discuss .Online Domains - Why 3,634 and counting

[ThatNameGuy]

NamePros member @DirkS has requested that I provide an explanation for why I've registered over 3,600 .online domains in the last six months, so here goes;

First and foremost I'm a visionary. I've started dozens of business in my life. I'm 73 years old, and I started my first business while still in college in 1970. Sure I could just be saying this, but if you have doubts I would strongly suggest that you check me out.

Having learned about this industry just over three years ago I've found the .com extension for most new business names to be both unavailable and unaffordable. I've learned that if I were to start a new business today it's unlikely the name I choose for my business would be available or affordable.

Most important, like zip codes and area codes there are literally hundreds/thousands of alternatives, and .Online just so happens to be one of the alternatives. What initially attracted me to the .Online extension was when NamesCon Online (aka NamesCon.com) made the decision to have Radix (aka Radix.online) be a sponsor. Radix then created the domain NamesCon.online to compliment/match NamesCon.com.

When I realized how the .online extension matched up with names like Reservations.online, Shopping.online, Learning.online and Domains.online, I just knew i was on to something Note that names like Reservations.com, Shopping.com, Learning.com and Domains.com are not only "unavailable", even if they were available, they'd most likely be "unaffordable"

Ironically about the time I noticed the .online extension, Go Daddy and Radix partnered and made .online domains available for a first time annual registration fee of .99 cents, and an annual re-registration of just 49.99 thereafter.

I've spent over a thousand hours in the last six months buying mostly one and two word .online domains, so if you were to add my time to the approximate $4,200 I've paid Go Daddy, I have over $20,000 invested in my portfolio of 3,634 domains.

My critics will say things like, you'll never be able to afford to renew all your domains at 49.99 each to which I have a twofold answer; #1 i don't need to renew a single domain and #2 whose to say the renewal fee isn't negotiable....as a businessperson I've learned that pretty much everything is negotiable.

Of importance to me is the fact that "if" my .online domains were .com domains my portfolio would be "valued" at over twenty million dollars. Yes, that's $20,000,000 or 20M

Now is where the rubber meets the road meaning, how do I plan to sell these domains? I just started listing them with the likes of Go Daddy where my current pricing ranges from a low of $199 to $999 and I'm looking to have an annual renewal of $99.....remember, everything is negotiable.

I plan to experiment with financing, leasing/renting and licensing my domains. I also plan to form a "users group" where end users actually have an interest in promoting the .online extension to the world.

Few domains and especially .online domains will sell themselves Thus I plan on having an "outbound" sales/marketing team who share my vision to make .online both available and affordable.

Finally, I owe a bit of gratitude to the monopoly Verisign for confirming my suspicions about the nature of the .com beast. While the beast is slowly dying, alternative solutions are ready, willing and able to take over.

Thank you!

 

[Charybdis]

I like .web as well, but it isn't a "keyword" like online is. And what's very very expensive?....a domain that costs me just .99 cents and renews at $29 a year? Somehow I don't think we're communicating about the same thing? Sorry, but I've tried to be very explicit.

Thanks for your comments, and I'll be looking to create a portfolio of .web domains when it becomes available.

I mean it's expensive to educate your customers, and to change their minds about domain extensions.

Web is a keyword: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/web

It is a dictionary word according to the Cambridge Dictionary.

Web:

UK & US English:
noun
the system of connected documents on the internet:
Jane's been surfing the Web all morning.

UK & US business English
noun
the system of connected documents on the internet, often containing pictures, video, and sound, that can be searched for information about a particular subject:
access/browse/surf the Web Most of the work can be done using your own computer to access the web.
on/over the Web All major travel agents now sell on the Web.

I think .web will be better than .online, and they mean roughly the same thing. But web is shorter.

Online definition: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/online

UK English
adjective
Online products, services, or information can be bought or used on the internet:
an online newspaper/magazine/dictionary
online banking/shopping

US English
adjective, adverb
using a computer to communicate with other computers, or of or about a computer that is connected to another computer:
I went online to see if I got any e-mail.
The computer isn’t on-line now, so the phone line is available.

Business English
adjective
available or done on the internet:
an online account/database/magazine Opening an online bank account couldn't be easier.
online trading/advertising/shopping There has been a increase in online trading by individuals.
The company built an online presence with its Web site.
online retailers/investors

 

[NickB]

I like .web as well, but it isn't a "keyword" like online is. And what's very very expensive?....a domain that costs me just .99 cents and renews at $29 a year? Somehow I don't think we're communicating about the same thing? Sorry, but I've tried to be very explicit.

Thanks for your comments, and I'll be looking to create a portfolio of .web domains when it becomes available.

Are you kidding me, did you really say web is not a keyword?

It's one of the most popular keywords when it comes to domains.....

 

[ThatNameGuy]

Are you kidding me, did you really say web is not a keyword?

It's one of the most popular keywords when it comes to domains.....

You can try and insult me all you want, but Go Daddy doesn't recognize web as a key word. I suggest you go to WalesOnline.com and WalesonWeb.com, or go to any domains that use the words "online" or "web" and you'll see what I mean

 

[ThatNameGuy]

I mean it's expensive to educate your customers, and to change their minds about domain extensions.

Web is a keyword:

It is a dictionary word according to the Cambridge Dictionary.

Web:

UK & US English:
noun
the system of connected documents on the internet:
Jane's been surfing the Web all morning.

UK & US business English
noun
the system of connected documents on the internet, often containing pictures, video, and sound, that can be searched for information about a particular subject:
access/browse/surf the Web Most of the work can be done using your own computer to access the web.
on/over the Web All major travel agents now sell on the Web.

I think .web will be better than .online, and they mean roughly the same thing. But web is shorter.

Online definition:

UK English
adjective
Online products, services, or information can be bought or used on the internet:
an online newspaper/magazine/dictionary
online banking/shopping

US English
adjective, adverb
using a computer to communicate with other computers, or of or about a computer that is connected to another computer:
I went online to see if I got any e-mail.
The computer isn’t on-line now, so the phone line is available.

Business English
adjective
available or done on the internet:
an online account/database/magazine Opening an online bank account couldn't be easier.
online trading/advertising/shopping There has been a increase in online trading by individuals.
The company built an online presence with its Web site.
online retailers/investors

Thanks for your research.online. That was very helpful

 

[NickB]

You can try and insult me all you want, but Go Daddy doesn't recognize web as a key word. I suggest you go to WalesOnline.com and WalesonWeb.com, or go to any domains that use the words "online" or "web" and you'll see what I mean

I think you need to learn what a keyword is and check out the sales data instead of throwing out what Godaddy says.....also I was not comparing them, just telling you that web is a keyword

 

[ThatNameGuy]

I think you need to learn what a keyword is and check out the sales data instead of throwing out what Godaddy says.....also I was not comparing them, just telling you that web is a keyword

Sounds like you and your followers are smarter than everyone else. Part of my sales pitch to end users will involve just how FU*KED this industry is for which I can share lots of examples

I have a friend who is an ophthalmologist and another who is an optometrist and I'll see whether they would prefer to own EyeTime.Online or EyeTime.Web. I know which one I would prefer and why. Do you?

Thanks for the KeywordSearch.online idea Nick

 

[Charybdis]

Sounds like you and your followers are smarter than everyone else. Part of my sales pitch to end users will involve just how FU*KED this industry is for which I can share lots of examples

I have a friend who is an ophthalmologist and another who is an optometrist and I'll see whether they would prefer to own EyeTime.Online or EyeTime.Web. I know which one I would prefer and why. Do you?

Thanks for the KeywordSearch.online idea Nick

You need to sell your domains to end users, not to us and not to yourself.

 

[bmugford]

You need to sell your domains to end users, not to us and not to yourself.

That is the OP's problem. He spends his time on NamePros talking about what he is going to do, and trying to convince domain investors.

Just do it already. You have spent over 3.5 years with your grand plans about re-inventing the domain system.

You are wasting your time. You need to convince end users and not domain investors.

Anyone can register hundreds or thousands of domains in marginal extensions from .realty to .online. Selling is the hard part.

Until you achieve verifiable sales results, no one cares.

 

[ThatNameGuy]

You need to sell your domains to end users, not to us and not to yourself.

Isn't that what I've been saying

 

[karamakate]

I was just showing examples of a few .online extensions that fit perfectly with the name left of the dot. There's another thread here on NP where I've shared hundreds of my domains for anyone interested. Keep in mind I'm only marketing to "end users" like banks, lawyers, doctors, educators who are transacting more and more business online every day....thanks for your input.

You are the one responsible for proving your claim, not me. So I don't have the obligation or the time to research anyone's portfolio.
I wanted a few examples to smack your illogicality in your face, but you obviously can't even be confident in showing it...

 

[ThatNameGuy]

You are the one responsible for proving your claim, not me. So I don't have the obligation or the time to research anyone's portfolio.
I wanted a few examples to smack your illogicality in your face, but you obviously can't even be confident in showing it...

That's Bull Schit my friend.....here are a few that could be turned into multi million dollar businesses;

GolfEquipment.Online - golf equipment is a multi Billion dollar business

CaliforniaWines.Online - with over 4,200 wineries in California it's the 4th leading wine producer in the world thus a multi billion dollar industry. I own 39 other Geo wine domains that cover the world.

DiscoverAfrica.Online - my wife and i have personally traveled much of the world. It's time now we went on an African Safari. What do you think?

BankDirect.Online - does anyone ever go to a B & M bank anymore or does everyone bank online I've registered over 100 financial services domains from BankRates.online to ClickLoans.online

I think that's enough....with regards to my "illogicality", give it your best shot BIG SHOT!

 

[bmugford]

That's Bull Schit my friend.....here are a few that could be turned into multi million dollar businesses;

GolfEquipment.Online - golf equipment is a multi Billion dollar business

CaliforniaWines.Online - with over 4,200 wineries in California it's the 4th leading wine producer in the world thus a multi billion dollar industry. I own 39 other Geo wine domains that cover the world.

DiscoverAfrica.Online - my wife and i have personally traveled much of the world. It's time now we went on an African Safari. What do you think?

BankDirect.Online - does anyone ever go to a B & M bank anymore or does everyone bank online I've registered over 100 financial services domains from BankRates.online to ClickLoans.online

I think that's enough....with regards to my "illogicality", give it your best shot BIG SHOT!

Two word terms in an obscure extension. Good luck with that.

You could register the same terms in .biz or whatever other sucky extensions you want and make the exact same claims.

If you were less stubborn and more open to learning, I think you would be in a much better place 3 1/2 years later.

It seems at this point you are just resigned to peddling the value of these domains to other domainers.

When are you going to start executing this amazing end user sales plan that re-invents the entire domain market?

Results > Claims.

Brad

 

[ThatNameGuy]

Two word terms in an obscure extension. Good luck with that.

You could register the same terms in .biz or whatever other sucky extensions you want and make the exact same claims.

If you were less stubborn and more open to learning, I think you would be in a much better place 3 1/2 years later.

It seems at this point you are just resigned to peddling the value of these domains to other domainers.

When are you going to start executing this amazing end user sales plan that re-invents the entire domain market?

Results > Claims.

Brad

Don't look now Brad but .online is the fastest growing new gTLD in the domain industry. I've personally made millions of dollars bucking trends....why do you think I'm so transparent

 

[bmugford]

Don't look now Brad but .online is the fastest growing new gTLD in the domain industry. I've personally made millions of dollars bucking trends....why do you think I'm so transparent

When it comes to .online and end users...

The reported aftermarket sales back that up.

 

[Charybdis]

That's Bull Schit my friend.....here are a few that could be turned into multi million dollar businesses;

GolfEquipment.Online - golf equipment is a multi Billion dollar business

CaliforniaWines.Online - with over 4,200 wineries in California it's the 4th leading wine producer in the world thus a multi billion dollar industry. I own 39 other Geo wine domains that cover the world.

DiscoverAfrica.Online - my wife and i have personally traveled much of the world. It's time now we went on an African Safari. What do you think?

BankDirect.Online - does anyone ever go to a B & M bank anymore or does everyone bank online I've registered over 100 financial services domains from BankRates.online to ClickLoans.online

I think that's enough....with regards to my "illogicality", give it your best shot BIG SHOT!

But these names are way too long. Too many characters.

Namebio.com is reporting 159 sales only for the .online domain extension. Most of them are one word domains.

You need strong one word domains for this .online extension if you want to make any sales.

And you haven't sold any yet.

I suggest you to stop now, take a break. Try to sell one, just one .online domain to an end user, for an end user price. Don't register any more domains until you have sold one, just 1 domain.

 

[DaveX]

We're talking about a $4200 investment. It's not much at all imo.

However, think about this..

3600 Domains

3 sales p/mo = 100 years to sell all
10 sales p/mo = 30 years to sell all
30 sales p/mo = 10 years to sell all

Now factor in renewals for those periods and consider how holding costs might affect potential profitability.

I'd say turn that $4200 into as much as you can and drop the rest.

I like .online though it's a bit on the longer side.

Anyway, I'm just reiterating what I said earlier in the thread. It's a lot of names and the holding costs are on the higher end. Of course, I wish you the best of luck. Ideally you might get a 10x+ return on your investment.

 

[Grego85]

So are you going to be renewing these domains? .Online isn't really very cheap, even amongst many other new gtlds when you factor in multi year renewals. Godaddy too, yikes! That's alot of transferring.

 

[ThatNameGuy]

But these names are way too long. Too many characters.

Namebio.com is reporting 159 sales only for the .online domain extension. Most of them are one word domains.

You need strong one word domains for this .online extension if you want to make any sales.

And you haven't sold any yet.

I suggest you to stop now, take a break. Try to sell one, just one .online domain to an end user, for an end user price. Don't register any more domains until you have sold one, just 1 domain.

Spoken like a traditional domainer....shorter is better "if" it fits the narrative. That said however, there are tens of thousands of .com domains less than 15 characters that have "keywords", are easy to remember, and make for perfect business names.

Remember I told you I really don't care what you or other domainers think i only care what an "end user" thinks. I know a lot of successful business people from the finance industry, the tech industry, the real estate industry, the legal profession, and the healthcare industry to name a few. I've started and named dozens of my own businesses, and I think I know a little better than most domainers what makes for a good business name.

The real question for me is.....what are you afraid of....there's a chance I might be right?

 

[ThatNameGuy]

So are you going to be renewing these domains? .Online isn't really very cheap, even amongst many other new gtlds when you factor in multi year renewals. Godaddy too, yikes! That's alot of transferring.

Have you been paying attention? Renewals are negotiable (at least for me), and that's the last time I'm telling you.

 

[dirk]

Sorry for the late reply. Life got in the way. appreciate the share. Ignoring some things posted, my thoughts:

NamePros member @DirkS has requested that I provide an explanation for why I've registered over 3,600 .online domains in the last six months, so here goes;

Thanks for the post Rich. I think it's a ballsy move to go this big, this fast on an extension like .online, hence my interest in your reasons, though process etc.

For those who missed it, we've been discussing .xyz sales here, resulting in my request to Rich to elaborate a bit on his visions for .online.

Although I still have some questions I think you outlined your vision pretty well. Please don't mind me addressing a couple of things:

I've found the .com extension for most new business names to be both unavailable and unaffordable. I've learned that if I were to start a new business today it's unlikely the name I choose for my business would be available or affordable.

Might be a bit beyond the scope of this thread but do you really think that's the case? In my experience there are plenty of good 2 word .coms available for reasonable pricing when you take some time to research. Don't you think the bigger issue is that business owners become emotionally attached to the business name they think up, find out it's not that unique but don't want to settle for an 'inferior' option? You know the saying 'kill your darlings' used in writing? Don't get attached to your branding, don't get attached to a domain/tld. Treat it like a business. In business data/numbers don't lie.

What initially attracted me to the .Online extension was when NamesCon Online (aka NamesCon.com) made the decision to have Radix (aka Radix.online) be a sponsor. Radix then created the domain NamesCon.

I get your reasoning. I just think it's flawed. Namescon is an existing brand. A meeting intended to take place offline. They had to pivot to an online auction, hence the .online extension makes perfect sense, but solely temporarily. Once the end of the pandemic is in sight, it might still continue to be online but the .online extension will become obsolete and they will simple revert back to the .com.

I've spent over a thousand hours in the last six months buying mostly one and two word .online domains, so if you were to add my time to the approximate $4,200 I've paid Go Daddy, I have over $20,000 invested in my portfolio of 3,634 domains.

I guess it depends where you're from and how you value your time but flipping burgers would definitely make me way more than $20K for 1000 hours worked. And that's a sure return/profit/income.

able to afford to renew all your domains at 49.99 each to which I have a twofold answer; #1 i don't need to renew a single domain and #2 whose to say the renewal fee isn't negotiable....as a businessperson I've learned that pretty much everything is negotiable.

Even if you're looking at a $10/piece renewal odds are not in your favour. One of the basic errors new domainers make is not taking into consideration renewal costs. If you renew none, you're done after a year. You'd need to sell at least 45 (roughly) at $500 a pop within the year to make this just as profitable as flipping burgers. That's quite the gamble considering .online's track record. After a year you can continue to work at
the burgers inn just the same and make a profit. If you need to renew 3K domains that would set you back 30K each year, leaving you with about $10K in the red, each year.

Not even taking into account taxes to be payed, payment processing fees, you name it.

Thus I plan on having an "outbound" sales/marketing team who share my vision to make .online both available and affordable.

Who's going to pay them? And why? .online is already available and affordable.

Look, I'm not a particular fan of .online but I don't hate it either. I wish you best of luck with this and hope you will share some numbers again once a year has past to see if this has been profitable for you.

I see .web getting mentioned a lot for some reason so I'm gonna address that as well. They missed the momentum. The .web extension is just as obsolete as .online following some member's reasoning. It's meaningless albeit shorter than .online. How often do you use the word web vs online? Might be commonly used in the us but over here only diehard .net lovers (read old people and geeks) are still referencing to the internet as 'the web' and we all know what happened to .net (from a domainers perspective).

Sums it up I think. Numbers used are sheer estimates and guesses but should be sufficiently close enough to be used in a workable model, too tired at the moment to do some 100% accurate calculations