us. It's a good thing to put faces and names to concepts, and it's even better to have a conversation with them in a bar with a beer or having dinner together.
NP: What would you say to other investors considering attending conferences worldwide?
Jordi: Go reserve your flight now.
--
We asked Manmeet the same set of questions:
NP: What did you learn from the conference?
Manmeet: World Domain Conference in Wuzhen, China was a huge success. With over 250 guests from all over the world participating. The Yumi.com team (the organizers) did a fantastic job!
My key takeaway as an attendee was to learn what exactly was happening in the China Domain Name Industry, and what lies ahead for us outsiders or foreigners investing in this particular market.
I asked couple of top Chinese Domain Name Investors including George Hong (Guta.com) sitting on stage where exactly the Chinese Domain Name Industry is headed as we are currently seeing a slow CHIP market movement and whether it'll ever stabilize? They responded positively by saying that they are confident of the upward trend which shall follow soon though prices at present are not low compared to initial trend. I also felt that something better shall follow after current renewal period of domain names registered in China is over.
I also got to meet almost all the China based Domain Name registrars (eName, 190, Aliyun, Xin Net, Webnic, etc) while I asked them why don't they open up to global business as most of their websites are in Chinese language whereas language becomes a huge barrier to either interact or conduct business for outside world. They were very nice and responded positively once again by humbly apologizing and announced to have the English versions of their website up and running soon, probably over next few months.
NP: Was it worth the time and money for you to attend the conference?
Manmeet: It was definitely worth the time and money spent on attending the World Domain Conference in Wuzhen and I will continue participating here.
NP: Do you have a better understanding of the Chinese domain market now?
Manmeet: I definitely have a much better understanding of the Chinese domain name market as you get to meet quite a few big players of the local market at such events. Interacting with them and learning their strategies help.
I was also able to meet my old Chinese friend who sold 143.com to me last year which I later flipped for 2 times profit in few days. He now owns Bra.com and many more key one word domain names in the industry. You can read about my 143.com sale in my Domain Name Investing 101 ebook which is available free.
NP: Has your perception of Chinese investing changed?
Manmeet: I have gained quite a lot of confidence in the China domain name market now after attending WDC, though I would still use caution about investing in long tail numeric domain names keeping this market in mind and advice of few of my close Chinese domain investor friends.
NP: What would you say to other investors considering attending conferences worldwide?
Manmeet: Since I am the organizer of DomainX Events, the only Domain Name Conference in India and president of Domain Name Owners Association of India, I am always encouraging people within my network to attend such events in order to meet top domain name investors, brokers and company representatives from around the world coming while learning their strategies of success.
Last but not the least, good connections always help us to grow in this industry as we only get a chance once or twice in a year to put an actual face to those online identities or usernames.
--
Thanks to Jordi and Manmeet for telling us about their experiences at the World Domain Conference in Wuzhen. If you attended the conference, you can share your experiences in the comment section below. Thanks to DN.com and Manmeet for the photos used within this article.
Frank Schilling with John Xu, courtesy of DN.com
There are many reports of the conference available, but to give you an idea of what it was really like to attend the conference, we've asked Jordi and Manmeet several questions based on their experience of this conference, with advice for you if you're thinking of visiting a domain conference in the future.
First, we have Jordi's responses:
NP: What did you learn from the conference?
Jordi: Actually, I attended without expecting anything in particular, but what I found in China has been totally amazing. Not only from the warmth of Chinese people (investors, organization and all the staff), but also from the other attendees from all around the world. I learned that the big names in the industry are really humble in the short distance and I've consolidated my, up to this moment, virtual relationships. I was especially honored to meet all the Indian guys and I would recommend you to attend the next DomainX conference in August.
I was sceptic about big conferences and meetings. After this event in Wuzhen, my perception has totally changed.
NP: Was it worth the time and money for you to attend the conference?
Jordi: I was invited by the organization, so I did not pay any additional fee to attend, apart from the flight cost. It really is worth the time (and money too).
The Conference Attendees, courtesy of DN.com
Jordi: Profit is the key factor and what moves the market. I did not find any miracle answer (nor did I expect it), but I've talked with some of the largest domain investors and listened to them at the conference and I've understood that Chinese market is definitively different from the Western market.
The English language doesn't have the same weight and importance that it has in the rest of the world. For instance, only very popular English words could be interesting for a Chinese investor to invest in. China has a population of 1.4bn. Thats a huge market by itself and they have their own needs and demands.
NP: Has your perception of Chinese investing changed?
Jordi: Yes, before attending the Wuzhen conference, I imagined Chinese investors in an abstract mode. Now, I know that they are persons with concerns and questions about domain investing, just like us. It's a good thing to put faces and names to concepts, and it's even better to have a conversation with them in a bar with a beer or having dinner together.
NP: What would you say to other investors considering attending conferences worldwide?
Jordi: Go reserve your flight now.
--
We asked Manmeet the same set of questions:
NP: What did you learn from the conference?
Manmeet: World Domain Conference in Wuzhen, China was a huge success. With over 250 guests from all over the world participating. The Yumi.com team (the organizers) did a fantastic job!
My key takeaway as an attendee was to learn what exactly was happening in the China Domain Name Industry, and what lies ahead for us outsiders or foreigners investing in this particular market.
I asked couple of top Chinese Domain Name Investors including George Hong (Guta.com) sitting on stage where exactly the Chinese Domain Name Industry is headed as we are currently seeing a slow CHIP market movement and whether it'll ever stabilize? They responded positively by saying that they are confident of the upward trend which shall follow soon though prices at present are not low compared to initial trend. I also felt that something better shall follow after current renewal period of domain names registered in China is over.
I also got to meet almost all the China based Domain Name registrars (eName, 190, Aliyun, Xin Net, Webnic, etc) while I asked them why don't they open up to global business as most of their websites are in Chinese language whereas language becomes a huge barrier to either interact or conduct business for outside world. They were very nice and responded positively once again by humbly apologizing and announced to have the English versions of their website up and running soon, probably over next few months.
Drinks at a local bar, after WDC. Courtesy of Manmeet (second on the right)
Manmeet: It was definitely worth the time and money spent on attending the World Domain Conference in Wuzhen and I will continue participating here.
NP: Do you have a better understanding of the Chinese domain market now?
Manmeet: I definitely have a much better understanding of the Chinese domain name market as you get to meet quite a few big players of the local market at such events. Interacting with them and learning their strategies help.
I was also able to meet my old Chinese friend who sold 143.com to me last year which I later flipped for 2 times profit in few days. He now owns Bra.com and many more key one word domain names in the industry. You can read about my 143.com sale in my Domain Name Investing 101 ebook which is available free.
NP: Has your perception of Chinese investing changed?
Manmeet: I have gained quite a lot of confidence in the China domain name market now after attending WDC, though I would still use caution about investing in long tail numeric domain names keeping this market in mind and advice of few of my close Chinese domain investor friends.
NP: What would you say to other investors considering attending conferences worldwide?
Manmeet: Since I am the organizer of DomainX Events, the only Domain Name Conference in India and president of Domain Name Owners Association of India, I am always encouraging people within my network to attend such events in order to meet top domain name investors, brokers and company representatives from around the world coming while learning their strategies of success.
Last but not the least, good connections always help us to grow in this industry as we only get a chance once or twice in a year to put an actual face to those online identities or usernames.
--
Thanks to Jordi and Manmeet for telling us about their experiences at the World Domain Conference in Wuzhen. If you attended the conference, you can share your experiences in the comment section below. Thanks to DN.com and Manmeet for the photos used within this article.
