In one of the first articles I ever wrote in June of 2007, I suggested that domain investment companies would benefit from educating end user buyers to help sell them domain names. Here’s an excerpt from that ancient article I wrote back when I used a combination of a pen and paper, a typewriter, and my Apple II GS to publish articles:
“I think it would be in the best interest of the domain investment community and a company like Fabulous, BuyDomains.com, or an otherwise motivated company to sponsor workshops or seminars focused on teaching end users about domain names at industry specific tradeshows. I frequently see advertising agencies and consultants sponsoring lunch seminars at tradeshows to show how their particular company can help maximize advertising dollars. I believe if a company like Fabulous sent Dan Warner to teach a group of entrepreneurial business people how a generic domain name can help their business, it would be beneficial to the company and to the domain business at large.”
I don’t recall hearing about domain industry companies attending a tradeshow to educate people about the value a great domain name can bring to a business, but I know of people who have attended tradeshows to try and sell an industry-related domain name. David Clements, Founder of Brannan’s, is attending The Battery Show with the goal of selling Batteries.com via auction:
This is a smart move. Instead of sending out a bunch of emails to prospective buyers, he is meeting with them in person. I have never heard of The Battery Show before, but I would imagine the most influential and biggest companies will be in attendance. While there, they will meet David and his team and learn more about the potential to acquire Batteries.com.
I understand there is a reserve price on the auction for Batteries.com, and I have no idea if it will be met. If it isn’t, I bet David and his team will collect the contact information for future discussion.
Batteries.com is an attention grabbing domain name. By showing up to meet prospective buyers in person, David should be able to connect with some good prospects.
Educating end-users is a great idea. But I don’t think you will see much of it. Most of what I read at NP and other blogs is about inbound. Owners of single word, NNNN, LLLL and combinations thereof, etc., have a better chance of inbound sales. The rest of us would probably do better if we tried the education route. That, however, sounds like a lot of “work” for many.
What a waste of resources. There is no point trying to “educate” people to buy domains. Domainers are the ones needing needing education, about how to sell and what has enduser appeal.