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Bye Bye Bard Domain Investments

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Recently, Google announced the launch of its generative AI chatbot called Bard. Despite the likely trademark implications of registering domain names with “Bard” in them, some domain investors and others spent money on registrations and aftermarket purchases. Unfortunately for people hoping to cash in on Bard-related domain names, Google is changing its branding from Bard to Gemini, as Adam Maysonet shared earlier:

Domain Investing for Reels

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I took a quick dive into domain investing Reels and TikTok videos. I watched several short videos created by people I don’t know. That doesn’t mean they’re not domain investors as I am sure there are many people who are actively investing in domain names under the radar. The premise behind these videos seems to revolve around how easy it is to make money from domain investing. My reply – it is not easy.

The videos I watched seem focused on buying expired domain names either at auctions or via marketplace where a platform lists recently acquired expiry names at what would appear to be wholesale prices. The videos then advise to get an idea of the value of these domain names – either by using a domain appraisal tool like GoDaddy’s or by looking at the asking prices of similar domain names.

Jen Sale: “Domain brokering is life”

I have known Jen Sale for many years. Jen has been involved in the domain name space long before she and Adam Strong launched Evergreen. Jen is CEO of the brand and she manages its brokerage.

Although Jen has maintained a fairly low profile, she has made quite a few appearances on Domain Sherpa and she’s well-known and respected in the domain investing space. Jen is someone I trust and have sought out for advice.

Yesterday afternoon, Jen shared a Twitter post with some thoughts and advice for new domain investors:

Will You Bid on the Monthly .AI Expiry Auctions?

Earlier this week, I bought my first .AI domain names. I have been looking at aftermarket options, but my level of risk tolerance for these domain names is below what it would take to purchase anything worthwhile right now. As a result, my first .AI domain names were hand registrations.

The alternatives to hand registering domain names are aftermarket acquisitions or expiry auctions operated by the .AI registry.

My Domain Investing Business Model Today

Throughout my years as a full-time domain investor, my business model has not changed much. I’ve been buying and selling domain names for around 20 years, and I went full-time into domain investing in 2008 when I left a corporate Direct Marketing job.

My philosophy about domain investing and my business strategy haven’t really deviated much since the beginning. My philosophy is pretty simple. I want to own domain names I think startups and businesses will be willing to pay a premium to acquire from my company.

This translates into my domain investing business model:

George Conway’s Domain Investor Experience

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I can’t tell you how many times someone has learned about what I do for work, and they share a domain name story. Just yesterday, I was at a car dealership and the sales associate told me about a friend who creates funny domain names with his daughter.

George Conway, an attorney and political activist just experience what it is like to be a domain investor. Conway, who became most widely known when Donald Trump was serving as President, is a vociferous anti-Trump pundit. Apparently, he was at a diner yesterday, and someone approached him about a domain name the person registered: