namewise. blog.

BREAKING News: With effect from 23 October 2009 DENIC will abolish most of the restrictions currently applicable. So one-letter and two-letter Domains will be available. An estimated 50 Million in value, will be released. A great decision!

See further details:

DENIC eG Eases Domain Guidelines.

Cheers,

Namewise

The last weeks have been really busy. So I could not find the time to read that much books. Most of the time I enjoy reading five books or so parallel. Whatever topic is important to me. Last week was than again the time to go to Amazon and buy all the books i collected in my wish over the last weeks. I collect book suggestions while reading blogs or watching videos. Since my earliest childhood, books have always been one of my biggest passions and nowadays still serve as an inspiration for my work and live. Ok. A day later the books arrived and hours later i was i the process of scanning through them. One book i bought is Rules of Thumb: 52 Truths for Winning at Business Without Losing Your Self.

The book is just great and inspiring. It is a collection of 52 rules that Alan learnd in his life that help to look at life and business in a fresh and challenging way. I started to read and after minutes i already discovered one great rule:

Rule # 6: If you want to see with fresh eyes, re-frame the picture.

This rule is really, really fascinating. From a lot of perspectives! Read on my friend …

Alan points out that it is the decades old question, that is THE question the smartest business leader ask themselves. But more - in times like this - where chance is so pervasive, it is not enough. It is important to discover the IDEA that is behind the business you are in. You can discover the idea when asking new questions about your business and changing the perspective.

How can this insight now help you in your online business?

A couple of month ago I had a conversation with a good friend of mine. He is in the real estate business. Employs a couple of real estate agents and focuses on our local region. We where discussing the typical behavior of people looking for a new place and their typical decission strategy. I was in the same situation a couple of month ago. The point is, when you look for a new place, your are making a big decision in your life and to hear from a pro in the real estate business, that my way of finding a new home was not so much different then from most others was fascinating. It became so clear to me that my friend was not in the real estate business. My friend was in the consulting business more precise in the lifestyle consulting business.

It was not that he just showed people houses. Its is more that he helps them make a decision: How far from the place i work can wee live? 2 or 3 bedroom? Is it possible to get this or that feature in this or that area? A lot of mini questions leading to the big decision.

Imagine now an application that helps people make this decision. Based on a piece of elegant software. Maybe with social features, so that the searchers can share experiences. Maybe with a timeline, so that the agent knows at which point in the path the client is. That would be something where my real estate friend could stand out. Where he could innovate. People could use it as a freemium model and pay for certain features.

Ok, but again how can this example now help you in your online business?

See! Clearly see! Reframe your view. Ask questions! Observe your customers! Precisely. Do NOT GET trapped with categories and wording from competitors. What is the real aim of my customers? How would an anthropologist describe my business? How would someone from Mars would see my business? How will people in 50 years think about my business. What is the IDEA behind your business model?

Food for thought! Have fun!

Cheers,

Namewise

Bido: Down for month. Now up again, but not really running.
Sedo: Cuts 60 Euro Auctions.
TRAFFIC Auctions: Amsterdam was a nightmare … They sold uebernachtung.de for 1k, was resold later for 8k
Domainvermarkter Auction: Total disaster for seller

This list could go on and on … How come that domain auctions are doing so bad?

The answer is simple. But this time i have to delay my opinion. This time i will SHOW you my answer. Hope to code it within the next weeks. Stay tuned!

Cheers,

Namewise

I get bored really quick. Maybe that was the reason i stayed down two years in school, cause when we had to learn math, i was bored and read books under my table about economy. So I was quite happy to find a way to handle my get-bored-quickness: find a lot of different possibilities and ways to achieve one goal. Or like good old Epictus has put it: The same, but different. So how does that fit now with the aim of a domainer, to squeeze as much cash out of his domain inventory as possible? Read on, my friend …

When you call meaningful, generic domain names with with natural type in traffic your own, you can call yourself a lucky guy. Why? Parking is down, domain renewals are up! I hear you say. That’s true and current circumstances are tough. But the real advantage of domains is: you have endless possibilities.

So what can you do with your domain inventory? Lets take one of your gems, that has 20 type ins a day:

You can park … takes 2 seconds and makes you round about 500 bugs a year.

You can mini develop with a small word press blog and little link juice … takes 2 hours and makes then 1.800 bugs a year.

You can rent out the traffic … takes 2 days and makes 5.700 bugs a year.

You can rent out the traffic … takes 2 weeks and makes 9.600 bugs a year.

You can build a real business on this gem … takes 2 years and the potential is endless.

So ask yourself, what good old Peter Drucker would advise you to ask: what is my personal strength and weakness? And then develop your possibilities!

What else can you do with domains?

Happy to hear from you!

Cheers,

Namewise