Francois of Domaining.com Retires … Site Shutting Down
By Alan on Jul 23, 2010 in Domain Development
This could be the post one day…. Are you prepared?
I am not someone who lives under the illusion that my blog is popular or anyone actually wants to read what I have to say.
However I am fully aware of the power that domaining.com has to provide traffic to people.
In fact, I would say out of all the industries online domaining.com is up there for being the largest SINGLE feed provider of traffic to industry blogs within an industry using a percentage scale
Ok that was a mouthful so let me put it this way.
The New York Times probably gets 50% of its traffic from MULTIPLE feed providers who highlight their news.
Smaller sites may get 80% of their traffic from MULTIPLE feed providers who highlight their news.
However in the domaining world ….
Most domain industry blogs I would guess receive 50 to 75% of ALL their traffic from a SINGLE feed source depending on your blog and excluding thedomains.com and that little guy high above Central Park -)
Even if its not 75% – its at least 40% since almost none of these blogs have any kind of substance for minor or highly searched topics, are not indexed in Google news (again, excluding MHB, the likeable guy with the funny bull riding helmet site and of course the news sites like Domain Name Wire)
Whatever the number is its high – drastically high from a single source.
I am sure some people who thought they were “famous” and all of a sudden lost a feed only to be banished to the bowels of Google since their site wasn’t famous at all – just had a link on domaining.com
My point here is have you even optimized your own blog or just rely on the power of some really powerful feeds that you believe just wont go away.
What if they did?
Your voice is only as powerful as your followers.
SEO is not just a way to make a money but its also a way for you be less reliant on single sources for readership and build a following of people who want to find your blog – not stumble across it since you just happened to be the headline of the day.
For those who know me I hold nothing back in my opinions about the lackluster support of development in this industry by some of the people who talk about domains.
When you hear a domain is worth xx and surely with a little development you can make 5 times x on your money … who are you listening to? You be the judge of that here – All I will say is knowledge comes from experience – not sales.
On the other hand there are many people who are legends in the development business but can you name them? Why not … you own domains and want to develop? Seems like you have been spending too much time reading domain blogs 
2010 is not like 1999 when it comes to developing.
People are not hiding as much as they used to. Public information is easier to find and people understand there is so much information available that they are more willing talk (excluding the secrets of course).
In all our industry blogs I can not name one who actually focuses strictly on speaking about people who have developed domains. Not regurgitating domain sales but a one or two article per week success story with articles about people who bought domain names and developed them with success. Success is defined as a lot more than seeing 6 blocks of Adsense ads and a compete score of 86 visitors a month. Fusible is the closest thing we have to do this and they do a good job but we need something a lot better to attract more outside money and industry street credit.
Instead of a blog with domain sales listings, Adsense ads, hosting ads, auction ads etc.. from all over the place – how about a single site with true stories about development, SEO tips, articles from SEO people etc. Essentially a domain success / SEO blog.
Question: There is no money in this idea?
There can be if you have a plan and do it right. Quality content and design is rewarded with quality visitors and opportunities (many times outside of just the purchase of an ad). Plus unless you are MHB or that pretty purple tie guy there is no money in your current domain blog anyway.
Think about … give up something that’s not making money to do something better … gee, what a conundrum you face.
Question: Why don’t I do it?
Maybe I will when my son goes to college. He is almost 5 now so odds are the opportunity may still be there.
Remember, I’m not a hater – I’m a pure believer that this industry needs to grow by people who understand development and domains. A couple weeks ago I was informed of a meeting next month by a national reporter to talk about “the future of domains”. The invited and confirmed list of this included many of the biggest domain owners out there.
However when I saw the list (and even though some of the people I consider friends and are well known in this industry) I looked at the list and said….. Even if I was invited, I would probably skip the meeting as only one of them had any experience in development.
Just one.
This is a great business for buying and selling domains but most people do not want to be brokers or sellers – they want to do more. So how do we embrace the future of our industry …?
Talk to those people who do more than just buy or sell or any meeting about “the future of domains” is going to end like this …
“Lots of good domains to buy, how much you think I can sell this for?
That Little Guy High Above Central Park with a Bull Riding Helmet Site | Jul 23, 2010 | Reply
You crack me up.
I have a Google alert for “that little guy high above Central Park,” which is what made me visit today.
As always, great article and advice.
Morgan | Jul 23, 2010 | Reply
Great post and some really excellent points!
On my blog I do make domain development my focus. Lately I’ve been talking a lot about Kayaking.org, an online brand I’m developing as well as Bimmer.co which I just finished yesterday. I’ve also talked about some of the lead generation sites I’m building like TexasDWIAttorney.us.
My company has been focused on domain development rather than domain sales from the beginning. I like consistency and just never found consistency in Domain Sales. I also like passive income and know that development, if done right, is the best way to develop passive income.
Excellent post and thanks for bringing-up several key issues. Francois has done an amazing thing for the Domaining community and we all know the Domaining blogosphere wouldn’t be the same without Domaining.com!
Alan | Jul 23, 2010 | Reply
I knew you would get the humor
Thank you Purple Tie guy whoever you are
zamaan | Jul 23, 2010 | Reply
It sounds me your going to close down this blog.
very sad if you do so. This is the site i start my day. pls dont…
Alan | Jul 23, 2010 | Reply
No – I just like to provoke thought every now and then. This blog will be here forever however I might change it to the purpletieblog.com in honor of Elliot.
Purple Tie Guy | Jul 23, 2010 | Reply
It’s a pink tie. I am wearing it right now. No suit jacket or shirt – just the tie. It’s casual Friday.
Acro | Jul 23, 2010 | Reply
Great bait title, you’re hired at DomainGang
Actually, 25% to 30% Google traffic is an indication of a healthy ratio. The blogs you’re referring to that provide no substance probably get no more than 8% traffic from Google.
About Domaining.com being the sole source of traffic, think of it this way: if it shuts down, another aggregator will pick up. I ran DNGator in the past and there is NameBee right now.
Domaining is a niche market so people that expect a larger audience must adapt to a bigger market.
Anthony | Jul 23, 2010 | Reply
Alan …
What dollar value would you give to
Domaining.com ?
DomainShane | Jul 23, 2010 | Reply
I write only write what I know. Unfortunately, at this point in time the development side is not strong enough to write about. I only know how to run a business and that translates to ANY business. You just change the parts. Actually my plant sites are almost embarrassing. They are profitable but could be prettier. Kind of like me
Alan | Jul 23, 2010 | Reply
Anthony,
I think the name is well worth in the seven figures to the right person (but that is a statement which can be used for any uber-premium domain)
I can say that domaining.com would be worth super super super super bucks if half the bloggers had sites of value and not just the same stuff repeated time after time. The value of a feed service is also dependent on the quality of the content it feeds. If this was the mortgage industry and Francois’s feed service provided the same percentage of traffic to mortgage companies he would be walking around the French Riviera in a $200,000 G-String from all the premium advertising banks would buy. Probably have one for every day of the week .. pink tie on Fridays to also honor the little guy high above central park.
Here, domainers complain about a $100 ad.
Who knows. I wouldn’t sell it if I owned, surely not till I got an offer well in the seven figures.
Alan | Jul 23, 2010 | Reply
A good bunch of comedians here today — LOL Shane.
Michael Castello | Jul 23, 2010 | Reply
I was reading your post today and did not realize I had read through several of you previous postings. I must say you know your stuff. I think you could take your Blog and make it a book you are so correct it what you write about. That is some valuable content that takes years to learn. You are so relevant because correctly developmenting your domain is the future. We are in the early stages of building out a virtual world. Those that gain market share now will stand like those that controlled steel, lumber and oil a hundred years ago. Your articles are a must read. Great stuff.
Alan | Jul 23, 2010 | Reply
Thanks Michael for the kind words.
However until I master the art of not just having the foresight to register a bull riding helmet domain but having the courage to actually develop it and share it with the world (three bold moves) I feel the only one qualified to write a book is the purple tie guy we all love to read and would gladly let sit in front of us at a movie theater anytime.
Whoever that purple tie guy is …
Purple Tie Guy | Jul 23, 2010 | Reply
Believe it or not, that hand registered $7 domain name has made $115.97 in the last year
MIKE | Jul 23, 2010 | Reply
in Italy we say: “morto un papa se ne fa un altro” “dead a pope we can make another one”.
Acro | Jul 23, 2010 | Reply
Mike – love that quote
In Greece we say “Una Faccia Una Razza” for Greeks and Italians. TGIF everyone!
Francois | Jul 24, 2010 | Reply
No, domaining.com has still not been sold
As I commented last year I declined a 2M offer…
What motivated me and take most of my attention these days is the development of these vertical domain marketplaces… the best is to come.
…
Alan you rocks!
Anthony | Jul 24, 2010 | Reply
Francois the best is yet to come
…. we have seen nothing yet
DNabc | Jul 24, 2010 | Reply
I started as a developer, not a domainer. For years I only bought domains for which I had a project and a clear goal. I kept having more and more ideas and I never stopped buying domains. Because I received “end-user” inquiries all the time I started buying some domains that I knew I could sell, kept doing that and my development focus was lost. That is something I’m trying to change again, I want more websites I can be proud to showcase… not just a list of premium names…
Nuno Alex Oliveira – DNabc.com
Logan | Jul 24, 2010 | Reply
Morgan does focus on development and as far as I can tell always has. His MorganLinton.tv show has a popular “Lightening Round” where he tells folks yes or no on which domain names should be developed based on keyword search volume and CPC values. I’m a believer now — in one month my first two developed insurance lead gen sites (http://SR22California.com and http://CheapInsuranceQuotes.us) have generated more income for me than all my parked pages combined. Now I’m selling off my domains with no intrinsic development potential and focusing on developing my domains with high development potential for lead gen in specific, lucrative industry verticals. To me, it’s a no brainer.
Esa | Jul 24, 2010 | Reply
Bait title notwithstanding, another solid post here. Domaining.com literally keeps many blogs alive, and I don’t think I would go too far to say that Francois through domaining.com has made careers for some people through getting their work noticed.
99% of the blogs I would never even know about let alone check the feeds daily if not for domaining.com.
Francois deserves a lot of credit for setting up domaining.com and for pursuing a very active role through various services, at some risk I might add – I would never have declined a 2m offer for domaining.com. Monetization of that platform as we all know has not been easy for Francois, yet he keeps pushing forward.
Adam Brewer | Jul 24, 2010 | Reply
You rejected 2m? You have balls of steel, my friend!
steve cheatham | Jul 24, 2010 | Reply
Delevopment is the only thing I do. Buy and develop. Hand resigtered mostly due to my entry in the 1990′s.
This might sound stupid to most domainers but I do not follow any rating site like Complete. I build quility content for a real nitch and watch my Google Analytics for trends.
Enough said. The rest is secrets developed over 12 years of domaion development.
Thanks for your insightful comments and the morning email with the main relevant stories all ready for me.
Evie | Jul 24, 2010 | Reply
I am with DNabc about the focus issue.
I’ve always been about development (or so I say I am) but I have the focus of fairy dust (however I picked up FaeryWings yesterday – so maybe that will help – or not …) … see what I mean
Another great post Francois ~ keep ‘em coming ~ Thank You!
ze | Jul 24, 2010 | Reply
Another great post Alan!
Most domainers own at least one domain that properly developed could pay-off their entire portfolio with in a couple years… and then some.
If Francois retires I might have to actually bookmark all those blogs… bummer.
Shawn | Jul 24, 2010 | Reply
Thanks for the great reads Alan, I can count on always taking something with me after reading your posts
Ok so I like your idea about starting a site for Domaining Success and SEO…
Been thinking that over and if anyone wants to JV I’ve got DomainingSEO.com we could do something with. Anyone???
Lets Talk
steve cheatham | Jul 24, 2010 | Reply
@Shawn, I like it for SEO. But I do not base my optimaziation on search engines.
Why? Search engines are very profitable for the owners who can gerrymander the listings and are in the ad selling business. Before I get penalized in the engines for saying that let me say I love and use search engines.
For the serious developer with a long term committment, relying on search engines can be a disaster.
Content is important. My visitor count is low by most standards but the quality of those visitors is very high.
Maybe I am stupid for doing it this way but my perception of how to do it works for me.
Alan | Jul 24, 2010 | Reply
Ze,
This has to be one of the top 5 quotes of the year.
“Most domainers own at least one domain that properly developed could pay-off their entire portfolio with in a couple years… and then some.”
Well said.
Alan | Jul 24, 2010 | Reply
Steve,
Your point is very valid. There is a great read here about Google being a tactic for traffic but not a strategy. It takes a lot more than just organic search to have a real business unreliant on just how much Google likes your site.
http://www.seochat.com/c/a/Website-Promotion-Help/Why-Google-is-a-Tactic-not-a-Strategy/
steve cheatham | Jul 24, 2010 | Reply
Alan, Ze,
That is a very profound quote and is very true.
My entire business grew itself based on that quote.
All you need is one well developed domain. The problem is once you taste that, you want more.
byDomainers | Jul 24, 2010 | Reply
Very interresting article, it encourage me to focus my efforts in developping some great names like :
TurnkeyTurkey.Com
NewYorkiCity.Com
and Selling them later.
Thanks for the advices.
David | Jul 24, 2010 | Reply
Excellent post and thoughts. I can appreciate it, being one of the assumeed few who has also done extensive wide-ranging development, as far as the (even amazing to me) number of diverse developed sites go.
Running so many active websites is a full-time job, as is remembering all the URLs. Two-thirds of my domains are developed (mostly small sites), with a goal of 100% by next year.
Good monetization and content as always are the main two issues.
Evie | Jul 24, 2010 | Reply
David – 100% active domain names is one of the things that lead me to WhyPark (although apparently Google dislikes them ?) it assists in getting the names active immediately and also gives great ideas (usually) in ways to dev the name.
DNabc | Jul 24, 2010 | Reply
I can honestly tell you that for years 3 of my domains paid the renewals of my other 3000.
Now that I have 6000 I need perhaps 6 domains to pay for the others.
Of course 6 or more domain sales also help
Simon Johnson | Jul 24, 2010 | Reply
Ok – I have to admit, that “bait n switch” headline got me.
The site is a great resource. I personally wouldn’t rely on it for the majority of your traffic – thats the risk you run!
Dan | Jul 25, 2010 | Reply
you nailed it.. nice
Thanks!