Acro.net – Technology Rants & Raves by Acroplex®

The owner of Bodis.com – the domain monetization company that acquired the domain forum NamePros – gave an excellent speech today; albeit in the form of a unity post.

It’s not a secret that both DNForum and NamePros each have their own “gang” of supporters, fans and sworn “servants”. It’s what makes cliques fun and what makes fans active contributors of any given forum.

I hopped onto DNForum in 2002, after its launch was announced on Web Hosting Talk – a technology forum I frequented at that time.

NamePros was launched in early 2003 by Ron James, a DNForum regular, after the DNForum moderators of that time attempted to launch a coup d’etat by buying DNForum from its founder, Dan – a 17 year old student at that time. The same moderators opted out, after a Texan domain investor, Greg Ricks, stepped in and snapped the domain from under their noses; the formation of DomainState became their lair.

For the record, at the same time I launched DomainGator – not to be confused with DNGator, the now sold domain news aggregator – which didn’t fare well for one reason: I tried to run the show all by myself.

When owning a large community forum, it’s prudent to delegate tasks by either hiring a crew or by giving incentives to volunteers. Power is one such incentive, and both DNForum and NamePros at some point fell victims to moderator power abuse. Usually, things work out when there is a change of guard or when problematic moderators are ‘fired’.

Many lessons were learned during that period 2002-2004, especially when Adam Dicker acquired DNForum, reputedly for $50,000. Ron James of NamePros held out for almost a decade, before selling NamePros to Bodis for a deal between $200k and $300k.

What matters today is that there are two very active domain name forums and the need for unity and co-operation is necessary, in order to maximize the benefits and the potential of its members. Both owners are smart, business-savvy individuals with long records of success. Both forums can continue to perform using their distinct personality and best elements by joining forces and forging alliances.

I’ve bought and sold some great domains on both forums and established some long-lasting business relationships during the past ten years that I frequent them. Both forums deserve the best; and why not, let’s make them three, given the fact that DomainState is part of the old school domain forum game.

When I met the Parked.com crew during TRAFFIC 2008 in Orlando, I had the opportunity to engage with some of the best people in the domain monetization business.

It was clear that Parked rocked during those times and the company did remarkably well; the people that worked for Parked were top notch and experienced professionals.

With Parked.com apparently gone from service, I’m left with sadness about the demise of a company that later on declined in performance, due to its use of Yahoo feeds that imposed the dreaded TQ domain rating.

As far as I know, the now former Parked employees are either at Domain Apps that acquired the Parked.com brand and infrastructure, or working at other companies.

It was great knowing you guys, I wish I had kept my Parked.com t-shirt but I donated it along with other clothing before Christmas.

When success arrives in the form of a sale of a business, those of us that partook in its first steps, observing its growth should rejoice.

Ron James of NamePros negotiated a deal with domain monetization company Bodis that few could refuse; the end result will be a bigger, better, faster domain forum for its members.

Along with DNForum, the NamePros forum preserves the legacy of the domain industry’s first steps. Both domain forums have passionate members that keep exchanging ideas and engage in sales and acquisitions.

On both NamePros and DNForum I shared my first steps as a full time domainer, and I am partial to both.

There is plenty of room in the domain industry for active arenas that offer knowledge and tools that assist newbie and experienced domainers alike to succeed.

It’s a great day to be a domainer.

I’ve a bone to pick and it tastes like Toblerone. The sticky Swiss chocolate is among my favorite brands but it’s definitely not the easiest to chew.

Back to domains. I just completed a nice mid $x,xxx sale with a Swiss buyer. He put faith back in me with regards to Swiss domainers or investors.

Three years ago a Swiss buyer ended up becoming a deadbeat for a $7,000 acquisition of a LLL.net. He came up with a lot of excuses about not paying the money he agreed to. Sedo banned him and a year later he was free again to roam and even had the audacity to place a new, lowball offer on the same domain he didn’t pay for. I had to raise hell at Sedo and he was banned for life this time.

Onto Swiss domainer #2 – he’s still forming the company while sitting on an $8,000 Sedo bill. My patience is legendary but my lawyer will be swift.

Swiss domainer #3 did it the right way: placed an offer, negotiated my counter-offer and closed on the sale in minutes. He paid the bill and in two days’ time the exchange completed.

For a domain I paid less than $100 to acquire the deal was awesome. You’ll find out about the domain and the selling price in tomorrow’s DNJournal.

Auctions are competitive events and suit the predominant ‘Alpha type’ males perfectly.

Sometimes though they last ridiculously long.

On a busy Monday no less, bidding for two and a half hours until my invisible opponent surrendered – that takes a lot of energy and I almost ran out of chocolate.

Sedo should consider increasing the bidding amounts to $100, even for smaller priced domains; this way it’d be quicker to end an auction.

I won’t reveal the domain yet as I still have to receive an invoice, so I won’t jinx it.