Its all about the name…and that pretty much sums it up.
Ladies and gentlemen take a ride on my roller coaster as I explore the importance of having a solid domain strategy. From domain parking to domain development, follow me through the ups and downs, lefts and rights of the domain name industry.
Has it ever made you wonder why some domains names command such huge figures at auction or why generic domain names are better, or not, for search engine placement? You may be torn between registering a keyword-rich domain name or just something cool and snazzy that you can brand as your own. If you have these types of questions buzzing around your mind when thinking about the domain name you should choose for your website or online project don’t feel that you are alone.
When I started getting involved in domain names, I was puzzled by these issues and some still baffle me today. However the domain name industry is no different to any other and the simple concepts of supply and demand still apply. I like to think of domains in relation to the property market. A domain name is like a piece of land that has yet to be developed. Now you may have a great idea for that piece of land, like building a shopping centre on it or just making it look pretty by cleaning it up and planting some trees. You could rent the land out to someone who wants to use it or just sit on it and hope that it goes up in value to sell it at a later date. This analogy really does sum up whats happening in the domain name industry at the moment. Your particular domain strategy is what ever works for you; it relies solely on your individual goals for that particular domain.
I personally feel that the intrinsic value of a domain name lies in the development potential behind it and that realising the value by turning the domain into a tangible asset is the only way to unlock the true core of what is an extremely exciting and rewarding industry to be a part of.
You can register a good domain name through many of the domain name registrars and begin developing it almost immediately. However creating a solid domain strategy and following it to fruition should be the goal of any would-be “domainer.”
Many people have made a lot of money by acquiring high traffic domain names and “parking” them, peppering them with sponsored links and monetising them that way, but where’s the fun in that? Well, lots of money for a start which is always nice! But seriously, even the most hardened domainers are now turning their backs on simply parking their domains and 2009 appears to be the turning point in the industry where many seasoned pros are turning their heads to domain development.
I’ve been involved with domain names for some years now, I have bought and sold domains, developed them, parked them and explored many ways of marketing them online to maximise their potential value. I am now dedicating a blog to the domain name industry and sharing my experiences, trials and tribulations, good times and bad. I will also be sharing my views on domain industry news and host a diary of the current domain development projects I am working on.
If you would like to share your comments, views, experiences or anything else you may or may not know about domains it would be great to hear from you. So please feel free to post a comment below. Oh, and if there is a subject within the domain name industry which you would like me to research and write an article about please let me know. Thanks for reading and watch this space for more articles about domains.
Domain strategy…its all about the name
