Comments on: Why Domaining Sucks

By: Domaining and Domaineering

Domaining and Domaineering — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 07:56:30 +0000

Domaineering is the web-based marketing business of acquiring and monetizing Internet domain names for their use specifically as an advertising medium rather than primarily speculating on domains as intellectual property investments for resale as in domaining where generating advertising revenue is considered more of a secondary bonus while awaiting a sale. In essence, the domain names function as virtual Internet billboards with generic domain names being highly valued for their revenue generating potential derived from attracting Internet traffic hits. Revenue is earned as potential customers view pay per click ( PPC ) ads or the Internet traffic attracted may be redirected to another website. Hence, the domain name itself is the revenue generating asset conveying information beyond just functioning as a typical web address. As the value here is intrinsically in the domain name and not in a website’s products or services, these domains are “parked” and not intended to be developed into conventional websites. As with traditional advertising, domaineering is part art and part science. Often to be the most effective as an advertising tool, the domain names and their corresponding landing pages must be engineered or optimized to produce maximum revenue which may require considerable skill and keen knowledge of search engine optimization ( SEO ) practices, marketing psychology and an understanding of the target market audience. Domaineering generally utilizes a firm offering domain parking services to provide the sponsored “feed” of a word or phrase searched for thus creating a mini-directory populated largely by advertisers paying to promote their products and services under a relevant generic keyword domain. Occasionally content is added to develop a functional mini-website. Domaineers and some of those who advertise online using keywords believe domaineering provides a useful, legal and legitimate Internet marketing service while opponents of domaineering decry the practice as increasing the ubiquitous commercialization of the world wide web. Domaineering aka “domain advertising” is practiced by both large organizations which may have registered hundreds or even thousands of domains to individual entrepreneurial minded domaineers who may only own one or a few. The earliest known verifiable identification and defining of domaineering as a distinct Internet advertising practice is attributed to Canadian Professor William Lorenz.

By: Kamran

Kamran — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 17:59:12 +0000

I think domainers are too timid when it comes to trademark issues. I find it ridiculous that a company can spend $300 and own an English word that has existed for a long long time. I can see if the company has spent years and millions promoting the name (word) and has become synonymous with it. But other than that any trademark should be worthy of challenge. In fact, It would be nice if a law existed that a dictionary word that has existed for so many years cannot be a trademark candidate. That way, the companies are not able to start associating themselves with the dictionary words in the first place.

By: Happy Holidays from Newfound Names | Newfound Names LLC

Happy Holidays from Newfound Names | Newfound Names LLC — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 05:18:30 +0000

[…] for relentlessly keeping on top of legal topics which are important to every domain owner, to Sahar for providing wise, thought-provoking articles (except for the time he disappeared), to Michael […]

By: SDouglas

SDouglas — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 09:39:41 +0000

Hi Sahar,

Way to go with an article that gets domainers to sit up and go “uh oh”.

My belief, after 10 years of professional domaining, is that I personally haven’t utilized the domains I had to build them out even with limited content. I fell into the “park ‘em and leave ‘em” trap. Not good for domain values and appreciation.

I started thinking differently about five years ago, when I noticed that certain people were beginning to “focus” on their domains and build them out as businesses, or even “pseudo-businesses.” The results were that outside domain industry buyers became interested, even fearful, that a good descriptive domain name with content competing against them might be ripe for purchase or acquisition.

Bottom line, we domainers now are moving away from believing all the value in our domains comes from non-transparent parking companies providing us landing pages full of google and yahoo links. The truth is, your domain is what YOU CREATE IT TO BE WORTH. Put content on your domains, create something that uses a variety of monetization sources. Contact AEIOU.com, Trafficz.com, Whypark.com, and EVO to discuss taking those 80% of you domains that do absolutely nothing at a parking service, and get some content, any relevant content, on them as soon as possible. Prove that you believe in your domains, or sell them or let them expire.

In 2009, content will rule the path of success for domainers.

Great article, Sahar. My wife and I are looking forward to seeing you at Domainfest in January!

By: Crystal L. Cox

Crystal L. Cox — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 03:43:52 +0000

I agree Sahar, I met you in 2005 in Vegas. We have thousands of Domain Names and business seems to suck lately. I have 140 blogs and lots of built out sites. Let me know if there is any “Uniting” going on, We are In… Lets Show the Big Boys the Power the Domainers have.