Rick's Time Capsule 1997. Ten years later.

Here IS my EARLIEST writing on my own website about domains in 1997 with a couple 1998 updates copied and pasted directly from the original website. Been looking for this for YEARS! I started posting about the value of domain names in 1996, but this is the first official public commentary on my own site and you can see at this point I am still selling the concept and the value of the Internet which 10 years ago was NOT embraced by the majority of businesses. My thoughts TEN YEARS ago. See if they match what I say and believe today.

DomainSeller.com represents what maybe the most extensive collection of domain property's in the world. Our focus was on property for adult sites, however our business collection is equally impressive. They may have laughed when somebody wasted $24 to buy Manhattan way back when. Today you would have to struggle to buy lunch there for that same $24. It's all about Vision!! That's right VISION! What will it do to the value of the property when the rest of the world gets on the net?
       
Yes it is true that these domains were free, then just $100 each. But that was yesterday and just  like Manhattan, you can't buy at yesterdays prices. Value is all relative. Some of these domains cost us more than $100,000 each and others are escalating at thousands a month!! While they laughed at us for "Wasting" time and money in 1996 and 1997 as we put this collection together, the truth is: Electronic Real Estate (erealestate) in cyberspace, is destined to be some of the most valued property EVER known to man! Time is of the essence!

The power of an electronic address can only be imagined by examples such as Dell Computer announcing that they do a $1 million a day in sales on the internet as of March 1997! (Increasing 6x that as of May 1998!!)  Would anyone have believed them if they announced that in 1996? Not only are they doing sales at a rate in excess of $2 billion a year, I would venture to say it is their most profitable because their overhead may only be a fraction of a conventional sale. Plus those figures are escalating daily.

And folks....That ain't nothing......This next little tidbit will floor you! Late in April 1997, Chrysler announced something so incredible that they are still clamoring. Remember, it was not but a few years ago that Chrysler had losses of $400 and $500 million. They released a statement and it basically   stated that because of the internet and being able to streamline their operations to take advantage of the net's power, they would be able to SAVE $2 BILLION PER YEAR in cost cutting alone!!! That's without even talking about sales!!! THAT'S $2 BILLION A YEAR IN SAVINGS!!

Not even the price of land in Manhattan nor anywhere else on the planet accelerated to the degree of the net and this is just the beginning. By the end of 1997 the mainsream may realize just how much they underestimated how quickly the public would embrace the internet. People you never thought would use it have now gone out and learned so they can easily stay in touch with their children and grandchildren via email. This fact alone.....is simply amazing!

Simply put folks....."If you build it.....they will come" It's that simple. Their "Field of dreams" was on a baseball diamond....this "Field of dreams" is on a slightly larger playing surface.

Domainseller.com is open to Lease, Trade, Develop or joint venture our properties. Some domains are already under contract and more are going all the time. Speaking of time....don't waste any. If you have an idea the time to act is right now. If you are interested in one then I suggest you start a dialogue with us immediately. With all the wild get rich schemes that are available out there maybe it is time to stop wasting your time. Become a visionary. Remember...."Today's visionary is tomorrow's genius!"        

And Just one more thing.....Listen folks, this is the gold rush and the industrial revolution all rolled up into one, only bigger, better, easier and a lot more profitable. The gold rush is in full swing and every minute you delay is a silly minute wasted. The net has given everyone an equal shot at a piece of the pie. It's a brand new race and everyone has a nearly equal chance. If you can read this then you have no argument and if you have a burning desire then nobody can stop you.       

In cyberspace nobody knows if you are black or if you are white, if you are rich or poor, tall or short, fat or skinny, clean or dirty, handicapped or healthy, Christian or Jew etc., ....They know only two things....the content of what you have to say and a way to communicate effectively to people from all walks of life and from around the globe. Plus the value you put on your own character. Consisting of your credibility, your honesty, your integrity, and your devotion to do things the right way without taking advantage of others. This will be either your greatest asset or a liability that will inevitably be your downfall. You don't judge a book by its cover, In cyberspace you are judged by your content. Of course a nice cover such as a great domain name couldn't hurt.
       
The opportunity that any one of these domains can give to an individual or company who can accomplish what they set their minds to is truly a gift that has dropped in their lap. Now it is up to you to see if you have the guts, the drive and the creativity you need to acquire your dream.
       
Look over our domains. Allow yourself to come up with a creative idea. You only need one idea...the rest they will write about. Remember, these are not imaginative and silly type domains. These are domains that while standing alone with no other words tell the world exactly what you have in just an easy to remember electronic address! Remember our motto......."Today's visionary is tomorrow's genius!" We genuinely believe that if YOU DO build it.....they WILL come.
       
In closing, consider the following........      
If you BELIEVE you "CAN"......then you are RIGHT!!
If you BELIEVE you "CAN'T"....then you are also RIGHT!!

Comments

[owen frager]

Great post.

Least not forget that in the past two years Apple collects a $1 billion recurring revenue on sub-domains to mac.com and has sold $3 billion songs without packages, ordering, inventory, stores, sales clerks and waste from a simple interface that now delivers TV shows and movies BEFORE the TV or Movie owners could sell from their own sites.

Today it's all about collaboration- there are many ingredients to a successful marketing mix-- you can take Apple's interface and rebrand it as teenmusic, gaymusic etc (no different then Levis selling private label Gap jeans and Gap opening BabyGap, Old Navy, Banana Republic and all the different faces the public perceives from the same Intel chip that drives what’s inside.... just shaving years of cost and aggravation off the time it takes to go the same result then results never possible by traditional means.)

.... and here is where domain names DO help and where such opportunities are virtually untapped. It's really the same as the porn model- forward the name to an existing infrastructure and suddenly you have a value chain. After your 5 year nap there is finally an infrastructure worthy of the domains. It's now about use domains to brand to Sable becomes Taurus and Camay becomes Lexus. It's about developing SALES channels because the ability to deliver is what corporate has- the channels to grow on economy of scale, is what they lack. A perfect partnership for the right domains,

Today, as never before Domains allow you to speak to an audience directly on their own terms.

As BusinessWeek just revealed about the secret behind Apple's success, and recently with Fox/Marchex and Mathias Hispanic focus...

it DOES matter today from a marketing standpoint black or if you are white, if you are rich or poor, tall or short, fat or skinny, clean or dirty, handicapped or healthy, Christian, challenged by eating disorder or terminal condition or Jew etc. because the more "you know John" the more you can address them with a solution that solves their needs exactly.
And saves them the time of shopping around for something that may not be easy accessible locally, but online can provide all the information and tools needed to make an informed decision.

I know that you've known this all along and are one of the few investors that have this highly specialized inventory lying in wait for the 21st Century marketing that will mark web 3.0.—where consumer vale, selling and marketing and relationships trump technology, applications and advertising-based business strategy.

[Gill T]

Rick I liked your "rants" better when they weren't in color. What's next strobe lights?

[Will]

Rick, you are an inspiration. Thanks for posting this.

[tommy butler]

Hi Rick

I must admit i agree with your last 2 posts.
Domains have given the small guy like me the chance to get on the ladder. before if i tried to get into business the big guys would tell the supplers to not supply me or they would cut the chain and not do business with them. How times have changed.
Domains have given me that chance it allows the small guy to get ahead of the big firms.these big firms are for behind with the times that anyone even today could still create a nice nich market for themselfs in domains.
Dont you just love this industry every day when you wake up first thing do is check my e-mail and look at the names that are for sale.it must be one best jobs if you can call it a job in the world. and i would like to thank people like yourself and people like edwin whose site many moons ago igoldrush.com got me into domains.

[Joan Butler]

Dear Rick:
As a relatively new domainer I love your insights and helpful hints. I was reading Sahars blog of Sept 14th and he said you had a discussion about starting in the domain business with $5k or $50k on your private board. Is there any way you can email me that posting, I would be forever grateful for any help.
Thanks, Joan

[refurbished computers]

I would venture to say it is their most profitable because their overhead may only be a fraction of a conventional sale.

[care homes for sale]

always love these posts when you go in way back machine Rick. keep dredging, love it!