Regretfully, due to simply not enough time in my day, I’m putting DomainRookie up for sale. You can read more about this here.

Damn! I was in the auction for eGift.com today for two hours of bidding. I finally bowed out at $22,500. The winning bid was $40,000. I do think it was worth it and thought about keeping going, but since I’ve only been at domain game a few months, I thought I had better throttle it back, and use this one as a learning experience. eGift.com is a great name, but there are always others. I’ll beat the boys next time.

Rookie no more, I’m moving up the food chain.

Technorati Tags: internet, domain, domain name

Beware of a scam going on by potential buyers of your domain names. If you get someone who is very interested, and then after a couple emails says he must have an appraisal, he may be scamming you. You’ll know it if he forcefully suggests an appraiser that is not one of the biggies. He could have a deal with the appraiser and have no intention of buying your domain.

A friend of mine ran into a guy like this, did some research and realized that he was indeed pulling a scam. He’s been reported to the FBI.

Technorati Tags: internet, domain, domain name

You’ve probably seen my Resources page. I know there are some good web sites missing from it. I run across them and then forget to add them. I’d like to ask for your help in improving this list. Could you please send me any site names that you think I should include? I’d very much appreciate it.

Technorati Tags: internet, domain, domain name

A few months ago, Google announced a major new project of theirs called Google Base. Although just in Beta now and deceptively simplistic looking at the moment, the final product will be a web-changing service and a threat to eBay and other classified ad sites.

When Google announced Base, I immediately grabbed 14 great names beginning with Base. I have them all currently listed with a minimum bid of $300.

But I’ve got too many damn names and I was looking for a nice group of them to sell as a set for a lower combo price. I’ll sell all of these names together for only $999. This is a bargain, any way you look at it. Think about other Google services like Adsense or Adworks–what would AdsenseAdvice.com and the rest go for? Alot. So, here’s your chance to buy by the pound, and sell by the ounce. First person to contact me gets it.

BaseAdvice.com
BaseApps.com
BaseBasics.com
BaseExpert.com
BaseExperts.com
BaseGuru.com
BaseInsider.com
BaseListings.com
BaseManual.com
BaseRiches.com
BaseSales.com
BaseSelling.com
BaseSense.com
BaseTags.com

Technorati Tags: internet, domain, domain name, google, google base, adsense, adwords, ebay

There’s nothing like a human appraisal. But some of the lowest priced ones do no more than run the name through some metrics for a quick number. I’ve discovered a free site named SwiftAppraisal.com, that will give you a quick number. It bases the value on eleven factors: Marketability, Clarity, Memorability, Popularity, Extension, Length, Words, Hyphens, Numerals, Substitutions, and Abbreviations. Of course, it relies on you being honest with yourself when answering the questions.

Are the calculated values accurate? Are they even close? Or, are they just for fun? Well, I don’t know, I haven’t used it enough to know. I did try it with one name for whch I already have an Afternic $19.95 appraisal. The domain name is BusinessSolar.com. SwiftAppraisalcom estimated the value at $5,600 - $8,400. My Afternic Appraisal is $1,400 - $6,100. (All solar names went up in value lately though, with this story.) I first had a value double this, but I had specified the market as a “medium market;” this time I said “small market.” Not sure what I’d really consider it–it might be best described as medium.

Why don’t you all give it a try on some of your names and post the result in the comments below.

Technorati Tags: internet, domain, domain name, appraisal, solar energy

I’m going crazy. I’ve got 1500+ names now and trying to keep them all organized in my Excel spreadsheet is not working out so well. I’ve searched for some software that organizes names for owners, but so far, I’ve seen nothing come close to what I need. Not sure why. So I’m left with trying to do something myself.

I used to be a programmer, but that was a long time ago. But, I could handle building a database on my PC. Right now I’m trying to decide if I should use Microsoft Access 2002, which I already have on my computer, or buy FileMaker Pro 8 for about $300. I downloaded the Filemaker trial yesterday, but of course it’s giving me an installation error and I’m waiting for tech support. It’s always something isn’t it?

I’m going to set up a simple relational database that lets me track all the info for each name, along with offers and counter offers. I’ll create categories, from which multiple one can be assigned per name. I think I’ll also create a table for names I’ve made offers on.

It’s pretty simple stuff. But, I’d rather not spend a few days learning the database program, when I could be out wasting more money on more domains. Anyone out there know of any software, or database template, like this before I get going? Would any database experts out there like to put together a database for me?

Technorati Tags: internet, domain, domain name, access, filemaker

If you haven’t read it yet, read DNJournal’s article on the State of the Domain Industry. It’s a great article and a critical read for any domain investor.

The introduction of the article:

In our first State of the Industry survey of domain business experts a year ago, our panel predicted a phenomenal year in 2005. Their global forecast for the industry was right on the money as were many of their predictions regarding specific issues and events. Considering their track record we have been chomping at the bit to round up the channel’s best and brightest once again to get their insight into the events and trends of 2005 and more importantly, what they expect for the New Year ahead.

You will hear from a blue ribbon group of 20 experts that include key executives from the leading companies in the registration, PPC, aftermarket sales, drop catching and domain development sectors, as well as leading industry attorneys, trade show organizers and the people whose broad shoulders carry those mentioned above - domain name owners.

Technorati Tags: internet, domain, domain name

Want to see the sales made through Afternic.com for the last few years? Go to this page on ThatSoftwareGuy.com. They’ve somehow pulled together the data for years 2003 through 2006. The HTML pages show the data in date order, but all but the current year can be downloaded in Excel format which you can sort by dollar amount on your computer.

Technorati Tags: internet, domain, domain names, afternic

Two days ago I mentioned the three free domain software tools from from Softnik.com. At that point I had only tried Domain Name Filter. Since then, I have been using Domain Name Analyzer quite a bit. I can tell you that I am blown away with this free program as well. Even more so!

Domain Name Analyzer is a brainstorming tool that will help you to come up with new domain names to purchase. There are a lot of things you can use this for, but let me tell you how I have been using it

I’m not going to tell you exactly what I used it for since many of you are competing for the same names I am. But, follow my hypothetical example. Let’s say that you think that the word “Tasty” followed by a food name (Like TastyTomato.com) would be a great name to own. You could just grab a list of foods and go to Whois and try keying all the combinations to see which are available. But, that’s a lot of work. Instead, what you can do with this product is go online and find a list of foods that you can copy into a text file. Then, start up Domain Name Analyzer and import the file (or cut and paste the words) into the “Construct Names” function. Tell it you want to try “Tasty” in front of every food, and which TLDs you are interested in. It will instantaneously create a list of Tasty[food].TLD names and place them in a window. You then tell the program to check which are available. When completed (very quickly), you can export the available names to a file for your use. Voila! Instant names!

I had a great idea for this yesterday and it generated hundreds of names of which I ended up registering around the best 50-60!

There a multitude of ways to use this fantastic tool, but it’s easier if you just download it and give it a try, than it is to explain it all to you.

Next, I’m getting into the a Domain Name Status Reporter. I gave it a quick test run and it looks like another very useful program.

No, I’m not getting any payment from Softnik. They don’t even know I’m pumping them.

Technorati Tags: internet, domain, domain name, software, free software