Internet Commmerce Association Benefit Auction

Elliot Silver
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0

During today’s live Domain Roundtable auction, 10 domain names will be auctioned to benefit the Internet Commerce Association, and all proceeds from these 10 domain names will be donated to the organization that represents domain owners. These domain names were donated by a variety of individuals and domain companies. For those who are not in attendance at the show, bidding can be done online at the Aftermarket.com website.

ICA Auction Inventory:

–       Castaway.com
–       ParkingShare.com
–       SecureWeb.com
–       Deployed.com
–       Slices.org
–       LikeHer.net
–       SleepSafe.com
–       HolidayLoan.com
–       PlasticSurgeryWebsite.com
–       [TCI domain coming soon]

TRAFFIC Amsterdam Recap

Elliot Silver
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4

TRAFFIC AmsterdamWhen I first heard about the TRAFFIC ccTLD conference in Amsterdam, it was shortly after Rick Latona worked out an agreement with Rick Schwartz to operate the show. My first thought was that I needed to be there, but my second thought was that I am not a ccTLD investor, so it wouldn’t be smart to spend the money to attend. I am glad I went along with my first gut instinct because the conference turned out to be fantastic.

Prior to attending, I did research on the ccTLD market, read about issues concerning ownership of these types of domain names, signed up for ccTLDs.com (domain forum) and I learned about some of the big investors and companies in this space. Previously, I really knew nothing about the industry, so I stayed away, which was not the smartest move. I will be the first to admit that I am a US-centric domain investor, and this had partially prevented me from exploring other areas of growth in the domain space, including the ccTLD market.

One of my goals of the conference was to attend as many panels as possible. Unlike some conferences, all panels started on time, and all of them were relevant to the industry (and to a new investor). It was neat to learn about the upcoming .cm landrush, and as always, a panel with John Berryhill is enlightening and filled with humor. The development panel was also very interesting because it didn’t solely relate to ccTLDs. The great thing about the conference’s panels was that I was able to learn something from just about everyone, which is a bit unusual for me.

Networking is the primary reason I attend domain conferences, and this show was no exception. Rick Latona and company had several great events organized where attendees were able to meet and network. There were three standout networking sessions, all of which took place over dinner and/or drinks.

The first networking event I was able to attend was dinner and cocktails at the West India House, home to one of the first companies ever established. Drinks in the courtyard gave me the chance to meet with several people with whom I had been communicating for months and years in one case. My wife and I were able to learn about what others in the space are currently doing as well as get to know a few people on a more personal level. The music was low key, and the buffet dinner that followed was fantastic. We were able to walk around the house and eat in a variety of rooms and settings, which was neat.

The second dinner was arguably better, and the dynamic was unique to the show. We ate at one of the more famous restaurants in Amsterdam, Restaurant d’Vijff Vlieghen, a huge restaurant that is made up of many smaller themed rooms, each with a small restaurant feel. When we arrived at the restaurant, we were randomly assigned rooms for dinner (as well as handed champagne and kir royales. This was neat because we were located in a smallish room with about 15 people, and we were able to enjoy a great 5 course meal in a smaller setting.

The final networking event was fun and decadent, as we were bused to Parked.com CEO Sig Solares’ loft, a couple of miles from the conference hotel. We were treated to a sexy performance with good music, great drinks and a happy atmosphere. Everyone’s spirits were high, and it was great to be able to network and chat in a relaxed atmosphere. Incidentally, that party might have cost me a lot of money, because my wife and I decided that we can’t miss Domainer Mardi Gras next year.

There were some fun moments at the auction as well, despite the fact that I didn’t win Cams.cm or Vegas.cm as I had hoped. DiamondRings.com sold for close to $227,ooo US and a number of other great generic domain names sold for pretty large amounts. In total, the live auction did close to $600,000 US, and I believe the Extended Auction could bring the total over $1,000,000 US in sales, a very strong figure for a growing market.

I am so happy that I was able to attend the conference, and I found it to be one of the most well-run shows I’ve attended. In fact, I complimented Ray Neu about how smooth and seamless things were operating, and he said something to the effect of, “what do you expect, it’s a TRAFFIC show.” I know these shows don’t come together on their own, so it’s a big credit to Rick Latona and his team (as well as Howard and Barbara Neu) for working long hours before and during the show to make this such a success. They really made a great impression and I can’t wait until their next conference!

I’ve Become a ccTLD Investor

Elliot Silver
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35

For the last few weeks, I’ve been learning about ccTLDs. I received feedback from a number of people, some of whom gave advice about investing in ccTLDs, and some who told me to stick with .com domain names. A couple people even specifically advised me not to invest in .US domain names right now, because my money could be better spent elsewhere right now. I really do appreciate all the advice, as it has given me an idea of how I should proceed with the ccTLD market.

I just recently became a ccTLD investor with my first .US purchases (an investment rather than a protective measure as I did previously). While I don’t think Americans or American companies will begin using the .US extension very soon, I do think its a great way for American companies to target Europeans who are more inclined to use local ccTLDs.

Because of this, I decided to buy many second tier .US domain names for registration fee, where I would be very happy to pay a significant premium if it was .com. I might not be jumping in with a huge splash, I am slowly wading in to this and am being strategic about it. Once I think my acquisition phase is initially done, I will reveal what I have been buying, but I don’t want to say what they are yet, since there are a number of similar names I am considering 🙂

These aren’t short term investments, and I will probably begin developing directories on a couple of them to see how Google ranks them and to do some experimenting with regards to traffic, return visits, time on the site, and other things that will help me evaluate whether consumers trust a .US and to see where visitors come from.

I will write a more comprehensive review of the TRAFFIC show on the return flight home on Sunday, but in short, the show was excellent, and it gave me the confidence to invest in something that wasn’t previously in my comfort area.

Why I Enjoy Domain Conferences

Elliot Silver
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0

I am sorry if it seems annoying or contrived when I post articles about how great domain conferences are, but I really enjoy attending our industry and related industry tradeshows.   I wanted to talk about why I really enjoy them and why I try to attend as many as possible, despite the significant fees for attendance and other associated costs.

When I worked for AIG and Wunderman, I was surrounded by people who had different positions within the company and contributed differently to the teams in which I participated. As an Account and Program Manager, I worked with creative staff, legal and compliance staff, accounting staff, database team members, interactive managers, clients, and others on a daily basis. There were meetings each day and camaraderie in both workplaces. Whether I enjoyed what I was doing or not, it was frequently enjoyable to go to work, although that eventually wore off when I started spending more time domaining.

As a domain investor, I spend hours in front of my computer doing research, developing a few websites, chatting on the phone/AIM with friends and colleagues, and reading forums and blogs. Although I am passionate about what I do, there are times where it gets a bit lonely being by myself for most of the day. I enjoy discussing domains, but my friends and family probably get pretty tired of hearing about it, so I try to keep it to a minimum.

Domain conferences give me the opportunity to get together with other like-minded people who are all doing a variety of things within a similar scope. Most people with whom I meet and see are in a similar position as me and can relate. There are people from across the country and throughout the world who meet at these events, and it’s a great time to talk, share stories, and get to know people in a more personal setting.

I am writing this from the air as I am flying to the TRAFFIC ccTLD conference in Amsterdam (although it will be posted on Tuesday). I am excited because I don’t know many ccTLD domain investors, but I know when I get to the conference, I am going to meet some great people, learn a lot about this vertical in the domain industry, and perhaps I will do some good business.

I enjoy having the chance to meet with likeminded people. This is why I have planned a few casual dinners and cocktail hours in New York City, and I hope to continue to meet great people. Maybe I will see you at a domain tradeshow in the near future?

Info About .CM Domains for Sale

Elliot Silver
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0

I had a few questions about the .CM ccTLD domain names that are going to be auctioned at TRAFFIC Amsterdam this coming Thursday, and I asked David Clements, President of Rick Latona Auctions. The names that were initially released include Golf.cm, Vegas.cm (my personal favorite), Cinema.cm, California.cm, Lottery.cm, Lyrics.cm, Bible.cm, Cams.cm, Diamond.cm, and Miami.cm.

1) Is this the first public auction of .cm domain names and how did you secure them?

To the best of our knowledge, these names have never been offered before.   What can we say?   We are aggressive and creative in creating deals and bringing new things to the table.

2) What are the annual renewal fees, are there any legal requirements to owning one of these, and are their any development requirements?

Renewal fees vary by registrar. There are no legal requirements to owning these names and there are no development requirements to owning these names.

3) Can .cm domain names be transferred to any domain registrar, and if not, where are they registered?

There are a couple of registrars that are accredited.   They are listed on the site, register.cm.   the names can transferred between registrars.

4) Which .cm domain name at auction do you like best and why?

We want all of our names at auction to do well and it would be irresponsible for us to select one of them as a favorite.

TRAFFIC ccTLD Agenda & Pricing Update

Elliot Silver
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5

Rick Latona’s team has updated the TRAFFIC Amsterdam conference schedule to reflect the feedback of conference attendees. Instead of the planned 3 auctions, the conference will hold just one major auction. The feedback was that attendees wanted more time for meetings, panels, and networking, and that’s what they’re (we’re) getting. Auctions can be fun, but the heart of every domain show is the networking, and it’s good to see that there will be plenty of it!

I also received word that the conference hasn’t sold out yet, and the early bird pricing of $1,495 has been extended. There is a $395 conference pass, which is good for everything but the evening events. While this is a good deal, I always find the best part of the show is the networking that happens in the evening. People frequently make private meetings during the day, which is especially true for a conference like this where people only have one opportunity a year to meet with partners and clients, so the night time is the best time to network.

I am psyched about attending the show, and I am looking forward to meeting other attendees.

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