The DEATH of "domaining" as we know it..

[mjnels]

I think its possible traditional domaining is going to die..or at least come to a slow crawl and take a lonnnnng nap. No, probably not in legacy TLD's like .COM, .ORG or popular ccTLD's. Although I think those prices are done going up for the most part. They're likely gonna level off, especially mediocre ones and longtail.

I'm mostly talking about newish gTLD's where people on this forum register them in hopes to sell them for more money than they paid with zero development, even Top-Tier words/phrases. There is so much choice now and the business model has changed to a Top-Down type of thing. The registries and registrars are the new domainers. With some exceptions - it probably isn't going to be like it used to or even close.

I include "older gTLD" like .INFO in this too... I guess I haven't been following sales prices lately, but I cant see "traditional domainers" making money off top-tier words in gTLD like they used to. Beyond the hype not being able to sustain itself and prices being spread too thin across the board, the number of choices offered will result in MUCH lower prices than when just 1 or 2 new gTLD (or re-purposed ccTLD like .co) were released every year.

The flood is coming.. it may seem like its already here but just wait until renewal time..and next renewal time, and the next one. Although, isn't that somewhat the point of the new gTLD? To give people that are actually going to use them more choice (and line ICANN's pockets..) Well, you can argue "we don't need the choice" but that is irrelevant because its here now regardless of the reason. Prices are gonna drop farther than they already have. Once the registrars/registries have sold the "good stuff" during the hype phase a good portion of them will likely start whoring them out at cheaper prices.

I'm talking "single letter" domains for at or under $100. You betcha. A lot of the reserved and ICANN restricted domains are not even out yet.. like the ones on the "name collision list." And yes, I am aware "single letter" isn't what it used to mean when the TLD itself is 12 characters long, but still..

I'm not saying gTLD wont eventually get used by businesses. I believe they overwhelmingly WILL be in the future. Too many cool intuitive phrases for it not to happen and now they're featured on the front page of every registrar. Its da future and the common person will know they exist now. But they're not going to be forced to buy top tier words from traditional domainers as much as they used to be... unless there is an influx of 100x as many "domainers" as there are now.

So all you people trying to "get in early" on the next big thing... become a registry or registrar with a good angle. Otherwise what you have here is mostly likely an expensive hobby/obsession/tax write off.

 

[gemstar]

There is only one beach front property no matter how others try to dress up their less valuable property to make it seem like your living closer, there will be only one overlooking the ocean and thats .com

 

[RogueWriter]

Hello Tom long time no see, I think there are two separate conversations, do I believe there will be businesses using new gtlds ? Yes, if they don't buy mine and other domain investor's names in the secondary market that means little to me unless I invest in a publicly traded one like Minds and Machines.

I can see more companies using new gtlds without domain investors ever making a dime.

Now I do want to be clear I have speculated a little bit, but I would never buy one in the secondary market as an investment looking to sell for a higher price down the road, a few hundred dollars speculating is fine, I can't see putting real money into them for my personal portfolio.

Hiyas yourself, Ray. Fair points, and certainly the plethora of options will make it easier for a company to find a decent alternative. Given that the premium keywords within the newer extensions often come with higher renewal, sometimes unreasonably so, that also makes a domainer's job more difficult.

Yet, I think that if there is one truth that runs through all of domaining it would be that a quality domain, a domain that survives all of the filters that an experienced domainer will put it through, will find itself in demand, if not immediately then at some point in the future.

Before these extensions started being released I had dropped my portfolio down to about 120 domains. I even allowed a few to drop that I could have kept, but I was trying to cut all of the fluff out of my portfolio, down to ones that, when I look at them I think yeah, I could build a core business around that single domain.

Since then I am back up to about 170 domains, forty or so of them new .gtlds.

I have the exact seem feeling that I had back when all those .TVs dropped at midnight years ago and there were only a few dozen of us up in the middle of the night trying to register as many as possible - only, the sheer number of extensions has reduced the necessity to register everything immediately, today.

Yesterday I registered Artist.Supply and FortWorth.supply, decent keywords, and both have renewal fees in the low twenties. I think those are quality domains, yet the extension has been out now for a month; I am relatively surprised at the lack of competition for dominate keywords in some of these better extensions.

With deepest respect, I do think there are domains in these extensions that retain value, not just as development opportunities but also as investment opportunities, albeit down the road. These will not be, for the most part, overnight flips.

Average to poor new .gtld domains will never sell, just like average to poor .coms will never sell, imo.

 

[equity78]

Look I believe Tom there are names that make sense with the new gtlds, we as domain investors a lot of times are getting screwed from all angles, some great names on collision list, some are reserved to auction off at end user prices, some have crazy premium pricing.

The next thing that makes it difficult is the limitless supply, these extensions are going to keep coming out so you need to really get lucky or sell for a lower price.

I think just making a profit will be good, I sold Six.tv for $25,000 with a $500 premium renewal years ago, I can't imagine making a $25,000 sale from one of the new gtlds that I can hand register, I could see a great one selling for that but it will probably be registered in the four figure range. Again just my opinion.

I see businesses using them if I owned a Fashion company, I might want my business on a .com and use Dress.sexy for a promotion, I think businesses will use these extensions as satellites.

 

[kippy]

Look I believe Tom there are names that make sense with the new gtlds, we as domain investors a lot of times are getting screwed from all angles, some great names on collision list, some are reserved to auction off at end user prices, some have crazy premium pricing.

The next thing that makes it difficult is the limitless supply, these extensions are going to keep coming out so you need to really get lucky or sell for a lower price.

I think just making a profit will be good, I sold Six.tv for $25,000 with a $500 premium renewal years ago, I can't imagine making a $25,000 sale from one of the new gtlds that I can hand register, I could see a great one selling for that but it will probably be registered in the four figure range. Again just my opinion.

I see businesses using them if I owned a Fashion company, I might want my business on a .com and use Dress.sexy for a promotion, I think businesses will use these extensions as satellites.

This is sensible....yes....will not overtake the mainstream especially when .com can be registered for a dollar for the year. They are referral domains to the main domain...but they are not main brand domains...unless you get a really amazing that you advertise. I don't recall going to a great brands website other than .com. It's really interesting though. I have a feeling it's driving up the value of .com. It shouldn't really if you think about it because why is .com different than .xyz? Yet, it's the public trust, knowledge and experience with it. It's really a weird thing. I actually like .company....but it's not .com. Why? It's like New York City...there's only one...you can go to Boston, Chicago, LA...but they are not NY. It's a strange world we live in. I like your comment about ROI too. I think the ROIs on these new gtlds won't be as good as previous because of the renewals, demand, etc....could be wrong but you bring up some good points.

 

[Deathstarr]

I hate to tell you but domaining will always be domaining. It depends on what you register. If you register crap your wont sell crap.

Domaining even back in the day is all about what you buy, how you buy, where you sell, and ho good you can sell. If you do not register good names then no one is going to come and try to buy them. You have to look at the new GTLDs is just another way for you to make money doing what you love.

 

[DomainVP]

Domaining is dead right now as we speak.

 

[forge]

Domaining is dead right now as we speak.

Now explain your reasoning for having made such a bold statement.

 

[DomainVP]

Now explain your reasoning for having made such a bold statement.

It's just not as profitable as it was.

The well is dry, and the few nuggets that the public has a shot at are devoured quickly at maximum prices.

Domaining is dead for new domainers, unless you have a hefty bankroll.

 

[RaiderGirl]

Give these gTLD's a couple years and you'll find you wont need the discount codes.

 

[jmcc]

Give these gTLD's a couple years and you'll find you wont need the discount codes.

The way some of them are going, a couple of years is on the optimistic side. However some might yet surprise the market. Domainers tend to see the daily registration volume and think that the new gTLDs should have registration volume like .CO, .MOBI and .EU in their landrush phases.

The volume is in .COM and the major ccTLDs. It has been increasingly drifting towards those TLDs over the last few years and other gTLDs are effectively on the wrong side of that trend.

Regards...jmcc

 

[Kate]

It's time for the rollout of .rip

 

[forge]

Rock is also dead. Long live rock!

 

[mufad]

I read many people get domains for $0.99 but most of the companies that I have seen like godaddy and 1and1 offer that price only for your first domain, or 1.99 for first year only if you register for 2 or more years together, or free domain if you purchase hosting or email package with it. These offers cannot be used with coupons. So do you make a new account for each of your domains to avail the $0.99 price for each of your domains or is there some way to manage all your domains in one account and still pay $0.99 for a new domain ?
Thanks for reply in advance.

 

[FX]

I don't like really long term technology based bets, I think you have to focus most of your efforts in the now, with an eye to the future of course, but I can't imagine putting all the eggs in the future basket and not making money in the present.

Perfectly said!

 

[domainmisc]

It's not done via codes. I went to 1and1.com and I can put it in the cart without any code!

:O. I had to read your post twice to make sure I read it correctly. I would much rather use Godaddy $.99 coupon than 1&1.

Most of the new gtlds won't be known unless someone develops something unique on them, I mean how many new extensions are there? .tech, .technology, do we really need two gtlds related to technology, why not just .tech?