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Seeking Advice on BumperProtectors.com

I would like to get your advice on how I should proceed with the development of BumperProtectors.com. I received a couple of decent offers for the domain name when I emailed companies that sell bumper protectors as well as domain investors, but nothing was significant enough to warrant selling the domain name.

One person/company inquired about the domain name last week, and after I informed him about the previous high offer, we discussed the options to build it, as the offer was higher than he would pay. We discussed creating a line of bumper protectors in China or Hong Kong and then selling them on the website. There is no real market leader that I could see, so this would be a good opportunity. Producing a $50 product for a few dollars each would yield a strong ROI after a couple of years.

The big downside with producing lines of bumper protectors is the liability issue. For whatever reason, Americans tend to be more litigious than elsewhere, and I wouldn’t want to have the liability in the event one of my $50 bumper protectors fails to protect someone’s bumper. Further, I could foresee someone forgetting to put their bumper protector away after leaving a parking spot, and in the event it flies off of the car and damages another vehicle, I could see further liability as the producer. While the liability might seem far fetched, it’s not worth the risk for such a small revenue stream in my business.

That being said, I am thinking about building a website with an Amazon store being the revenue generator. I know Amazon notoriously pays little, but if I can get the site to rank #1 as a result of unique content I have written combined with the store, it could be a nice little passive money maker.

I’ve heard about Epik and WannaDevelop but haven’t heard much in the way of results (how much people are earning from their websites). With an exact match product .com domain name, what can be expected in the way of earnings?   I am not interested in spending a few hundred to build a website that makes no money!

Please let me know your thoughts on developing BumperProtectors.com.

**** 7/13 Update ***

After a very good face to face conference with Rob Monster, I’ve decided to award the project to Epik and will post updates once the site launches. This is the first time I am working with Epik and I am excited about it.

Reminder: Future Trend Domain Auction Ends in Two Hours

Just a reminder for you that the Future Trend Domain Auction â„¢ currently being held on Snapnames will end in around two hours from the time of this post. There are 154 total domain names up for auction. Although just one bid has been recorded, I would imagine most bids will be received in the final moments, as Stephen explained.

The domain names and reserve prices are listed below:

Domain Name Reserve Range
3-dtoys.com $10,001 – $25,000
3d-smartphones.com $2,501 – $5,000
3d-webcam.com No Reserve
3dadultcam.com $501 – $1,000
3dadvertising.com $25,001 – $50,000
3dadvertisingagency.com $10,001 – $25,000
3dappliance.com $5,001 – $10,000
3dapps.com $25,001 – $50,000
3daspen.com $5,001 – $10,000
3dboardgame.com $10,001 – $25,000
3dcakeprinters.com $25,001 – $50,000
3dcellphone.net $501 – $1,000
3dcellphones.net $501 – $1,000
3dchannel.com $25,001 – $50,000
3dchannels.tv $5,001 – $10,000
3dcinemas.org $501 – $1,000
3dconsole.com $201 – $500
3dcops.com $501 – $1,000
3dcopymachine.com $1,001 – $2,500
3dcu.com $501 – $1,000
3ddatabase.com $10,001 – $25,000
3ddecorations.com $5,001 – $10,000
3ddesignprograms.com $201 – $500
3ddesignsoftware.com $2,501 – $5,000
3ddisplays.ca $501 – $1,000
3dentertainment.co.uk $1,001 – $2,500
3descort.com $2,501 – $5,000
3dfacialrecognition.com $5,001 – $10,000
3dfloral.com $1,001 – $2,500
3dfreeporno.com $1,001 – $2,500
3dfriendsnetwork.com $1,001 – $2,500
3dgame.co.uk $2,501 – $5,000
3dgametablets.com $10,001 – $25,000
3dhandset.co.uk $2,501 – $5,000
3dhologramgaming.com $501 – $1,000
3dholographicgaming.com $501 – $1,000
3dhomemovietheaters.com $1,001 – $2,500
3ditaly.com $5,001 – $10,000
3dlaserprinting.com $10,001 – $25,000
3dmediaconsoles.com $1,001 – $2,500
3dmobileapplications.com $201 – $500
3dmobilehandset.com $2,501 – $5,000
3dmobilephones.com $25,001 – $50,000
3dmonitoring.com $1,001 – $2,500
3donlinegamer.com $10,001 – $25,000
3doptical.com $5,001 – $10,000
3dphone.net $5,001 – $10,000
3dplasmatelevisions.com $201 – $500
3dplayers.com $10,001 – $25,000
3dpn.com $501 – $1,000
3drecorder.com $10,001 – $25,000
3drecorders.com $10,001 – $25,000
3dresidential.com $2,501 – $5,000
3dsafetyglasses.com $2,501 – $5,000
3dscotland.com $1,001 – $2,500
3dsecuritycameras.com $1,001 – $2,500
3dsmartphone.com $50,001 – $100,000
3dstreamingvideo.net $201 – $500
3dtouch.tv $5,001 – $10,000
3dtvbargain.info No Reserve
3dtvprice.org $5,001 – $10,000
3dtvprices.org $10,001 – $25,000
3dtvs.de $5,001 – $10,000
3dtvs.net $5,001 – $10,000
3dtvs.org $5,001 – $10,000
3dtvshow.com $5,001 – $10,000
3dtvshows.com $5,001 – $10,000
3dvideocamera.com $50,001 – $100,000
3dvideoconference.com $2,501 – $5,000
3dvideos.com $10,001 – $25,000
3dvideos.us $201 – $500
3dvirtualmeeting.com $10,001 – $25,000
3dvirtualnetwork.com $10,001 – $25,000
3dwd.com $501 – $1,000
3dwebinars.com $1,001 – $2,500
3dwholesale.com $5,001 – $10,000
ad3d.net $201 – $500
alternativeenergyinvesting.com $1,001 – $2,500
carbonbarter.com No Reserve
cellphoneapps.com $50,001 – $100,000
channel3d.com $10,001 – $25,000
cloudcomputingservices.com $50,001 – $100,000
cloudcomputingsoftware.com $10,001 – $25,000
cloudinthecloud.com $501 – $1,000
cloudmeetings.com $2,501 – $5,000
cloudpatrol.com $201 – $500
cloudprograms.com $5,001 – $10,000
cloudstaff.com $1,001 – $2,500
cloudwebservers.com $5,001 – $10,000
ddd.tv $2,501 – $5,000
eholo.com $10,001 – $25,000
europecellphone.com $1,001 – $2,500
free3dporn.com $25,001 – $50,000
free3dporn.net $201 – $500
free3dtv.com $2,501 – $5,000
fuelsubsidy.com $25,001 – $50,000
games3d.co.uk $2,501 – $5,000
gamesfor3dtv.com No Reserve
gps3d.net $1,001 – $2,500
greenbuildingguidelines.com No Reserve
hd3dtv.info $2,501 – $5,000
hd3dtv.net $5,001 – $10,000
hd3dtv.org $5,001 – $10,000
hidefinition3d.com $201 – $500
holo3dtvs.com $5,001 – $10,000
holodeals.com $1,001 – $2,500
holodecks.ca $501 – $1,000
hologrambumperstickers.com $1,001 – $2,500
hologramcellphones.com $5,001 – $10,000
hologramsimulator.com $501 – $1,000
holographic3d.tv $2,501 – $5,000
holographicboxing.com $2,501 – $5,000
holographicgolf.com $5,001 – $10,000
holographictheaters.com No Reserve
holographicui.com No Reserve
holographyporn.com $5,001 – $10,000
holohandsets.com $10,001 – $25,000
holomovie.net $5,001 – $10,000
holowire.com $5,001 – $10,000
humancomputers.com $10,001 – $25,000
i3d.tv $501 – $1,000
immunotherapydrugs.com $501 – $1,000
koreasolar.com $10,001 – $25,000
miamicloud.com $201 – $500
movies3d.co.uk $2,501 – $5,000
moviesfor3dtv.com No Reserve
nanotechresearch.com $1,001 – $2,500
oceanturbine.com $10,001 – $25,000
phones3d.com $10,001 – $25,000
rapid3d.net $201 – $500
recycledfood.com $1,001 – $2,500
recycledfoods.com $1,001 – $2,500
replicators.ca $501 – $1,000
robotsupplies.net $1,001 – $2,500
robottrucks.com $10,001 – $25,000
searchrobots.com $1,001 – $2,500
smartprinters.com $1,001 – $2,500
solaranalysts.com $10,001 – $25,000
solarbusiness.com $5,001 – $10,000
solarcarkit.com $1,001 – $2,500
solarenergyclass.com $1,001 – $2,500
solarexteriorlighting.com $201 – $500
solarfarming.com $10,001 – $25,000
solarpaneling.com $25,001 – $50,000
solarphone.com $25,001 – $50,000
solarsiding.com $50,001 – $100,000
sport3d.com $10,001 – $25,000
surroundtouch.com $10,001 – $25,000
telepresenceamerica.com $5,001 – $10,000
timevoyage.com $201 – $500
totalsolar.com $10,001 – $25,000
ultradefinition3d.com $1,001 – $2,500
upcscanner.com $5,001 – $10,000
waterprooftablets.com $1,001 – $2,500

Domain Name Implications as Company Fights Over New Hampshire Geographical Trademark: Mount Washington

3

Mount Washington in New Hampshire

I grew up in southern New Hampshire and I skied in NH’s White Mountains many times, so this story was interesting for business and personal reasons. It’s also something that Dark Blue Sea should note because of a domain name in its portfolio.

According to ABC television affiliate WMUR, it looks like the owner of the Mt. Washington Hotel (a landmark hotel in the region) is fighting to prevent other lodging businesses from using the term, “Mount Washington.” The interesting aspect of this is that there is a mountain called Mount Washington where the hotels are located, hence the geographical descriptor.

If you live on the East Coast, you’ve probably seen the bumper stickers that say, “This car has climbed Mt. Washington,” and that’s the term that is being battled for right now (specifically related to lodging according to the article).

One reason this is interesting from a domain standpoint is that the company could come after seemingly generic domain names like MountWashingtonHotels.com, which happens to be owned by DBS subsidiary Protopixel.

Although Mt. Washington isn’t that big, imagine if a hotel/resort named the  the Las Vegas Resort or the Europe Spa tried to trademark those regional terms with regards to lodging. High value domain names like LasVegasHotels.com or EuropeVacations.com could conceivably come under pressure from the trademark owner if they were permitted to do so.

This may be a big leap, but if a precedent is set legally, I am sure others will attempt to follow suit. It’s just some food for thought.

Photo: Flickr

Halloween Sunday Updates – IDN Event + Epik + More

Happy Halloween to everyone! We had a smallish Halloween party on Friday night, although I can’t share the costume I wore – apparently it’s not blog-appropriate.  Here are some weekend updates from the domain business.

  • I had a great time at the IDN Event in the city last night. I plan to post a full recap about the event tomorrow, but Gary Males and Aaron Krawitz deserve a big ovation for putting the event together with so many people in attendance.
  • For those of you who are concerned about your Epik websites, I want to remind you about a post Rob Monster wrote on the Epik blog back in March.  According to Rob, “The price for the Epik product portals is a one-time setup fee of $249 which includes custom graphics, custom copy, backlinks, and product sourcing.   Epik shares 50/50 in the net revenues and covers all operating costs. There is no lock-in and if after 1 year on the platform, if you have not sold your domain or the site has not yielded at least $249 in gross revenue, we’ll refund you your setup fee, no questions asked.”
  • I am still trying to figure out the next move for BumperProtectors.com. I think I will probably keep the site as is and hope that Rob is able to work things out with Google. I have faith that they will make some changes to make things better.
  • If you’re going to AdTech in New York this week, let me know. I don’t have firm plans yet, but I will be stopping by the Javitz Center to check out the exhibit hall at some point on Monday or Tuesday.

Test and Learn

When it comes to various types of website development, my philosophy has always been to test as much as possibly, learn from these tests, and move forward with successful tests or kill failing tests. I’ve been pretty open about my testing here on my blog, and I hope the lessons I’ve been learning and sharing have been helpful.

One test I’ve been running is with Epik on one domain name – BumperProtectors.com. I announced this test a couple of months ago, and I’ve been watching as traffic has slowly grown from almost nothing to over 300 visits/month. In total, 53% of its traffic in the last 30 days was from search, 34% from direct navigation, and the rest was from referrals such as my blog and other various sites. I think the site generated a couple (maybe a few) dollars a week, although I haven’t really checked much nor do I know if that is pre or post revenue share.

Yesterday, I learned that there were some de-indexing issues with sites on the Epik network, and sure enough, BumperProtectors.com looks to me like it was de-indexed from Google. Even if you type BumperProtectors.com into Google, I get no results.  Consequently, search traffic from the last couple of days has been 0.

I understand that Rob Monster from Epik will be addressing the issue today, and Andrew said the announcement will be that my site will be upgraded to an ecommerce store for free.

I am not entirely sure I am going to accept this offer. Should I do so and then submit a reconsideration request to Google, I am taking a big chance that they like the new site enough to re-index it. If they don’t approve and/or they approve a second time but later disapprove for whatever reason, I could have a nice domain name de-indexed twice, which certainly wouldn’t bode well for this exact match product domain name’s future. It’s one thing if I am working with Bumper-Protectors.mobi or some crap like that, but in NYC, selling bumper protectors is a big business.

I look forward to hearing what Rob has to say, but I haven’t decided whether to keep the domain name at Epik.

Advice on Mini Site Development

Yesterday, I wrote a couple of articles giving updates on my mini sites that were built by Wanna Develop and Big Ticket Domains a year ago. Over the last year, I’ve worked with a few mini site development providers and built my own mini sites, and I want to share some tips and advice based on my experience.

– Mini sites may not make a lot of money, but they can be good traffic producers

–  A mini site can help get a domain name get ranked in the search engines, which is beneficial to a potential buyer (or the current owner) looking to avoid the typical sandboxing that comes with newly developed websites once the mini site is turned into a comprehensive website.

– With the traffic some can bring in, lead generation might be a higher paying option than Adsense.

– If you can learn enough coding to enable yourself to work with a WordPress or static html template and use it for various sites, you will save money on many templates (if you have the time). You can use services like TextBroker.com or eLance to find good writers, and sites like Flickr can be a source of free-to-use images.

– If you don’t have the time (or desire) it may be worth your effort to build some of these mini sites on names you haven’t successfully monetized with PPC and/or you don’t have the time/desire/funding to build a big site/

– There are several companies out there that can build you similar mini sites. If you don’t want to do it on your own, test the various services and choose a provider that meets your needs (price, time, personality…etc).

This year, I haven’t done much more with mini sites (aside from a  Epik  site on BumperProtectors.com). I think this is more a result of buying higher value domain names that are quickly selling than buying the less expensive names I invested in during last year’s tougher times. I am sitting on less new inventory this year than I was before, and I have been focusing on growing my revenue-generating websites.

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