2008 June archive at Conceptualist.com, By Sahar Sarid

Loading Newer »

Less

Archive for June, 2008

Liquidity: What Are Your Options?

Published on June 30, 2008 in Bido/DNZoom, Business and Domain Names. 8 Comments

I had a chat with some of our partners and I asked the question “If you own domains and wanted to liquidate today, what are your options?” The answer I got from most? Not much!

Let’s explore further:

1. Finding an end user

Two words: GOOD LUCK!!

2. Traditional marketplaces (Sedo, Afternic)

Since these have millions of domains listed the chances to get noticed are slim to none. These places are great when end users are looking for you but from liquidity standpoint, don’t hold your breathe.

3. Message boards

By far the best option out of the three however, gaining exposure is hard as you compete with many other listings during the day.

Additionally, many sellers do not understand buyers are tired of wasting their time. It is not just considering your domains and your prices but for sellers, the equation is how many considerations do they need to go over in order to find a deal? This is an essential question for sellers and by understanding it you increase your chances many times over to sell your domains.

What is the solution to liquidity?

1. Do not waste buyers’ time.

If you are truly interested in liquidity, let the market decide the true market value of your domain. Do not guess what they will pay.

2. Make sure exposure is there.

In order to get the most for your domain you have to make sure your listed property has the exposure it needs to have. Less exposure = less money.

These are the issues and thoughts we go through building Bido. To serve our marketplace better our eyes are always open, we always listen. If you were to liquidate today, meaning, if by end of day you had to have money in your pockets, how would you go about it? If you ever had to liquidate, did you find the process easy, or hard?

Thanks in advance for your input!

Have a great day, and happy bidding!

Sahar

Growth Opportunities At Times of Uncertainty

Published on June 29, 2008 in Domain Names and General. 14 Comments

Approximately eleven years ago my sister was working at a small bar in Texas, done anything from bar tendering to sweeping the floors. The salary range was anywhere from 30$ during weekdays to 100$ on weekends. Not a lot but nevertheless, it was something. She liked the place and the owner and most of the crowd seem to like her. Because of that, it was a surprise that one evening she came back home crying telling me she was let go due to “complaints”. What were the complaints about? Well, she was Jewish and some of the crowd did not like that very much. Her boss wanted to avoid potential trouble so this was his way of doing so.

While I can probably write a lot more about the above this isn’t even our story yet. It is what leads to our story. Read on..

That night my sister came home crying as if the world had completely collapsed on her shoulders, as if there was no hope, none whatsoever. She had no paperwork, driving an iCe Cream truck wasn’t an attractive option anymore (what she did prior to bar tendering), and she had no idea where to go from here, how to pay the bills, not to mention how to build a better future.

As for myself, I was mainly home playing chess on the computer, I had no job either. However, I was more optimistic than her. I said as I always do, “Everything happens for a GOOD reason”, things will work out just fine if not better very soon. I still remember the look on her face, it was saying something on the lines of “Easy for you to say!!”, or maybe it was more like a “Yea.. right!!”. Either way, it wasn’t promising and whatever I said made little sense to her.

During her Ice Cream days (she used to drive an Ice Cream truck in TX) my sister made friends with a number of business owners, one of those also had a local bar in the same area. Unlike the first bar where she was let go, this place had a live karaoke, pool tables, a much better location, and overall was extremely busy. We decided, since she wasn’t working now, to drop by and pay a visit to her old friend. Not sure how long after our arrival she had a quick chat with her friend and a new job working at this place. Within a couple of days we found out the new place was indeed the better choice. Better place, better crowd, and money wise, at least 500% if not more better.

While the story above may sounds like the exception, over the years I’ve seen it happening many times, in the life of friends and in my own life as well.

Some years ago one of our previous partners in the domain space decided to break an agreement due to internal financial issues. We were on a long term contract and now were moved into a revenue sharing program. This move dropped our income overnight by more than 25%, It came as a complete surprise, especially given the credibility and our relations with this particular partner. Soon afterwards our domain portfolio started to gain momentum, we went from losing more than 25% to doubling our income within the next twelve months. If that partner did not act as they have this would have never happened.

I’m not sure how or why it works that way. Maybe it is because at uncertain times we try harder? or maybe it is because that at safe times we don’t explore, we are blinded to opportunities that may have always been there for us? Whatever the reason may be, for me, things always turn out for the better, I still say and truly believe that everything that happens happens for a GOOD reason, and that any downfall has the potential for a greater success.

Have a great day,

Sahar

Alizée, Mademoiselle Juliette, Live on HIT MACHINE 2/2/08

Published on June 27, 2008 in Bido/DNZoom and General. 1 Comment

Taking a break today from the blog, enjoy the video below of one of my favorite artists Alizée (more videos here). To those who plan on bidding today on Bido auction (HouseTips.com), good luck and happy bidding!

PANELIST.COM On Bido, US $1,866.00, 35 Minutes To Go

Published on June 26, 2008 in Bido/DNZoom and Domain Names. 4 Comments

Strong start for the domain Panelist.com today on Bido. Here are few comments from the site in regard to the domain:

Dominik Mueller writes:

Valuable one-word .com domain name that is generic in nature! It won’t be often that you find a domain as good as Panelist.com being sold without a reserve price.

Professional panelists can use it to promote their name and services, and panel organizers can feature speakers of upcoming discussions. But the domain can also be used in many other contexts, such as blogs, contests or politics. It’s covering a wide range of topics, so there is lots of potential for commercial use and development.
Valuable one-word .com domain name that is generic in nature! It won’t be often that you find a domain as good as Panelist.com being sold without a reserve price.

Professional panelists can use it to promote their name and services, and panel organizers can feature speakers of upcoming discussions. But the domain can also be used in many other contexts, such as blogs, contests or politics. It’s covering a wide range of topics, so there is lots of potential for commercial use and development.

Emil Mendoza writes:

Simply a domain name to own, whether to increase your domain portfolio or for resale.

No need an introduction.
Simply a domain name to own, whether to increase your domain portfolio or for resale.

No need an introduction.

You can read more industry expert commentary here.

While none of us know the price it will sell for (I’m sure many have an idea) one thing is for sure: The market will pay what the market will pay.

Happy bidding!

Sahar

Edit: Closing price: US $1,866.00

The Rebellious Jeff: Bido, The First Week!

Published on June 26, 2008 in Bido/DNZoom. 5 Comments

Jeff used to be a real productive fellow, one that would always spend his time managing teams, building new products, installing networks, eliminating software bugs, or just plain old software testing. So what has happened to Jeff? From time to time he gets into “creativity mode”. He knows (or should know!) he has no talent whatsoever to play with graphics (yes, that includes animation!) but I guess, it’s his rebellious spirit towards Darren and myself when we point out the obvious.

The video below is not something I’m proud to share with you, however Jeff has stated he isn’t going to do anything anymore unless I put it here. In the spirit of productivity, to get Jeff back to important things, here’s his latest creation. Enjoy!

Too Many Secrets: canadiancoins.com is a slam dunk

Published on June 25, 2008 in Bido/DNZoom and Domain Names. 1 Comment

(Image source)

A great post regarding CanadianCoins.com, upcoming Bido domain name. I’m going to jump right to the conclusion here however, make sure to read the whole post, it is well worth it!

Via Too Many Secrets:

The final numbers

I am going to be very conservative and expect the lowest earnings possible so that I can be pleasantly surprised if the earnings happen to be higher.

Adsense - Let’s say that you get 5% of the traffic, at the low rate of $140 per day. That totals to $2,555 per year.

Ebay - Let’s say you get one new signup per week and $2 per day in the 50/50 revenue split. That totals to $1,300 + 730 or $2,030 per year.

So we have a total of $4,585 per year in earnings. Let’s say you sell it after year one for a 5X multiple of earnings, that’s $22,925.

If you want to succeed in this business you have to think outside the box. it isn’t a secret anymore, pay per click is a falling trend. Mini site development (as Elliot Silver is doing with some of his domains lately) or full development (as the Castello brothers are doing with PalmSprings.com) is where the money is. No, it isn’t easy, it is indeed trial and error, but once you go through those phases you should be in a much better control of your future than you are today, that is, if you have not gone through it yet!

And lastly, tomorrow’s domain name on Bido is also a high quality one, a dictionary word domain name, Panelist.com. Lots of positive reviews on the domain, lots of possibilities, especially in the domain space. What is the true market value of the domain? We’re all going to find out tomorrow.

Cheers

Sahar

Tomorrow On Bido: CerealBox.Com

Published on June 24, 2008 in Bido/DNZoom and Domain Names. 7 Comments

I was looking around the web what can I find in relation to CerealBox.com, tomorrow’s Bido domain, and below is what caught my attention.

The end user here is likely someone in the packaging business. In the future we intend to market each domain to the right clientele however, today, as we are still busy working on the site, it is a great opportunity for many to pick up great deals.

Good luck to all bidders!

Sahar

Edit: Closing price: US $2,695.00

Introducing Bido Classic

Published on June 24, 2008 in Bido/DNZoom. 1 Comment

No, it isn’t a new program from Bido, just Jeff’s playtime with a new site called Animoto.

Enjoy!

When Domainers Stop Buying From Domainers

Published on June 24, 2008 in Bido/DNZoom and Domain Names. 2 Comments

head squeeze
(image source: Flickr)

A great read on NamePros shed some light on the current domain market.

NamePros Member Burano writes:

So, has it always been like this on this forum? I see pages and pages of posts of people trying to sell lists of domains with no responses except themselves
Some of these names are decent too…since I haven’t been on this board that long, I was just curious if this was always the case since it’s free here. Or maybe your domain just really has to STAND OUT??

It used to be you could at least make your money back on lower quality domains…seems like those days are over.

For years most of the domain market has been riding on the back of PPC revenues. Domainers made good money with PPC, reinvested buying more domains, made more money from PPC, and so forth. Very few were smart enough to diversify, to read between the lines, to understand that PPC income is an opportunity of a lifetime, and not something that will forever keep going up. As Rick Schwartz put it so well the other day (comments 45):

Just look at PPC. Domainer margins have shrunk a LOT while our “Partners” have not. Google makes more and the PPC companies only care about maintaining THEIR margins at the expense of OUR margins and domainers just sit back and PARTY! Party, while WE pay for that party.. But domainers have been out to lunch on every facet of this business when it comes time to standing up for themselves, their rights and their fair share. But don’t worry folks, it will only get worse. Worse because domainers have decided to be powerless.

The bottom line is if domainers make less money they spend less on buying domains in the aftermarket, they save more (if they still have anything to save!), and overall, they look to diversify from a falling trend. In the bigger picture it forces all of us to go out and get the word out to mainstream. If we fail to do so, we will surely suffer the consequences.

Bido, with it’s focus on one domain a day and participation of hundreds of industry voices, intends to do just that. It is easier for an outsider to read about one domain and the various thoughts on it than to look at a whole market and understand years of dynamics. If you want to stay in this business you must adapt, making no choice is the wrong choice. What worked yesterday is not working today. What works today won’t work tomorrow. After years of experience I learned this: In the domain business you either adapt, or you perish.

Have a great day!

Sahar

Build A Domain Forum With DomainTalk.Com (Live Auction On Bido Now, Current Bid US $1,610.00))

Published on June 23, 2008 in Bido/DNZoom and Domain Names. 5 Comments

A strong descriptive domain for that wil lfit great to a domain forum, the domain name DomainTalk.com over the years has received numerous unsolicited purchase inquiries. Here’s what some of Bido experts have to say about the domain:

Robert Leverton from Boa Domains:

DomainTalk.com is strictly an end user name. So the price boils down to how many potential end users would want this name. I know of one that would like to simplify their existing domain name. Beyond that the market gets thin rather quickly as many Domain Name forums are already sparsely populated. One positive or negative factor depending on how you see it – potential buyers of this name do not need to be educated on the value of a domain name. I see lots of chatter on DomainTalk.com below $300 and turning to a whisper above $600. Estimate: $300 to $600
DomainTalk.com is strictly an end user name. So the price boils down to how many potential end users would want this name. I know of one that would like to simplify their existing domain name. Beyond that the market gets thin rather quickly as many Domain Name forums are already sparsely populated. One positive or negative factor depending on how you see it – potential buyers of this name do not need to be educated on the value of a domain name. I see lots of chatter on DomainTalk.com below $300 and turning to a whisper above $600. Estimate: $300 to $600

Wilhelm Laubach from DomainPlus.eu

Domain market in general is very lucrative (f. e. Sedo, GoDaddy…) and a website that is able to attract a lot of domainers, like a domain forum, can earn great revenues. Even though the domain forum market has a lot of competition, a new comer with a large budget and smart ideas can become successful in this market. But he needs undoubtedly a really good domain.

DomainTalk.com is a top domain for a domain forum or similar services. It sounds professional, is easy to remember, and is ideal for branding.

This domain can bring up to $ 15,000.

Domain market in general is very lucrative (f. e. Sedo, GoDaddy…) and a website that is able to attract a lot of domainers, like a domain forum, can earn great revenues. Even though the domain forum market has a lot of competition, a new comer with a large budget and smart ideas can become successful in this market. But he needs undoubtedly a really good domain.

DomainTalk.com is a top domain for a domain forum or similar services. It sounds professional, is easy to remember, and is ideal for branding.

This domain can bring up to $ 15,000.

And Rob Sequin from SearchDomainsForSale.com

Agree with Jeffrey completely with regards to a crowded space but look… here’s bido in a crowded domain auction space.

So, with the right niche, a good developer and entrepreneur would have a real shot at success with this domain.

Better yet, someone with the right vision just might get a great deal on this domain since it is probably limited to someone with a vision. Not so much a buy and hold or speculation domain.
Agree with Jeffrey completely with regards to a crowded space but look… here’s bido in a crowded domain auction space.

So, with the right niche, a good developer and entrepreneur would have a real shot at success with this domain.

Better yet, someone with the right vision just might get a great deal on this domain since it is probably limited to someone with a vision. Not so much a buy and hold or speculation domain.

More Bido experts opinions here.

Happy bidding!

Sahar

Edit: Closing price: US $2,415.00
The lowdown on DomainTalk.Com, see my comment here.