Domainering Worth It?

[Darkfire001]

Do you think operating with Domains online is worth it? Im sort of split over the situation. Ive come out a few hundred dollars in the whole over my 3-years of dealing with domains, but I'd have to say that most of my losses were in the first year I dealt with domains. That was about when I went on my 20-30 domain splurges that end up costing like $250 gah.

At this point, Ive begun to think of dealing with domains as more of a hobby then anything that could make me money in the near future. For the most part Im happy just to break even

 

[g0ldy]

Well for me, not worth it yet but in the long run it might be

 

[icehole]

if youve only made a few hundred in 3 years !! it's not worth it

I think one should make a few K a year to make it worth it. It is just a hobby for me too

 

[InteractAsia]

i guess it just takes one big sale to make it happen

it;s just a hobby for me as well

 

[g0ldy]

Its only a hobby till u start making some serious bucks!

 

[holeinone]

Since Iam spending a lot of my time online domaining It is not fair to say it is just a Hobby.
It is more of a Passion.

I've just over the past year and havent earned .My websites are up just a few months back.
I have big hopes.

 

[InteractAsia]

hope is good

 

[Darkfire001]

Well, I have more fun developing the actual domains then selling them. point in fact, is I have a couple of websites that could fetch me around $350 on ebay, but I wouldnt sell them unless I was forced too.

 

[jj2ii3344]

I have a lot of fun developing my domains too!
But mostly I have fun owning a domain that I think is professional or looks good.
It is a hobby for me as well!

 

[DavidH]

I know nothing about developing websites but am having a lot of fun buying and selling names - since September sales are paying for all the registration fees and putting the occasional bit into the bank - perhaps finally I am beginning to get the hang of making end user sales - two agreed this week for a total of $910.

If only I could do this every week!!! Very likely I really can if I keep plugging away.

I dont look for the mega sale - I am quite happy turning registration fee into $200-300+ each time!

DavidH

 

[Jeff]

Closed on a private transaction this past week for $500.00 (at the End user level). Since being in this business since 1999 (the days of the Network Solutions/$70 (two-year, paid in advance) registrations), all buys/sells said and done, I'm still "in the money". Have learned some hard lessons along the way (of course), learned to "fine-tune" my marketing to End user's, sold excess inventory from time-to-time sucessfully at Wholesale, and am now more selective, better reasearched with my registrations and renewals. I've learned a LOT from fellow domainers! For me, domaining is more than a hobby (passion is a good term, as used above) and very much worth it. The future looks bright, as well IMHO.
'Gotta wear shades.

 

[jj2ii3344]

I really would like to learn how to market to an end user probably. I own a few domains that I think are particularly interesting to end users, I guess I would have to keep trying!

 

[armstrong]

Through domaining, I get a lot of insights into internet trends and new website ideas. My 3 newest development projects would not have occurred to me without the domains falling onto my lap.

$-wise, I still don't see profits out of my domains. But they are an important and growing part of my online business.

End-user sales are my primary source of domain sales. Sales to resellers are rare and a last resort, at least for me.

 

[lookfindgo]

Originally posted by g0ldy
Its only a hobby till u start making some serious bucks!

That's how great businesses start up. I buy domains beause I like them, never know one day they might become valuable.

 

[meljr]

Originally posted by lookfindgo
That's how great businesses start up. I buy domains beause I like them, never know one day they might become valuable.

I have tried so many self start business that lose money, it is not even funny. Some of the things I have learn from these past failures are helping me in the domain area, but I still have alot to learn. You don't know what the water is like until you get in, so even though it is costing me alot for these new lessions, I am 100 times more knowledgeable about this then when I joined this forum awhile back.

I think that some where in domaining there is a cristining of fire, and that some will come through it and some will not. But life is kind of like this in general. I think most will go broke, or think of it as a hobby if they don't make much money. But for the most part it is a very interesting hobby.

Sometimes money may not be the best measure of how well you do something or how much you enjoy it. It is just an excuse to get into the game.

meljr

 

[Darkfire001]

Well, I really wanted to start-up a Cafe in my city this past year, but after talking with the bank manager, loans are really slim this time of year so I doubt many start-ups are going to do well in this economic climate ni the US at least.

As for domains, Ive gone with the development then sell approach and so far after building a website each week for the past month, looks like thats the way to go if they can achieve solid sale results.