Will there be a day where one must be quite rich already to start in domaining?

[shinysign]

This is a sort of hypothetical discussion, but I was wondering what you all thought about the future owners of domain names. It seems to me that the best domain names go up and up, first an individual registers it for their own needs, perhaps a domainer buys it from them, then a business buys it from them, then a corporation buys it from them. I can imagine once corporations understand things like, say, type in traffic, they will just buy it all up.

I suppose my question is convoluted because there are so many types and levels of domain names, and one cannot account for them all. But the best .coms, car.com, house.com, money.com, are already untouchable to the average person and no company would dream of selling them.

I guess I will ask a simpler question: do you think there will be a day when someone has to start off being quite rich and well off to even begin in domaining or do you think it will always be accessible to the average user who can start with buying domains at reg fee and buying domains from individuals at low priced auctions?

Edit: and why or why not?

 

[ofclean]

Well, as time goes on, domain names matter less and less, so I'd say that answer is a resounding "no".

 

[Pred]

no

 

[MicroGuy]

Yes. I think starting with a lot of money is the best approach. If one desires to own one million dollars in domains, he will need to invest two million dollars (on average).

 

[Pred]

If one desires to own one million dollars in domains, he will need to invest two million dollars (on average).

:o :blink: exsqueeze me?

 

[Krossat]

isnt that time already here? earning a few dollars is a different thing, or probably developing etc. As a pure domainer, you still need good finances to launch yourself into serious business.

 

[Spade]

:o :blink: exsqueeze me?

LoL. I had to re-read this posting, but im with you. I dont get it.

 

[Pred]

lol

i'm happy to trade 1million dollars worth of domains for 2 million$ :bingo: :kickass:

 

[MarkP]

I guess I will ask a simpler question: do you think there will be a day when someone has to start off being quite rich and well off to even begin in domaining or do you think it will always be accessible to the average user who can start with buying domains at reg fee and buying domains from individuals at low priced auctions?

Edit: and why or why not?

I think there will always be an opportunity - think real estate agent. New construction, or resale, the market is so large there will always be a need for someone who can find the right end users.

 

[Shasta]

I guess I will ask a simpler question: do you think there will be a day when someone has to start off being quite rich and well off to even begin in domaining or do you think it will always be accessible to the average user who can start with buying domains at reg fee and buying domains from individuals at low priced auctions?....

My expertise is mostly in short domains and here is my opinion on those.

Most ultra short .com domains are already at the point where most people worldwide cannot afford them. $90,000 plus for a LL or NN.com. $6,000 plus for a LLL.com, even CVCV.coms are expensive. I think Baco.com just sold a few weeks ago for over $20,000.

However, last year lots of people made some good money registering the LLLL.com domains right before the sold out, then they started selling them for $60 or $70 each at their high in February. I myself sold about 150 of these but only tripled my investment on most. However, considering I'm losing money right now in the stock market, I should be happy.

Domaining is very risky and hard to get started in, however, the rewards can be great for the lucky few. I remember when some friends started purchasing LLL.com domains in 2001, they've been selling them for $10,000 to $20,000 each (unfortunately, I did not buy any.) I also remember thinking how foolish people were for registering the CVCV.com type domains in 2004 for $7 each, who would have figured they'd be worth $800 and up just 4 years later! Oh well, better late than never. I've got some money in L-LL.com domains, but at $7 a domain it is a pretty low investment. I figure if an L-L.com currently goes for about $2,100 according to 3character.com, these have a chance. I also bought some CVCVC.com domains and a few LLLL.nets. Now it's just a waiting game mixed in with an occasional mailing to potential endusers to pay registration fees.

 

[Jasonn]

If you want to "get rich" domaining, I'd say you would have to have at least 50-100k ready to invest to start. And even that doesn't guarentee any kind of success. A lot of domaining seems to be about being lucky. Lucky that that name you happen to buy is wanted by some big company. Lucky that the name you happened to buy blows up and becomes a well known term. Lucky that you were in the right place at the right time to get the right name at the right price.

 

[bxdes]

no ..

 

[h2o]

Well, as time goes on, domain names matter less and less

I'm just curious what you mean. Could you elaborate more on that?

 

[VURG]

The great thing about domains is that there are bargains in every budget. The other great thing about domains is that you can develop any cheap $1-$20 domain and resell it for a good profit. The other great thing about domains is that a lot of people have nice portfolios of domains but no time to find buyers who will pay a nice commission to people who do for them.

Finding the bargains is a skill that most people don't have.
Developing domains is a skill that most people don't have.
Finding buyers is a skill that most people don't have.

If you have the right skills and contacts, you don't need much money at all.

However, the bad thing about domaining is that there are so many bad habits to avoid that will lose you a lot of money.

 

[MicroGuy]

The great thing about domains is that there are bargains in every budget. The other great thing about domains is that you can develop any cheap $1-$20 domain and resell it for a good profit. The other great thing about domains is that a lot of people have nice portfolios of domains but no time to find buyers who will pay a nice commission to people who do for them.

Finding the bargains is a skill that most people don't have.
Developing domains is a skill that most people don't have.
Finding buyers is a skill that most people don't have.

If you have the right skills and contacts, you don't need much money at all.

However, the bad thing about domaining is that there are so many bad habits to avoid that will lose you a lot of money.

The best reply so far. Rep to you!

 

[-REECE-]

It's definitely easier with more money, but certainly not impossible with any budget.

Many of the markets which have yielded large returns over the past few years with domaining have started off as being something highly speculative -- eg. non-premium LLL.com, L-L.com, CCC.com, CVCV, Pronounceable LLLL.coms.

A $200 aftermarket LLL.com purchase in 2002 is worth $6000+ today... That NLN CCC.com you picked up for $20 in September 2005 is worth at least $175 today according to 3Character.com -- not a bad return in 3 years!

I bought 1846 LLLL.coms for $7 in 2007 before the LLLL.com buyout happened. I bought some more of them for $10-$20 in the weeks which followed and ended up selling most of them for $35-$50 per.

If you consistently predict where the market will go and take the necessary calculated risks, you'll be a very wealthy man regardless of how much you start domaining with.

 

[VURG]

Thanks MicroGuy!

 

[accent]

For the next few years (barring economic downturns) the entire domain market should grow enormously. This means that if you correctly guess the areas of rapid growth shortly before they boom, and recognize underpriced domains, you can regularly make very large returns (granted there will be losses too). Moderately well placed bets in most areas will beat most other investments.

This is because the internet is still expanding rapidly in both the number of users and the number of uses. The mobile web and internet TV show that this expansion shows no signs of slowing in the near term.

Someday the potential will be reached. There will be few people who do not use their computers throughout the day. Vast collections of domains will be in the hands of Wall-street type investment houses. Everyone you know will be aware of domain investing. Real-estate type agents will constantly badger domain owners to let them market their domains.

At that point, while there will still be opportunities, the market will be fully valued.

And the value of a nice collection of the right kinds of domains purchased today may be truly awesome.

 

[Untitled]

isnt that time already here? earning a few dollars is a different thing, or probably developing etc. As a pure domainer, you still need good finances to launch yourself into serious business.

I agree... Isn't that time already here?? I don't think there is anymore chance for newbies unless they are doing it part time and have some other source of income or a newbie who is loaded with money!! But as time goes... Domaining is dieing!

 

[-REECE-]

There's talk around the blogsphere about .OM lately -- if that gets opened up to everyone there'll be some serious cash to be made.

I agree... Isn't that time already here?? I don't think there is anymore chance for newbies unless they are doing it part time and have some other source of income or a newbie who is loaded with money!! But as time goes... Domaining is dieing!