Can those who invest in new gTLDs do well? I think so but for that to happen, their business model has to be realistic. People who own amazing dot coms pretty much get to make the rules. They can play hard to get, they can refuse to budge and the list could go on and on. If you bought amazing dot coms let’s say 15 years ago, it’s hard *not* to do well.
Even if you screw up royally during a negotiation every once in a while, there are plenty of other buyers who want your domain just as badly as the person who walked away. While I do think there is money to be made with new gTLDs, I firmly believe a paradigm shift is in order.
Why?
Because those who own amazing dot coms can screw up royally every once in a while.
Or even frequently.
New gTLD owners don’t and won’t have that luxury.
The category killer dot com is the best option by far.
A great new gTLD can be a good option but it will never (or at least not anytime soon) be the best.
Therein lies the fundamental difference people need to be aware of.
You shouldn’t analyze new gTLDs from the perspective of someone who owns a lot of amazing dot coms because we’re talking about completely different situations.
With a category killer dot com, playing hard to get is often a good idea because a lot of buyers desperately want it.
With a new gTLD (even a very good one), it will almost always be a bad idea because the likelihood of the buyer moving on to something else will be considerably higher.
Is it possible to do well with new gTLDs?
Sure, I don’t see why it shouldn’t be possible.
But for that to happen, you need to live in the present and understand the particularities associated with new gTLDs.
May 8th, 2014 at 5:34 pm
The challenge with the new TLDs is that they will be fourth tier options even for the best keywords. .COM will be the first choice. .Net or .Org might be an option if the .COM owner is unrealistic on pricing. If the keyword is two words, perhaps another two-word or e/i+keyword .COM domain might be available. Then you have other existing extensions which have some recognition – .Info, .TV, .ME, .CO, .US which might be preferable to these new TLDs. By the time you get to a .Whatever there are so many competing possibilities one’s price expectations have to be realistic. However, the registrars generally aren’t selling those best keywords to allow an investor to engage in arbitrage. Thus I have not yet acquired even one new TLD. I’m sure there are some opportunities but the odds seem slim and the risks too high.
May 8th, 2014 at 6:13 pm
If you aim only for the best of the best new gtlds then you have more freedom in regards to pricing.
May 8th, 2014 at 8:32 pm
@Zournas
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May 9th, 2014 at 2:21 am
You know with all this debating about whether the gTLDs will do well, or dot coms will do better, there is a point of view that’s sadly being ignored.
All domain investors can do well. It’s just how you go about buying domains and how well you can price and sell them in the market.
One doesn’t have to push down a new domain extension or a dot com since no matter what every gTLD will do well.