So you're a domainer, eh? Prove it. (Opinion piece)

[MAINNET]

So you're a domainer, eh? Prove it.

This seems to be the sentiment some folks lead with in the NamePros forum and a few other "accessible" domainer circles. Looking in the domain industry's rearview, we can see the 90s have come and gone. Some notable sales have been made; but the space seems to be a shell of itself. Every now and then there's a trend that gets certain domainers talking, making money and on their way. A majority of domainers though are holding out hope they'll be among the lucky ones that'll get a sale this month - maybe even next month.

Here's the reality: It's not just new domainers that are hoping for sales. It's folks who've been around for some time too. Most won't say it; but the critique of certain "successful" domainers doesn't necessarily make it the coolest thing to do. Before anyone comes with their favorite line about "buying quality domains", let us not forget the space hasn't innovated enough to support substantial growth opportunities. So while quality names are one part, lethargic evolution of the space is another.

For the sake of full transparency, I - along with some partners - fall within the category of folks who've been privileged to have some decent sales. They haven't been mega sales - but enough to say we can pick, hold, develop and move em if the market and the universe's favor permits. Nothing too flashy. We like to joke that we sit at the intersection of what domaining was and could become. More than anything, we value people, love language and believe the domain space hasn't scratched the surface of its potential.

With all of this stated, I'd simply like to petition those who care about the domain space, and not just the money, to rethink how WE advise folks who are new to the space and even those who've been here for a while. There's nothing like being blessed to make money in a rather low-key and unregulated sector. This allows more room to strengthen the domainer community as a whole without the divisiveness and superiority complexes some folks SEEM to have. Yes, there's money to be made, but there's PEOPLE to be uplifted.

And because the peanut gallery always needs addressing, here's the sharper end of the blade:

Nobody is saying coddle and lie to folks. I'm merely saying lift your foot off the criticism-gas and remember domain sales don't guarantee YOU have REAL respect, morals, dignity or class. They don't mean you're worthy of being loved or that life will provide you with an abundance of anything that really matters - peace, joy and balance. Say what you want; but remember there's a batch of folks who move in silence. They know it's best to stay in the shadows, make sales and let folks speculate about who's really doing what. Every now and then, they step out to say there's room to do better. That's exactly what THIS thread is intended to signal.

Let us do right by one another and move the space forward. After all, it's well overdue.

 

[Abdelafen]

@Abdelafen Thank you so very much for your comment. It's pleasing to read about the efforts to move the domain space forward in the Arab community and beyond. Everything you highlighted aligns with the sentiment of this thread. As someone who believes conventional domaining is in desperate need of cultural diversity, I am extremely grateful to learn there are individuals in the Arab community making strides to assist and educate.

Yes, that’s truly wonderful to hear! The two individuals I told you about will be giving a presentation at the domainers’ summit to be held in London in early September. If you’ll be attending, don’t hesitate to speak with them and exchange ideas on how to move this field forward.

 

[dirk]

As someone who believes conventional domaining is in desperate need of cultural diversity,

Lol, there's plenty of cultural diversity in domaining. It's one the the most cultural diverse niches if you'd ask me.

 

[bmugford]

Lol, there's plenty of cultural diversity in domaining. It's one the the most cultural diverse niches if you'd ask me.

Yep. There are people all over the world that do it.

It's also a low barrier to entry field.

All you need is a very small amount of money to get started.

Brad

 

[MAINNET]

Lol, there's plenty of cultural diversity in domaining. It's one the the most cultural diverse niches if you'd ask me.

I'd have to respectfully disagree.

Domains can be registered in other languages with special characters and many domainers don't care to acknowledge it openly. These IDNs (Internationalized Domain Names) are often dismissed as less valuable or non-existent. However, if the space was culturally diverse, we'd see a lot of key domainers endorsing the purchase, sale and use of culturally relevant domains for diversity's sake. But hey, many of them feel domaining is solely about business and making money. There's no time for factoring the world's diverse population and languages.

Simply remember, domain discrimination based on language translates into cultural barriers and less diversity.

 

[Future Sensors]

@MAINNET It's not just a domain‑investor story. It's a story about missing end‑user adoption. By the way, good to see you back in words instead of emoticons.

 

[MAINNET]

Yep. There are people all over the world that do it.

It's also a low barrier to entry field.

All you need is a very small amount of money to get started.

Brad

A perceived low barrier to entry doesn't equate to diversity. Sure, it can be a variable that helps seed diversity; but it doesn't equate to it by default.

As for "a very small amount of money to get started", let's just say $0.98 for a .info or $1.00 for a .xyz won't place someone on a promising sales path or get them anything other than domainers saying they should spend more.

 

[bmugford]

A perceived low barrier to entry doesn't equate to diversity. Sure, it can be a variable that helps seed diversity; but it doesn't equate to it by default.

Nope, but it helps lead to diversity. There is a lot more diversity when there is a low barrier to entry.

All I have to do is look at NamePros, Twitter, etc. There are domain investors from all over the world from different races, religions, and backgrounds.

I guarantee I could take a couple hundred bucks right now, buy a handful of domains, and hustle to make a profit.

However, that is leveraging my knowledge and experience in the field. That is something that was only acquired over time.

Sure, if you have more money there are more opportunities. That is just true in life.

Brad

 

[dirk]

I'd have to respectfully disagree.

Domains can be registered in other languages with special characters and many domainers don't care to acknowledge it openly. These IDNs (Internationalized Domain Names) are often dismissed as less valuable or non-existent. However, if the space was culturally diverse, we'd see a lot of key domainers endorsing the purchase, sale and use of culturally relevant domains for diversity's sake. But hey, many of them feel domaining is solely about business and making money. There's no time for factoring the world's diverse population and languages.

Simply remember, domain discrimination based on language translates into cultural barriers and less diversity.

I agree we disagree but it's basically just a demand issue.

For those who don't know me, I'm Dutch. Most of you don't give a rats arse about superb domains in Dutch language or cctld. It has nothing to do with diversity, only with demand.

Now, you don't hear me complaining as there's plenty of endusers buying, it's a very profitable 'niche' for me.

If there wouldn't be any demand, I'd pivot. And I do tbh, but only to get a slice of a bigger pie.

When there's no demand, there's no business case. Has little to do with discrimination.

 

[MAINNET]

@MAINNET It's not just a domain‑investor story. It's a story about missing end‑user adoption. By the way, good to see you back in words instead of emoticons.

Missing end-user adoption is the result of key players prioritizing this over that. The space is full of folks who would tell you jalapeno.com and jalapeño.com are two very different names with two very different values. One has been registered since the 90s (Go figure) while the other remains unregistered. Can we guess why? Not because they have different character counts or extensions. It's because of the "ñ" - which a Spanish character and culturally relevant. There are A LOT of Spanish-speaking people and companies that use it, write it and text it. Heck, Spanish is a widely spoken language globally. Yet, authentic Spanish domains aren't a thing. But I digress.

 

[bmugford]

I agree we disagree but it's basically just a demand issue.

For those who don't know me, I'm Dutch. Most of you don't give a rats arse about superb domains in Dutch language or cctld. It has nothing to do with diversity, only with demand.

Now, you don't hear me complaining as there's plenty of endusers buying, it's a very profitable 'niche' for me.

If there wouldn't be any demand, I'd pivot. And I do tbh, but only to get a slice of a bigger pie.

When there's no demand, there's no business case. Has little to do with discrimination.

Pretty much. Domain investors don't care if there is no demand.

Domain investors don't create demand. End users do.

.AI is a good example of something that became popular because of end user demand. Why are domain investors going to chase some investment where the end user pool is a ghost town?

Brad

 

[dirk]

Nope, but it helps lead to diversity. There is a lot more diversity when there is a low barrier to entry.

All I have to do is look at NamePros, Twitter, etc. There are domain investors from all over the world from different races, religions, and backgrounds.

I guarantee I could take a couple hundred bucks right now, buy a handful of domains, and hustle to make a profit.

However, that is leveraging my knowledge and experience in the field. That is something that was only acquired over time.

Sure, if you have more money there are more opportunities. That is just true in life.

Brad

So true, the domainers I know in person are quite geographically apart.

It's what attracts me. I learned a lot from a variety of cultures, met great people all over the world simply selling domains

 

[bmugford]

So true, the domainers I know in person are quite geographically apart.

It's what attracts me. I learned a lot from a variety of cultures, met great people all over the world simply selling domains

I interact with people daily in the domain field that I would never encounter in ordinary daily life.

I can't really think of many tech fields more diverse than domain investing, when it comes to the people involved.

You really only need a little bit of money and an internet connection to get started.

Brad

 

[MAINNET]

Pretty much. Domain investors don't care if there is no demand.

Domain investors don't create demand. End users do.

.AI is a good example of something that became popular because of end user demand. Why are domain investors going to chase some investment where the end user pool is a ghost town?

Brad

Some say "end users create demand".

Others say "end users trust .com more than a domain in their native tongue".

A majority say "end users don't care about domains and only businesses are relevant to the space".

It's fair to say, many "domainers" couldn't care less about culture unless it lines their pockets.

Fair enough.

 

[dirk]

Missing end-user adoption is the result of key players prioritizing this over that. The space is full of folks who would tell you jalapeno.com and jalapeño.com are two very different names with two very different values. One has been registered since the 90s (Go figure) while the other remains unregistered. Can we guess why? Not because they have different character counts or extensions. It's because of the "ñ" - which a Spanish character and culturally relevant. There are A LOT of Spanish-speaking people and companies that use it, write it and text it. Heck, Spanish is a widely spoken language globally. Yet, authentic Spanish domains aren't a thing. But I digress.

All true. Nobody cares though. Jalapeno is superb. The other one isn't.

Germans prefer hyphens, the rest of the world don't.

French is a sexy language, yet when selling . com domains better to stick to English.... I know, not 100% true but you get what I mean.

 

[bmugford]

Some say "end users create demand".

Others say "end users trust .com more than a domain in their native tongue".

A majority say "end users don't care about domains and only businesses are relevant to the space".

It's fair to say, many "domainers" couldn't care less about culture unless it lines their pockets.

Fair enough.

End users create demand. Without them, all domain investors could do is trade domains among themselves.

While other extensions can sell, the .COM numbers speak for themselves.

I sold a .BIZ today for $2,500. That's not a daily thing though.

The term probably would have sold for $500K+ in .COM.

Any domain has a chance to sell, the likelihood is what it comes down to.

A good .COM is just more likely to sell than a good .anythingelse. That is where the market is.

Brad

 

[MAINNET]

All true. Nobody cares though. Jalapeno is superb. The other one isn't.

Germans prefer hyphens, the rest of the world don't.

French is a sexy language, yet when selling . com domains better to stick to English.... I know, not 100% true but you get what I mean.

I get your point. All I'm saying is language goes hand-in-hand with culture. For many people, it is culture. If a space built atop buying, selling and trading words/identity doesn't support language diversity, how could it ever be considered "culturally diverse"? (At least seriously.)

 

[bmugford]

All true. Nobody cares though. Jalapeno is superb. The other one isn't.

Germans prefer hyphens, the rest of the world don't.

French is a sexy language, yet when selling . com domains better to stick to English.... I know, not 100% true but you get what I mean.

I have some amazing terms in French, Spanish, German, among other languages. There is just not much demand even for top terms.

I would consider buying any domain extension or format, if the demand was there and it made sense as an investment.

Brad

 

[dirk]

I interact with people daily in the domain field that I would never encounter in ordinary daily life.

I can't really think of many tech fields more diverse than domain investing, when it comes to the people involved.

You really only need a little bit of money and an internet connection to get started.

Brad

I was on a holiday last couple of weeks, met up with someone in Singapore I only know from this forum.

Showed me around, the local places to go to. Been amazing.

 

[dirk]

I have some amazing terms in French, Spanish, German, among other languages. There is just not much demand even for top terms.

I would consider buying any domain extension or format, if the demand was there and it made sense as an investment.

Brad

Yes, especially for France and Germany, they're more cctld orientated.

It can be exhausting trying to convince them buying a great term in a gTLD.

But when you do, it so fulfilling

Also, usually they're just too good to let go even if they're tough to sell, in my personal experience

 

[MAINNET]

End users create demand. Without them, all domain investors could do is trade domains among themselves.

While other extensions can sell, the .COM numbers speak for themselves.

I sold a .BIZ today for $2,500. That's not a daily thing though.

The term probably would have sold for $500K+ in .COM.

Any domain has a chance to sell, the likelihood is what it comes down to.

A good .COM is just more likely to sell than a good .anythingelse. That is where the market is.

Brad

Congrats on the sale. It's simply time the space properly defines "end user". Especially with social handles having the value they have. I'd categorize today's end-user as anyone typing/searching a domain. The purchaser of a domain could be considered an end-user to an extent; but they categorize as the buyer/builder. If we're saying the buyers decide what sells, then I'd say yes to an extent. I'm more so talking about the everyday users of the internet not deciding what domains sale. After all, the people shape the WORLD WIDE WEB (WWW).