2009 June archive at Conceptualist.com, By Sahar Sarid

Archive for June, 2009

Busy @ Work!

Published on June 19, 2009 in Business and Domain Names. Closed

Don’t let anyone tells you differently, times are challenging, the strong will survive, and many shall perish. To give you an idea what one to do these days to create a better future, the scope of urgency, action, here are few things I’m working on these days:

1. New bido release, multiple auctions & more

First and formost on my list, we’ve been hard @ work on a new upcoming bido release. This release will bring multiple auctions per day to the bido community. Also, Bido experts will be soon voting on all submitted domains, upcoming auctions. We want to be as much hands-off as possible and shift the focus to the community to make these important decisions. Transparency is good business.

2. Professional business brokers

I put few partnerships together to explore deals, whether they come to us or we go to them. We have not done much of it in the past but times are ripe and since all is hungry, all want to be a part of it, and all listen.

3. New site developments

We’ve always worked on new experimental projects, the difference is there is more urgency to produce today than ever before. No time to delay, to take your time. Everything is ROI and sooner you get to positive ROI, the better.

4. Major partnerships, accounts

Some of our businesses we’re putting much focus on bringing major accounts in, that is, accounts which are worth six, seven, or eight figures per year. Major players, as the rest of the world, are in need to produce aggressively for their shareholders. For that, they must explore more than ever before, while at the same time be pickier than ever before.

5. Raising capital

Raising capital is a full time job. We have never focused much on it however, to grow faster, to scale higher, capital helps. If you are a six/seven/eight figures investor and interested in investing with us, see our site for contact details.

6. Buying domains

Contrary to others who are holding back, we feel much safer to invest in domains than having money in the bank. We’ve been buying lately and do not plan on stopping anytime soon. There are many deals out there, and those may never be back to those level ever again. Remember GOOG at 250$? You snooze you lose.

And I’m sure am forgetting a couple of other things I’m busy @ work. There’s much to do, so little time.

Have a great day.

Sahar

(comments are blocked as I’m on a blog break, if you wish to reply, on my Twitter page please)

A Public Note To Francois @ Domaining.com

Published on June 13, 2009 in Business and Domain Names. Closed

UPDATE:——————————————-

eMail from Francois now, reversing this action.

Dear feed member,

Yesterday, I made a decision that generated some publicity: If you are not aware, I announced that bloggers advertising competing news aggregators on their sites would no longer be listed in our newsletter.
From a business perspective, why should I do extra to help those who help promote my competitors? In retrospect, the language and tone of my email may have been misinterpreted or misunderstood, and I want to make my position clear to all.

Today I have a strong advantage over my competition, but due to this fact I realized I also need to take care to not create a monopolistic situation. It’s mad to create a climate of injustice and I don’t want to give my
competition any possible issue by blocking the market.

So this will be my revised and official position:

- Each feed participant can advertise any site he wants in his pages without impacting his exposure on Domaining.com

….

I consider this a small win to all. Thanks for participating and voicing your opinion about this important matter. If we do not take care of fairness within our industry, no one else will.

——————————————————————–

Francois never understood why I never sent a reply privately. It is simple: The email was not addressed to me privately, nor personally. As it turned out, Francois sent the same exact email to others. Since then, as this issue is now in the public eye (as it should be), all communication is now public.

What is anti competitive behavior means?

Via Wikipedia:

Anti-competitive practices are business or government practices that prevent and/or reduce competition in a market

While I do not see eye to eye with Francois on many levels for a long time, this one was the one I felt I had to draw the line. There’s a big difference between what was done previously to this last event. While I did not like some of the ideas Francois implemented in the past, I admire his willingness to try new things, find what works, adapt. With that said, that last event was none of it. That last event basically told bloggers that in order to be included in syndication (site or newsletter, it is the same principle), a blogger must remove competitors from their site. While I’m not an attorney I’m quite sure this is illegal in many countries. But more than that for me, it is highly unethical business practice.

Many have said that Domaining.com is a good source of traffic therefore they will make the decision based on that. I highly disagree. I believe at times we all call our higher set of values, those that tell us what is right and what is wrong. This is plain wrong.

The only acceptable conclusion here is a sincere apology and reversal of this action by Francois. Anything else is selling ourselves short.

As I’m still on a blog break comments here are blocked. You may reply on the issue at the links below or on my Twitter page.

Bye Bye Domaining.com

Published on June 12, 2009 in Business and Domain Names. Closed

Got an email earlier from Francois of Domaining.com:

Hello,

Just a quick note to tell you we’ll no longer will include headlines of bloggers promoting other RSS feed agregators in their pages.
As normal we cannot be promoting competitors… plus most are old members who simply copy cated our site.
Plus we think our industry will benefit of a strong central feed agregator site most than have traffic diluted in many, united we are stronger.
We checked your site and it’s your case, so if this change further please drop us a note to update your account.

Best Regards,

Francois Carrillo
Domaining.com

I did not plan to post for a while on the blog as I’m on a blog break. I wouldn’t really mine if my blog was dropped due to inactivity, but due to anti competitiveness? I feel this is just plain wrong.

I believe Francois & Domaining.com have done much to further the domain industry. With that said, I can no longer align myself with such a venue, and such beliefs. I believe the best should win, not because of blocking competitors, but because of best service.

To those who wonder who that other service is (domain aggregator), I believe he is refering to NameBee.

As I’m on a blog break comments here are blocked. You may comment on this post on my Twitter page.