A Domainer does not Exist…
By Alan on Sep 4, 2008 in Domainers
Before you all bust a move understand that one needs to apply logic and really think from the perspective of others about the topic of “domainers”.
Domaining is relatively new – the word domainers even more so - and the core of this industry is small – extremely small. It’s not hard to enter this market and make a buck today and we all should be happy as it will only get harder as the industry grows but at this moment in time – you are still not a domainer.
What am I smoking? Unfortunately, nothing good at the moment.
Traverse Legal had a great article earlier today entitled
Do Domainers Deserve Their Reputation As Cybersquatters Because They Fail To Police Their Own?
Very rarely do I post articles that have already been published but as I began to comment on the question asked I kept wanting to write more about the “domaining” title.
First, I would define a “domainer” as someone who makes his/her living buying and selling domains. Anybody who develops is really not a domainer … (devlops more than those silly made for Adsense sites or websites with such little content that the whole idea is to put up in one day and never change) … A true “domainer” by my definition is somebody who makes all his living flipping names. A developer can take part in domaining but they are more than just a domainer at that point. In the stages of evolution developers are higher than domainers. Again, in our minds.
Do you know what a landowner means?
Can you explain debt collector?
How about telemarketer?
These are all definitions of careers that are publicly known, accepted and stereotyped. Many jobs exist where only a small portion of the world can define the title but the industry behind “domaining” is something more than just a small corner of the world. Our assets represent the land of the internet – not window blinds, designer sunglasses or body lotion. Domain names are the single element most small businesses on the web are built around. Without our assets these products can not work.
This comparison will not hold when compared to global brands, companies built long before the internet and a few other types but in a world that has seen unprecedented growth of small business building true, solid, brick and mortar business around domain names we have all become much more than domainers.
Yet, I’m still not a domainer and nor are you.
Public opinion and public acceptance of your title is the most important asset to qualify an industry. Many of us love teaching people about the business, explaining how you can turn $7 in $1,000’s practically overnight but what happens when we explain “domaining”.
Is it so easy people have to freeze up since it sounds too good to be true?
Is it the pure hatred many have for popup ads and windows that they think we are simply trying to sell them something?
Is it because many people who have tried to do good for the industry often sound like car salesman trying to move an asset to meet this month’s quota or build a website that looks like just another get rich quick scheme – remember, if it looks like spam – its spam?
These are just questions – I don’t know the answers… but I do know, for the landowners (domainers) of an industry whose growth has surpassed any industry before in terms of social reach, usage, branding ability, revenue etc.. (the internet) we may have become so complacent and self reliant that the future of this industry is only seen through by a single pair of glasses by many.
How many times have we talked about the opportunities which exist that can yield 10’s of millions in profits annually such as an advertising platform outside of Google & Yahoo, a faster way to find end users, education of domain names to small business and their importance role in helping to build memorable brands.
Venture capitals, banks, private investors – lots of people have money to take advantage of these and other ideas. When opportunities exist that can possibly yield 10’s of millions in profits then in most all other public industries – people are lining up to get in – yet…
Can you go to a traditional bank and apply for a loan as a domainer?
Ask a venture capitalist if they will fund domainers?
Do your friends even understand what you do – except just buy and sell some words?
Stereotypes exist and they always exist for a reason. It’s not a matter of prejudice, racism, ignorance or media hoopla - its a matter of common perception. Go anywhere in this world and you will find common stereotypes that exist for different colors, religions, citizenships and more. By no means do I agree with any (nor will I mention them here) but as an industry as smart as I hope we have put little effort in creating the basis for a truly positive sterotype – In fact, we are slowly pushing ourselves in to a corner for a bad sterotype – which can not by undone.
It’s still early and we have time to stop the negative stereotype from building.
We are more than squatters of PPC revenue from obvious trademark typos!
We are more than auction houses collecting money from the sale of obvious trademark names!
As a community we have a responsibility to take leaps (not steps) to avoid the stereotypes and help build a positive feeling of excitement, success and belief in the possibility of living the “American” dream by becoming a landowner (domainer).
Larger companies have greater responsibilities and should respect the industry more than it’s sales volume for the month. It may be great that someone made a million dollars from parking domains but as soon as someone sees just $20 of that million coming from a typo of verizon.com or google.com then the person (and the industry) loses more than we gain.
Like anything in real life – people love to hate those who succeed and since most people do not understand this industry then we must clean up, educate and put those silly suits on to present ourselves in the fashion that traditional, respectable industries understand albeit for a limited time.
Give them an inch and they will take a yard – whatever the expression is – the $20 from trademark typos overshadows all the work, all the talent, all the money spent in accumulating a great portfolio because a spammer is a spammer – emails or trademark typos – the public does not know the difference.
We have to fight and educate.
In any other industry Frank, Kevin – many of us would be asked to be on popular TV shows like Oprah, Regis, local TV, McGyver (ok maybe not that) and tell the great story of finding this business and its riches – all the shows that are credible with popular opinion.
Maybe we are all too smart and realize that popular opinion is not always the right opinion.
Doesn’t matter – I haven’t watched any of these shows in years (maybe decades) but I do know when the plumber Joe Smith down the street thinks about how to quit his job and make a fortune his reaction is probably going to be to try something that people are talking about.
It’s the common perceptions by common people which build industries
catering to a few only builds a brand.
Positive public opinion is the key to making this industry more than a relatively small group of people who preach to each other but very rarely preach to the masses. Get Frank on Larry King, Put Rick on CNN – doesn’t matter who, there are quite a few to choose from, just get someone – but wait…..
If that were to happen at the moment you can bet it’s a great side story about the small guy (yep, we are all small compared to the billion dollar companies) that’s taking advantage of the money from typos than the dream we all awoke to one day and found ourselves in. Side stories are fine – if they are in the past.
In our case, NO ONE would have a single reply to such obvious violations and why they are still happening – we look like the bad guy again unless…
Yes – WE CAN ADMIT there are members of community who disrespect everything we are trying to build and continually accept today’s pennies in exchange for losing tomorrow’s dollars. Get involved and set the rules we would like to see. Even the newest domainer must understand obvious trademark law so let’s stand together and not park those names, not sell those names, designate an attorney to create an account where we hand over all those names and move on. I do not know the answers but we can opt to provide positive news on our efforts to clean up and a show a side to the outside world.
Positive popular opinion is the single most important element that will cause this business to rocket faster than any one of us could imagine but will we just all wait it out and continue to hold conferences for each other hoping to catch a few more outsiders each time?
Again, I don’t have the answers.
Funny enough that we all own the internet – yet the internet is moving faster than all of us combined.
So are you a “domainer”?
Depends on the circle but don’t spend time thinking about how I would answer the question. How would your next door neighbor, your children’s teacher, your soccer coach or your barista at Starbucks look at you after you said you were a domainer?
Once that look of confusion leaves their face we have won.
I just hope the good stereotype prevails.
In the meantime, my name is Alan and I am (am not) a domainer??
Food for thought….
Ross | Sep 4, 2008 | Reply
A developer can be a domainer and a domainer can be a developer. It all relates to itself and actually proves better to have both skills in the industry. As stated a true domainer is one that basically makes a living off of domains. IMO this is correct but in the public’s eyes they do not see it that way because in all reality a domain should be regged to develop a website not for a site filled with PPC ads on it. Parking killed that part of our industry and gave us the stereo type we have today. Its not because of the trademarks, TMs can be used in many different ways but putting up a parking page on a blatant TM infringement does nothing for us.
Now you brought up those silly AdSense pages. Well i would consider that development. At least the person produced a somewhat quality site that actually contributes to the internet as a whole. Weather the info is correct or not it is an actual site and not a link filled mine field. Plus it took some skill to make the site and actually get it on to the internet instead of just changing the NameServers.
The industry as a whole is very confusing and only the brightest minds shine. To succeed in the industry you have to come up with more of a business model than just simply know the industry. For most big names that has been PPC or Auctioning off names. Sounds like the stereotype to me does it not? I think the one person i see actually adapting to and evolving the industry is Rick Latona. I have noticed he is actually on top of things and creating liquidity and alternatives to parking in the time of need.
So in all reality it is the people that are speaking out against the stereotypes now that actually created them in the first place.
And YES i am a Domainer /(SLASH) Developer
Alan | Sep 4, 2008 | Reply
Good response.. I love hearing educated opinions. The industry is confusion.
Rick Latona is doing a great job and is really becoming the new spokesperson for the industry. He’s always been one of the big guys but in the last six months he is certainly helping many domainers become developers and people are listening. In my book Rick rocks.
“silly AdSense pages”
Adsense is great if used the right way. I’ve made over $1 million using adsense so there is no way I can knock the program but all our developed properties were built with adsense as an afterthought. Once the sites are up and running then we may/may not use adsense. Depends on the theme, the look etc.
When I say silly adsense websites I mean people who build a website (or in most cases - a web page) for Adsense. All this does is add more spam looking content out there.
Some good exceptions to this are … Rick Latona’s AEIOU sites - great quality.
It’s great to see some content but too many people see $1 or $2 a day and quickly built another “silly” site. Ultimately all they have are a bunch of junk sites since they always forget to go back and expand the original sites because like you said…
“To succeed in the industry you have to come up with more of a business model”
I think that’s where most domainers fail at becoming developers. They rely solely on ad revenue but have really no plan to link it all together. Programs like AEIOU.com should hopefully be the kickstart people need. Rick has the design and the price point just right (must add that to my blogroll come to think of it)
We are lucky as we have a few full time graphic designers on staff so busting out an idea doesn’t take that long and I completely understand its a challenge for many.
“And YES i am a Domainer /(SLASH) Developer”
cool - when I wrote I am (am not) a domainer it was really a question. We fit in both categories for sure.
Ross | Sep 5, 2008 | Reply
Thank you for the response and a good one at that. Although the adsense sites people put up maybe somewhat spam, they are still sites and have some time spent on them. Which in all reality is much better than a parked page where litterally all you see is a crappy design and bunch of links.
Its a learning experience and many people have not dabbled in the developing area of the industry and do not have the high skill set that some us have. Which in return turns out the crappy adsense pages. There are also many factors of why people put those types of sites up. Skills, lazy, time, and money are all examples of what could effect the site as a whole and others that are created by the same person.
This is where Rick Latona comes in with his company. Offering what he has to offer is a great alternative to the crappy adsense pages. Though it may cost a pretty dollar it is worth it to put a site up like that on a semi-good to awesome domain name. Potentially make more and drive traffic to the domain rather than sit and wait. Plus on top of that he goes the extra mile and offers a sort of SEO package with the site, which is awesome.
The industry is evolving and it takes more than money and to know how to change a nameserver to make money these days in the industry.
Good Luck!
Enrico S. | Sep 5, 2008 | Reply
Well said Alan. The amazing response to this issue over the last two days tells me that the community is ready to take another leap forward towards true legitimacy. Yes there are domains in the gray area. Yes, there are abusive trademark holders. That does not change the fact that blatant habitual cybersquatters walk among us, and hurt the industry. Everyone should clean their portfolios, purge their questionable domains and work hard to ‘out’ those who play the cybersquatting game largely without consequence.
Stephen Douglas | Sep 6, 2008 | Reply
Well, this is one of the most philosophical posts I’ve seen in a long time, as in the last time I posted something similar somewhere two years ago. So I’m on board with Alan’s post. Educate the public, and we’re home free.
I’m a domainer, and the definition of a domainer is someone who takes domains and makes a living from them. Most domainers focus on domains full time for their income. There are a myriad of ways to monetize domains, and all of them that work for someone who owns domains proves that person is a ‘domainer’. That means developing, parking, flipping or pointing to a website selling your own products.
Latona has a nice buildout service, but I’m partial *ahem* to the fastest and least expensive solution for content development for domainers who aren’t making money from PPC — that is WhyPark.com.
As the VP of Biz Dev at WhyPark, I’m authorized to give out 100 free accounts for ten domains to be “condevved”. (I love making up words to keep me from typing out long phrases). Condevved means “content development”.
I’m inviting your readers to open up a free account at http://www.whypark.com/successclick/ and park 10 domains of their choice for free for 90 days, and test our system. (Bring over domains that make you no money).
Who knows? With the right keywords and a lot of domains parked at WhyPark.com and other monetizing sources, you could become a domainer very quickly.
Stephen Douglas
WhyPark.com
Namer.ca | Nov 1, 2008 | Reply
You said “Positive popular opinion is the single most important element that will cause this business to rocket faster than any one of us could imagine but will we just all wait it out and continue to hold conferences for each other hoping to catch a few more outsiders each time?”
I am not sure this will ever be possible, due to the inherent nature of things.
Unfortunately the truth is that, a Domainer is nothing more than a glamorized term that cybersquaters like to label themselves. You can change the name but you can’t change the perception in people’s mind once you tell them about what it is that you do, or when they find out themselves. And if you do then congratulations but i think that the effort far outweights any benefits.
No you don’t have to own any typos, or break trademark laws, to earn the honorable title of “cybersquater”, you can legally own a legit generic, category defining domain like for example babybibs.com. If you own such a domain (a thousands such domains) and for whatever reason you are forced into leaving it parked, or undeveloped, you are squatting on a domain, the land in cyberspace, hence cybersquater, that is i believe the correct description of what you are doing.
Squatters squat on real land. Cybersqutters squat on cyberland aka domains.
Lets be clear there is nothing wrong with squatting, it is just that this kind of activity inherently does not carry a whole lot of charisma in peoples eyes outside the domainer “industry”. And no amount of education will change that, it is what it is.
I hear alot about “we need to educate” the general public, the media, so they like us more, and see through the light and get that what we are doing is valuable, that these assets are valuable, valuable to them, worth millions. I can’t think of a better way of educating anyone, than developing your domains. Any other education is a bit like trying to educate someone who likes chocolate that strawberry flavour is the better tasting flavour.
Oh and the “they don’t get it” whine. Usually when someone doesn’t get something, it’s because there is nothing to get, or they get something that is much bigger and dwarfs the idea or benefits that you are trying to convince them of, or your argument, communication is not persuasive enough.
Of course you can just conclude something about their ignorance, in which case, any amount of education will not help right? Unless you educate by examples of developed properties. But since you can’t develop them all, you can’t escape the wrath of being a domainer (cybersquater).
So to conclude, do domainers play an important role in the internet marketplace, do they bring value, ofcourse yes. Will this role ever be popular outside the domaining underworld, which will launch the “domaining industry” into stratosphere, most likely not.
Alan | Nov 1, 2008 | Reply
Name.ca,
First I want to say that your words “a Domainer is nothing more than a glamorized term that cybersquatters like to label themselves” is wrong. There is a clearly a difference between those who invest in domain names as assets (domainer) than a cybersquatter. Most, if not all, professionals in this industry would define cybersquatters as people who try to make money from domains or typos of well known trademarks. There is no doubt this industry has a lot of bad apples in it – probably no more than selling used cars – but I will say there is a big difference.
Secondly, I will agree however that public perception would probably agree with you since most people have no idea what business models are set up to earn revenue and how generic domains with traffic do constitute a valid business model. Any generic domain name – take the one you mentioned, babybibs.com – can be owned by anyone with/without the use of intent. Think of all the empty parking lots in downtown Vancouver or Toronto where the owners charge $10-$20 a day to park, only to ask for more on game nights.
Are these people squatters?
No, they are smart investors with prime land. Many will never develop but that was probably never their intent – it was to buy the land and hold out for a good price from a developer some day while making some money along the way from parking revenue (comparable to ad revenue with domains).
I think most domainers (the ones who people know) do exactly the same thing. Of course, the ones who participate in cybersquatting (using our definition) usually hide behind false whois, privacy or fake monikers but there is a real industry of professionals who invest for value and future development.
Back to my quote about winning public perception. Is it like the war on drugs? Maybe. Cybersquatters are so visible in what they do their activities definitely can overshadow all the real business models in place but I’ve seen many industries turn from negative to positive so there is hope for the massess to see value here one day. Of course, you don’t need the masses to make a lot of money in this industry but the goldmine – the day when domains are bought in high volumes and greater prices – that day can not be ruled out.
You are right about developing domains as one of the keys to educating the masses but many domainers are soooo new that learning development has just begun and there will be a learning curve for many so success stories will come but in time (many are already alive like americanflags.com). Much more has yet to be told. The last 5 years have been about buying for many domainers and now the industry is moving towards more development so hopefully many of today’s investors will have developed properties with real business models (not adsense pages) in the future. Only time will tell.
As for the “they don’t get it” whine comment you made. I wouldn’t worry too much about that. Anyone who owns a good domain can always find a buyer or develop a good project around the domain. It’s usually the owner of a domain like wannabuyahotdogor2atmyplace.info who will whine – the rest of us know what we have.
Thanks for the comments. Some may read your post and go off like a rocket but I do not think you were trying to insult the industry but provide an educated opinion on how the general public perceives the industry in its current state. Enjoyed your comments – almost went off when I say the term “cybersquatter” but I understand your arguments and choose to agree/disagree as above.
Cheers.