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Are Numeric Domain Names an “Emerging Trend”?

Elliot Silver
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I had my first debate/discussion via Twitter (albeit a short one) yesterday about whether numeric domain names can be considered an emerging trend. I read Inside Domaining’s tweet about the topic, and I disagree because values are stagnant and down for most numeric names (as they are just about across the board). I cited my experience selling 887.com late last year as evidence of a difficult market, and I also have experience selling 4 number .com domain names and 3 number .net domain names in the past.

Inside Domaining countered back that 2 and 3 number .com domain names were selling great last year, which is something I do not dispute. However, they sold well last year because TJ Demas bought many of the big ones for huge prices for a special project. IMO, this doesn’t make for an “emerging trend” simply because one buyer bought some names and had to pay a huge sum to get them   (ala Rick selling iReport.com for $750,000).

Just as when the 4 letter .com domain names sold out last year, the perceived values went through the roof and they were selling for great sums. Now that people are realizing most are useless, prices are bottoming out. The buyers are disappearing and people are realizing that rarity does not equate to value at all times, and some domain investors lost a lot of money.

I believe if someone pays a considerable sum for a numeric domain simply because TJ bought several last year for his project, the buyer will probably lose money. IMO, this is like a person owning toy-related domain names claiming that toy names are an emerging trend simply because Toys R Us paid $5.1 million for Toys.com (which I am sure will happen).

This industry isn’t like real estate where you can look in the MLS for neighborhood comps.   All domain names have unique values.

So… what do you think… Are numeric domain names an emerging trend or not?

February Traffic – Highest Ever

Elliot Silver
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I want to take a moment to thank everyone for visiting my blog.   I saw the highest amount of traffic ever in February and I really appreciate your taking the time out of your day to visit.   With all the other domain blogs and news outlets available, I know there are plenty of places to read about the domain industry.

I thank you for your continued patronage and support.

DNJournal’s Ron Jackson Interviewed by ABC News

Elliot Silver
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DNJournal’s Ron Jackson made the mainstream press again, this time in an interview with ABC News regarding the Toys.com sale to Toys R Us in last week’s bankruptcy auction.   It’s good to see mainstream coverage of the domain business, and I am glad news outlets continue to seek out Ron Jackson for his expert opinion.

FMA Launches Jackass.com & Jogging.com

Elliot Silver
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This morning, Future Media Architects announced the launch of Jackass.com and Jogging.com, two of its hundreds of generic domain names.   As you may recall, Jackass.com was involved in a UDRP dispute last month, and FMA prevailed over the complainant, Viacom, parent company of MTV.

Jackass.com has been developed into a resource site about donkeys.   In addition, there is a search functionality on the site allowing visitors to search the web for information about donkeys, mules and other jackass-related topics.

Personally, I am most eagerly looking forward to FMA’s launch of Ibiza.com, which is expected to happen later this year.

I’ve seen several Internet blogs, articles, and forums where people refer to my friend Thunayan as a “cybersquatter.”   From my own personal experience in launching several websites, each one takes a lot of time, effort, and energy, and it’s no easy task.   I know Thunayan is involved with many projects other than domain investing, so it’s not fair to label him simply because his company owns so many great domain names and is taking its time in launching websites.

It’s always easy to criticize others from a far, but timing is everything when it comes to web development.

Why Domainers Don’t Generally Partner Up

Elliot Silver
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I’ve received a few “partnership” offers, and I know that domain owners who have premium domain names receive development partnership requests often. I am sure Rick has received dozens of email requests from people who want to help him open a candy store on Candy.com. When it comes to partnership requests, it’s unlikely that the requester will be taken seriously.

It seems that most people want the domain owner to trust that they know what they are doing, and many times, they might, but they can’t prove it. Why would a domain owner be willing to risk his reputation (and domain name) on someone that randomly pops in with an idea? There are plenty of great ideas out there, but execution is what’s important. If you want to partner with me or another domainer, come to us with case studies of your successful businesses. Show us how much revenue you’ve generated by applying your idea elsewhere, and perhaps we can talk.

The problem is that most people have good ideas but no clue about the execution side of things. It’s very easy to tell someone else how they should run their business, but when it comes down to it, the execution is the most difficult part. Toys.com may look like a great $5,000,000 domain name, but a new company would probably have to spend double or triple that on the inventory, overhead, and fulfillment in order to set up a system that will drive a strong return on the investment.

If you do have the ability and a track record of successful web launches, you need to be willing to put in the time, effort, and finances with the hopes of sharing profits on a finished site. If you achieve agreed upon goals, you should get a percentage of the business, but not until that happens. If you are willing to do all of this, then perhaps we will entrust you with our premium domain names. If not, it’s probably best to find someone else for your experiment.

The other option is to do something on your own, start generating revenue, and then pitch the domain owner on integrating the successful business model with the industry defining domain name he owns. The key to all of this is that you must be able to build and manage a successful business, otherwise you will just waste your time and the domain owner’s time.

Elliot’s Blog Newsletter

Elliot Silver
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I recently exchanged emails with the director of my grad school program (MS in Direct & Interactive Marketing – now the Integrated Marketing Program) at NYU, and I let her know about some of the things happening in my business and personal life.   Among other things, I mentioned that I am using my direct marketing skills just about every day.

After thinking about how I am using them and how I could be using them better, I decided that I should add a newsletter to my blog.   I figure I can send out weekly or bi-weekly emails to let people know what the most read and most commented articles I posted have been, and I can provide other updates.

A newsletter is one of the best ways to communicate with interested parties, so I might as well start one up and see how it goes.   I know someone will ask, but I am not looking for sponsors – especially because I don’t know how regularly I will send the newsletter, nor do I know how many people will eventually sign up.

So… feel free to sign up for my newsletter.   I will probably send the emails out on a Saturday or a Sunday and they will probably not be regularly sent at first.   Also, in the comment section here, please let me know what you would like included in the newsletter.   Here is what I am thinking right now, but I would like suggestions:

  • Links to most read articles of the week
  • Links to most commented articles of the week
  • My top ten dropping domain picks of the coming week
  • Links to articles of interest off site
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