discuss If Domainers Could Have One More Thing....

[Bob Hawkes]

I thought it would be interesting to discuss what additional resource would make life easier or more productive for domainers. This could be a new database, tool, type of marketplace, transaction process, promotional opportunity, etc. It might even be some new feature of NamePros that you would find really helpful.

So wave that magic wand! What do you want?

While this is partly to have fun imagining what we could have, I hope that ideas will emerge that someone will run with and a new product will be born.

Not so long ago our industry did not have resources like Efty, Dofo and the brandable marketplaces, and imagine the impacts those have had.

If it is a feature on NamePros you have in mind, I am pretty sure someone is listening to all the threads for good ideas to make our community even better!

The ideas can be as simple as adding a new feature to some marketplace or as complex as a totally new type of product that links domainers and end users.

I have a few ideas that I will share a bit later in discussion, but look forward to hearing ideas that other people have.

Bob

 

[Bob Hawkes]

OK here is one of mine. I would like to see each year a TEDx event on domain names with a particular emphasis on successful end user stories. Leaders who are great speakers passionately explaining how the right domain name made a difference in their business. Some should be from nonprofit organizations. Some speakers should be very young startup owners. It would also be good to have some from within industry, but the main focus should be on inspirational stories of domain names that are being used effectively.

Since TEDx talks are archived for anyone to freely watch, I think the impact would be significant on how domain names are perceived, and down the road how they are valued. Ideally a few of the speakers would have immediate name recognition like Elon Musk and getting the Tesla name, for example. I know there have been domain speakers at various TEDx events, but have there been TEDx events totally on that theme?

Bob

 

[tonyk2000]

Leaders who are great speakers passionately explaining how the right domain name made a difference in their business.

In their own words: 93 successful business owners talk about the importance of their descriptive, generic domain names:

http://www.webmastering.co.uk/domai...importance-of-their-exact-match-domain-names/

 

[FolioTeam]

Lower price caps on registrations and renewals

 

[tonyk2000]

I'd select good old escrow.com (before it was acquired by freelancer . com ). As simple as that...

 

[arjun29]

An expiring domain marketplace. maybe. (like a proper disposal site for domains).

Eg:
A section of 2$, 5$, 10$ names in Namepros.
Members can buy 10 tokens for 1 dollar.

For each token they can add their expiring names in 1 dollar 5 dollars section. Whereas need 2 tokens to add domains in 10$ section.

Namepros doesn't take any commission. But can take a dollar from each sale if provides escrow service.

A system that will remove names that expire (by pulling data from registrar, maybe)

Also , can make virtual coin NPcoins in which can be redeemed after reaching 25$ threshold. Members can trade their names in NPcoins.

That section shall look more like an shop than threads. (Advanced search , filter, tag, category system)

 

[tonyk2000]

For the benefit of those of us who are newer to serious domaining, can you expand a bit. Do you mean that it used to have features that are not available now (and if so which do you particularly miss) or am I misunderstanding? Thanks.

The service is downgraded. Many domainers knowingly elected not to touch them anymore. The "security" is not there if needed (cqd.com case).

Escrow.com: From First to Worst?

... and many more extra evidence in related NP threads.

The parent company is no better, unfortunately:

Freelancer.com has ruined my life

 

[tonyk2000]

virtual coin NPcoins in which can be redeemed

Something more global may also be useful. Domainers Coin. Small parking payout? Let it be in domainers coin. Domainer-friendly registrars could accept such a payment method together with paypal and credit cards. But it should be cheaper [paypal is not the cheapest thing to accept, and so are credit cards]. And the coin should be reedemable (if necessary).

 

[tvanrijt]

I would love it if all domainers could have common sense.

I know it can be hard to properly value a domain and a lot of us are respectable, but for every respectable domainer there are at least 10 people spamming everyone with unrealistic prices, crappy domains and no real research if the name would actually be interesting to the person (we all get those emails).

If we all had some common sense, I am sure domainers would have a much more positive image and it might be much easier (and more pleasant) to sell our names at fair prices.

 

[Internet.Domains]

I would like to see a domain index fund backed by premium domains. Perhaps, one step further, it could be "tokenized" via a blockchain protocol. The "tokens" or "digital securities" would allow for liquidity.

In other words, a premium portfolio consisting of great domains could be fractionalized and sold like shares of stock. This would allow for liquidity to flourish.

Why invest $5000 in one domain when you could own 50 digital securities (tokens) of a premium portfolio?

 

[maxtorz]

1.Much overdue UDRP reform
2.Strip Verisign power or outright have some other org in charge of TLDs.

 

[Bob Hawkes]

nfortunately, I have no idea what a TEDx event is.

They are an evening with typically about 10 to 15 speakers around a theme, all carefully scripted to be exactly on time and smoothly presented. The TED are the big once a year with the top of the top speakers, and TEDx are independently organized events usually in a city, around some theme. Link below for organizing them and search online for video from TEDx on any theme. Most of the talks either provide unique perspectives or compelling personal stories or make a strong case for something. They are intended for a general but educated audience, and tickets are sold. Often the event includes music as well. They are typically available for free viewing after the event.
Bob
https://www.ted.com/participate/org...er-guide/speakers-program/what-is-a-tedx-talk

PS I think a BOBx is kind of the same except with a bumbling speaker who does not know what he is talking about

 

[Bob Hawkes]

By the way here is a list of the most popular TED talks of all time:
https://www.ted.com/playlists/171/the_most_popular_talks_of_all

This link shows where TEDx events are currently scheduled around the world
https://www.ted.com/tedx/events

There have been a few individual TEDx talks on topics in domain names. Here is one.

 

[Ostrados]

Domains liquidation marketplace, where you can exchange domains for cash instantly.. this may only work for liquid domains like 4L, 5N..etc, with fixed price for each category. Also u can use same marketplace to buy liquid domains.

 

[garptrader]

This has been touched on by others but I will add a few comments. There is a huge disconnect between what companies spend without question on other types of business expenditures - travel, IT, legal, exec bonuses, meetings, advertising, etc and domain names. As investors we obviously want end users to get it - low five figures is no big deal to brand a business for the next decade when you spend that much monthly on lease space or legal fees or IT costs.

Regarding a domain fund, I mentioned this back around 2010 and people reacted I had too much time on my hands. There are some potential complications - how does one address potential UDRP filings against an individual domain in the portfolio? How does the fund decide on domain pricing, offer acceptance, negotiation, rejection? What if a domain's value could be optimized via development? Who makes the development decisions? Would 100% of domains in the fund be automatically renewed or would it be possible to drop some but bid on and acquire others? It seems like the fund might require an administrator at least part-time.

 

[GenericDomainz]

New forum, other one like Namepros, 2-3 new news sites, like domaining.com, 1-2 new big new marketplaces, like Flippa or Undeveloped. There is a lot of domainers, but there should be more serious players in industry, industry should be bigger.

 

[Bob Hawkes]

I'd select good old escrow.com (before it was acquired by freelancer . com

For the benefit of those of us who are newer to serious domaining, can you expand a bit. Do you mean that it used to have features that are not available now (and if so which do you particularly miss) or am I misunderstanding? Thanks.

 

[Name Trader]

OK here is one of mine. I would like to see each year a TEDx event on domain names with a particular emphasis on successful end user stories. Leaders who are great speakers passionately explaining how the right domain name made a difference in their business. Some should be from nonprofit organizations. Some speakers should be very young startup owners. It would also be good to have some from within industry, but the main focus should be on inspirational stories of domain names that are being used effectively.

Since TEDx talks are archived for anyone to freely watch, I think the impact would be significant on how domain names are perceived, and down the road how they are valued. Ideally a few of the speakers would have immediate name recognition like Elon Musk and getting the Tesla name, for example. I know there have been domain speakers at various TEDx events, but have there been TEDx events totally on that theme?

Bob

Unfortunately, I have no idea what a TEDx event is. But perhaps you could start a BOBx event

 

[biggie]

If Domainers Could Have One More Thing....

maybe if they took away some of the domainers already got,
then some of em might appreciate, what they used to have, more than they do now.

just cuz it's on the table, don't mean you gotta eat it

every new service, makes you the enduser,
but you say, "i'm just a reseller"?

imo...

 

[Bob Hawkes]

Thank you everyone for all of the interesting ideas! Those who have not posted yet, please share your idea!

OK this one is complex but the idea is a software platform template (open source or commercial) that an end user can use with their domain name to have a personal presence on the web. I know that the companies that sell hosting all offer some sort of rapid web presence software, but what I have in mind is a step up from that, and is geared specifically for INDIVIDUALS as your place on the web, and not company or organization site.

There is a lot of backlash now against how much influence the social media giants have, privacy issues, their profit from your content, and their ability to take it all away in a heartbeat. This would be a solution you would use as your long term site for your content. It would of course be good for domainers, ultimately, as it would increase use of domain names.

Here are some of the features I would see as necessary

• work out of the box with a minimum of technical background needed
• work with any domain name registered to you
• come with some system of authentication so people will know the site is authenticated as a person, and is not some malware or bot site trying to push some agenda.
• provide a site for personal information you choose to share, like a FB page, but with easy controls on what only approved people can see.
• ability to link to sites using the same personal software - you control completely your personal network.
• there would be various sections that you could choose to use or not. For example, a section called My Resume, great for those in the job hunting phase.
• A section on My Thoughts that would be a blog type section
• A section My Photos and My Videos.
• A section Personal Projects (maybe if running a little craft project)
• My Causes for either promoting or sharing things you believe in.
• My Recommendations for things like the books you liked, movies, sites, whatever.
• An easy way for you to do your own ads, if you wanted, and to financially benefit from them.
• etc.

But the key idea: my content, my ownership, my control on my domain.

What do people think? Obviously a huge project with many stumbling blocks, but I think the time is ripe for people to take back control of their online content, forever.

Bob

 

[handpicked]

IMO 'Showcasing is the key'

A website says:*

(1) "World wide, there are about 300 million persons trying to start about 150 million businesses. About one third will be launched, so you can assume 50 million new firm births per year. Or about 137,000 per day. "

If the above (1) were true, then we are either not showcasing gems to entrepreneurs who could have been a potential customer (PS: IMO We don't see so many practical end user sales everyday. Demand and Supply do not coincide)

(2) "Total human population of 40 GEM countries is almost 4 billion out of a world population of 6.3 billion; 63% of the world population is represented in this assessment. Among these 4 billion, 2.4 billion are in the age range of 18-64 years, which approximates the working years in most countries. Among this 2.4 billion, about 12% or 297 million are active in trying to get 192 million businesses past the initial launch and through the initial three years of operation."

If (2) were true then millions of re-branding opportunities exits and It's a cycle (2) falls back to (1) till they succeed.

I wish to see:

(a) 500 top high value names 2019 - assets owned by namepros and extensively showcased on NP and entrepreneurs events.
(b) Domain Academy for entrepreneurs to learn and adapt internet names and branding as a strategy.
(c) Extensive Webinars and Domain names cum branding radio channel for extensive showcasing of available pool of high value digital assents held by domaineers, hosting and internet security.

(* - unverified source just for brain storming and not promoting)

Thanks.

 

[Grego85]

I wish more registrars offered quality api access.

 

[tonyk2000]

Domain Academy for entrepreneurs to learn and adapt internet names and branding as a strategy

World wide, there are about 300 million persons trying to start about 150 million businesses

Yes, this would be extremely useful. Simply because many of these persons are in their twenties or so, and they belong to "facebook generation"... they would develop social media pages, or, in some cases, android apps. And use @ gmail email address. Nothing more. They feel little or no need to own a domain, premium or not... Which is one of the global problems of domaining industry...

 

[UmerK]

Get rid of current domain drop market, any name that expires should be available to general dot com registrar price, think I could beat a lot of humans and maybe huge domains too.

 

[Name Trader]

Get rid of current domain drop market, any name that expires should be available to general dot com registrar price, think I could beat a lot of humans and maybe huge domains too.

That gives the whole drop market to 1 player (DropCatch) and 2 bit players (SnapNames & NameJet).