Are Domainers respected as business people?

[D'same]

My reason for this question is that being new to this industry, I have spent a lot of time reading the posts,journals and anything I can get my hands on to inform and enlighten me. I have also checked out the various forums and one common thread (pun intended) that runs through them is that Domainers are always on the defensive and looking over their shoulders. Ever fearful of other businesses. Is the business legit or not? Does the average Domainer see himself as a business person or a lottery player? Making business decisions or taking a chance?

It's like a speak-easy, where you are doing something legitimate but you want no one to know, everything is hush-hush. A certain paranoia, everyone is out to get you. Others seem to think Domaining is something like prostitution. It pays the bill but you won't put it on your CV. Pardon me if I have gotten it wrong as I an new to this and I am just putting a newbie perspective but I ask "How can people who spend millions upon millions on domains, be so timid and unsure."

Sure you guys (gals) are aggressive in matters related to domains with each other but I was quite surprised in reading threads related to Registrars losing domains or not honoring won auctions,tardiness in releasing domains, companies claiming trademark infringements etc...the ease in which Domainers gave up their domains (property) or were advised to, citing "you will only lose reg fee". I know others would say, so what's the big deal. I say "Time, Knowledge, Management, Money".

Time: I feel if a survey was carried out no one group spends more time online than Domainers. Doing research etc...and time is money.

Knowledge: It takes plenty of knowledge of trends, market forces, people's behavior etc...to decide if a domain is worth it. All professionals value their knowledge, why shouldn't Domainers.

Management: Do you know what it's like keeping track of 1000's of domain names. Granted most processes are automated but following up on offers and other related issues still calls for management skill, good or bad.

Money: Quality domains cost money,the ROI is better than most industries. Investments should be taken seriously.

No brick and mortar guy would relinquish his property so easily.

In respect of TM issues am I to understand that if a company called "Must Have My Name" trademarks iMINE and does not have an online presence and you as a Domainer says "iMINE" is a good acronym, it sounds good,easy to remember,it is pleasant on the eyes and it can stand for many things I will register it.Later "Must Have My Name" wants an online presence, checks on the acronym "iMINE" sees it is registered and decides to come after the Domainer that he should simply hand it over.

This is where the legitimacy and respect comes in IMHO, Domainers have the right to claim the internet real estate (domains) which belongs to no one. It's the only place in the world where the playing field is (should be) level. Hey, North America was colonized, people got land (which the Native American owned) free, I haven't read anywhere where the Native Americans were paid for it at the time. Try getting that land or payment from the descendants of the first settlers,it would be World War 3 I tell you. For me the internet real estate (domains) should be on a first come, first serve basis. No company or individual should be able to come after the fact and claim rights to a domain. If they want it buy it.

Question:
Can a Domainer go to a bank and get a loan with his portfolio?
Can a Domainer get a mortgage on the value of his domains?

I know that there are domain brokers etc...but do financial institutions see Domaining as legitimate businesses?

Are they any "pure" domaining businesses listed on any stock exchange?
By pure I mean that own domain names only and not like Registrars or companies that have merged vertically etc.

Are Domainers respected as business people ? You tell me.

All these questions may have been answered but as I said I am new to
this, so I crave your indulgence.

Cheers...

[fatter]

I dont think present view of domainers by average Joe is a good one, mainly because of press releases of domainers regging trademark names and trying to profit from them, I think they are looked at about the same as popperazis.
The business community looks down on us also because they feel they have a right to domains that are parked, because in there eyes they arent being used, and why should a guy profit from buying a reg fee name and selling for thousands, so yes I feel there is a lot of resentment towards domainers
which doesnt bother me in the least as long as I keep making money and dont reg tM's they can think whatever they want, I have what they need the consumers, so come and get them

[BELLC1]

I think we are about two steps below car salesmen and stockbrokers, but still a good two miles higher than bottom-feeders (you know, attorneys).

So...no.

[hunnam]

I personally think domainers with really good portfolios are well respected.

[Bill Roy]

The very successful are respected generally as they are the successes, the same as in most businesses, however, generally Domainers' are thought of as a cross between Gold Prospectors and Poachers, interesting to occassionally talk to but you wouldn't want them as your neighbours or for one of them to marry your daughter!

Neither the general public or the business community yet recognise the shear hard work and constant diligent study that goes on in studying the domain market. My new bank manager thinks I am little more than a 'curiosity', as he said to me 'How do you produce financial forecasts of any sort?'

Come to think of it even my barber is amused by what I do for a living, he seems to think I frequent insane asylums and sell domain names to the inmates, 'why would anybody buy them at those prices?' is his general closing shot in any domain name discussion. But the funny thing is everybody goes quiet and listens when I start talking about domaining (mind you perhaps they are just waiting for the punch line).

[Banned: domain newbie]

real success dont need acclaim

[Gerry]

In many circles, domainers are known as "cyber squatters". We jump on the latest thing and reg it hoping we get to it before anyone else can. It is essentially a competition, but it is like "ambulance chasers".

I think like many professions, a few bad apples will give the whole industry a bad name.

I admire and respect those that saw the future 10 years ago and regged then what is damn near impossible to get today. I played around with it for a few clients of mine but never viewed it as a serious business venture until the past five years or so. Still, it is not my profession.

It remains to be seen how serious we will be taken. Several obviously have domain portfolios valued in the Millions of Dollars (euros, GBP, etc.). We'll know we are successful and we have made it when these portfolios are viewed in the same manner of stocks and bonds.

[acesfull]

The lowest SCUM of the earth is a reverse domain hijacker.
(They drive aftermarket prices WAY UP!)

[D'same]

Angelx666 "real success dont need acclaim"

I think any success needs credibility....acclaim no.....credibility yes....and you can only be credible if you pass a test which is the norm by your peers in whatever field of endeavor you choose.

I see a very viable and legitimate industry, which as I said is "should be" a level playing field and although there are those of you who think that the best domains are gone (true), many wealthy countries are yet to fully explore the benefits of the internet....

[Banned: domain newbie]

"ones they will get to know you - you will lose"

[GoPC]

In a word... NO

Partially because the bulk of the people don't understand domains as a comodity, partially because those that do, consider domainers thieves, opportunists and bad faith operators.

Even within the industry, there is alot of distain and contempt from one domaineer to another. Insulting lowball offers, exagerated expectations, distrust.

Are the greatly successful Porn dealers "respected"... aside from Hugh, I would have to say, along with Domaineers...

The income is enviable but the "job" isn't well respected.

GoPC!

[Rockefeller]

If someone asks what I do I tell them I "invest in the internet" just to avoid the hassle of explaining domain names to my 100th person. If I do end up explaining it, they always want to know where to sign up and start making money..its not that easy..Domainers are a rare breed..but when you get into it for the wrong reason is where a problem comes in..spamming and putting ridiculous price tags on domains are what makes us look bad.

Buyers who don't follow through with deals also make us look bad.

[Banned: biznews]

It is all about partiality. Bias, I will call. How is Marchex or Buydomains any better than the little guy who own 10 domains in the portfolio? I wonder how many would look up to Marchex as a domain squatter?

We for the most part show added respect to ones who have some form of fortune, success and exposure in the domain world.

[Dale Hubbard]

If you leave a motor in a parking place and exceed the paid tenure, what happens to your motor? A little obtuse, but get my point?

[D'same]

It is all about partiality. Bias, I will call. How is Marchex or Buydomains any better than the little guy who own 10 domains in the portfolio? I wonder how many would look up to Marchex as a domain squatter?

We for the most part show added respect to ones who have some form of fortune, success and exposure in the domain world.

Answering my own question I think the successful companies like the ones quoted above owes it to the industry to counter the negative stereotype. After all the domain industry is up against a formidable foe in "traditional media" who resent advertisers dollars switching to the online marketers. Partly because IMHO they don't understand the internet. How many of you have seen multi-million dollar companies with very poor or non-functioning website...

About 95% of startup businesses fail within the first 3 years, so I sometimes find it amusing if a newbie registers a poor domain name and is taken to task by the pros here. Its all part of the learning curve..point us in the right direction because its better to have 100 informed customers (newbies)... than 100 turned off customers (newbies).

Newbies can be a great buyers base for the resellers....once we are shown the folly of just going out and registering names because we thought it cute....again let us respect each other and the business community will gradually fall in line...not overnight...but!!! eventually......remember HipHop music...

Cheers..

[whitebark]

Most people don't know or understand what domain investing is. Example - one business class i am taking the professor asked everyone to tell a little about themselves and what they do - work, school only, own a biz etc. When my turn came I explained what I do in regards to building websites and everyone understood that - even the elderly prof, but when I mentioned "internet real estate" I got blank looks - even after explaining it. Remember now the class was full of the 'internet generation' and they didn't even know.

In the end to get respect in any business you must earn it.

[hunnam]

In a few years people will realise how valuable domains are and respect will be gained.

[Focus]

If someone asks what I do I tell them I "invest in the internet" just to avoid the hassle of explaining domain names to my 100th person. If I do end up explaining it, they always want to know where to sign up and start making money..its not that easy..Domainers are a rare breed..but when you get into it for the wrong reason is where a problem comes in..spamming and putting ridiculous price tags on domains are what makes us look bad.

Buyers who don't follow through with deals also make us look bad.

I totally agree bro...there are MANY sellers on here right now doing exactly this, they are easy to spot because they have to keep dropping the price over and over and over in the thread when nobody responds to mediocre names that are WAAAAY overpriced with unreasonable expectations...alot of times they will say things like "$x,xxx offer rec'vd by PM" (by those anonymous offerers! lol) and such when everyone knows that obviously that never happened..and whats even worse than people not following through with BUYING, is sellers not following through with SELLING..it has happened to even me recently right here on DNF, and this makes us all look bad when one breaks the sacred "DEAL" code.

Hopefully this industry continues to evolve and those above mentioned just naturally get filtered out due to a process of natural selection. My last domain (a very high end one word .net priced very low) took exactly 24 hours for a mid $x,xxx deal to be made, as all my deals normally go when you offer real quality. If more people would do this lower and fairer pricing then it would surely reflect a much more positive light & vibe on all of us in this sometimes volatile & overly competitive market.

In closing, I try to keep our industry a secret somewhat too as it's already started to get crowded lately with newbie hopefuls that spam the forum with lunatic deals and clutter sedo & afternic with useless domains, sometimes crowding out the real gems that us veteran domainers are selling...and buying or course, makes for so much static and eyestrain! I hope that our industry does gain more respect as a whole in general. Esp. those that deserve it and have been on the "front lines" so to speak for many years.

Just my wooden nickel on the matter!

Chris

[copper]

I give up explaining what I do.

Welcome back, Mocus

[D'same]

In closing, I try to keep our industry a secret somewhat too as it's already started to get crowded lately with newbie hopefuls that spam the forum with lunatic deals and clutter sedo & afternic with useless domains, sometimes crowding out the real gems that us veteran domainers are selling...and buying or course, makes for so much static and eyestrain!

There is no industry that survives without new blood.....and if you don't get new players coming in how will the industry grow. IMHO, this industry needs the newbies like any other.....granted we will register S**T, its all part of the learning curve and in time we will hopefully learn and as I always say...the resellers best market is the newbie because they are always willing to buy...

No new blood=inbreeding=low prices for your domains...

A veteran domainer will always try to beat you down in price, a newbie may be less incline to bargain as he/she would respect your expertise...IMHO

Were all the gems sold by veterans...it would be interesting to know...

Cheers..