Dynadot

information Time For A Break From Domain Names

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In many things in life, taking a break can be healthy, and domain investing is no different. If you are getting frustrated from lack of sales, or losing your passion for domain investing, one option might be to give yourself a break. Even if you don’t briefly take a complete break from domain investing, it may make sense to take a break from one aspect, such as acquisitions.


Taking a Full Break
Let us first look at the idea of a complete break from anything domain related for a few days or a week or two. Before your break starts, make sure your domains are effectively listed on marketplaces and have landers. Also, any domains that are about to expire should be renewed prior to your break, if that is your intention.

Now take your break and forget about domains for a week or two. Don’t research acquisitions, follow domain news, or do anything with your portfolio during your break.

You may well come back to domaining after the short break more creative and energized. Scientific research supports the benefits of taking a break. For example, an article from Psychology Today covers five mental benefits from taking a break. These mental benefits include better focus, sounder decision-making, and enhanced creativity.

The subconscious brain works without you realizing it. You may develop new insights while you thought you were not even thinking about domain names. I have more than once been stumped in an analysis. When I have set it aside for a few days, and then returned, the solution was then obvious.

At least once each year, I head out camping to a region without cell service, and that forces me to take a break from all online activity. A fair number of Canadian survey respondents reported that they too take an online break each year.

One obvious problem with a full break from domain investing is that you may miss sales due to being unresponsive. It is unlikely that, for your highest-value domains, the delay will result in a lost sale. The potential purchaser really wants that particular domain name. For domains with more modest prices, you may want to set fast-transfer or a registrar marketplace immediate-transfer.

Another option would be to assign a trusted associate to monitor your domain investments while you are taking a break. Providing clear written directives, and having someone manage your portfolio for a week, also means that procedures are in place should you have an unexpected future absence due to injury, sickness, or personal emergency.


Taking an Acquisition Break
Perhaps you don’t want to take a complete break from domain activities, but you feel it is time to take a break from acquisitions. In the article Balance Buying and Selling the idea of assigning certain time periods just for selling activities was mentioned.

I recall once reading about a domainer who set a month in which he never bought domains. I think that is a great way to force yourself to take an acquisition break.

In 2018, @DefinitelyDomains started the topic titled, Time for a Break, which ties in nicely with this topic. For example, @NameSplice said:
You can get caught up very easily in the addictiveness of buying domain names.
Being disciplined is a must.


Taking a Social Break
Because domain investing is, so much of the time, a solitary activity, we can all benefit from online communities such as NamePros. We learn new techniques, stay current in domain news, get help and advice, and find encouragement.

There are valuable debates about many topics on NamePros. I think most of us have learned a lot from these. Sometimes, though, debates can get too heated, and a brief break may help you see issues more clearly and to respond more constructively.

I think this argues in favour of taking a break from domain-related social media, at least now and then. You will probably appreciate NamePros, LinkedIn, or Twitter even more after a few days of a social media break.

If that idea seems too extreme, another possibility is to ration the time you spend on social media. For example, each day sign on for no more than 30 minutes. I find that Twitter is more effective if, rather than being on it continuously, I only sign on for a short period a couple of times a day.

I admit, I seldom leave NamePros for very long. However, I do find that when other priorities have required me to be away for a day or two, I come back to NamePros and appreciate it even more. I am more apt to prioritize what it is I want to interact with, rather than trying to follow every thread.


Tips on Effective Breaks
A few years ago, @James Iles wrote an excellent blog post on Should You Take a Break From Domaining? In addition to justifying why someone might take a break, he provides tips such as notifying important contacts in advance and effectively using autoresponders. He also covers topics like setting maximum bids on expiring auctions a few days in advance.

For those who manage websites or write content, he recommends that you schedule content to appear on different days to have a smooth flow of new content.


What Do You Think?
I would love to hear from you on this topic!
  • Do you regularly take a short break from domain activities?
  • Did you find that it improved your productivity after you returned?
  • Do you regularly take breaks from new acquisitions?
  • What tips do you have on not missing sales while you are away?
  • Do you have a trusted associate who can handle your domain activities in your absence?
 
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The views expressed on this page by users and staff are their own, not those of NamePros.
Domaining is not one those of businesses as most things apart from acquisitions can run on autopilot for several months with no critical issue.

Like any business, you get what you put into it. You can’t make sales on autopilot because there are actions that require manual intervention. But it all depends on your goals.

I think what @Bob Hawkes was referring to is taking a break when you find yourself “hitting your head against a wall” or “swinging punches at air”. Metaphors are mine. But he can clarify.

A break can also involve spending more time learning about domaining and less time doing it.

Taking an Acquisition Break

This is the break I take most often. I switch between acquisition and development modes. This is because I acquire domains with a devolpment (business use) frame of mind. My belief is that domains should be working for you during the wait period. That’s where development is important.

Now, I understand that most of domainers have no development knowledge or the budget to hire a developer, which can be expensive for multiple domains. One solution is to use some of the funds from a sale to development, but that can also be risky.

We are working on low cost, low risk solutions in this space. Follow us on Twitter if you want to get updated. Apologies in advance for the shameless plug.
 
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Like any business, you get what you put into it. You can’t make sales on autopilot because there are actions that require manual intervention. But it all depends on your goals.

I think what @Bob Hawkes was referring to is taking a break when you find yourself “hitting your head against a wall” or “swinging punches at air”. Metaphors are mine. But he can clarify.

Once setup manually, auctions can restart automatically until the domain expire. You can literally make sales on auto pilot if you don't need to change auction data. A domainer should have lots of free time if not busy with acquisitions and watching auctions of others.

For venues other than registrars, just make sure there is no BIN and auction doesn't end in the days of your holiday. So you can transfer the domains if sold.
 
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hi, am new with you, I have one question I want an answer please :
it is possible to win in front of a domain name broker, their auto bay system can not lose, in front a manual purchase?
 
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I think what @Bob Hawkes was referring to is taking a break when you find yourself “hitting your head against a wall” or “swinging punches at air”. Metaphors are mine. But he can clarify.
I agree. If all is going smoothly for you, you have a nice balance in your life, and you are having domain success at a level you define, I don't see any particular need to a break.
A break can also involve spending more time learning about domaining and less time doing it.
I wish I had thought of that statement and included it in the article! (y)(y) That is a brilliant statement of a key idea @TCK . I think many of us could benefit from spending more time refining our domain skills and less time concentrating on domains to add to our portfolio.

Of the types of break I covered, I think a break from acquisitions is both the most easy to implement and potentially has the most benefits.

Thanks again for all the contributions and reflections.

Bob
 
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@Bob Hawkes , I was just thinking that if a few people like you, me, and @Rob Monster (and a handful of others) took a break for one week that would give the whole domain Community a big break. :)

Lets declare a Domaining Holiday for everyone! :)

You can take a poll to see what time of the year would be a good time for a Community (or an Industry) wide Holiday.
 
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@Bob Hawkes , I was just thinking that if a few people like you, me, and @Rob Monster (and a handful of others) took a break for one week that would give the whole domain Community a big break. :)

Lets declare a Domaining Holiday for everyone! :)

You can take a poll to see what time of the year would be a good time for an Industry (or community) wide Holiday.

We should at least get 1 day known to be 'domainer day'. Just about any profession has 'their day'... these days :)

Would be cool if the established registrars would support that by giving back to us domainers with some amazing promos. Like, my secretary gets a bonus on secretary day. I feel left out :(
 
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at least get 1 day known to be 'domainer day
Quite apart from any idea of a break, having a day designated as a domainer day could make the existence and services of domain investors better known, and if done well could enhance positive views of the community. Has this ever been done before? Would be nice to highlight some of the positive stories of the people who are domainers. I agree having at least a few major registrars on-board to help promote it would be good.
Bob

PS Edit I am not sure I like combining domainer day with a break day though. I like domainer day to spread word of community, and break day as a reminder to balance our lives and maybe take breaks from acquisitions.
 
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lets make it like Labor Day Holiday for Domainers.
 
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Thanks@Bob, what is feel is, a break is very important in every profession to start fresh.
 
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I take regular Short breaks every few months from my work. Brings me fresh approach when I come back resulting in increased productivity.
 
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Thank you for the article Bob!
 
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I needed this piece of advice.
 
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cover-photo-best-rumi-quotes.jpg

Cheers
Corey
 
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Great piece of advice!

Domaining is long term thing imo ... effort should be made when we buy, but then, when we sell, patience is needed. It can take lot many years to make a good sale.

I think the advice to "take a break" is very valid for those who are trying to flip intensively .. but if we consider it as a long term investment, it is not that difficult to reply to inquiries, or to post once a day at Linkedin :)
 
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One well known and respected domain investor has recently taken a "break" from most domain related activities for In case you have not heard, @Michael Cyger ran across Washington state solo and unassisted over running between 18 and 33 miles each day over a 13 day period (with one rest day to recover from quad related issues). Quite the accomplishment! You can read all about it at his associated website mike.run.

I doubt most of us (OK speaking personally not me!) have such ambitious stories to share, but would be interesting to hear from those who took an extended domain break, not just to take a break but because they were doing something interesting that required a break.

So tell us your stories!

Bob
 
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before vacation, ensure all good name in good status(not going to expire), put them on registra market place with BIN only....and let those ugly name drop....

after break, u will find some name just automatically SOLD, and aslo, those headache gone with less hurt for your heart....

I call this an effective break...👫
 
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I doubt most of us (OK speaking personally not me!) have such ambitious stories to share, but would be interesting to hear from those who took an extended domain break, not just to take a break but because they were doing something interesting that required a break.

So tell us your stories!

Bob


Now I guess we are only talking about taking a voluntary break here, but there might also be occasions that one has to take a break due to an unforeseen and unexpected event such as having to be hospitalized for a necessary operation, and this made me think if people here would trust another domainer to handle their portfolio for them if they were somehow not available to do it themselves, now we are not talking about family members who might not know anything about domains, but other domainers in the community here or in the Industry at large (assuming that they are willing to do it).

@Bob Hawkes , It would be nice to take a poll to see how many people here trust another domainer to handle their portfolio and at what level (completely or limited access).
 
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Have had an involvement with domain names since 1996, both as an end-user and as what I'll call
an advanced hobbyist with a modest portfolio.

Break time as occurred most assuredly over the years, with the break being from an aggressive
active pursuit of new names to add to the portfolio.

Always checked email for anything re my portfolio as that is my obligation to inquiries or BIN .

In effect, I think of my break as " putting the brakes " on foolish speculative purchases - and
I too love(d) silly names.

The break lets the wallet cool down and gives me time to re-consider whatever niche I might have been
tossing money darts at.

There are so many tools and options today to check on names, niches, trends, comps that
my domain activities today, at my level of involvement, is almost like being on a break.

And KUDOS to NamePros, the all-inclusive multi-facitied Forum that consolidates so much material in it's content coverage and the various links and external references that reading NamePros with regularity is in itself a break from the vast searching for similar info across the web.
 
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And KUDOS to NamePros, the all-inclusive multi-facitied Forum that consolidates so much material in it's content coverage and the various links and external references that reading NamePros with regularity is in itself a break from the vast searching for similar info across the web.
This is so true and so eloquently expressed by @WatchDogue Has NamePros ever considered some sort of testimonial section? If so this should be at the top, particularly coming from a Top member who started in domain names in 1996! Thanks so much for all of your contributions and reflections in many different threads @WatchDogue, and reminding us how important NamePros is to us all.

I probably would have dabbled in domain names and then left for some other "hobby" were it not for the NamePros community. I am constantly amazed that such a diverse and large community works so well almost all of the time. Thanks to everyone who makes it that way, both technically and management/moderation wise.

Bob
 
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@Bob Hawkes , It would be nice to take a poll to see how many people here trust another domainer to handle their portfolio and at what level (completely or limited access).

Yes I had hoped that more would respond to that part of the question about breaks, but maybe it is best served in its own thread and with a poll like you say. I have placed it as a priority item on ideas to research and develop into posts, and will hopefully do so before too long, and will include a poll with it, as you suggest.

I think it is a serious problem, because most of us do operate solitary and do not have family members who have an interest in domain matters things.

Thanks for the suggestion.

Bob
 
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I am domainng for 6 months & have seven small 7 domains. I refilled 116 usd in namecheap & earned 96 from marketplace. my first domain was reged in APril.

I dont think i should take a brake.
 
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I thought I would share some personal news related to this topic. At the beginning of December I decided to take an acquisition break, and have currently gone 39 days without adding any new domains (I did do some renewals during the period). I have occasionally taken a few week break when we were camping somewhere without Internet, but I think this is the longest since early on in domaining.

It was an easy time to do it, as properly focus on other things over the holiday period. I found it emotionally nice to take a break from even thinking about adding any domain names.:xf.smile:

Now as we got into January, I admit, I began looking, and even bid unsuccessfully in a couple of auctions, but still have not acquired any. I think I am about to break the domain name acquisition fast (a name that dropped a month and a bit ago is available to hand-reg and I want it and well....:xf.wink:). But just wanted to share the experience with you.

Best wishes everyone. If you have stories of breaks you have tried would love to hear them in the comments.

Bob
 
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Taking an Acquisition Break
I did this once. Lasted ~1 year. It was great! I was able to make better own landing pages, reorganized portfolio, corrected technical errors (forgot to list for sale, forgot to park etc), checked pricing, etc. etc.
Highly recommended method :)
 
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Now as we got into January, I admit, I began looking, and even bid unsuccessfully in a couple of auctions, but still have not acquired any.

Well its ok, 39 days is a heck of a run. That particular wagon rides' no fun anyways :) Plus I'd imagine Christmastime is the best time for a break, allows focus on family matters. But gotta say, tonyk2000 at 1 year sober.. holy man that's pretty amazing. Fortitude, Restraint and Tenacity is what that is. Gets easier over time?

And to add, I screwed up my only break in the year, March Break, first posted here:
https://www.namepros.com/threads/whats-your-domain-thing.1125294/#post-7123866
So one of my domain things is, I never, ever absolutely ever register or buy a domain that expire in March.

Why? We all deserve a break. I think most of us work extremely hard throughout the year monitoring drops and auctions and new releases to build our portfolios. I figured why not have a month where I can just sit back and say "fudge it", enjoy the fruits of my labour, perhaps close a sale or two and tweak my existing names. March was the month I chose, and have never looked back, stuck to the rule.

I love the end of February for this reason, and so does my bank account. :)
Purchased two domains recently from fellow NPers, and dammit they both have March expiration dates.. Noticed when I added them to my spreadsheet, no entries for March. Grrr. So there goes that.
 
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