discuss Full Time Domainer?

[Pattern]

There are lots of different types of domainers out there. Full time, part time, on the fence, and so on. Would love to hear stories from all over the spectrum, what are the positives and negatives, etc.

 

[DomainGist]

Very insuting IMO

I feel that I've done a good enough job of clarifying my point in my subsequent post?

No insult was intended either to Shane or anybody who feels the need to be insulted on his behalf.

 

[Paul123]

I think Pug D makes some valid points. I have worked for myself now for 8 years with an internet based business. It is like a roller coaster with some great months and other weeks with no sales. We buy and sell property in Bulgaria and sales come from the internet. The downside is it can be very lonely sitting on a computer all day - the upside is travel and the experiences that brings. For me there is nothing better than being able to work anywhere in the world as long as there is WiFi and I have my laptop.

A successful domainer would be able to this and this may be the appeal for many - if you like travel it is a dream come true. However we are all different and many people I know like the safety of a 9 - 5 and the security of a fixed wage every month. Circumstances will make a difference too. If you have a young family to support then you have a lot more to lose than a single person without commitments.

eBay can be a good way to start an internet business. However unless you drop ship you will need to hold stock. I see many sellers selling £1 items by the thousand every month - it seems a lot of hassle for a small reward when you consider packaging / postal costs etc. Saying that it works for many so good luck to them. Do what makes you happy as life is short. I would prefer to try and fail rather than have regrets and thinking 'what if'.

Best,
Paul

 

[DomainGist]

eBay is my business now, and like you say Paul..... I'm chained to the stock room.

When starting out, when my income was residual (affiliate income + adsense) I also dreamed of moving to a developing country where I'd be stinking rich on a relatively modest income (Nepal, Cambodia, etc), and then I got married. To somebody who has a conventional career, and who doesn't share the dream.

And ultimately, that vision of utopia where you can travel around with a laptop isn't as fantastic as people make out, because you'd still end up spending 60 hours a week glued to a laptop surrounded by four walls, self-employment online = long hours indoors.

There are some major pros to self-employment, of course there is, not having a jerk as a boss and not having to worry about gas prices and road rage are probably the biggest ones to most.

And most of the cons can be managed. I do a bit of voluntary work, and at the moment I'm investing some of my profit into continuing education. I'm still keeping half an eye on possible future careers though. I was wondering the other day....... have any domainers qualified as patent attorneys or trademark attorneys? It would be pretty cool to go and sit on the other side of the fence working for Google or eBay in their trademark office.

People should never stop looking for new doors to open, whether in self-employment or employment.

 

[Paul123]

People should never stop looking for new doors to open, whether in self-employment or employment

So true. I think to many people just accept their lot in life without trying to improve things. It is not about making money but rather the quality of life and sense of worth this brings. If you make loads of cash as a by product then happy days - however if making money is your sole motivation then your chances of success are pretty low.

Best,
Paul

 

[discobull]

You most certainly have not touched a nerve. I'm just curious what is the difference between the merits of one career over another. How is domaining less fulfilling than auditing or any other job? That's where you've lost me.

I'll give you my take on what Pug is saying and if I'm wrong he can correct me. I think his point was that a better dream than being a full time domainer or a full time anything, is to be able to make enough money working part time ( or less ) that you'd have the freedom to pursue ambitions that are greater than just about making money.

I think some of the confusion here has to do with the meaning of "full time". I consider myself a full time domainer because I make enough money at it that I don't have to do anything else for a living. OTOH, I'm not sure that I work full time hours anymore. Of course, when I first started out as a domainer I was working much more than just full time hours, but that's another story...

There are some major pros to self-employment, of course there is, not having a jerk as a boss

I'm self-employed, but unfortunately I still have a jerk for a boss. :D

 

[Hypersot]

so, according to the poll, there is roughly 76% chance that an opinion we see in the forum comes from a non full-time domainer?..

That's an interesting stat

 

[DomainGist]

It is a meaningless stat though.... you could have a full time domainer selling 15 x $50 domains a week, and a part time domainer selling 1 x $5000 domain per month.

What one person considers a full time living may $2000 a month if they are currently a Walmart employee. What another considers a full time living may be $30000 a month if they are currently an attorney.

Somebody earning average wage in India may consider themselves rich if they can earn $1000 a month.

Somebody earning average wage in the USA would need to earn, what, $3000+ just to reach their current income.

Its all relative.

It is surely better to earn $5000 per month domaining part-time than it is to earn $5000 per month domaining full-time, and as discobull said above..... that's partly my point. The question is a loaded one which doesn't give much of an insight at all.

A better question would be "How much have you earned domaining in the past 12 months?", that would give a better insight into the earnings potential and how many are making what YOU consider to be a full time income.

Because there could be people who have ticked 'Yes' who are earning $500 a month, and people who have ticked 'No' who are earning $2500 a month, because of geographic region and how much they can or do earn in their day job.

 

[kemjika11]

I've read all your opinions so far and I have only 1 conclusion.


I am 100% in agreement with the guy who says we aspire to be fulltime domainers because I have that passion.some of you have lost the passion and some pretend to have it.

 

[NameOffice.]

Been full-time+ with [my company] selling domains for 3 years. I'm knowledgable in selling brandables through there but I must say I wish I knew more about selling domains in other ways. Without [my company] I don't think I would have a clue on how to survive full-time with domaining. Great question, love reading these answers.

 

[S-B]

Been full-time+ with [my company] selling domains for 3 years. I'm knowledgable in selling brandables through there but I must say I wish I knew more about selling domains in other ways. Without [my company] I don't think I would have a clue on how to survive full-time with domaining. Great question, love reading these answers.

Doesn't hurt that you're the owner.

 

[NameOffice.]

Doesn't hurt that you're the owner.

Sure doesn't. Prob the only way I would be able to do it full-time. I'm sure not a lot of brandable sellers are doing it full-time, or am I wrong? I sure wasn't full time when selling at BB.

 

[S-B]

Sure doesn't. Prob the only way I would be able to do it full-time. I'm sure not a lot of brandable sellers are doing it full-time, or am I wrong? I sure wasn't full time when selling at BB.

Are you able to share the number of domains you sell per month? I'd be curious to know how brandables do. It's a niche I've stayed away from.

 

[NameOffice.]

Are you able to share the number of domains you sell per month? I'd be curious to know how brandables do. It's a niche I've stayed away from.

The numbers definitively fluctuate but overall it averages about 1 domain sale per day.

 

[S-B]

The numbers definitively fluctuate but overall it averages about 1 domain sale per day.

That's pretty incredible. Do you have an insanely large portfolio?

 

[NameOffice.]

That's pretty incredible. Do you have an insanely large portfolio?

Oh I don't mean just my names, I meant that's what [my company] does overall, including my names and all the other names listed there. My own portfolio is 570 domains.

 

[DT13]

Some of the cons are:

1. It can be lonely
2. I don't get enough natural sunlight
3. A lack of real life social interaction
4. You can become insular and introverted
5. It could be difficult for me to get a real job after 5 years of self employment, due to a lack of references.

This is why i never want to be a full time domainer!

 

[rockefeller]

I've been a full time domainer since 2007 and love every minute of it

 

[robert_jones]

I’m currently a full time domainer and I can tell you, it’s not for everyone.

For starters there’s the level of risk and inconsistency in sales – some weeks you’re sitting on top of the world and other weeks all you’ll be wondering how you’re going to make ends meet.

Then there’s the level of stress. If you can’t find good domains to sell or if your domains aren’t selling you’re always going to be worried and ripping your hair out. That alone is enough to drive some people nuts.

And just like in all businesses you have to hussle in order to survive. In sales you eat what you kill and if you can’t get any sales then guess what? You ain’t eating. If you can’t sell your domains you’re not going to last very long in this game.

And just like PugDomainsLtd said, you do get lonely at times but if I’m honest it doesn’t really bother me as I’m naturally a bit more introverted than the average person.

Personally I love this game as it suits my personality perfectly but I know it won’t work for most people as there’s just too much risk involved in it for them and it’s a very introverted profession.

 

[imadoer]

I wouldn't call my self a domainer yet even tho i am glued to the computer or phone every second of the day ignoring the rest of the world to study the things in the domain industry.I eat sleep and shit domains. Let me correct my self when i sleep its 2am i'm still writing on the forum. There's something about this that is extremely addicting. Maybe its my desire to learn and become good at this. I haven't sold 1 domain yet but i know as time goes on and i learn which domains are really worth buying and for what price I should pay i will make some sales and this will all be worth it.

 

[Wisename]

Let me correct my self when i sleep its 2am i'm still writing on the forum..

very touchy .. lol :p