Every domain owner should seriously consider blogging. We need to spread the word about domain names as a legitimate asset class. Few incidents in the last few days, such as the mishandling of the Cowboys.com purchase or this article (which I blogged about yesterday) clearly demonstrated to us the knowledge and understanding of the general public about domain names as a legitimate asset class is unsatisfactory at best.
Let us take the initiative to be the ambassadors of this industry. We need to blog more, we need to write more, we need to influence more. If you believe in domain names, why not help your friends, family, colleagues, or strangers to get in the business? it is truly a win-win-win. You help others and by helping them you help yourself and the industry.
Later this week I’m hosting a private party at my house, expecting around 70 attendees. Each attendee will get a letter exposing them to the domain business, its history, and providing industry links to get started in the business. I know you already explain your business from time to time to a friend or a colleague but what I’m suggesting, is to collectively, consciously, push the message out to the masses. The more participants in the business the stronger and more valuable ours and your assets will be, simply for the fact that more money chasing (for the most part) the same inventory (good domains).
The problem is, Franky, Michael, Elliot, Ron Jackson, Larry, Rick, myself, and the few other bloggers and site operators out there can only do so much on our own.
So my suggestion and personal request from you this morning: Be the ambassador the industry needs you to be!
Great post Sahar - if people follow your advice it could accelerate the advance of this industry dramatically.
Well said Sahar!
I could not agree more.
I started my blog http://www.ozdomainer.com on domain names and domaining a few months ago for that very reason.
Although I am a small player compaired to guys like you and Frank Schilling, I still have a much higher understanding of the industry than the average person. I am was always talking with my business associates and friends etc about domains so I thought a blog would reduce my time spent telling the same story over and over again.
I have been flat out with my AdWords consulting business over the past month and have been a bit slack with my posts to the blog so thanks very much for the kick up the pants to get back into it.
I read your blog every day and it is really great stuff!
Thanks from Down Under mate!
Regards
Ed Keay-Smith
Oz Domainer
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Hi Ed,
Thanks for the kind words. I actually just found out about your blog earlier today. Nice post about Dallas Cowboys!
Cheers
Sahar
I completely agree. When we realized that our business was a domain business and started to get a handle on how this market is evolving we realized that being more transparent about what we are doing would actually increase the value of our portfolios. So a lot of our blog is now focused on two things:
- explaining the domain business to newbies
and
- exploring the evolution of this market.
On a more monetary note, we also believe we’re on the verge of a major pricing bubble in the domain market as huge numbers of ‘average joes’ discover and enter the market. This scenario means those of us amassing and developing portfolios need to prepare a strategy for capitalizing on this pricing bubble. Dump marginal names? Keep the winners because the market will never get smaller? Think about it.
Sahar,
I agree completely. I have only been domaining for a year and a half now and still am quite amatuer when it comes to ascii domains. However, after starting a blog, http://www.greentaxi.com, a few months back, I have already noticed an increase in interest amongst my peers that will hopefully spread via their words in time as well.
I posted on the Cowboys issue as well. I think there is an interesting situation to look at with professional sports teams, as the MLB has taken control of all team sites themselves. Please follow my explanation here:
http://www.greentaxi.com/?p=131
I do apologize for dropping dropping these links in your comment area, but I feel if any article allowed for advertising from new domain bloggers, this would be the space to do it.
Lastly, I have a question regarding the focus of content on your blog. I have noticed you blog on other non-domaining issues, such as your dogs, and I do the same as well. I blog about my passions, but having more than one main topic, I am worried that I will lose viewers not interested in the other topics I blog about. Do you ever recieve negative commentary on non-domain related blogs? Do you notice differences in traffic to those pages versus your domain blog pages?
Regards,
Conor
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Hi Conor,
Saw your post, it is good. No problem sending links in comments area. As long as it is done in good taste it is definitely the space for it.
It is challenging to write about non domain issues as most readers are domain investors. I will though write more about non domain issues as I write about my life, my passions, and my other ventures/interests.
Some may not like it but it’s OK. end of day, this is MY BLOG
Cheers
Sahar
Sahar, great idea. I have started a blog to talk about domain names, my startups putt.com, dividend.com and copies.com. Plus it’s a device I tell my kids to read, as they will hopefully learn a lot and what their dad is up to during the day while they are in school.
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Hi Paul,
came across your blog lately as well, great domains you have and blog looks good!
Sahar
A great call to action. I just started doing this in my own ways. Thanks for the encouragement.
I don’t get the ambassador scam.
If my domains and websites make money, why do i need to preach to the general public what their value is?
Quite frankly, it is a part of this industry that gives it a bad reputation. You feel compelled to tell me the value of your biusiness. Does that happen in other industries you worked in? I own other businesses, i don’t explain to my neighbor why my business is worth x amount of dollars. Sounds like the people in the business are just self promoting and trying to drive up the price of something beyond its intrinsic value.
I’m interested in that letter . Can you publish it ?
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We will. I asked Darren Cleveland to make an info pack and provide it free of charge on our site. We may edit the package from what it will look like tomorrow to what will be on the site as we add more material.
I
I’ll see how it looks tomorrow and if possible I will email to you.
Cheers
Sahar
Dear Sahar,
First of all, congratulations for your interesting blog.
Domisfera is an Spanish media focused on domains. Sometime Domisfera have published some interviews in English (http://www.domisfera.com/tema/english/interviews/ ).
Will you grant a deep interview to Domisfera?
Thanks!
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Thanks. Saw some of the translations linked to the blog, great to have you guys doing it.
Interview sounds like fun, just email me the questions..
Keep up the good work!
Cheers
Sahar
Thanks for your words,
Please send me an email so Domisfera can send you the questions.
The interview will be published in English and in Spanish.