It's 2007.
I'm still doing it.
Only now I'm a bit more adept a divining the future and choosing my targets with a bit more accrued wisdom.
Do you do it too?
One thing that's nice to know: If you choose wisely you know that in a few years what once wasn't all that obvious will make you look like you were really smart.
Just like those jokers who were really smart in 1995, 1996, 1997 . . .
There's still room and time to be smart.
Trend analysis anyone?
"Plastics . . . . "
Nah, but it's a great line.
Put on your futurist hat and go domaining.
"Software . . . . "
"Voice reponse . . IVP . . ."
"Self help, self service . . . "
Remember: Stay generic and stay out of trouble.
Predictive Domaining
A good portion of my domain portfolio has been predictive. Since I'm glued to the SEO industry day in and day out, I've managed to pick up some fairly decent domains over the years.
WebmasterWorld members are a great source for predictive domaining. We'll usually see the buzz first and then it goes mainstream. Gotta get those predictive domains in advance of the mainstream announcement. ;)
And here I sit, thinking "Gee, I bet one could talk about all sorts of things with a website built around that domain. All that and likely some contextual ads, hosting ads, domain registration ads, . . "
And just to prove what a nice guy I am I'm not going to register it.
That decision, however, does not at all suggest that I believe the subject matter domain lacks the makings of a unique opportunity. What the domain describes is the essence of what domain registration has been about for years.
And I don't want to read a post by anyone saying that they've taken it. (Just sticky me, if you care). I just want to know that someone here is prepared to endorse the thought: "Maybe Webwork does have the occassional worthy idea . . . Nah."
Folks, if there's an interesting or emerging topic the trick is to recognize it - first - and then do something.
Predictive domaining?
Hello?
What do you think the domain industry has been about for the past decade+.
And, it's still happening.
Consider this a give away.
Somebody owes me a beer. ;-P (That's me, thirsty, with my tongue hanging out . . )
[edited by: Webwork at 12:03 pm (utc) on Aug. 16, 2007]
it has the makings of a unique opportunity
Here's the big problem:
Opportunity = W O R K
Bright idea - intelligent, focused action = not much at all
I've let a thousand great opportunities pass me by because I'm focused on the opportunities I'm already working on.
I'm gonna let this one slide, too ...
Ya know, Mr. Lewis, as of 2:12 P.M. EST the thread relevant domain remains unregistered
As of 4:33Pm EST is was already registered so someone nabbed it.
Availability check shows that it's available, but when you try to register, it's already registered, but this is how I'm trying out with a few domains.
That doesn't mean you should stop predicting, nor does it mean you should take your lead from anything I post. :) Caveat do-main-or.
Here's a crazy idea: Pay a visit to MIT or CalTech's websites and see what they're up to, generic tech phrases only. Emerging tech is always an interesting area. Again, generics only. Example: Holo-whatever.
Remember this is mostly for fun and entertainment purposes only. Only invest what you can afford to lose . . or pay out of pocket every year to renew the domain.
Now, taking my "lead" from Ms. Bucky I shall now get my nose back into my PHP/MySQL reading.
WebmasterWorld members are a great source for predictive domaining.
Worth more than most of us realize. How often have I heard something on TV, seen it on the net, or overheard it in conversation, all along saying to myself "man, this was discussed on WebmasterWorld hours, days, weeks, months ago."
Note to self: if it's on WebmasterWorld today, likely it's news tomorrow. Take action.
Webwork: I've got your back on that beer.
Predictive Domaining: Here is one right from your own hat... "reputation... " ;-)
If you see something, go though your registrar and try it, even if it just for the hell of it. This is how I've found a few of my "pointer" domains (domains used to point ot a main site, similar keywords in the domains etc..).
And if it's gold plated platinum (OK, now I'm starting to sound like Quark) and the .com is taking, shoot for the .org, .net, .info, and so on. Try the multiple version (examples.com instead of example.com). Try examplenline.com (that's a KILLER one for me). Stick with generics, too. Generics are rarely trademarked, in fact, it's the other way around (point: Q-tips, Kleenex, Band Aids etc..).
So go for it, the worst that'll happen is that you'll get a no but you'll have ideas for other domain to look into. Even people on a very tight budget (like me) can get into this.
There are domain opportunities in Webworks post (on homepage). It's a limited area but early trends are showing people are interested in the topic.
Just bought one today. :-)
You're a little more straight forward appearing than he is, though.
"Demographic trends"
Where is the growth? Who has the money? What are their needs and what will they be in 5-10 years?
venice writes:
Thanks folks, that's 10 new domains today
I'm starting to suspect Webwork of secretly working for my registrar ;).
This model fits everything that is going on in the world, not just technology: social-sexual relations, geopolitical relations, etc.
Here's an example outside the realm of technology.
In 1999, with the emergence of "The EU", I spent some time thinking of a domain model that might capture the future of geopolitical relations and regional-national commerce. I asked myself "What is the most concise way of expressing the idea of commerce between, say, the US and the EU?".
Well, doh! .Com = commerce. "Hmmm . . US . . EU . . dot com means commerce".
Try to respect the "keep it simple son" adage, which advice also applies in the direct navigation age.
So, ask yourself: What's new in the world of human sexuality? Botany? Travel and tourism?
What will "the commerce" of the future look like?
How astute a futurist are you?
Remember: Bet with your head, not over it. The future will require renewal fees being paid.
Since domainers are now entering the world of developers here's a thought: IF search engines favor "aged sites" then why not get yourself a double benefit from your futurist thinking? Don't just envision the future. Get out there on the WWW and promote the vision! Make a website. Now. IF that future arrives you'll be "an authority" . . unless the algo changes . . again . . ;-P
Caveat: Please don't get excited about what I am talking about. Effective domaining requires a cool mind. So, before you click the "register this domain" button take a little time to do some research, have a cup of tea, go for a walk in the garden and maybe even get a night's sleep.
Just don't do a test "domain look up" for you never know if some mindless domain tasting monster is scanning everything you do. When you decide to act - do it. Just sleep on it first.
[edited by: Webwork at 1:22 pm (utc) on Aug. 16, 2007]
Comments Disparaging Domain Industry Practices: The domain name industry encompasses a variety of business operations or practices. Some business practices, such as typosquatting of famous marks, will never gain legitimacy. Other business operations, such as domain monetization by domain parking have established their viability and legitimacy - despite an absence of universal acceptance or praise. Disparaging remarks or grievances posted in threads discussing common domain business operations that are neither unlawful nor prohibited by ICANN will be deemed "flame bait" and will therefore be removed or edited.
Short version: I'm not going to allow this thread to get hijacked by a tired old "domaining is okay vs. domaining is bad" policy debate, a policy debate that was fully vetted in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 and on ad nauseum. That debate - the good vs. bad debate - has been officially retired in the Domain Forum.
Please read and respect the Charter. Thank you.
[edited by: Webwork at 1:17 pm (utc) on Aug. 16, 2007]
Instead, I look at gaps in the industry that may (or may not) fill up. Product A works great with product B, but you need some tweaking. Hmm... *wheels spin*
Company C is coming out with product D, company C has an abysmal track record, hmm.. productdsucks.com? OK, that may be pushing it.
Trends are everywhere and I'm sure we all work in a place we can see what is coming and what might be needed. I have seen a lot of potential in just filling in the gaps.
Not only envision the future but get out there and promote it. Make a website. Then, when the future comes . . .
I was too engaged in the present and "envision"ing? A good lesson is taken from the above point.
So, I bought an entire portfolio of domains related to that industry, that was a year ago. Sure enough, things are really starting to cook now, so much so that I have to launch a site before it gets ahead of me. ;)
I market a product in the US to expats. A lot of my advertising focuses on running ads to those expats in the US on websites popular in their home country. This gives me a real insight into what is popular in that country in terms of keywords, domains, etc...Now our biggest expat market comes from a country with a well developed local internet so a lot of the ccTLD keyword domains are gone, but it has a culturally similar neighbor with a large population and an emerging local internet. It has plenty of ccTLD keyword domains available, and I am having some success there by applying what I know about the developed country to the developing one.
Predictive in that history repeats itself.
Green
Anything Green!
Sure would like to have that color .com. Its parked. Damn Squatters! ;)
Please don't get excited about what I am talking about.
Too late.
Every once in awhile it's fun to takeoff the domain buying goggles and just let her rip. Credit card on counter, plenty of alcohol (or caffeine), and a bunch of fresh information about an area or industry you know nothing about.
You may wake up the next day with a hangover and a bucket full of really bad domains, or you may just get out of your way long enough to stumble upon something brilliant.
You could just save a list of those domains and do a reality check on them the next day, but where's the fun in that?
During the buildup to the war in Iraq I studied events at home and in the middle east and registered one very promising domain I thought had a lot of potential. Much to my surprise, a couple of months later, the U.S. Government picked the .net version of the same domain I had registered to be their official site for the reconstruction effort in Iraq. I couldn't believe it.
Immediately, traffic to this domain surged. Newspapers, televisions and radio stations, and websites from all around the world were mentioning the .com version of this site. Much of it due, in my opinion, to poor fact checking by reporters in the field. To compound problems, the government websites and even the White House for a while, were giving out the wrong site address.
So now I was stuck with a non official domain with official attention. I put a link on the home page pointing to the government site and started slowly building up the site with a neutral eye to the war.
Then the war turned and the insurgency was born. Now I have a non official domain with official and now possibly insurgent attention. I eventually ended up parking the domain and increasing security at home.
The domain was up for sale during most of this time and I got some offers but without being able to confirm who the buyer was I turned them all down. There was no way I was going to allow this domain to be a tool for a questionable group.
The official U.S. domain was eventually transferred to the Iraqi government and no longer garners the attention it once got. The domain I purchased is now parked and still generates some revenue. I still occasionally get official correspondence intended for the official site.
I love domaining and predictive domaining is one of the most lucrative fields in my opinion. I only wish I had the time to devote more attention to it.
It's extremely hard to spot ideas outside your own area of expertise.
I've gotten lucky once, just once, and the money is long gone unfortunately.
I remember reading a thread in the supporters forum about 2 or 3 months ago about a new search term in the Google results and it wasn't until I had read the last post that it tweaked what they were refering to. I realised I registered it in my local ccTLD about 2 weeks before when Google had only 8 search results for the term.
I have others like water and food domains for when people have too little time to shop for boring everyday household items.
Domaining really makes time work for you, considering time is relentless, it's a good diversification.
In short, I love domaining.
Another aspect of this is when phrases are coined. I see WebmasterWorld members coining new phrases regularly. When I see one, first thing I do is check to see if the .com is available. If so, its mine.
And then there are those phrases I come up with.
There is no other reason to blend other than to "trick a click".
So, I got...
trickaclick.com
trikaclik.com
What am I going to do with them? Probably nothing. I just liked the ring of it. ;)
flicktoclick.com
flick2click.com
camosense.com
And others. :)
