2008 April archive at Conceptualist.com, By Sahar Sarid

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Archive for April, 2008

Flowchart.Com V.2 Goes Live

Published on April 30, 2008 in Business. 6 Comments

On May 11th 2007, after 18 months of hard work, we’ve released first private beta release of Flowchart.com. While we knew it wasn’t the best we could do we were highly interested in getting the product in the wild, get some real world feedback, and investigate the market a little further. Soon enough we realized what we had was really a prototype and after listening to our users, educating ourselves a little further, we realized to get to where we want we will need to build the application from scratch again. Fast forward to today, a year later, we are releasing Flowchart.com V.2, a highly flexible web application.

Below is an embedded flowchart, you can move the objects and connectors around. Each embedded flowchart has options that a chart owner can control. To see multiuser collaboration in action, sign up here.

Flowchart.com features include:

* Easy to use user interface.
* No plugins required.
* Real-time multi-user online collaboration with chat
* Works with popular browsers. On any Operating System
* Multi page flowchart.
* Embed Flowchart in your website.
* Drawing Tools. (Lines, Arrows, Bézier curves)
* Clipart objects.
* Script to Flowchart.
* Source code to Flowchart.
* Object Recognizer.
* Record/Playback your Flowchart.
* Fine grain security control for your Flowchart.
* Version Control.
* Developer API to extend Flowchart.com to create clipart/objects/scripts/language parsers and more!

Flowchart.com is still a R&D project and we yet to put an executive team behind it to run it as a business. Feedback as always is most welcome, highly appreciated!

Sahar and Jeff.

The Life of Linda Annili Bauman

Published on April 29, 2008 in General. 11 Comments

Via Les’ page at Caring Bridge:

Linda was born in Toronto Canada September 11, 1963. She was my best friend for almost 24 years. My best friend died this morning. I met Linda 24 years ago on Fort Lauderdale Beach where I was sailing my Hobie Cat sailboat. She was down here on vacation from Canada. There she was, this 5 foot 10 inch beautiful blond girl in a sexy white bikini walking along the waters edge, walking toward me. I asked her to go sailing with me, at first she said no. We talked for a while and then she said yes. She left her brother on the beach to bake in the sun, Pale white Canadian skin vs. Florida sunshine. Ouch! We sailed all afternoon and as they say the rest is history. She spent her final days sailing off the coast of Fort Lauderdale in the exact same places as we sailed when we first met. Although she did not pass away on the boat, she died over looking sunrise bay and the Inter Coastal Waterway with the boat she spent her last days on in view.
We had an amazing life together and probable had more fun and adventures in our short time together then most people. We could have written a book on how to have fun as a couple for the long term. We would do some crazy things and knew there is two ways of looking at what life is offering, scary situation or an amazing adventure. We always chose the adventure way at looking at things.
For anyone who ever met Linda they could see how her smile would light up any room. I am not sure how she would always see the best in things, but she did. When we would be driving somewhere and someone would cut us off. I would get pissed and she would say, ” Why are you getting angry ” I would reply “because they just cut me off “! Linda would then say ” so what, why be angry, anger will not change that fact they cut you off, and it’s not a healthy feeling. Then she would smile at me with that big bright beautiful smile. How could I stay angry after seeing that smile? I will remember that, and will look at things differently now. Looking at life the way she did. Life is too short to worry about the small stuff. If everyone treated each other the way Linda treated everyone we would be living in an amazing world.
There has been a hole in my hart for 8 months. Today it just got bigger. I have an emptiness about me for now, I’m sure that is normal and some day, if I am lucky, it will once again be filled.
I have heard the saying ” things happen for a reason?. I am not sure why Linda was taken from me, but as far as reasons go. I can’t think of a better reason than Friendships. Friendships, that never existed before Linda was hurt. Not just friendships with me, but between people whom new Linda and me, but not each other, and are now friends, Friendships with people I already new but now have become extremely close to. Time will tell whether all these new and close friendships will last. They will if Linda has anything to say and do about it.
I have no date for a service yet. It will be on Delray Beach and on a Saturday. Linda’s ashes will be put to sea off the coast of Delray Beach. If there is wind I will Kite board out and drop them. Anyone who wants to join is welcome. Jet skis, sailboats, Kite boarders. We loved the water and the ocean and it is there she will be. I will need help logistically when the day arrives.

Related posts here, here, here, and here.

LifeMemory here.

My view on death is a beginning of a new journey rather then the end of one. Linda was truly a one of a kind and today, the day she starts her new journey, my thoughts are both with her and her husband and my friend, Les Bauman.

Sahar

Finding The Good In The Bad: How LH.Com Arbitration Loss May Be Good For Domainers

Published on April 28, 2008 in Domain Names. 11 Comments

As widely reported by now, FMA has lost LH.Com in a NAF ruling.

While many think this is a disgrace (which I tend to agree), this decision, because it involves FMA, is not the worst thing that could have happened.

FMA is operated by Thunayan Al-Ghanim. For those who don’t know, Thunayan is no ordinary domainer. While FMA holds a great portfolio of generic domain names which includes i.net, multimedia.com, research.com, fm.com, and party.com (amongst many others), as Thunayan comes from one of the world’s wealthiest families, domains there seems to be more of a hobby than a business. If there is one person who can stand up to Corporate America, Lufthansa did a great job finding him.

A favorable court decision here will help define the space a little better, and with Thunayan behind it (good luck Thunayan!), there are good chances there will be such a decision. I’m looking forward to watching the nightmare they got themselves into.

Sahar

When Brand Owners Don’t Think: Leading Domains = Lost Traffic

Published on April 28, 2008 in Business, Domain Names and General. 3 Comments

On the same flight back home from San Fransisco I noticed how conceptual marketing helps generic domain name owners I also noticed of a rising trend, “leading domains”, domains which start with “goto”, “on”, “in”, “at”. “4″. This trend is related to the “Radio Test”. What is the “Radio Test”? Dan Warner, in an old DNJournal article, explains:

….An easy way to discern whether a domain has a good brand is by applying the radio test. If you were to hear a domain being talked about on the radio - how likely would it be for a consumer to remember that domain and spell it correctly? Strong brands are memorable, are hard to confuse and elicit an emotional response.

We learned to cope with brand owners who choose to misspell their URL’s either on purpose or because of URL shortage. “Leading Domains” take this to a whole new level as the brand itself incorporates a keyword which “leads” to a generic domain, giving boost to generic domain name owners.

Here are few examples I came across lately:

Dialog scenario:
Customer: How do I find your website?
Brand owner: The website is oncontact.com (sounds like “on Contact.com“)

Dialog scenario:
Customer: What is your website address?
Brand owner: GotoMeeting.com (sounds like “go to meeting.com“)

Dialog scenario:
Customer: What is your website address?
Brand owner: GoToMyPC.com (Sounds like “Go To MyPC.com)

(Thanks David Castello for the scoop)
Radio ad: Visit our website InPalmSprings.com (Sounds like “In PalmSprings.com“)

Many tend to think we are running out of domains however brand owners need to consider, whether they spend on a good domain or not, most likely there’s going to be cost associated, either the cost of purchasing a good domain or the cost of losing business.

My readings for Apr 26 2008

Conceptual Marketing Advantageous To Generic Domain Name Owners

Published on April 26, 2008 in General. 11 Comments

On the flight back home from San Fransisco I saw in American Way, AA magazine on American Airlines plane, an interesting ad by American Airlines. Here’s a couple of photos I took of the ad:

The fact though is American Airlines has nothing to do with the domain Paris.com. Why then are they doing it? It is because they are teaching their readers to associate Online Travel to their brand, by using generic domain names as concepts rather than web addresses, destinations. Of course not only this helps the owner of the specific domain owner in question, but as I wrote before, such activity helps tremendously the domain channel altogether.

Domain Development Vs. Business Development

Published on April 26, 2008 in Business, Domain Names and Recall Media Group. 6 Comments

(image source)

Not once have we developed a business because of domain ownership. I believe, for us, we first fall in love with concepts rather then fall in love with domains. It is only after we have a concept in mind we truly feel comfortable with we then either match it with a generic domain within our portfolio, buy a generic domain, or move on and develop on a distinctive domain.

For example, we did not know we would develop FuneralHomes.com until two years ago, which is two years after we initially started building the directory software. We did not know what we would call Lifememory until a year into the project, we did not know what we would call ASSISTA until two years into the project, and we did not develop Flowchart.com because we owned the domain - we went and acquired it because we had a concept in mind.

I believe choosing a business to develop simply because you happen to own a strong generic domain is the wrong way to go about it. While it may work, developing because of domain ownership will rarely match your skills, passion, and personal interest. Developing because of domain ownership will limit you from finding what’s best out there, both in terms of business development and finding what’s best out there for you. In the long term, can your business survive with lack of passion? with lack of personal interest in the subject, what kind of message will your business project to the world? And do you really want to limit the pool of opportunities because you happen to own a strong domain?

Few days ago while in meetings in San Fransisco I had a similar discussion with a business associate. Their group happen to own some category killer domains and while discussing development they showed strong interest in developing a number of their domains. My take on it was we first need to do market research to learn the industry, then we need internal research within our organization to see if it matches our skill-set, our business plan, what we do, what we want to do. The question I presented back to their group was “are you in it to develop your domains or are you in it to make money?”. When we think in terms of making money with a business, when we think ROI, we should look objectively rather then let limited resources in our hands dictate what we should do, dictate our direction.

Sahar

Domain Roundtable Pictures

Published on April 24, 2008 in Domain Names and General. 3 Comments

Photographer Tim Farris did a great job covering the Domain Roundtable event. Here are selected pictures:
(click images to enlarge)

From left: Peter Goggin (Argonaut Ventures), Gregg McNair, Alyette K., Matthew Naythons (Argonaut Ventures), Dan Warner (Fabulous.com), Sahar Sarid, Chris Hartnett (Ted Hens)

From Left: Gregg McNair, Alyette K., Sahar Sarid

TrafficZ party @ Club 443

Gregg McNair and friends at Club 443

Michael Robertson of Fabulous betting it all!

Sean Stafford of DNZoom and Carissa of DomainTools dancing the night away

Gregg McNair, Dan Kimball

On The Way Home..

Published on April 24, 2008 in Business, Domain Names and General. 0 Comments

Currently am at San Fransisco Airport, waiting for departure. The trip to this neck of the wood turned out, as always, to be great. After DRT I stopped for half a day at Web 2.0 with friends, was not impressed with what I saw. There’s still massive amount of money flying around chasing pageviews and userbase without any business plan nor bottom line revenue consideration. I understand it works for few however for the vast majority, especially those who do not have other businesses to support this sort of game, it is extremely speculative.

For me, for the first time this trip has been a combination of business and pleasure. I was able to stop at DRT, attend part of the auction, stop at Web 2.0, meet with many new and old business associates, connect with old friends, visit for the second time wineries in Napa Valley, celebrate the Seder with Chabad of San Fransisco (Thanks Rabbi Potash for the amazing hospitality!), got to the San Fransisco symphony, sailing the bay, visit Sausalito for the first time, find new and exciting restaurants, and of course spent more time with Alyette, my girlfriend.

TRAFFIC is just around the corner and I know over there it isn’t going to be anything close to what this trip looks like. TRAFFIC for us is all about business, maintaining relationships, building relationships, looking for opportunities.

Overall this trip was extremely fun, love this area, and looking forward to spend more time around here.

Until next time..

Sahar

My readings for Apr 23 2008

Sausalito Sailing

Published on April 23, 2008 in General and My Pictures. 5 Comments

Took the day off yesterday and went sailing in Sausalito with friends, was a blast!

Sahar and Alyette, Ferry building marketplace, San Francisco

Alyette on ferry, en route to Sausalito

Sahar, Sausalito harbour

Sailing into the sunset: Capitan Sahar with first mate Alyette

Dinner Pics In San Fran. And More

Published on April 22, 2008 in Domain Names and General. 1 Comment

Went to dinner with few friends tonight, was great. Overall, for me, another good conference. As always, the conference for me is not about the seminars or the conference execution but meeting old associates, friends, and new faces.

Sahar

Dinner with friends