The Entrepreneur Forum | Financial Freedom | Starting a Business | Motivation | Money | Success

Welcome to the only entrepreneur forum dedicated to building life-changing wealth.

Build a Fastlane business. Earn real financial freedom. Join free.

Join over 80,000 entrepreneurs who have rejected the paradigm of mediocrity and said "NO!" to underpaid jobs, ascetic frugality, and suffocating savings rituals— learn how to build a Fastlane business that pays both freedom and lifestyle affluence.

Free registration at the forum removes this block.

Advice for E-Entrepreneurs (Domains)

Luke12321

Bronze Contributor
FASTLANE INSIDER
Read Fastlane!
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
31%
Jul 27, 2007
662
206
North Carolina
Well, I had some fun today! Prior to now, I owned a couple of dotcom names but I had never done anything with them. Because of this thread, I went out and purchased about 100 new dotcom names.

The shortest one I purchased today was: la4tv.com (I actually like it because LA has a lot of TV production.) Is this a good name or a bad one? Since it was available, I have to assume it's not a great name but it is only 5 letters.

I purchased a few that I would like to develop myself but I have no idea how to develop a website. Does anyone have any books they can suggest?

I purchased these through names.com and now I'm wondering if I am locked into these google applications that come with the websites?


Why would you buy it if you don't think it is great? As long as you feel it is a good buy...that is what matters. You will find out soon enough if it is a good buy or not by the traffic you recieve or if you can develop a income generating site with the domain name. My two cents, I would not buy a domain name that has a number in it. What do you plan on doing with la4tv? That is what you should ask yourself before buying it up.
 
Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

Nate

New Contributor
Read Fastlane!
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
3%
Sep 24, 2007
75
2
Utah
And I have a similar question... does anyone know how I can get a .mp (Marian Islands) domain name? (I know, weird. It's for personal, not for business.)
 

Rawr

Gold Contributor
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
95%
Aug 12, 2007
1,838
1,755
south florida
Try calling their government and see if they let you
 
Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

Luke12321

Bronze Contributor
FASTLANE INSIDER
Read Fastlane!
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
31%
Jul 27, 2007
662
206
North Carolina
china, I am sure people are. I assume they will become more popular as .com's and .net's are shrinking by the day. With that said, .mobi has a long ways to go IMO.
 

china

New Contributor
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
11%
Sep 27, 2007
95
10
Los Angeles, CA
Why would you buy it if you don't think it is great? As long as you feel it is a good buy...that is what matters. You will find out soon enough if it is a good buy or not by the traffic you recieve or if you can develop a income generating site with the domain name. My two cents, I would not buy a domain name that has a number in it. What do you plan on doing with la4tv? That is what you should ask yourself before buying it up.

One thing I always think we need to remember is that buying audiences get younger and younger. And I think younger audiences now are into text messaging in a big way. Where you and I might think of "me to you" as being words, to them it is "me2u." See you later turns into "cul8r."

Advertisers like youthful audiences. If you can capture someone when they are 14, you might still have them as a customer when they are 24... and 34... and 44.

So, I'm like double your age but I'm trying to think down to a level younger than you. LA4U might not be such a terrible dotcom name to someone used to putting CUL8R in their phone. In that light "la4tv.com" doesn't seem like a very bad name at all.

On top of all that, there is a very old publication in Los Angeles -- it's maybe 30+ years old, named LA411. It's basically a handbook for entertainment production resources. It's on the web now as LA411.com. Since it's always been called "LAfour one one" (when spoken) I don't feel like "LA4" is that hard to remember.

Of course, I could be wrong.

China :banana::hurray::smx4::cheers::smx5:
 

Luke12321

Bronze Contributor
FASTLANE INSIDER
Read Fastlane!
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
31%
Jul 27, 2007
662
206
North Carolina
All valid points, and la4tv is just 5 characters which is short (a huge plus!). If I were starting a site though, I would try to find something 7 letters or shorter and a .com (with the .net as well). I am not saying your domain purchase was a terrible idea. Buying a domain is really important but it is what you put on the site linked to the domain that really counts.
 
Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

bad_dog

PARKED
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
0% - New User
Oct 7, 2007
6
0
40
Calgary, Alberta
Great thread everyone! I have a few questions if you don't mind.

1. I have a local domain in mind to grab, but when I typed it into my address bar I was directed to Google with searches displayed. My hosting website listed it as taken, is this a parking method?

2. Anyone think Chinese domains are worth exploiting? Is this possible from overseas?

3. I have a huge creative side with jotting down and creating cool logos and such. Is it worth my time to come up with a cool logo/phrase for a domain I register and put it on the main page along with the usual ads, etc.?

(edit) 4: Should (or Could?) I list a dollar figure on the front page for it to be purchased?

Cheers everyone and thank you again,

Ryan
 

Rawr

Gold Contributor
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
95%
Aug 12, 2007
1,838
1,755
south florida
What's this fascination with four letter domain names?

Yes I get it - it is only four letters, but can you imagining yourself saying to someone "go ahead and visit us at akbj.com" I looked around - and stuff like aibw, basd, tbui, rbal are all taken - WHY?

Wouldn't you much rather have dealsfast.com than dlsf.com
 

Jorge

Bronze Contributor
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
18%
Oct 5, 2007
580
104
41
Mendoza, Argentina
Quick question: Is anyone buying .mobi names?

You bet! http://www.sedo.com/links/showhtml.php3?Id=1559&tracked=&partnerid=&language=us

A few months before ".mobi" domains became public a friend of mine told me that he had been investigating and that it would be a good investment to buy several domains. I told him that it was BS and that the domain would never be of any value...boy I was wrong! :smx4:

Now I'm looking forward ".tel" domain names, they will be better in my opinion because of regulations and the plans attached to these domains.


Great thread everyone! I have a few questions if you don't mind.

1. I have a local domain in mind to grab, but when I typed it into my address bar I was directed to Google with searches displayed. My hosting website listed it as taken, is this a parking method?

2. Anyone think Chinese domains are worth exploiting? Is this possible from overseas?

3. I have a huge creative side with jotting down and creating cool logos and such. Is it worth my time to come up with a cool logo/phrase for a domain I register and put it on the main page along with the usual ads, etc.?

(edit) 4: Should (or Could?) I list a dollar figure on the front page for it to be purchased?

Cheers everyone and thank you again,

Ryan

1. Most likely, the site is taken but the owner didnt pointed the DNS to the hosting company.

2. I would rather spend my money on .org or .net sites, but thats just me...

3. Most parking companies on the web don't allow you to put up your own logo (at least the ones I've tried). And if you made your own website google would block your adsense account because you can't fill a hole website with only ads. You could make a blog with a few posts and read about SEO though. With parking the most important is type-in traffic (users write your URL directly on the browser address bar)

4. With Sedo.com you can do these. There are also marketplaces to sell websites. Check for example: Moniker, Tdnam, Namedrive

Cheers!
 
Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

Rawr

Gold Contributor
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
95%
Aug 12, 2007
1,838
1,755
south florida
I've decided to join the ranks of domain owners. Took me about 3 hours of scanning and I've had a pretty large list of domains.. some stayed some were casted off. It is almost 5am and I am hallucinating, but I would like your feedback - would you please rate each 1-10 (10- best potential) so I know what the consensus is. Thanks.


Here is what I picked up, and the explanation for it:

WhyBeSingle.com - picked it up and figured I can either sell it to a dating site or actually build a business around it - helping guys (and may be even girls) find a match. Live off ads or affiliate products sales.


Poorcollege.com - just liked it, not sure what to do with it, may be describe which colleges suck or how to survive in college while being broke

OlympicsScoop.com - I figured with Beijing coming up, I can either sell this, or actually do a little news scoop thing and make money on ad revenue


PeanutWarning.com - with peanuts scaring everyone, I figured I can make a site about allergies and dangers, it seems there isn't much competition for this topic so I can get some clicks as well.



ADULT SECTION: I have highlighted the next two in WHITE so if you choose to see them, please select the text. Proceed at your own risk.


1. Bestlocalsex.com - I see a possiblity. We will have to see

2. Myteenfuck.com You never know, in this area a lot of things sell, if nothing else I can start a porn biz.



Cheers. Input as always appreciated
 

CRBFL

New Contributor
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
10%
Oct 9, 2007
136
14
38
whybesingle looks like a winner to me.
 

MJ DeMarco

I followed the science; all I found was money.
Staff member
FASTLANE INSIDER
EPIC CONTRIBUTOR
Read Rat-Race Escape!
Read Fastlane!
Read Unscripted!
Summit Attendee
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
445%
Jul 23, 2007
38,025
169,134
Utah
WhyBeSingle.com is a 10! I'd rate the others 7-8.

The XXX teen one is liken to get you in trouble for child porn or pedophilia - I'd dump that immediately.
 
Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

Rawr

Gold Contributor
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
95%
Aug 12, 2007
1,838
1,755
south florida
Thanks for the feedback guys,

MJ, at first I was going to disagree since there are so many teen sites out there, but then I thought about it more.

1st - With all the child protection laws and the cracking down I am likely to be monitored - and even if I am doing everything legal it is annoying

2nd - The domain was just dropped on the 18th (refunded) so obviously you and I arent' the first thinking it was a bad idea

3rd - It just doesn't really feel right or fit with my model. It's like bill gates starting a porn business - no relation to the main biz.. and just too much dirt

did I mention I am liking 1and1 more and more since I can register a new domain for free in exchange? (thanks BioPhase for the site)


I think you will like the ones I picked up today. As always, rate please:

dirtyband.com - this could just be a homepage for a rock band ;) or .. honestly I don't know but it sounded brandable, I might be wrong though

drivelabel.com - Potential is there, Either a clothing lable "Drive" or an Ad agency.


By the way guys, there are plenty domains out there still, no need to panick IMO. There are tons of 5 letter ones (no sensible though) that are still up for grabs. But do you want to own mvani.com ?

here is the link - http://www.refunddomains.com/new/com_071122_0020.html


edit:

There had been a few domains that I am on the border. I can kind of see the potential, but at the same time something is pulling me back.

What does everyone think of stuff like AmericansAgainst.com or WomenAgainst.com ? It is so vague that it could be popular, but the negative connotation makes me reconsider every time.
 

Andrew

Contributor
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
22%
Aug 8, 2007
190
41
Here are some blogs for multi-millionaire domainers; read some and it might save you some trouble of buying poor quality domains:

http://www.sevenmile.com/
http://www.ricksblog.com/

Seven Mile is Frank Schilling's blog, he's been mentioned in a bunch of business magazines and domain name articles. He makes around $20 million a year from his domain names. The best part is he built a good chunk of his portfolio 5-6 years ago when everyone was letting great names expire after the stock market bubble deflated.

Ricks Blog is Rick Schwartz, he has worked really hard to raise the profile of the domain industry. Also owns and has sold great domains, including men.com for $1 million a few years ago. Check out his blog for some interesting posts about .mobi.

Also worth noting, it appears Google has put extra weight on domain names in their rankings. The generic dot coms I picked up a few years back are now in the top 3 on google for their keyphrases. A lot of domainers are figuring this out and I expert over the next 12 to 24 months enormous amounts of generic dot comes will be "un-parked" and give the old-school SEOs a big run for their money.
 
Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

Redshft

Contributor
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
4%
Nov 5, 2007
550
22
Greenville, NC
So the only way to find out if a domain name is registered or not is to search through a registrar correct? I have typed a couple in the address bar and like bad_dog said, it leads to a google page that asks "did you mean --------" and lists some "related" links.

Also, these names I am reading about that sold for X amount of dollars on AfternicDLS.com or Moniker.com eventually started out as a domain name registered at $8-$20/year??

SOOOO, lets say "investment.com" wasn't taken. I could go to register.com, godaddy, or any other domain registrar, see that the domain is available today, register it for $8.95/year(I'm assuming something is due at the time of registering), and tomorrow sell it for a quarter-million, half-million, or the $900,000 which is what it sold at?

Don't hold it against me that I'm a bit naive in the e-real estate investment area.

PS: Great thread btw, I have learned much more of what I was always curious about.
 

LightHouse

Legendary Contributor
FASTLANE INSIDER
EPIC CONTRIBUTOR
Read Fastlane!
Read Unscripted!
Summit Attendee
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
163%
Aug 13, 2007
4,295
6,984
Northern VA
So the only way to find out if a domain name is registered or not is to search through a registrar correct? I have typed a couple in the address bar and like bad_dog said, it leads to a google page that asks "did you mean --------" and lists some "related" links.

Also, these names I am reading about that sold for X amount of dollars on AfternicDLS.com or Moniker.com eventually started out as a domain name registered at $8-$20/year??

SOOOO, lets say "investment.com" wasn't taken. I could go to register.com, godaddy, or any other domain registrar, see that the domain is available today, register it for $8.95/year(I'm assuming something is due at the time of registering), and tomorrow sell it for a quarter-million, half-million, or the $900,000 which is what it sold at?

Don't hold it against me that I'm a bit naive in the e-real estate investment area.

PS: Great thread btw, I have learned much more of what I was always curious about.


thats correct if it were 1994/1995 again :D
 

biophase

Legendary Contributor
FASTLANE INSIDER
EPIC CONTRIBUTOR
Read Unscripted!
Summit Attendee
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
474%
Jul 25, 2007
9,112
43,225
Scottsdale, AZ
did I mention I am liking 1and1 more and more since I can register a new domain for free in exchange? (thanks BioPhase for the site)

Damn, I should have given you my affiliate link to click on! :smxB:
 
Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

biophase

Legendary Contributor
FASTLANE INSIDER
EPIC CONTRIBUTOR
Read Unscripted!
Summit Attendee
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
474%
Jul 25, 2007
9,112
43,225
Scottsdale, AZ
So the only way to find out if a domain name is registered or not is to search through a registrar correct? I have typed a couple in the address bar and like bad_dog said, it leads to a google page that asks "did you mean --------" and lists some "related" links.

Also, these names I am reading about that sold for X amount of dollars on AfternicDLS.com or Moniker.com eventually started out as a domain name registered at $8-$20/year??

Try www.domainsbot.com to search for domains.
 

Luke12321

Bronze Contributor
FASTLANE INSIDER
Read Fastlane!
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
31%
Jul 27, 2007
662
206
North Carolina
I purchased seekmyrtlebeach.com for a blog I will start up and recently acquired the domain name choosecharleston.com. I like both of them since they have the keywords "myrtlebeach" and "charleston" in them.
 

Andrew

Contributor
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
22%
Aug 8, 2007
190
41
So the only way to find out if a domain name is registered or not is to search through a registrar correct? I have typed a couple in the address bar and like bad_dog said, it leads to a google page that asks "did you mean --------" and lists some "related" links.

Also, these names I am reading about that sold for X amount of dollars on AfternicDLS.com or Moniker.com eventually started out as a domain name registered at $8-$20/year??

SOOOO, lets say "investment.com" wasn't taken. I could go to register.com, godaddy, or any other domain registrar, see that the domain is available today, register it for $8.95/year(I'm assuming something is due at the time of registering), and tomorrow sell it for a quarter-million, half-million, or the $900,000 which is what it sold at?

Don't hold it against me that I'm a bit naive in the e-real estate investment area.

PS: Great thread btw, I have learned much more of what I was always curious about.

You definitely can do $8 registrations and flip the domain for several hundred to several thousand dollars. If you want to see bigger numbers you will have to put more in. Find the right deals and $2,000 can become $10,000 or more.

What a lot of people don't realize is the biggest domain name investors have come along in the past 5-8 years. Many of the great domains registered in the early 90s, the owners sold for 5 figures and are now worth 7.

It sounds easy, but its a ton of work and it takes some "inside" knowledge to spot great deals. For example, as a pay-per-click advertiser you might notice a specific domain name is sending you a lot of high quality traffic that converts into customers and makes a profit. To you, that domain name's revenue is worth a lot more than the current owner. Perhaps you can go in and cut out a deal.

There are also second "tier" domain extensions which are appreciating fairly rapidly. However, most could still qualify as speculative. The most recent hot extension is .mobi. You can do some research on that and also pay attention to new extensions coming out if you want to turn $10 or $20 into $20,000.
 
Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

Redshft

Contributor
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
4%
Nov 5, 2007
550
22
Greenville, NC
There are also second "tier" domain extensions which are appreciating fairly rapidly. However, most could still qualify as speculative. The most recent hot extension is .mobi. You can do some research on that and also pay attention to new extensions coming out if you want to turn $10 or $20 into $20,000.

By "second 'tier' domain extensions" you mean other gTLD's besides .com? .mobi IS one extension that has caught my interest. Is any extension able to be parked for "pay-per-click" or is it just .com?
 

Jorge

Bronze Contributor
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
18%
Oct 5, 2007
580
104
41
Mendoza, Argentina
almost all extensions can be parked as pay-per-click.

AFAIK, With .Mobi policy's however, the owner MUST develope the site after 6 months of being purchased

Btw, for example I have one .com.ar (argentina extension) that makes me aprox $100usd a month just as pay-per-click ;)
 

Kevin

PARKED
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
0% - New User
Nov 14, 2007
13
0
NYC
Hello all!!

I was just wondering how much a domain name like stoned.com would go for. Someone in my neighborhood has it. To me he seems like he is not using it to it's full potential. Is this considered a premium name? How much would a name like that sell for? Thankyou in advance....... HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Kevin
 
Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

Luke12321

Bronze Contributor
FASTLANE INSIDER
Read Fastlane!
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
31%
Jul 27, 2007
662
206
North Carolina
That is a good domain name. I am sure some of the "420" companies would love to have it lol
 

Z5 FILMS

Contributor
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
18%
Aug 13, 2007
461
81
The Woodlands, TX
It seems to be that domains don't fetch the prices they once did. Still expensive, not they're not getting the insane prices of days past.

I read in that article that the mahalo.com guy only paid $12,000 for that domain here recently.

If I knew I could get mahalo.com for $12,000, my wallet would of been open within two shakes of a rattlesnake.

If it was 1999, that domain would of sold for $80,000,000,000,000......and there would of been a bidding war. I'm obviously exaggerating, but you get the idea.


As for the stoned.com website. Great domain, though I think it can come with heat and problems similar to a porn website. Garbage website though. Totally useless.
 

Kevin

PARKED
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
0% - New User
Nov 14, 2007
13
0
NYC
zk and Luke thanks for the reply. I agree with the garbage site. I also agree with the negative name, still think it has some potential. Especially compared to the trash he has on there :).
 
Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

Z5 FILMS

Contributor
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
18%
Aug 13, 2007
461
81
The Woodlands, TX
zk and Luke thanks for the reply. I agree with the garbage site. I also agree with the negative name, still think it has some potential. Especially compared to the trash he has on there :).

Yeah it for sure has potential. I would make it like the High Times Magazine website. It probably would get some pretty good traffic.
 

Post New Topic

Please SEARCH before posting.
Please select the BEST category.

Post new topic

Guest post submissions offered HERE.

Latest Posts

New Topics

Fastlane Insiders

View the forum AD FREE.
Private, unindexed content
Detailed process/execution threads
Ideas needing execution, more!

Join Fastlane Insiders.

Top