I know quite a few people have registered LOTS of 3D domains (and, of course, other technology domains) and in my opinion, it’s a losing proposition most of the time. While I understand that being a part of “the next big thing” is always tempting, we need to be realistic and here’s what I mean:
If It’s Available NOW, It Most Likely Sucks
Nobody can deny the fact that domains like 3dtv.com are worth a lot of money but the thing is, the average domainer who wants to hand reg his way to fame and fortune will NOT have access to domains which are even in the same league.
If you’ve registered the right domain at the right time, congratulations! But if you haven’t, it’s time to move on to greener pastures because hand registering awful long tail domains isn’t going to get you anywhere and this is exactly what most people do!
3DGuineaPigs.com? Seriously?
Ok, I’m not even sure if that one’s available or not and I’m too tired to check but I’m convinced you guys get the point. Instead of acknowledging that the good domains are long gone, a lot of beginners prefer a trip to fantasy land and they usually end up wasting money during their stay.
“So 3dtv.com or 3dtvs.com is not available? No problem, let’s continue our search!”
“So 3dmovies.com and 3dmovies.com are not available? Who cares, let’s keep searching.”
…….
“I knew it, I just knew it! Buy3DLaptopAccessories.com is available; fame and fortune, here I come!”
By the Time the Niche Receives Exposure, the Good Domains Are Long Gone!
Sorry to burst your bubble but if you honestly think that you can make a lot of money by hand registering domains related to a niche which is starting to receive exposure, you might just end up losing quite a bit of money and last but not least, you’ll waste valuable time while you’re at it!
Pay special attention to the words I’ve chosen: you can make a lot of money by investing in technology domains but definitely not by doing it AFTER the general public has started to talk about the technology in question 🙂
January 16th, 2011 at 8:28 pm
Thanks for the post.
I’ve completely stayed away from the “3D” registrations, myself; regardless, however, I disagree with a number of your points.
Your comments about hand-registration remind me of those made by other bloggers, i.e., that it’s generally a losing proposition – and don’t bother because you couldn’t possibly be smart enough or quick enough to succeed at it.
The reasoning for the assertion that hand registration is a loser’s game generally flows along the following lines: (a) you’re undoubtedly going to be late to the game, (b) the only real ‘value’ to be had is to buy registered domains from other – smarter/quicker – domainers, who hold the ‘premier’ inventory, and (c) as soon as something makes it on the front page, the opportunities are long gone.
While I agree that the long-tail stuff are usually lemons, a good domainer-developer can turn it into lemonade.
Playing on the ’emerging tech’ space is probably the only game that has the potential to make you huge returns today.
Question: Should we, instead, buy an 80K domain from a fellow domainer (who laughs all the way to the Hamptons), in the hopes that we might find an end-user who’ll pay us 125K – maybe? THAT’S a fool’s bet, IMHO, versus spending $750 to lock up 100 domain names in a bleeding edge space.
Even one of the ‘kings’ of this industry admitted that last year he hand registered more domains than ever before.
The two main issues I have had (since 1997) with the domaining industry are (1) too many domainers try to flip their holdings to other domainers, and (2) the sites domainers ‘develop’ consistently look like they’re circa 1999 — not 2011. But I’ve now added one more to that list: That hand registration is a losing game, so be sure to buy existing inventory from someone else.
Gene
DomainJD.com
January 16th, 2011 at 8:38 pm
@Gene: thanks for dropping by, just one question. If a beginner sends you an email tomorrow and asks if “spending $750 to lock up 100 domain names” related to the 3d industry is a good idea, what would you tell him/her? A simple “yes” or “no” answer will suffice 🙂
January 16th, 2011 at 9:16 pm
Gene I don’t think the author said all hand regging was done. He said in the 3d space. And he is right. By the tone of your writing it seems like you think selling a domain and laughing to the hamptons as you put it, is wrong. There are many ways to make money in this industry. First people have to decide who they are and why they are here. How much money is a good return for you. For some people making $100 a week is great, for others $100 a week is not worth getting out of bed.
Obviously if a site is made by a pure domainer it will look dated, except in a few situations.
There are many who only want to handreg and that’s great every name I have sold from $500 to $25,000 I hand regged. But if the niche is regged out it probably is better to go to the secondary market. Again IMO
January 16th, 2011 at 11:22 pm
While I agree that certain technologies like 3D are tapped out, and a lot of the names I see being discussed on the threads border on the ridiculous, Gene brings up some good points.
Some Domain Elitist Blogger’s and their loyal followers would like you to believe that they and only they, have or posses some magic formula or ability to register great domains. Anyone else that attempts this is a fool. Sure the one word generic names are long gone, but ton’s of products and services are being created everyday especially in the field of technology, creating untold opportunities for the new or emerging Domainer.
In some regards any discussion about “Hand Registering” domains becomes a moot point. Any domain that has been sold, exchanged or bartered for a dollar or a million dollars, registered yesterday or tomorrow, by a newbie or a king will start it’s humble journey as a “Hand Registered” domain.
January 17th, 2011 at 7:42 am
@Andrei
No (not at this stage).
January 17th, 2011 at 9:39 am
I do not have any 3D names in my portfolio as I agree most of the better names are gone. But I read Popular Science and a few other Tech mags cover to cover looking for the next big thing.
But at the same time I hand reg domains 2 and 3 word domains if not daily at least weekly that I either holding for future growth or sell directly to end user’s.
Are these recent hand regs going to make me rich…..probably not. But I don’t find it unusual to pay 8 buck’s for a name and sell it 2 to 3 weeks later for $1000. Morgage Paid.
There are lots of ways to make money in this domaining game, you just have to think along several lines all at the same time.
Joey Starkey
Memphis Domain Broker
January 17th, 2011 at 3:26 pm
I do know that is really boring and you’re skipping to the next remark, but I simply wanted to throw you a giant thanks – you cleared up some issues for me!
January 18th, 2011 at 5:44 pm
3DPrinting just sold for a lot of money I believe, but most 3d domains prob are not worth much unless you have something like 3Dtv.com or 3dglasses.com.
February 2nd, 2011 at 6:06 pm
If you don’t develop the site nothing is easy. No, Santa will not push his way to your door and fling bags of cash under the tree for your 3D domain.
February 3rd, 2011 at 12:50 am
Thanks for the informative post
I personally started with 3D domains around 2006 and even then, a lot of then good names had gone. I then started investing in 3D names on the aftermarket and have collected some nice names over the years, waiting for the technology to become mainstream. It seems I was right in thinking it would eventually become part of our everyday lives.
I agree with your comments about domainers scraping the bottom of the barrel for decent names. They would be better off spending $5K o one decent name and holding onto it for a while, or developing it into a decent site. There really are some crazy 3D names being registered and I keep trying to advise people from doing this, it will only cost them a yearly renewal and then it will drop.
Good luck in 2011 everyone
April 9th, 2011 at 10:13 pm
3Dpornxxx.com 🙂