Newfound Names LLC » Random

The Real Elliot Silver and More

Alan — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 17:14:11 +0000

Some domainers have been around for years while others are just learning how to spell GoDaddy however it doesn’t matter if you are young or old in this industry, even veterans have made mistakes over the years.

Somewhere around 2004 I dropped my .com (alandunn.com) for reasons which still baffle me today. This mistake not only cost me losing my name but also any blind date I go on is difficult since there is a much prettier version of me and someone who actually knows how to cook located at the site today.

Domaining is a small community and one where many of us have good times and bad times. There are certain groups who play more with others, some who live in a different country every six months for residency (tax) reasons, others who think they know everything but are willing to sell their soul for $100 and then of course, the crazy people who comment on blogs and need therapy.

However there are certain elements of domain investing which are common to all and securing your own name .com is important. I stopped blogging a while ago since it’s extremely unproductive and Elliot, Michael, Andrew and Shane do a much better job. However I couldn’t help but share some of the mistakes or missed opportunities other domainers also had over the years.

Michael Robertson

All around cool dude from the other side of the pond. Most will know him from being one of the faces of Fabulous over the years and is now part of DomainGaurdians.com – However I think when Michael sleeps he dreams of raising $100 million in venture capital money like the real Michael Robertson

http://www.michaelrobertson.com

Hang in there mate!

Brian Gilbert

For those who know Brian Gilbert (and his lovely wife of 12 years Charlotte) its rare not to find great joy in his presence. His laughter and knowledge of the domain sector space is one most domainers would envy and both of the Gilbert’s are just all around genuine people. However the real Brian Gilbert is proud of his work with “The Queen of Clean” and her Vapamore Steam Cleaning System. I know there is a bad joke here somewhere.

http://www.briangilbert.com/

Elliot Silver

Author of ElliotsBlog.com and one of the nicest guys you can meet in the world, Elliot has been around for a while. Many of us are addicted to this little guy’s blog more than coffee however did you know the real Elliot Silver is a yoga Jedi and around 6 feet tall!

http://www.elliotsilver.com

http://web.me.com/elliotsilver/Yoga/photos.html

Craig Snyder

Another great guy in the domain space and GM of Oversee but even this Navy Seal didn’t acquire his own name. The real question however is who would win in a battle – the Craig Snyder we know from a Navy Seal team or the real Craig Snyder who celebrated building his own forging hammer last year?

http://craigsnyder.com/2010/hammer-time

Jeff Kupietzky

President of Oversee, $17 million in sales the last quarter, millions of domains parked, a Harvard education yet… can somebody buy his name as a present please.

www.jeffkupietzky.com

Any other domainers you know where the .com is used by an “impersonator”

Angry Birds Fly – a 5 minute break from domain names

Alan — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 16:30:59 +0000

Seriously we could all use one especially with the amount of pointless chatter in this space. Let’s not talk about domain names, SEO, development or another one of Rick Latona’s dumb quotes about the state of the industry. Let’s just focus on how cool these angry birds are!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzIBZQkj6SY

2 Top Videos to See – Google’s Evil Side

Alan — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 19:37:56 +0000

What a great video to display Google’s evil powers to the world. Too funny .. and if you are a DAD you must watch the second one.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=--Ckz_O6oE0

DAD’s -- Ya, we serious rock with style LOL!!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZa7hU6tP_s

Going to the EPIK Conference – Top 10 Questions to Ask!

Alan — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 15:32:36 +0000

There are well over 100 conferences annually for online development. Whether it’s the Search Marketing Expos, the Affiliate Summit or something else most domainers still only attend domaining conferences which barely breathe any life into domain name development.

Sure – there are lots of domains around which “could” be worth $1 million or more with the right development but for the last decade most domain owners have been living inside the parking closet so when it comes to attending Rob Monster’s EPIK development conference do you even know what questions to ask?

There is no doubt Rob has put a tremendous amount of time, money and energy into building a conference worthy of starting to build a bridge between domain ownership and development for interested parties however does this mean simply by purchasing a conference pass and showing up you will get all the answers?

Sadly no.

The amount of success any conference attendee will have is based on two things.

One is the promoter’s ability to attract a crowd, choice of events and access for attendees to immediate tools which can help improve the goals for which they are attending – Rob has done this!!!

The second is what YOU do.

Yes, quite likely if a conference is deemed great by the majority and you fly home thinking it was just another expensive party then you failed as an attendee. The conference did not fail you.

So next week when domainers gather in hoards to attend a conference produced by one of the most successful people online gather your cheat sheet well in advance and look around for answers to these questions about development:

# 1) Find SMARTER People

Remember the words “If you want to play chess never play someone you can beat”

This is critical to maintaining your seek for knowledge during the EPIK conference or any other. Sure, there are a lot of people around you can have drinks and make new friends with and its ok to do this but don’t stand in the corner talking to another guy who has never developed hoping to find the magic formula for online success. Try to get an attendee list and hit people up who have more experience than you. Chances are you are not going to know their names from the domaining world so don’t be afraid to Google them even if you’re 10 feet away. It’s not considered stalking yet.

# 2) Narrow Your Domains Down

Instead of solving the Mass development issue, identify the most interesting group(s) of your domains and try to speak in more defined discussions. Think about the difference between these 2 conversations “I have 3,000 names – how can you help me develop them” or “I have 200 real estate names – any ideas how to get these online”.

Not only does this show the beginning of a plan vs. needing someone to hold your hand it actually helps people who have experience in that sector want to speak with you more. Most development lessons can be carried over from one sector to another.

# 3) Give Rob a Hug

It would be kinda funny to have 1,000 people give Rob a hug over a couple days so this tip is for my humor more than yours (Please report any hugs given below)

# 4) Expectations

Do you know it can often take six months or a year to fully realize the SEO value of a domain name previously parked? Ask others about general expectations about rankings and when to start seeing traffic results.

# 5) Affiliate Revenue Options

At a developers conference they are bound to be people making money through affiliate programs so ask about what programs are good AND what programs are bad. Get contacts at these companies since direct payouts are a lot more than simply signing up online.

# 6) Mingle and Mix it up

Do not stay in a small circle. When you register its possible to meet a few people right away and simply stay in this group all weekend. Mingle and mix it up. A few minutes of charm will get you a long way and you can always call everybody next week. Meet as many people as you can. Of course, if you meet an incredible sexy blonde probably a wise idea to just leave the conference altogether or stay up in your room for three days – certainly no judging here.

# 7) How Much Money do you need?

Money makes the world go around or does it? Many developers start out with just a few hundred dollars and parlay money earned into thousands and then more. Part of attending a developer’s conference will also be to manage or create cost expectations for development. Ask about the different options for development. You can always upgrade your site design later. Find a balance between your budget and the options available.

# 8 What da heck is Web Development?

Seriously, this is not a joke question.

A lot of domainers think mini-sites are domain development but they are really not to any respectable developer. Inquire about the elements of development including web design, content production, link building, revenue generation and more. Ask questions like “Who writes the content”, “What platform should I use”, “How do I build links” and more. There are many SEO experts who are familiar with every aspect of building out a name attending the EPIK conference.

Buy them a drink and get some answers or buy them a case and maybe get them all.

# 9) Stand Tall – Do Not be Shy?

It’s ok to respect other people because of their accomplishments but at the end of the day we all put socks on and eat breakfast the same way. Do not be afraid to speak to anyone. In fact the best way to approach someone you feel shy about is to comment on a particular project they own or have built, compliment them and then ask a question about web development and that particular project. Trust me, people love to talk about themselves.

# 10) Schedule a Future Call

Ask people if its ok to schedule a longer call after the conference. A lot of people run their lives by blackberry and calendars so if you find someone who seems interesting enough to have a conversation with then politely ask to schedule a chat in the future. Once the meeting is scheduled then you can slowly make your way to next guy and don’t worry – they will do the same.

Conferences are not only fun and practical but one of the reasons why people fly thousands of miles a year to attend conferences is because they have a formula for extracting the information they want from the attendees. You should do the same.

Have any more tips … feel free to post them here.

Homeowners Insurance Covers Blogging Liability?

Alan — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 20:48:35 +0000

A very interesting article by a guest blogger at Savings.com today stating that Bloomberg is reporting:

“Some bloggers may be covered for online lawsuits under the personal liability coverage of their homeowners or renters insurance policies”

Worth a read – check it out here

http://www.savings.com/blog/post/The-Hidden-Costs-of-Blogging-for-Money-(or-for-Free).html

#1 SEO Site but not the SEO you think

Alan — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 18:40:00 +0000

With online courses, full day seminars and formal certification to show potential employers these SEO guys certainly seem to know their stuff.

Most of us would love to have a domain like seotraining.com as it is just a great name to show the world your seo expertise and build a platform for tens of thousands of people yearning for information on search engine optimization every day but much like many acronyms in this world SEO is not just dedicated to the web.

So if the economy is getting you down but still want a job with a catchy web 2.0 title visit seotraining.com – you might just get another chance to be an SEO expert after all.

Killer Bean – 10 Years Later

Alan — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 19:47:58 +0000

Over the past couple weeks I’ve been doing housecleaning of old bookmarks and sharing what I think are still interesting with some friends. Today, I came across my favorite animated project of all time and decided to check the site out – thankfully, I did! as it looks like Jeff Lew has finally put together the next installment of the Killer Bean series.

Give credit where credit is due and this guy is an incredible story with incredible talent. Without the internet very few of us could know one another, share our stories and build our companies. Remember, what’s new will become old but some of the old stuff is still new for those just recently online.

How this relates to domains – KillerBeanForever.com – sure this was not critical to any success but it was nice to see Jeff also brand the movie title and domain together.

Forget about the economy for a few and watch this.

Remember, it was produced almost 10 years ago.

Original Killer Bean: KB2

Killer Bean Forver (2008) Trailer

About Jeff Lew

Which Domainer should win?

Alan — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 00:32:20 +0000

This post is not about domain names per say but it will shed some light on the minds of people who spend $70,000 on (trademark).me domains or hope to sell hamburgerwithnochesse-please.info for $100,000. As far as the domain community goes I think we are a pretty smart bunch of people. The simple fact that we continue to learn in order to stay ahead of the curve is an element not typical of every industry so to my peers, my comrades, my enemies and my friends – Life could be worse, you really could be one of these people.

And yes, these are real stories about real people.

Someone really should publish an annual list of “dumb moves” for the domain industry – if we can’t laugh at ourselves well, pack up and go home. DumbDomainers.com is available should any of you choose to accept the task.

Enjoy

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The 2008 Darwin Awards have been bestowed, honoring the least evolved among us.

Honorable mentions go to:

2. The chef at a hotel in Switzerland lost a finger in a meat-cutting machine and submitted a claim to his insurance company. The company expecting negligence sent out one of its men to have a look for himself. He tried the machine and he also lost a finger. The chef’s claim was approved.

3. A man who shoveled snow for an hour to clear a space for his car during a blizzard in Chicago, returned with his vehicle, to find a woman had taken the space. Understandably, he shot her.

4. After stopping for drinks at an illegal bar, a Zimbabwean bus driver found that the 20 mental patients he was supposed to be transporting from Harare to Bulawayo had escaped. Not wanting to admit his incompetence, the driver went to a nearby bus stop and offered everyone waiting there a free ride. He then delivered the passengers to the mental hospital, telling the staff that the patients were very excitable and prone to bizarre fantasies. The deception wasn’t discovered for 3 days.

5. An American teenager was in the hospital recovering from serious head wounds received from an oncoming train. When asked how he received the injuries, the lad told police that he was simply trying to see how close he could get his head to a moving train before he was hit.

6. A man walked into a Louisiana Circle-K, put a $20 bill on the counter, and asked for change. When the clerk opened the cash drawer, the man pulled a gun and asked for all the cash in the register, which the clerk promptly provided. The man took the cash from the clerk and fled, leaving the $20 bill on the counter. The total amount of cash he got from the drawer… $15. [If someone points a gun at you and gives you money, is a crime committed?]

7. Seems an Arkansas guy wanted some beer pretty badly. He decided that he’d just throw a cinder block through a liquor store window, grab some booze, and run. So he lifted the cinder block and heaved it over his head at the window. The cinder block bounced back and hit the would-be thief on the head, knocking him unconscious. The liquor store window was made of Plexiglas. The whole event was caught on videotape.

8. As a female shopper exited a New York convenience store, a man grabbed her purse and ran. The clerk called 911 immediately, and the woman was able to give them a detailed description of the snatcher. Within minutes, the police apprehended the snatcher. They put him in the car and drove back to the store. The thief was then taken out of the car and told to stand there for a positive ID. To which he replied, “Yes, officer, that’s her. That’s the lady I stole the purse from.”

9. The Ann Arbor News crime column reported that a man walked into a Burger King in Ypsilanti, Michigan, at 5 A.M., flashed a gun, and demanded cash. The clerk turned him down because he said he couldn’t open the cash register without a food order. When the man ordered onion rings, the clerk said they weren’t available for breakfast. The man, frustrated, walked away.

10. When a man attempted to siphon gasoline from a motor home parked on a Seattle street, he got much more than he bargained for. Police arrived at the scene to find a very sick man curled up next to a motor home near spilled sewage. A police spokesman said that the man admitted to trying to steal gasoline and plugged his siphon hose into the motor home’s sewage tank by mistake. The owner of the vehicle declined to press charges saying that it was the best laugh he’d ever had.

Drumroll … Here is the glorious winner:

1. When his 38-calibre revolver failed to fire at his intended victim during a hold-up in Long Beach, California, would-be robber James Elliot did something that can only inspire wonder. He peered down the barrel and tried the trigger again. This time it worked.

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To waste valuable time reading stories that will only cause you to be less productive today visit – Darwinawards.com

Sorry, nothing else to write today

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Enjoy and remember to sign up for the PrivateNames.com newsletter

Green is not the only Color…

Alan — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 20:03:05 +0000

Another great example of people who found a niche and developed an online business around it – TreeTopia.com is a one stop place for Christmas (Holiday) trees. In fact, artificial green trees were not how they entered the business but rather red, pink, white and unusual but fun trees. The site averages around 10,000 visitors a month (according to compete) which surely doubles or triples this time of year.

Lesson: Even the most mainstream products (Christmas trees) offer opportunity online if you can find a niche.

A Christmas Story Online…

Alan — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 19:44:50 +0000

Mondays can be quite boring or crazy busy but cyber monday always comes with a certain obligation to “steal” some of your employers time and start the hunt for the perfect christmas gifts. In the domain world it seems to be just another Monday so if you’re gift hunting and would like to see how a succesfull site combines an online store, ebay auctions and more to make the perfect stop for everything “a Christmas Story” has to offer then check out aChristmasStoryHouse.com.

There is no relationship here except that I bought one of the silly leg lamps 4 or 5 years ago and believe me – it makes people laugh every year.