poll How many domainers in the world?

[redemo]

A domainer is a person who registers domain names as an investment. How many domainers do you think there are on our lonely planet? What data backs up your estimate? I think the number is up to one million because most domainers are probably Namepros members and there are over one million members but not all members are active. So up to one million domainers seems like a good estimate. Then again, not all domainers speak English so maybe it's more like two million?

 

[Sam1234]

If you count every person who holds even one domain for possible resale some day a domainer, then the number is obviously very large. But if a domainer is someone who is routinely active in the domain market, then I say no way to the 10k to 100k number. I could be wrong though. Also note my comments about Afternic above.

 

[redemo]

If somebody asks what do you do for a living? and the response is I'm a domainer then the consensus would be that person earns a living through monetising domain names in some way. Simply saying I'm a domainer, is like saying I'm a gamer (which is also a full-time professional as well as a hobby) and the meaning would therefore require some context. The next part is more complicated. What connection to domain names makes the primary business a domain-related business? I'm sure of selling domains, leasing domains and parking domains because they require a direct daily connection with the domain name industry, whereas developing domain names and monetising them can be achieved with almost no direct contact with the domain name industry. I think we are getting closer to the definition of what being a domainer is, and if this is agreed upon then we can begin to form calculations as to how many (pro) domainers exist.

 

[MediaCode]

So what is a domainer then? Somebody who works fulltime monetising domain names to fund all their living costs?

Above, I differentiated between a domainer and a domain investor with:

"A "domainer" is a casual hobbyist, part-timer who attempts to earn a profit running an informal, loosely-organized portfolio of domain names but, in more years than not, fails to turn a profit on the portfolio.

A "domain investor" is a professional investor, full-timer/part-timer who attempts to earn a profit running a well-organized portfolio operation and, in more years than not, successfully turns a profit on the portfolio."

 

[MediaCode]

Above, I differentiated between a domainer and a domain investor with:

"A "domainer" is a casual hobbyist, part-timer who attempts to earn a profit running an informal, loosely-organized portfolio of domain names but, in more years than not, fails to turn a profit on the portfolio.

A "domain investor" is a professional investor, full-timer/part-timer who attempts to earn a profit running a well-organized portfolio operation and, in more years than not, successfully turns a profit on the portfolio."

I would add that real estate investors are called real estate investors, not "real estaters". If we as investors in domain names wish to be taken seriously, we should insist on being called – and should refer to ourselves and each other as – domain investors, not "domainers".

 

[Sam1234]

I would add that real estate investors are called real estate investors, not "real estaters". If we as investors in domain names wish to be taken seriously, we should insist on being called – and should refer to ourselves and each other as – domain investors, not "domainers".

The IRS defines an investor as (something like) a person who is not engaged in business/commerce, but buys an item to hold with the idea that it will go up. When an investor makes money that money is recorded as capital gains rather than business income, and is exempt from Self-Employment Tax. Domainers in general are classified in this way because domains are viewed by the IRS as intellectual property, not "inventory". So I view an investor as "anyone holding a domain as an investment", while I view a domainer as someone who is actively engaged in the business of domain buying and selling, as a business (though in either case the classification is the same to the IRS). This is just how I view things but may not be in line with how the terms are typically used by domain peeps.

Really it should be up to the person asking the question, "how many domainers are there" to define what they mean by the term. If they are asking the question while at the same time asking, "what is a domainer", that might be the kind of thing that would expose them to a lot of anonymous downvotes.

None of the above is tax advice, nor should it be viewed as such. Neither am I qualified to give tax advice. I am just stating my own understanding of the matter.

 

[Sam1234]

Regarding my comments above, about the IRS handling of domains, I traced the source of my information and it was rather dated. I think the IRS has issued clarifications of the matter since then, so my understanding is probably not accurate. Sorry for that, don't mean to mislead there.

 

[LaunchUp.com]

I think about 8 domainers in the world

 

[Constantin S]

There are like 360M domains registered, while there are 333M registered businesses globally.

• Did a bit of research and I think it's fair to say 50% of businesses have a website (166M)
• Let's say 1% of those companies are medium-sized, that would mean 1.1M, if each of these companies owns 50 domains then another 55M domains are gone to them.
• There are also 41000 listed companies, Google for example owns 15k+ domains, but not all companies are in 'tech', so let's average it down to 1000 domains for each, that would result in another 41M gone.

All that's left now is 98M domains, so we obviously gotta split 50-50 between us(team domainers, yay) with those darn bloggers+influencers, so we only get 49M domains, sorry. If the average domainer owns 100 domains then it means there are 490k of us out there. Crap, I voted up to 100k.

Well, this took like an hour to write, it's now 4:30 AM here...don't drink coke at night kids. Good night I guess, take care

 

[Sam1234]

There are like 360M domains registered, while there are 333M registered businesses globally.

• Did a bit of research and I think it's fair to say 50% of businesses have a website (166M)
• Let's say 1% of those companies are medium-sized, that would mean 1.1M, if each of these companies owns 50 domains then another 55M domains are gone to them.
• There are also 41000 listed companies, Google for example owns 15k+ domains, but not all companies are in 'tech', so let's average it down to 1000 domains for each, that would result in another 41M gone.

All that's left now is 98M domains, so we obviously gotta split 50-50 between us(team domainers, yay) with those darn bloggers+influencers, so we only get 49M domains, sorry. If the average domainer owns 100 domains then it means there are 490k of us out there. Crap, I voted up to 100k.

Well, this took like an hour to write, it's now 4:30 AM here...don't drink coke at night kids. Good night I guess, take care

There's also the roughly 25% of the people I know (non-domainers) who all own at least one domain they registered a long time ago and are holding either for value, or thinking they will some day develop it.

 

[redemo]

I think about 8 domainers in the world

Who are they?

 

[redemo]

There are like 360M domains registered, while there are 333M registered businesses globally.

• Did a bit of research and I think it's fair to say 50% of businesses have a website (166M)
• Let's say 1% of those companies are medium-sized, that would mean 1.1M, if each of these companies owns 50 domains then another 55M domains are gone to them.
• There are also 41000 listed companies, Google for example owns 15k+ domains, but not all companies are in 'tech', so let's average it down to 1000 domains for each, that would result in another 41M gone.

All that's left now is 98M domains, so we obviously gotta split 50-50 between us(team domainers, yay) with those darn bloggers+influencers, so we only get 49M domains, sorry. If the average domainer owns 100 domains then it means there are 490k of us out there. Crap, I voted up to 100k.

Well, this took like an hour to write, it's now 4:30 AM here...don't drink coke at night kids. Good night I guess, take care

Is Google a domainer?

 

[ZeroVariance]

I own a few thousand domains, but I can't classify myself as a domainer. Since my objectives are different than aiming for sales.

on the other hand, I am sure people will think they are a domainer with 5 domains or less in their portfolio just to give themselves titles because they own a few and sold one in 3 years time.

Same that i have seen in PE and investing. Some random kid invests 1K in whatever crowdfunded startup and updates his title to Angel investor...

whilst I bankrolled close to 500K in total in a few startups and yet have not used the word Angel yet.


People like labels and titles.
The title 'domainer' is a flexible one and there are no strict definitions anymore it seems. It's been watered down.

Being a domainer is imo a process and not an event. People that are consistent in treating it as an actual business are the real domainers.

The ones that are YoY repeating the process and survive long enough to see others fail are the real domainers.

 

[redemo]

I own a few thousand domains, but I can't classify myself as a domainer. Since my objectives are different than aiming for sales.

This isn't Jordan Peterson vs Cathy Newman but from your post it seems as though you're saying a domainer sells domain names. Is that your take or mine?

on the other hand, I am sure people will think they are a domainer with 5 domains or less in their portfolio just to give themselves titles because they own a few and sold one in 3 years time.

Is there a volume of domain names in ownership or custodianship which qualifies one as a domainer?

Same that i have seen in PE and investing. Some random kid invests 1K in whatever crowdfunded startup and updates his title to Angel investor...

I agree, I think, people make up titles.

whilst I bankrolled close to 500K in total in a few startups and yet have not used the word Angel yet.

Respect.

People like labels and titles.

On these, we certainly agree, my lord.

The title 'domainer' is a flexible one and there are no strict definitions anymore it seems. It's been watered down.

So it's not a word then? Without a definition it's a neanderthal's grunt.

Being a domainer is imo a process and not an event.

What's the process if not an event?

People that are consistent in treating it as an actual business are the real domainers.

So, and again I'm trying not to relive Peterson versus Newman, what I think you's saying is that to be a domainer you need to have taken steps to treat your domain name investment(s) as a business?

The ones that are YoY repeating the process and survive long enough to see others fail are the real domainers.

So financial survival makes you a domainer?

I'm not trying to be arbitrary, but rather attempting to arrive at some actual train stations not scenic stops for tourist photo shoots.

 

[kalr]

 

[bmugford]

Has anyone ever ran into another "domainer" in their every day life? I have not.

I don't think the number is in the millions, otherwise you would run into them far more often.

Brad

 

[redemo]

Has anyone ever ran into another "domainer" in their every day life? I have not.

I don't think the number is in the millions, otherwise you would run into them far more often.

Brad

How many people have YOU told that you dabble in domains? Think about it. It's not something you'd say on a date, or to the cops, or at the store, or at the football. In fact outside of this forum I have very rarely mentioned it to anyone. So, tell me something interesting about yourself, Rob? Well I collect these digital names other people don't want and build electronic empires and talk about it on a forum neh heh heh. How cool am I? You're dumped.

F.Y.I. @Bravo Mod Team I'm not being antagonistic, rude, off-handed or instigating. This is my tone and I have made a legitimate point.

 

[bmugford]

How many people have YOU told that you dabble in domains? Think about it. It's not something you'd say on a date, or to the cops, or at the store, or at the football. In fact outside of this forum I have very rarely mentioned it to anyone. So, tell me something interesting about yourself, Rob? Well I collect these digital names other people don't want and build electronic empires and talk about it on a forum neh heh heh. How cool am I? You're dumped.

F.Y.I. @Bravo Mod Team I'm not being antagonistic, rude, off-handed or instigating. This is my tone and I have made a legitimate point.

Many times. What you do is a frequent topic when you meet someone.

Believe it or not, having the freedom to work from anywhere, having no boss, and being able to set your own schedule frequently leads to a productive conversation. That is what most people would love to do.

Brad

 

[MasterOfMyDomains]

Everywhere I go its domains. Work, I pulled up the code for their website whats this boss says. No google analytics I said, got them thinking about a website about this type business. Were in the warehouse.
All women I meet I ask if they know html. Was on live streaming site with someone local. I brought up domain names, she had a domain reg in 98 and a huge following, but her host didnt renew and buy domains got it now
She wrote code
If you dont eat, sleep and dream domains you’ll just end up being a content writer

 

[topdom]

I would say 10K active ones. By active I mean, someone who makes at least one 4+ figure sale a year. Look at list of all 4+ figure sales. Look at dnjournal sales, say 10,000 per year. You can multiply it by 10 to count unreported ones also. But most are "duplicates", so divide by 10 again. We get 10K active domainers.
Also, only a few dozen people are talking too much on namepros (I can be included).

 

[redemo]

If you dont eat, sleep and dream domains you’ll just end up being a content writer

I'm not obsessed with domain names, just think they are a useful way to earn cash. Not obsessed at all. If a domainer is a profession then I'm not a domainer.