Barbarella a.k.a. The Mad Cat Lady ([info]themadcatlady) wrote in [info]webdesign,
@ 2008-03-08 13:13:00
Previous Entry  Add to memories!  Tell a Friend!  Next Entry
Domain name question
I wonder if anyone would know what the best way is to buy and sell specific domain names....

I have opened a reseller account with dynonames.com but then found that through that I won´t be able to sell *specific* names, but only *any* old domain name that´s available.

I am now thinking of buying all the domain names I wanted and simply designing a website and putting them up there for sale - however, the transfer of a domain name, once I have sold it, would make them rather expensive.... (i.e. another 19 Dollars on top of the price I sell them for).

Any ideas?

Addendum: I want to stress that I do NOT mean to buy established businesses´ names as domain names, because I am an honest person and not a cybercriminal, nor do I want to become one!  It´s simply the *generic* domain names I want to buy now liked "islandnamebeaches.com" for example.  Just so that is clearn now! ;)

(Post a new comment)


[info]photomonk2
2008-03-08 02:40 pm UTC (link)
The question I would ask is how sure are you that these specific domain names will sell? Seems like a lot of initial investment unless you know it is a really sure thing that they are going to go. Plus, you may find that people are wary of buying a domain that is already marked as sold because of stories of people holding domains hostage for large sums of money (not saying you would do this, but someone did set a precedent which ruined the water, so to speak).

The other potential disadvantage is if someone looks for one of your domains through any of the other multitude of registrars, finds the one they want is listed as not available, they may not go further to see if that situation can change. I know when I was on a domain buying tear for myself a while back, trying to find one for a project I am working on, when one came up as unavailable, I didn't always investigate. If I did it was because I wanted to see what someone else was doing with it. There was not always a site. So, I would think you might also then want to set up a pointer for each domain to send people to your landing page. Some registrars charge for that, I believe.

Seems to me like a lot of extra work for a subset of domains.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]themadcatlady
2008-03-08 02:50 pm UTC (link)
Thanks for the advice.

I know it´s a risk (isn´t it always with these sorts of things!), but this is a small little backwater island (one of the Canary Islands, google that) I live on and when I came here 4 years ago, hardly anybody even had a website, including the biggest businesses.

I have made myself a name and now even have a paid job as a full time web designer, and in the 4 years since being here more and more people have finally made the step to get a website done, and I believe that a LOT more people/businesses will want a website in the next 4-5 years, and things are finally gonna catch on here too.

With a bit of tweaking, key words, meta tags, bolding etc. and getting a high ranking in Google, I could design a site and simply put all the names on there for sale. So people WILL find me when they´re doing a domain search, especially when they put in the name of our island. But I also hear ya re. not wanting to pursue if you find the name you want is already taken.... all good points there.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

[info]photomonk2
2008-03-08 03:02 pm UTC (link)
That makes sense - small and specific target audience. You could probably also get the traffic directly more quickly with the right advertising in traditional media on the island - make yourself the one stop shop for all of their web needs. The devil's advocate in me only adds: the challenge is to make sure you anticipate potential domain name variations. What may seem the obvious choice to you may not be what a business wants. But then, again, you position yourself as the master :-) and you can essentially control the process.

All that said, with your efforts to return high in google rankings, does it again really pay you to buy all of these domains and add the extra step of transfer when you are going to set up everything anyway? That's one of the hooks for Yahoo et all, for example. They offer a hosting package which includes a domain name. So someone starting from point zero will feel more comfortable going where all needs are taken care of. Unless someone else is going to do what you are, you may not even need to go the extra step of buying domain names in anticipation.

The other thing (I'll stop soon, I promise) to try is approaching businesses without websites directly and show them what you can do. Hook the business before they even really know how to start and bee proactive.

Good luck in any event!

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

[info]themadcatlady
2008-03-08 07:35 pm UTC (link)
Yes, what you said in your first paragraph is what I was thinking too, and don´t worry, I´m already playing with all the obvious variations - the no so obvious ones I won´t bother with, I´m only thinking of the GOOD domain names.

In reply to your second paragraph, I already have a website offering web design and hosting, so I guess, maybe I should simply add the sale of domain names to THAT site? Still thinking about that.

In reply to your third paragraph - that is exactly what I have been doing for the last 4 years and that´s how I got a name for myself and landed this full time web design job! However, another reminder to the ones that still don´t have a website to show them that I´m still here can´t hurt. ;)

Thanks for your input. :)

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]zaydia
2008-03-08 04:47 pm UTC (link)
"So people WILL find me when they´re doing a domain search, especially when they put in the name of our island."

Your logic is wrong. People don't search for domains via google, they go to a registrar site. The registrar site will just say that it has been already purchased. It doesn't point to your site at all. The people looking would have to do the additional step, but likely they'll just pick one from the list of similar names the registrar gives them.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

[info]themadcatlady
2008-03-08 07:41 pm UTC (link)
Mmmh, I wouldn´t got straight to a registrat site. I would google "cheap domain names". However, you´re right, this would not exactly give me the specific names to this island that I want to be selling.

However, I think I will actually be advertising selling domain names with the name of this island in it, so people here know where to come *directly* - trust me, it is a very small island, but the website thing is on the up now and there are still sooo many businesses and people, and new businesses popping up here that do not have a website/domain name yet, and I want to take advantage of that.

Thanks for your input.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

[info]zaydia
2008-03-08 08:13 pm UTC (link)
I don't think you understand my comment.

You go to say godaddy.com or 1and1.com or any other number of domain registrars to register a domain, and do the search of whether or not it is taken. You don't go to google and type in "canary islands domains" (or at least anyone who knows how registration works wouldn't.)

That said, I think that you're being dishonest and deceitful if you advertise that you're the one who is going to be selling the domain names to them, unless you own ever single permutation of every name. I can see how it could be a way to make money, but I personally don't think its right to snatch them all up and then resell them.

I think you should go after the "I know what websites are about and can help you get yours set up" route, and help them with the registrar if necessary, but don't be the reseller.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

[info]themadcatlady
2008-03-08 08:22 pm UTC (link)
Most people here don´t know how domain name registration works. And that´s what I am counting on. Man, most people don´t even know that you don´t put a full URL (e.g. www.site.com) into a google search to get to that site, heh.

I don´t think there is nothing dishonest or deceiptful about me buying the domain names and selling them on. It´s been done since the web began. And I do intend to get the permutations of names too.

However, what *would* be deceiptful is to buy actual *business* domain names that are already established here, it could possibly also be illegal (see above comments by other LJ.-er) and cybersquatting. However, simple generic domain names with the island´s name in it would have nothing to do with dishonesty.... that´s my view anyway.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

[info]zaydia
2008-03-08 08:24 pm UTC (link)
Ok, from your post it certainly sounded like you wanted to cybersquat by buying domains that businesses on the island would want "xxx island photography studio" etc.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

[info]themadcatlady
2008-03-08 08:26 pm UTC (link)
Well, I *was* thinking about that at first, but I´m not a criminal and I don´t want to get in trouble! ;)

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]yaauie
2008-03-08 08:16 pm UTC (link)
even if they google 'cheap domain names', it's an incredibly tough goal to try to get ahead of the major registrars in search ranking for this term, as its something they're well established in. Google ranks based on a lot of things beyond meta data and site content. They rank on changing content, links to your site from relevant sources, and much more.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

[info]themadcatlady
2008-03-08 08:26 pm UTC (link)
Yes, I know all that re google rank, I pretty much got all the sites i have designed at the top or at least somewhere on the first page of google. I do know all about optimisation, but thanks for the tip. It helps to be on this small island because people who live here search for the name of the island together with what they´re searching for!

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]yaauie
2008-03-08 08:09 pm UTC (link)
The practice you are talking about is heavily frowned upon by ICANN, and is considered illegal in some jurisdictions. In the US, a judge can rule that a company has intrinsic rights to a domain that supersede the owner's rights, and tend to do so, especially in cases where the owner purchased the domain with intent to resell. I'm not sure about your local jurisdiction, but be careful.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]zaydia
2008-03-08 08:14 pm UTC (link)
That too. I have a friend who bought a permutation of a video game's domain and they sent him a letter to hand it over or he'd be sued (which he would have lost).

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

[info]themadcatlady
2008-03-08 08:23 pm UTC (link)
I have no intent of doing anything like that. And see my other reply re. not wishing to snatch up business´s names that are already established here.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]themadcatlady
2008-03-08 08:15 pm UTC (link)
Ah yes, I have already thought about this. I have so far made a list of just generic names with the island´s name in it, but when I started looking at actual businesses that are already established here and me buying up domain names with their names in it.... that would be a bit dodgy and would be serious cybersquatting. So yeah, already got that in mind! ;)

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]asu_ska_kid
2008-03-08 09:27 pm UTC (link)
I would not recommend it, just my 2 cents.

(Reply to this)


[info]herbie
2008-03-08 11:40 pm UTC (link)
The reason that doing this might be considered immoral (though not illegal): specific cybersquatting aside, landing pages are considered bad form because they are essentially hoarding resources. "I don't have any need for this, but other people might - why don't I buy exclusive rights to it, and wait for somebody else to want it, so I can charge them a higher price (to cover the additional costs, and make a profit)." It's hoarding, and it's a racket - it adds no value to your customers - it just increases their costs, and locks them in to you as a vendor. (Lock-in is a venerated and despised practice with IT stuff, so you're in good(?) company.)

If instead you were to set up a site/business to help Canary Island businesses get online without locking them in, then people might be less inclined to say that you're doing something wrong. On the other hand, I'm sure http://airlinetickets.com makes some nice money with very little investment, so it may make good business sense to do landing pages, even if it's not moral. Depends on what you care about.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]themadcatlady
2008-03-08 11:50 pm UTC (link)
I don´t see what´s immoral about it, tbh. What you´re saying is basically what EVERY shop does: buying at a lower cost and then selling it on to people who need/want it. I will actually put an addendum to my original post to say that I am NOT buying up local businesses´ domain names with the name of the island appended to it - because that would be dodgy, possibly criminal and indeed, immoral! I only want to buy generic names, say like "airlinetickets-islandname.com" for example. Not "hotelsanantonio-islandname.com".

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

[info]herbie
2008-03-09 12:03 am UTC (link)
Local stores buy things either a.) in bulk or b.) that it would be inconvenient/difficult for individuals to buy elsewhere. Everything is local on the internet, so you're not giving convenience, and you're not buying at a lower cost than is available to individuals. Also, if local shop A has prices that are too high, I can go to local shop B. You're making yourself the only purveyor of a particular good, so if somebody wants it, they have to buy it from you and nobody else. And it's not because you created a superior product, or you're more ingenious - it's just because you bought a bunch of unique things before other people could. Like I said, tou can justify it to yourself however you want, and I'm not saying it's wrong per se, but it's certainly in a moral grey area and you need to acknowledge that.

Also, I'm not sure what ICANN registrar rules are about buying domain names for the express purpose of reselling them, but I'm pretty sure it's frowned upon, even if it's not a trademark infringement.

BTW - if you're trying to be clandestine about what island you live on, you probably shouldn't tell everybody where you live in your LJ profile.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

[info]themadcatlady
2008-03-09 12:13 am UTC (link)
Heh, I´m not being clandestine about which island, I-m just keeping it neutral here. My LJ profile has been like this for years and I don´t intend to change it! ;)

And I *am* buying in bulk here too. I am talking about 100-200 domain names, not just 5 or 10. Also, I would not set the prices too high - do *you* know that in Europe domain names in a lot of places cost a LOT more than in the US? Not a lot of people seem to realise that and keep buying their domain names from, say UK companies. I have been buying all my own and clients´ domain names for years from a couple of US company. So I am still able to sell them on here in Europe for a decent, but not stupidly high price! :)

As for inconvenient/difficult to buy elsewhere.... people who don´t know a thing about the internet and need to find a domain name can just come to me and buy the names. It would be easier to find the names on a local website for them, or not? Especially if I advertise the site locally?

And no, I still don´t think there´s anyhing wrong with buying generic domain names - ICANN doesn´t mind that at all and it´s not illegal, it´s just when you snap up established businesses´ names under their nose.... and I don´t intend to do that anyway.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

Create an Account
Forgot your login or password?
Login w/ OpenID
English • Español • Deutsch • Русский…