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We are the idiots ...

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Are you going to develop some of your domains?

  • This poll is still running and the standings may change.
  • Definitely plan to develop my domains

    47 
    votes
    32.2%
  • Perhaps develop some of my domains

    38 
    votes
    26.0%
  • Might try to develop one domain to see how it goes

    18 
    votes
    12.3%
  • No, just after selling my domains

    33 
    votes
    22.6%
  • Why work when domaining is so easy and it will make me a millionaire within the year

    10 
    votes
    6.8%
  • This poll is still running and the standings may change.

That's right 'we are the idiots'.

Why is it that the vast majority of us do not develop our domains into websites.

- Is it cost?
- Is it time?
- Is it lack of knowledge on the domain subject?
- Is it not knowing where to start building a website?
- Or is it because of laziness and just after a quick buck by reselling the domain name without doing any work?

Of course there is another option that should be added to the list, or is it because we do not think our domain names are not as good as we try to convince others that they are and 'they' should develop them into a website?

Of course we all know that a developed website with visitors is worth far more from affiliate income or even the sale of the website than just the domain name by itself that might be able to be turned into such, but very few domainers actually go on to develop websites on their domain.

Even if you cannot develop a website yourself through lack of knowledge on the subject (which can be learned anyway), or lack the ability to build a website (there are loads of programs to help you on the web), then you can hire people to do it for you from website designers to content writers they are all available for hire.

Come on be honest. Why do you not develop the domains you own?
 
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The views expressed on this page by users and staff are their own, not those of NamePros.
I've developed hundreds domains.
You can develop how many domains you want, but without SEO, they will make the same traffic as parking.
My last 10 projects, due to lack time, I've not work on SEO, those domains make 2/3 unique per day.
Don't forget the niche, if you'll develop a site in competitive niche like insurance, travel, crypto, .... , you need $XXXX every month in order to try to compete with other sites.
Don't forget the google sandbox. If a domain has been parked for years and then moved to development, 99% will be placed in the sandbox.
This sandbox can last for 3, 6, 12 months.
Maybe forever.
Develop domains could be easy, have organic traffic is very difficult in 2020.
Last but not the least, Google is releasing update on weekly basis, your domain can perform good this week, the next week will be tanked.
I had read crazy stories, 15 yo white hat sites completely tanked, XXX people have lost his job due the update and many many horror stories.
My 2 cents: do not develop any domains if you don't know what you are doing.
I hear ya...Question? Can names like DiscoverWine.com and DiscoverNewYork.com lend themselves to SEO? I ask this because; "I don't know what I'm doing:xf.rolleyes:" It just seems to me anyone keying just "Wine" or just "NewYork" might find DiscoverWine or DiscoverNewYork on the 1st page of Google. Does that make any sense?
 
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I hear ya...Question? Can names like DiscoverWine.com and DiscoverNewYork.com lend themselves to SEO? I ask this because; "I don't know what I'm doing:xf.rolleyes:" It just seems to me anyone keying just "Wine" or just "NewYork" might find DiscoverWine or DiscoverNewYork on the 1st page of Google. Does that make any sense?
It used to be the case that websites received a high ranking on Google simply for operating on a domain name that exactly matches a user's search term, but that hasn't been the case since 2010 (I believe that was the year).

Google is much smarter now in how it ranks websites. It gives preference to sites that have lots of authoritative backlinks (i.e. they must come from quality sites), lots of quality content, and lots of users/visitors.

So simply running a site on a name like DiscoverWine would not be enough to rank high in any search for wine (or anything else for that matter). In fact without significant SEO, quality content, and marketing (the kind mentioned by @Peak.Domains earlier), wine is such a popular term that your site would be virtually invisible in any Google search. The only way visitors would arrive there would be if they knew to type in the url to go there directly.
 
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It used to be the case that websites received a high ranking on Google simply for operating on a domain name that exactly matches a user's search term, but that hasn't been the case since 2010 (I believe that was the year).

Google is much smarter now in how it ranks websites. It gives preference to sites that have lots of authoritative backlinks (i.e. they must come from quality sites), lots of quality content, and lots of users/visitors.

So simply running a site on a name like DiscoverWine would not be enough to rank high in any search for wine (or anything else for that matter). In fact without significant SEO, quality content, and marketing (the kind mentioned by @Peak.Domains earlier), wine is such a popular term that your site would be virtually invisible in any Google search. The only way visitors would arrive there would be if they knew to type in the url to go there directly.
Thanks...thus the reason for things like Facebook, Blogs and paid advertising?
 
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It used to be the case that websites received a high ranking on Google simply for operating on a domain name that exactly matches a user's search term, but that hasn't been the case since 2010 (I believe that was the year).

Google is much smarter now in how it ranks websites. It gives preference to sites that have lots of authoritative backlinks (i.e. they must come from quality sites), lots of quality content, and lots of users/visitors.

So simply running a site on a name like DiscoverWine would not be enough to rank high in any search for wine (or anything else for that matter). In fact without significant SEO, quality content, and marketing (the kind mentioned by @Peak.Domains earlier), wine is such a popular term that your site would be virtually invisible in any Google search. The only way visitors would arrive there would be if they knew to type in the url to go there directly.
Another thing...i'm more of a Linkedin guy than a facebook guy, and since things like "scotch" and "spice" and "golf" are products more for the upper class, that should bode well for traffic too. think I'm catching on(y)
 
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Thanks...thus the reason for things like Facebook, Blogs and paid advertising?
Yeah, blogs can be used as quality content. They give people a reason to keep coming back (for new entries), and over time they help your search ranking if they're well written and the information is relevant.

Facebook and any other social media (LinkedIn included) can be used to help drive traffic to your site. Create a business page, refer your contacts to it (and to your site), and drive up the number of eyeballs on it.

It would be a fascinating thing to learn how to do well. I've never had the patience for it! :)

Sounds like there are some members on here who would be great resources. I've also read some stuff online from Neil Patel, which is really good (I think a previous poster may have mentioned him).
 
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Another thing...i'm more of a Linkedin guy than a facebook guy, and since things like "scotch" and "spice" and "golf" are products more for the upper class, that should bode well for traffic too. think I'm catching on(y)
Exactly. I know you've mentioned having a lot of LinkedIn contacts. Could certainly be a good avenue for promoting your site. There are a few NP members who use LinkedIn quite successfully for selling domains as well.
 
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Most of the domainers do not have the skills necessary to develop a domain.
Keep in mind that this does not mean to put up a blog or a shopify on a domain. It's the actual development of a website from scratch using modern technologies.

This is rather normal. Where would we be if anyone would be a designer or a developer ?!

Just my 2 cents...

Cristian
 
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Wordpress.

Keep in mind that this does not mean to put up a blog or a shopify on a domain. It's the actual development of a website from scratch using modern technologies.

As a quote from my original post :)
 
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Most folks build sites on platforms like YouTube, FaceBook, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Etsy, Twitter etc.. They are 'domainers' just as much as people who have sites on parked content and portfolio platforms. Many who own domains simply forward the domain to a platform site... to sell and/or serve content.

Everyone online has a domain handle for their web biz. Most leave the design to platforms (like NamePros).

Most of the domainers do not have the skills necessary to develop a domain. Keep in mind that this does not mean to put up a blog or a shopify on a domain. It's the actual development of a website from scratch using modern technologies.

This is rather normal. Where would we be if anyone would be a designer or a developer ?!

Just my 2 cents...

Cristian
 
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I hear ya...Question? Can names like DiscoverWine.com and DiscoverNewYork.com lend themselves to SEO? I ask this because; "I don't know what I'm doing:xf.rolleyes:" It just seems to me anyone keying just "Wine" or just "NewYork" might find DiscoverWine or DiscoverNewYork on the 1st page of Google. Does that make any sense?

If the website and the landing pages are well-optimized for "wine" or "NewYork", yes. Adding discover to the keywords makes the domains PMDs (Partial Match Domains). A well-optimized website plus carefully-optimized landing pages (not spammy, be careful not to use redundant keywords in the domain and the landing pages) plus a PMD, help boost rankings. It's not the domain alone though that determines your position in the SERPs (Search Engine Ranking Positions/Pages) but it still helps. It won't hurt if you rack up all the SEO points you can to contribute to a better ranking.
 
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That's right 'we are the idiots'.

Why is it that the vast majority of us do not develop our domains into websites.

- Is it cost?
- Is it time?
- Is it lack of knowledge on the domain subject?
- Is it not knowing where to start building a website?
- Or is it because of laziness and just after a quick buck by reselling the domain name without doing any work?

Of course there is another option that should be added to the list, or is it because we do not think our domain names are not as good as we try to convince others that they are and 'they' should develop them into a website?

Of course we all know that a developed website with visitors is worth far more from affiliate income or even the sale of the website than just the domain name by itself that might be able to be turned into such, but very few domainers actually go on to develop websites on their domain.

Even if you cannot develop a website yourself through lack of knowledge on the subject (which can be learned anyway), or lack the ability to build a website (there are loads of programs to help you on the web), then you can hire people to do it for you from website designers to content writers they are all available for hire.

Come on be honest. Why do you not develop the domains you own?
Time, money, content, management, development, oh and did I mention time and money.
I feel like it's the new era of cyber hoarding. Similar to a hoarder with a bunch of stuff (often junk), we all have big plans for each and every domain in our possession, but the probability of putting it to use is slim to none.

The era of domain hoarding

635889974056988808-Hoarded-Walkway-to-Kitchen.jpg
 
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Sorry but I am not agree with your statements.

If the website and the landing pages are well-optimized for "wine" or "NewYork", yes. Adding discover to the keywords makes the domains PMDs (Partial Match Domains).

Does not matter (in 2020) if the site and landing pages are optimized for wine or new york (you're talking about ON PAGE SEO), it will NEVER NEVER rank for those keywords without XXX high quality backlinks (OFF page SEO).
And when I say it'll not rank I don't mean It'll not rank in 1st/2nd page, I say it'll not rank in the top 100.


... plus a PMD, help boost rankings. It's not the domain alone though that determines your position in the SERPs (Search Engine Ranking Positions/Pages) but it still helps. It won't hurt if you rack up all the SEO points you can to contribute to a better ranking.

A PMD does not help. EMD does not help, to simplify: DOMAINS don't help.
You can rank #1 with hdsfhufdsuhfdui.cc for keyword like insurance or crypto or p+rn if you know what you are doing.
A recent example is ac repair dot com sold for 8 figures (if it is true) an exact aged EMD, that site does not rank in the top 100, and now is dismissed and redirect to another site.
Interesting to know which is the EXPECTATION of the buyer that paid 8 figures, in fact after 2 months without traffic (here you are the REALITY CHECK) the domain is used as redirect.
As you said there are several points that contribute to a better ranking but, unfortunately, domain name (PMD/EMD/What you want) is not in a part of that points.
 
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@mpls

If the website and the landing pages are well-optimized
- that's on page SEO right there.

About PMD and EMD and domains, please see the links I indicated in previous posts. A long read especially on the SEO factors and the succeeding links and explanations but it will help.

Re your statement:
1. You can rank #1 with hdsfhufdsuhfdui.cc for keyword like insurance or crypto or p+rn if you know what you are doing.

I doubt. Read about spammy links.

2. it will NEVER NEVER rank for those keywords without XXX high quality backlinks (OFF page SEO).

Who says you won't do OFF-PAGE - or ON-PAGE SEO?

I said:
It's not the domain alone though that determines your position in the SERPs (Search Engine Ranking Positions/Pages) but it still helps. It won't hurt if you rack up all the SEO points you can to contribute to a better ranking (of course that includes actually doing SEO - be it on-page or off-page).

3. A recent example is ac repair dot com sold for 8 figures (if it is true) an exact aged EMD, that site does not rank in the top 100, and now is dismissed and redirect to another site....

Are they using a keyword domain, not a spammy, longtail EMD [have you noticed the examples of the EMDs that are not allowed? Loooong EMDs. Redundant landing pages (repeating the keywords on the EMDs]. AC Repair is short and won't be spammy or redundant if you make sure the links to the landing pages won't use the same words.

Did they optimize the site? A one-word or two-word EMD's points will be for naught if proper SEO wasn't implemented. Of course the competitor sites who did proper SEO might miss a few points if their domain names are not keyword domains BUT if they rack up points for other or most SEO factors, they'll rank higher.

Taking note of the domain name is just like making sure you cover all bases that need to be covered. Added points won't hurt, it will help the SEO campaign.

4. in fact after 2 months without traffic (here you are the REALITY CHECK) the domain is used as redirect.

What? They just gave SEO two months to kick in if they really did SEO on it? I doubt Search Engine Optimization was properly implemented. Honest SEOs would tell you, it would take six or 12 months for them to accurately assess/ determine the results of the KPIS if they're handling a competitive niche. At times it would show results on the third month, but 2 months? What SEO strategies have been properly implemented in 2 months?

Without as in ZERO traffic? Did they really do SEO? Or did they just think the domain name ALONE would drive them traffic?

Keyword domains help add SEO points but a complete SEO program should be implemented and all known SEO factors should be covered.

Redirects would give them type-in traffic (those searching for the exact match keywords and still add .com on the end of their keyword searches). At this age though, when bookmarking is the norm and auto typing and auto results have gone the way of the url bar (instead of the search bar) such type-ins are rare.

5. As you said there are several points that contribute to a better ranking but, unfortunately, domain name (PMD/EMD/What you want) is not in a part of that points.

It is. Please read the links I posted.
 
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Sorry but I am not agree with your statements.



Does not matter (in 2020) if the site and landing pages are optimized for wine or new york (you're talking about ON PAGE SEO), it will NEVER NEVER rank for those keywords without XXX high quality backlinks (OFF page SEO).
And when I say it'll not rank I don't mean It'll not rank in 1st/2nd page, I say it'll not rank in the top 100.




A PMD does not help. EMD does not help, to simplify: DOMAINS don't help.
You can rank #1 with hdsfhufdsuhfdui.cc for keyword like insurance or crypto or p+rn if you know what you are doing.
A recent example is ac repair dot com sold for 8 figures (if it is true) an exact aged EMD, that site does not rank in the top 100, and now is dismissed and redirect to another site.
Interesting to know which is the EXPECTATION of the buyer that paid 8 figures, in fact after 2 months without traffic (here you are the REALITY CHECK) the domain is used as redirect.
As you said there are several points that contribute to a better ranking but, unfortunately, domain name (PMD/EMD/What you want) is not in a part of that points.
How can two SEO specialists be so far apart in their analysis? Who to believe? I'm beginning to think I'm an SEO expert:xf.wink:...what does that tell you? The thing I do know is that I don't trust anyone who isn't transparent....maybe that's just me, but it's gotten me through life:xf.rolleyes:
 
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@mpls

If the website and the landing pages are well-optimized
- that's on page SEO right there.

About PMD and EMD and domains, please see the links I indicated in previous posts. A long read especially on the SEO factors and the succeeding links and explanations but it will help.

Re your statement:
1. You can rank #1 with hdsfhufdsuhfdui.cc for keyword like insurance or crypto or p+rn if you know what you are doing.

I doubt. Read about spammy links.

2. it will NEVER NEVER rank for those keywords without XXX high quality backlinks (OFF page SEO).

Who says you won't do OFF-PAGE - or ON-PAGE SEO?

I said:
(of course that includes actually doing SEO - be it on-page or off-page).

3. A recent example is ac repair dot com sold for 8 figures (if it is true) an exact aged EMD, that site does not rank in the top 100, and now is dismissed and redirect to another site....

Are they using a keyword domain, not a spammy, longtail EMD [have you noticed the examples of the EMDs that are not allowed? Loooong EMDs. Redundant landing pages (repeating the keywords on the EMDs]. AC Repair is short and won't be spammy or redundant if you make sure the links to the landing pages won't use the same words.

Did they optimize the site? A one-word or two-word EMD's points will be for naught if proper SEO wasn't implemented. Of course the competitor sites who did proper SEO might miss a few points if their domain names are not keyword domains BUT if they rack up points for other or most SEO factors, they'll rank higher.

Taking note of the domain name is just like making sure you cover all bases that need to be covered. Added points won't hurt, it will help the SEO campaign.

4. in fact after 2 months without traffic (here you are the REALITY CHECK) the domain is used as redirect.

What? They just gave SEO two months to kick in if they really did SEO on it? I doubt Search Engine Optimization was properly implemented. Honest SEOs would tell you, it would take six or 12 months for them to accurately assess/ determine the results of the KPIS if they're handling a competitive niche. At times it would show results on the third month, but 2 months? What SEO strategies have been properly implemented in 2 months?

Without as in ZERO traffic? Did they really do SEO? Or did they just think the domain name ALONE would drive them traffic?

Keyword domains help add SEO points but a complete SEO program should be implemented and all known SEO factors should be covered.

Redirects would give them type-in traffic (those searching for the exact match keywords and still add .com on the end of their keyword searches). At this age though, when bookmarking is the norm and auto typing and auto results have gone the way of the url bar (instead of the search bar) such type-ins are rare.

5. As you said there are several points that contribute to a better ranking but, unfortunately, domain name (PMD/EMD/What you want) is not in a part of that points.

It is. Please read the links I posted.
I'm curious...what do you think of this from Morgan Linton's blog;

"Google is going to start using "Core Web Vitals" as a ranking signal for websites.

Core web vitals measure critical aspects of the user experience. These include load time, interactivity, and the stability of content as it loads.

Google said the changes wouldn't happen until at least next year, and the company will give six-months' notice.

It's worth noting that Google uses hundreds of signals to determine rankings. It will always prioritize good content over things like Core Web Vitals. The company noted:

While all of the components of page experience are important, we will prioritize pages with the best information overall, even if some aspects of page experience are subpar. A good page experience doesn’t override having great, relevant content. However, in cases where there are multiple pages that have similar content, page experience becomes much more important for visibility in Search.

I've found that much of the concern over penalizing sites that are not mobile-friendly was overblown. You can expect the addition of this new signal to be modest at first."
 
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I'm curious...what do you think of this from Morgan Linton's blog;

"Google is going to start using "Core Web Vitals" as a ranking signal for websites.

Core web vitals measure critical aspects of the user experience. These include load time, interactivity, and the stability of content as it loads.

Google said the changes wouldn't happen until at least next year, and the company will give six-months' notice.

It's worth noting that Google uses hundreds of signals to determine rankings. It will always prioritize good content over things like Core Web Vitals. The company noted:

While all of the components of page experience are important, we will prioritize pages with the best information overall, even if some aspects of page experience are subpar. A good page experience doesn’t override having great, relevant content. However, in cases where there are multiple pages that have similar content, page experience becomes much more important for visibility in Search.

I've found that much of the concern over penalizing sites that are not mobile-friendly was overblown. You can expect the addition of this new signal to be modest at first."
Time, money, content, management, development, oh and did I mention time and money.
I feel like it's the new era of cyber hoarding. Similar to a hoarder with a bunch of stuff (often junk), we all have big plans for each and every domain in our possession, but the probability of putting it to use is slim to none.

The era of domain hoarding

Time, money, content, management, development, oh and did I mention time and money.
I feel like it's the new era of cyber hoarding. Similar to a hoarder with a bunch of stuff (often junk), we all have big plans for each and every domain in our possession, but the probability of putting it to use is slim to none.

The era of domain hoarding

thanks NameSquare aka Daniel and your analysis is great....with me it's "LOFT", and the money. LOFT is a golf term that stands for Lack of Fu**n Talent:yuck: And almost every time I've hired the talent I need, something goes wrong:xf.frown:

All that said however, I'm a passionate optimist with some practical business experience, and I'm slowly putting together what I hope to be a winning team from around the world. Thanks, and stay tuned for sucess(y)

 
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Im sure it's been said, but the thing about it, is you cant just pop up say 40 websites in a pinch . and make anything of actual value . Most successful websites are for the most part, created as an all in project of someone, not just a quick boilerplate code and move to the next one.

most sites require more time after the site is made than the initial time to create so theres that. Imagine slapping 40 sites together and having no presence on any of them.

Plus most people , like myself , like domaining in general, were not rebuilding the wheel, we dont want to fix whats not broken.

Do I want to develop some? yes i only buy names that I could make into a site, but that doesnt mean I will ever make any of them lol. and yes i have made sites before but its never as simple as a quick sale
 
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It used to be the case that websites received a high ranking on Google simply for operating on a domain name that exactly matches a user's search term, but that hasn't been the case since 2010 (I believe that was the year).


Ahhhh, the good ole days.

I had myself a network of over 400 restaurant sites, all on separate domains and my Google AdSense revenue was growing by about 50% per month. The sites were all keyword domains. When I could get a name like "CityName"Restaurants.com (for example SunnyvaleRestaurants.com) it would hit the first page of google in about a month, like clockwork. All of the sites were legit, I maintained the restaurant listings to be accurate and up-to-date, had reviews by users in each city and everything was humming along.

At the click of a button I could update the template of all 400+ websites.

At the peak I was above 10,000 real users per day, all bot traffic excluded. My revenue from AdSense alone was just starting to go over $1,000 per month. It looked like it was just a matter of time before it was at $5,000, or even $10,000 per month for very little ongoing maintenance work. Then Google's Panda update hit and by next month my revenue dropped to about $150 per month. This is after 100s of hours of work put into developing this. We had restaurant owners paying for advertising, and it's hard to keep them once you aren't in the top of the search engine results.

Once the revenue drops to this level and isn't growing, it is just better to abandon it than to have a half-maintained mess that is not very useful. Because the problem is, it isn't worth putting time into for a stagnant $100-$150 per month website. Once you don't put time into it, it doesn't even make the $100-$150 per month.

So my take is, it takes a large effort nowadays to make headway for just 1 website. If it's your passion, then great...go for it! But if it isn't, it's likely to not be a very useful site and at the same time will likely reduce your chances of selling the domain.

To me, a half-baked site just cheapens the perceived value of the domain. If someone has a $20k+ idea for a domain, then goes to the site to see a WordPress template with affiliate links, what kind of impression does that leave them with?






Here's my walk down memory lane. :xf.wink: The actual site looked better because there are some images and other things missing now.


Main Site - Where we sold Ads

upload_2020-5-28_17-46-17.png

Example of the Individual City Sites

upload_2020-5-28_17-48-46.png upload_2020-5-28_17-49-22.png upload_2020-5-28_17-50-43.png



Then.....Panda :dead:

upload_2020-5-28_17-52-26.png
 
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This is gold! One of the most valuable detailed and info packed posts on this forum.

WOW! Means a ton coming from you, thank you. You've inspired me to put together a more formal thread on developing domains for my upcoming 1000th post... cheers! :)
 
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WOW! Means a ton coming from you, thank you. You've inspired me to put together a more formal thread on developing domains for my upcoming 1000th post... cheers! :)

Looking forward to it. You have condensed into a post what everyone should consider and know before entering into any partnership instead of learning the hard way and ruining business and relationships.
 
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Sorry but I am not agree with your statements.

.......
Drop it, amigo. Not worth arguing. Seems she's living in a nice pink unicorn world of Sure-Method-to-Dominate-SERP WSO written by another SEO Guru in 2012.
 
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Who wants to develop a website must do it even if the website is simple.
Don't think too much.
Never seek perfection.
Do not be afraid.
Act.
 
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Who wants to develop a website must do it even if the website is simple.
Don't think too much.
Never seek perfection.
Do not be afraid.
Act.
This is a very important point. Websites are never complete.

I like to practice what I preach and that is to get something up and online at the earliest opportunity. There is no point that something is perfect and there is always value in every piece of the puzzle.
 
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WOW! Means a ton coming from you, thank you. You've inspired me to put together a more formal thread on developing domains for my upcoming 1000th post... cheers! :)
WOW! is right....this thread inspired SEOChallenger:xf.smile:, but post #1000 is so far away.
 
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