iPad to kill Domaining?

[TOXX]

Came across an interesting article regarding the new Apple iPad and the future of domain names:
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Domain Name Wire » News » Why the iPad is Bad for Domainers - The Domain Industry's News Source
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What do you guys think?

 

[Domagon]

Likely cause type-in traffic, especially for marginal domains, to drop more - for many domains, it's already declining due to enhanced search suggestions and other changes; parking revenue is way down from what it was for many folks.

However, websites need to be located somewhere - I don't think too many people / companies are going to be keen on locating their website in the Apple store.

Furthermore, numerous tools / features, such as email need to be associated with a domain - many prefer to use their own domain name for their publicly viewable email address (to be clear, I'm not talking about what email service they're using on the back-end, but what email address is publicly shown on their website / advertising / stationary, etc).

And importantly, domain names lend themselves better to word of mouth / advertising than relying on an app for navigation, especially when multiple companies have their own devices and app stores...

So an advertiser is either going to have to have a long message mentioning the various names / locations of their app on the various services, which can and likely will change over time -OR- simply mention their domain name instead and be done with it.

Of course, some will choose to utilize both domain and app for traffic, but point is it's highly unlikely most companies would forego domains. There's no reasonable alternative at this time nor on the horizon. Domains are here to stay well into the foreseeable future.

Ron

 

[DubDubDubDot]

Calm down people.

The iPad is just a stripped down desktop computer. Every general function of the iPad has been on desktops for literally decades. If designing individual programs had a higher upside than websites, then we would all have Google.exe, Facebook.exe, Wikipedia.exe, NamePros.exe, etc... icons on our desktop.

That's not to say mobile apps for internet services won't continue to grow though. They have their own little corner.

Another thing to consider is that aside from reading books in a more comfortable manner than a laptop, tablets are of questionable usefulness right now. Even if that is going to change in some very unforseen way, the average person certainly is not going to have a tablet anytime in the next 5 years.

 

[DU]

Build a "mini-app" and they will come.

 

[globegenius]

Voice apps will take over I think. You will simply talk and the apps will find it for you. Domains that the bots can easily recognize will probably be good.
All the shortened versions or trick spelling domains could take a back burner unless the owner pays big bucks for the apps to find it. There will be a few big data bases where all domains are like sub domains on it. It will have filters on it also.
As always he who has the gold makes the rules.
Big corporations are tired of taking a back seat in search results to some 10 dollar reg and seo work. How soon it all comes about remains to be seen.

 

[RJ]

My mantra for the new decade: LET'S GET REAL.

A nice domain can add credibility, brand enhancement and marketing value to a project, just like fancy 1-800 numbers, but aside from companies like 1-800 Flowers who use the number as their brand name, a company's phone number isn't going to ensure their success. Likewise for domain names. Marketing tools and not much more.

The years of sitting on domains, waiting for the fantasy buyer who just CAN'T live without your valuable domain, are OVER.

Adjust your settings accordingly.

RJ

 

[bmugford]

I have had record sales and inquires the last few months.

Maybe the years of sitting on top tier generic .COM are over waiting for multi-million dollar offers, but I sell domains virtually daily from Mid $XXX - Mid $X,XXX

The key is to be operating in a realistic end user price range IMO. 99% of end users could not afford a ridiculously good Keyword.com, but they can afford good alternatives.

Brad

My mantra for the new decade: LET'S GET REAL.

A nice domain can add credibility, brand enhancement and marketing value to a project, just like fancy 1-800 numbers, but aside from companies like 1-800 Flowers who use the number as their brand name, a company's phone number isn't going to ensure their success. Likewise for domain names. Marketing tools and not much more.

The years of sitting on domains, waiting for the fantasy buyer who just CAN'T live without your valuable domain, are OVER.

Adjust your settings accordingly.

RJ

 

[RJ]

>> The key is to be operating in a realistic end user price range IMO. 99% of end users could not afford a ridiculously good Keyword.com, but they can afford good alternatives.

Good advice. I'd wager that a good chunk of that 99% of end users could probably afford the better domain, but they just don't see the value proposition. The typical "end users" are more saavvy than they were 10 years ago. If we're asking $100k for a category killer domain name, that end user is going to weigh the $100k cost versus spending that same money elsewhere.

On the other side, we're going to have to weigh whether it's worth warehousing that $100k name indefinitely or if we'd be better off with $20k cash in hand now in a market where cash is king.

Banks don't like to sit on houses that they get in foreclosure. Gotta keep that inventory moving.

RJ

 

[bmugford]

The way to make money in this business on a consistent basis is to keep capital flowing. It is an upgrading process where the domains you buy are much higher quality for the same price than the domains you sell.

You have a good point about the $100K domain example. Depending what you do with the $20K it might be worth selling.

For example if you are short on cash and that $20K can enable you to buy a much better domain, then it could be worth doing.

Most domainers end up falling in love with their domains as well, instead of using an objective analysis.

I deal with end users daily so I have a general idea of what domains are likely to sell and in what price range.

There is still a lot of money to made in domaining, but there is no getting around the hard work it takes.

Brad

>> The key is to be operating in a realistic end user price range IMO. 99% of end users could not afford a ridiculously good Keyword.com, but they can afford good alternatives.

Good advice. I'd wager that a good chunk of that 99% of end users could probably afford the better domain, but they just don't see the value proposition. The typical "end users" are more saavvy than they were 10 years ago. If we're asking $100k for a category killer domain name, that end user is going to weigh the $100k cost versus spending that same money elsewhere.

On the other side, we're going to have to weigh whether it's worth warehousing that $100k name indefinitely or if we'd be better off with $20k cash in hand now in a market where cash is king.

Banks don't like to sit on houses that they get in foreclosure. Gotta keep that inventory moving.

RJ

 

[RJ]

An end user buyer who balks at $100k asking price might stretch to $40k after being properly sold on the benefits of having that particular domain.

While he doesn't make an $80k profit like he hoped, the seller could be happy doubling his $20k cost and now has twice that to invest back into his business. In past years, I would have said hold your ground but I'm trying to look forward and adopt a more realistic cash flow positive domaining strategy.

Thanks for the chat. Off to bed.

 

[proTrader]

My mantra for the new decade: LET'S GET REAL.

A nice domain can add credibility, brand enhancement and marketing value to a project, just like fancy 1-800 numbers, but aside from companies like 1-800 Flowers who use the number as their brand name, a company's phone number isn't going to ensure their success. Likewise for domain names. Marketing tools and not much more.

The years of sitting on domains, waiting for the fantasy buyer who just CAN'T live without your valuable domain, are OVER.

Adjust your settings accordingly.

RJ

In my view,

Adjust your settings accordingly = Develop

I have been doing it since long. Initially it was not very successful, but when I learned the basics, it became pretty good. Cost is an important factor, so I usually do it here:

http://www.namepros.com/developers-for-hire/507381-unique-niche-website-designing-service-39-a.html

 

[RJ]

Venturing into development with your domain gets you an automatic promotion from domainer to webmaster. Complete the extra credit assignment and you too can be promoted to business owner.

Generally the sum of your success will be a factor of the effort you put into it, doesn't matter what you do. Whether that's selling domains on the forums Whether that's meticulously working on designing better and better parking pages (so they fool even more idiots into thinking they're REAL LIVE sites! hehe..) Give those domains some TLC and they will love you back.

...omgwtfaidu... night

RJ

 

[dezinerite]

I doubt iPad would affect domaining to be honest.

I mean first and foremost how many people will be able to afford this?

Plus, I hate surfing the web on my touch screen phone. I much prefer the traditional mouse with desktop. So how many people who can afford it will choose not to buy it?

 

[RogueWriter]

I doubt iPad would affect domaining to be honest.

I mean first and foremost how many people will be able to afford this?

Plus, I hate surfing the web on my touch screen phone. I much prefer the traditional mouse with desktop. So how many people who can afford it will choose not to buy it?

To me, releasing the iPad is like being in a boat and realizing that you are in the midst of a flotilla of iceburgs. Not only is there a ton of ice lurking underneath the water, there are more and more iceburgs around you; time to buy a plane.

The iPad is just the beginning. Prices will come down, interface quality will increase, and suddenly I'm going to find myself sitting on my couch watching TV from a tablet on my lap, and pressing the Amazon app when I want to buy myself a Colts Snuggle.

Now, if someone develops a domaining App, yeah, that will probably make it onto my tablet.....ahem...

 

[TOXX]

Some truly great insight guys...we will all have to adjust to "new technologies", but a good .com domain will surely remain King for the foreseeable future imo.

 

[TOXX]

There will always be a new appliance made in the world as technology advances. Regardless of the advance we still have to plug them in the old fashioned wall socket to recharge.

No matter what the hype..The old fashioned wall socket, AKA(URL) Still needs to be used.:wave:

I love this analogy!
(repped)

 

[JAugusto]

There will always be a new appliance made in the world as technology advances. Regardless of the advance we still have to plug them in the old fashioned wall socket to recharge.

No matter what the hype..The old fashioned wall socket, AKA(URL) Still needs to be used.:wave:

Bad analogy.... the old fashioned wall socket to recharge will be history very soon...

 

[TOXX]

Bad analogy.... the old fashioned wall socket to recharge will be history very soon...

What's replacing the wall socket?

 

[labrocca]

At this point in the game if you're sitting on 100k valued domains and aren't developing them you're a moron. Spending 10k-25k on proper development should get you started. If you can't develop a $100k domain into profitability then how can end-users?

I know some old-timers have massive portfolios making bank parked but they are all crying about lost revenue the past year. If they're not quick and savvy to develop properly they're going to wake up one day and find themselves assed-out. I think of Schwartz as I make these comments. That's a guy without a clue imho about domain development. He is perfectly content sitting around collecting clicks. He was smart enough to start TRAFFIC but why isn't he wise enough to develop his valuable properties?

 

[RJ]

Bad analogy.... the old fashioned wall socket to recharge will be history very soon...

Stuff like this
PureEnergy Solutions
Powermat USA | Powermat Wireless Charging System

(you still need at least one wall socket though)

---------- Post added at 02:28 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:17 PM ----------

At this point in the game if you're sitting on 100k valued domains and aren't developing them you're a moron. Spending 10k-25k on proper development should get you started. If you can't develop a $100k domain into profitability then how can end-users?

I know some old-timers have massive portfolios making bank parked but they are all crying about lost revenue the past year. If they're not quick and savvy to develop properly they're going to wake up one day and find themselves assed-out.

Exactly. Great points.

I play both sides as a developer and domainer. My personal collection has been grew and grew for 10 years until I realized last year had way too many domains. There's just no way I can effectively develop 1000's of names at once and parking sucks. No thank you. I'm thinning out the herd and giving the remaining names more of my love and attention, and I can already tell it's going to work in my favor.

RJ

 

[JAugusto]

To RJ and labrocca:

How can we have so many domains? Simple because that's what we do.

You say you're going to start developing some of your names. Get real, how much would you give amazon has a keyword domain for books, or flickr as a keyword domain for photos?

You can become a business entrepreneur, but you're no longer a domainer. End of story.