I try to attend as many domain industry conferences as my time permits. It’s a great way to meet people in the industry, and the benefits extend beyond the conferences. I wanted to share a story that just happened last week to illustrate this.
At TRAFFIC Â a year ago, I had the chance to meet the guys from Domain Holdings and get to know them a little better. I knew several of the people who worked there, but being at the conference allowed me to learn more about the company and the people who work there. We’ve been in touch since, discussing various opportunities as they come up.
I just returned from a “vacation” in south Florida. I say vacation in quotes because this business never sleeps, and as you could see from my blog posts over the last couple weeks, I was doing some work most days.
I decided to take a drive to Delray Beach to see the guys from Domain Holdings while on vacation. I had no agenda, and I wanted to go and shoot the shit about business for a couple hours. Â While in the office, I was asked if I had any names for sale, and I mentioned a recent acquisition and let them know I was in the midst of a private negotiation on the name. I was told that they could probably get my asking price if I gave them a bit of time.
I let them know I intended to continue negotiating with my buyer, but if they could get me my asking price ASAP, I’d sell if I hadn’t reached a deal privately (clearly had I agreed to sell it to my buyer even for less, I would have done so).
The next morning, I was told that they have a deal with their buyer if the name was available, and since I hadn’t come to terms with my buyer, I agreed to move forward with them. The name is now in escrow and is awaiting payment.
From a few meetings at TRAFFIC, to a chance meeting in Florida, to a nice sale, I want to reiterate the value of attending conferences to get to know other domain investors personally.
It’s a nice story and Networking is an important tool..
Congratulation Elliot … That’s not a bad way to start new year 😉
Yes, conferences and the face to face meetings/networking is very valuable! Perfect timing for this post as one of the most important conference, for our line of work, is happening one week from now in Las Vegas, the Affiliate Summit! This is a major event! For Domainers, this conference will bring your business to the next level!
I agree on the many advantages such industry-specific conferences provide. It appears though that most of these events happen in the southeast/west of the US.
Any possibilities of such domaining events (e.g., conference / meet-and-greet) occuring in the New England / Boston area?
Not to my knowledge. Maybe I’ll set something up in Boston this year.
What name and how much?
Keeping that private. If the buyer (or Domain Holdings) chooses to report it to DNJournal for the weekly sales report, I’ll update this article.
I went to two different domain conferences in the late 2000’s, one to try them out, the second just to be sure my first impression was correct.
I found them to be a waste of time.
One was well run but had little in the way of good information, the other was an egofest full of undesirable oddballs who need those ‘conferences’ to keep each others company, since they’re type of people get laughed at anywhere else they go in the real world.
There is real money to be made on the internet, but you’re not going to find it with ‘domainers’.
There are many interesting characters in the domain space but there are plenty of people I’d socialize with outside of the business. I’ve been to various industry conferences and they are all similar in that regard. There are characters, normal people, and others who think they are better than others 🙂
Plus… you got to meet Ron Jeremy at the DomainFest PlayBoy Mansion party and ride with him in the car afterwards..then again reunite at TRAFFIC Florida in 2011
That was a crazy night with him and Justin Bobby.
Yes, conferences and the face to face meetings is very valuable! so must attend
“I wanted to go and shoot the shit about business”….Elliot dear, were you stoned when you wrote this ???? 🙂
@elliot That’s a lot of ” i ” that you used for this story around 25 i’s
# amazing facts on elliotsblog 😉
That’s because it’s Elliot’s blog, and I am Elliot. It’s more interesting for me to write about things that happen in my business.
well said Elliot! Alot can be learned from your blog.
What do ya’ll Guestimate the attendence total will be at the re-branded WebFest (formerly DomainFest) in Santa Monica in a few weeks ?
Oversee.net certaintly has a differnet makeup & structure now since selling of Moniker & Snap Names.
I would imagine 400-500.
Unfortunately, I won’t be there (rented a ski house in Canada a month before they announced the date).