The Domain Playbook: A Chat with Elie Eweka
Shelly: Hey everyone, I’m here with Elie Eweka—domain investor, CEO of Betterlife, and author of Accidental Domain Investor. He’s built a career buying and selling domain names, and today, he’s here to share some insights. Elie, what made you want to do this interview?
Elie: Because nobody’s really talking to Gen Alpha about this! Gen Alpha is already flipping sneakers, gaming accounts, and NFTs, but not domain names. That’s a whole new level of opportunity. I kind of stumbled into it myself, which is why I wrote my book, but I wish I had known about it when I was younger.
Shelly: Love it. Okay, first question—why should young people even care about domain names?
Elie: Because the internet isn’t going anywhere. Domains are like digital real estate. Imagine grabbing a rare username before anyone else—except this username could be worth thousands, maybe even millions. Owning the right domain is like holding a VIP pass to the future of the web.
Shelly: Okay, but is making money with domain names real, or just hype?
Elie: It’s 100% real! Think of it like flipping sneakers or rare collectibles. If you score a name that businesses or influencers want—boom, instant profit. The trick is spotting trends before everyone else catches on.
Shelly: Give me an example of a domain sale so wild it sounds fake.
Elie: Easy. Someone bought Voice.com for around $30,000, kept quiet about the original price, and later sold it for $30 million. That’s like paying for a fast-food meal and flipping it into a five-star dinner.
Shelly: Whoa. So how do I find a good domain name before someone else snatches it?
Elie: Watch trends. AI, gaming, memes, STEM, New Age Fairy Tales, digital identities—what’s blowing up? Combine words in creative ways and act fast! If you think of a great name, register it before someone else does.
Shelly: But does a good domain even matter when everyone’s just on platforms like Noteit, Roblox, YouTube, TikTok, or Instagram?
Elie: Great question! Social media is like renting an apartment—you’re at the mercy of the platform’s rules. A domain is like owning your own condo—so long as you pay the mortgage, you own the condo. If you decide to use the domain for your own website, you control it. Even if you don’t, remember, brands and influencers still need websites because social media trends change, but the internet is forever.
Shelly: Alright, I’m in. But what if I don’t have a lot of cash? Can I start small?
Elie: Definitely! Some domains cost as little as $10 to register, or you could pool money with friends to invest in a good name at a domain auction. The game is to look for ideas from existing products or services or emerging niches—buy low and flip smart. Also, expired domains—names people forgot to renew—can be goldmines.
Shelly: What’s the biggest beginner mistake in domain investing?
Elie: Buying random names without research. Just because a name sounds cool doesn’t mean it’s valuable. Always check if similar domains are selling, if companies might want it, and if people are searching for those keywords.
Shelly: Last question—what’s your best advice for someone my age who wants to start?
Elie: Be curious, stay ahead of trends, and start small. Use sites like Namecheap or GoDaddy to check for available names, or NameBio to look at types of names that have sold in the past. Follow domain sales on platforms like X or NamePros to see what’s working. And most importantly—have fun with it!
Shelly: Love it! Thanks, Elie. I might just grab a domain right after this interview... but you did say I should do my research first before investing in any domain name!
Elie: The future belongs to Gen Alpha and people like you who are curious.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this interview are based on my personal experience as a domain investor and business owner. These insights reflect my perspective on brandable domain names, and while I believe they offer valuable guidance, I strongly encourage readers to conduct their own research before investing in any type of domain name, whether for personal use or investment purposes.
Shelly: Hey everyone, I’m here with Elie Eweka—domain investor, CEO of Betterlife, and author of Accidental Domain Investor. He’s built a career buying and selling domain names, and today, he’s here to share some insights. Elie, what made you want to do this interview?
Elie: Because nobody’s really talking to Gen Alpha about this! Gen Alpha is already flipping sneakers, gaming accounts, and NFTs, but not domain names. That’s a whole new level of opportunity. I kind of stumbled into it myself, which is why I wrote my book, but I wish I had known about it when I was younger.
Shelly: Love it. Okay, first question—why should young people even care about domain names?
Elie: Because the internet isn’t going anywhere. Domains are like digital real estate. Imagine grabbing a rare username before anyone else—except this username could be worth thousands, maybe even millions. Owning the right domain is like holding a VIP pass to the future of the web.
Shelly: Okay, but is making money with domain names real, or just hype?
Elie: It’s 100% real! Think of it like flipping sneakers or rare collectibles. If you score a name that businesses or influencers want—boom, instant profit. The trick is spotting trends before everyone else catches on.
Shelly: Give me an example of a domain sale so wild it sounds fake.
Elie: Easy. Someone bought Voice.com for around $30,000, kept quiet about the original price, and later sold it for $30 million. That’s like paying for a fast-food meal and flipping it into a five-star dinner.
Shelly: Whoa. So how do I find a good domain name before someone else snatches it?
Elie: Watch trends. AI, gaming, memes, STEM, New Age Fairy Tales, digital identities—what’s blowing up? Combine words in creative ways and act fast! If you think of a great name, register it before someone else does.
Shelly: But does a good domain even matter when everyone’s just on platforms like Noteit, Roblox, YouTube, TikTok, or Instagram?
Elie: Great question! Social media is like renting an apartment—you’re at the mercy of the platform’s rules. A domain is like owning your own condo—so long as you pay the mortgage, you own the condo. If you decide to use the domain for your own website, you control it. Even if you don’t, remember, brands and influencers still need websites because social media trends change, but the internet is forever.
Shelly: Alright, I’m in. But what if I don’t have a lot of cash? Can I start small?
Elie: Definitely! Some domains cost as little as $10 to register, or you could pool money with friends to invest in a good name at a domain auction. The game is to look for ideas from existing products or services or emerging niches—buy low and flip smart. Also, expired domains—names people forgot to renew—can be goldmines.
Shelly: What’s the biggest beginner mistake in domain investing?
Elie: Buying random names without research. Just because a name sounds cool doesn’t mean it’s valuable. Always check if similar domains are selling, if companies might want it, and if people are searching for those keywords.
Shelly: Last question—what’s your best advice for someone my age who wants to start?
Elie: Be curious, stay ahead of trends, and start small. Use sites like Namecheap or GoDaddy to check for available names, or NameBio to look at types of names that have sold in the past. Follow domain sales on platforms like X or NamePros to see what’s working. And most importantly—have fun with it!
Shelly: Love it! Thanks, Elie. I might just grab a domain right after this interview... but you did say I should do my research first before investing in any domain name!
Elie: The future belongs to Gen Alpha and people like you who are curious.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this interview are based on my personal experience as a domain investor and business owner. These insights reflect my perspective on brandable domain names, and while I believe they offer valuable guidance, I strongly encourage readers to conduct their own research before investing in any type of domain name, whether for personal use or investment purposes.
