The Rick Schwartz Domain Name and Traffic Blog: RicksBlog.com – Home of The Domain King®

Morning Folks!!

After the lauch on the other Apple IOS systems I am still having issues with IOS7 or should I say IOS7.2.

I just got thru changing a bunch of battery saving options I read about on this cnet article.

But the big issues are UNREADABLE pastel green background with small white writing. It can't be seen! What idiot accepted this as ok? It isn't. It sucks.

If used to be clear. Black, white and read to answer a call. Now you can't even read what it says. As with putting the call in the background. The lime green banner on top can not be read as I just demonstrated. Now not ONE PERSON at Apple can figure that one out??? inexcusable! What would Jobs Say??

The keyboard is not any more accurate but the bold letters are now thin letters and hard to read. Another idiot move!

Don't use the zoom feature on the accessibility menu or you may never use your phone again.

I like the rapid picture-taking on the camera. I like the multiple page view for nesting apps.

Did I mention the battery life sucks? It does. I went from 2 day charges to less than 1 day.

I love it and I hate it. I want them to fix these issues and others SOON. I want them to be Apple and not worry about Brand-x.

Steve Jobs is a little deader today then he was before IOS7 came out and I fear we will get further away from his vision going forward if they allow such thoughtless mistakes like this to slip thru an entire company.

Somebody posted this as a comment and may be of interest to some.

Petition for downgrading to iOS6 …..
http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/allow-to-downgrade-ios?source=s.fwd&r_by=8876533

Rick Schwartz

Morning Folks!!

It's called a "Meeting of the minds" and when that happens, deals are done.

So here is a deal I made over the weekend with just 3 emails.

Hello,

My name is Xxx Xxxxxx, I have recently looked into starting a xxxxx blog and naturally looked into xxxxxblog.com. I am not looking to buy it as you have made it very clear you aren't in the selling business. However I do believe the domain has a lot of potential to be monetized. It may not become your highest grossing domain due to the nature of the domain, but it clearly has potential. 

(He then goes into a bit of his background which I won't publish here)

If interested, please feel free to email back to discuss more,

Thank you,

He replies and tells me his plan and why. He states after that:

"One Idea i have, is you maintain sole ownership of the domain, and i have sole ownership of the content(Just in case either of us decide to part ways.) This would exclude the profit made from the content of course. However, this is just an idea, and am very open to hearing your ideas."

I Replied:

Morning Folks!!

Just a quick update. First the rooms at the Ritz go from $275/night to $399/night this Friday. So book your rooms today before you forget.

The final auction list is now online here. If you domain is not listed, please contact me ASAP!

We are less than 3 weeks away from our 25th show and the start of our 10th year. Buy tickets today and get on board.

If you have been following my posts you know things are heating up to 2004 levels and beyond. You know I now belive we are in the gravitational pull of that 20 year plan. There is no doubt whatsoever as the proof and mile markers are there for all to see and the timeline is right on the money!

If it is still 2009 or 2010 for you, then time to come to TRAFFIC, raise your game, get out of your funk and change your life! All I can do is try to motivate you by pointing out the life changing benefits.

There is a reason that there are a flood of 6 and 7 figure domain names sales going on during the last weeks. So each day for the next 3 weeks wake up and ask yourself do you really want to be sitting on the sidelines when there is clear evidence that things are popping? Maybe it is the right TIME to get back into the game.

Rick Schwartz

Morning Folks,

Frank Schilling made a BRILLIANT video that he released recently. It really is brilliant as is his comment on Berkens Blog. The video immediately below.

There is no Schwartz vs Schilling but that seems to be the perception. I love Frank. We have never had a cross word and why should we? It does not mean I can't have doubts or ask tough questions. It doesn't mean I have to agree. It doesn't mean I have to disagree. We are all examining an unknown and we all come at that unknown from a different POV. The beauty is we get to share our visions, bet on them and REALITY will win.

Frank and I have spent hours 1 on 1 at TRAFFIC discussing domains and the future as well as emails and on my board and just a decade of conversations and friendship. In Frank's position he should be doing exactly what he is doing and doing so well. If I were his advisor, I would advise him to do what he is doing. But even Frank is going to have winners and losers when each extension is measured against the next. Some may go nowhere. But it only takes 1 to be another life changer. So I still keep an open mind and new evidence and new information is the formula to change my stance. That has not happened yet and the more I study things the more certain  I get. But I am sway-able on certain things. The only thing that can't sway me is that the value of GREAT .coms can only skyrocket.

That all said, I see Franks Journey and it really does remind me of the song and old Coke commercial.

"I'd like to teach the  world to sing in perfect harmony."

So "I'd like to teach the  world to sing in perfect harmony" is the tall order that Frank has taken on. Herculean task!

Think about the job to be done to complete that task. Some would say "Mission Impossible".  Ever hear me sing?

I mean even Coca-Cola can't pull off this one.  I can't sing. Frank can at least carry a tune!

I’d like to build the world a home
And furnish it with love
Grow apple trees and honey bees 
And snow white turtle doves
I’d like to teach the world to sing
In perfect harmony
I’d like to hold it in my arms
And keep it company

I’d like to see the world for once
All standing hand in hand
And hear them echo through the hills
For peace throughout the land
That’s the song I hear
Let the world sing today
A song of peace that echoes on
And never goes away

I’d like to teach the world to sing
In perfect harmony
I’d like to hold it in my arms 
And keep it company
I’d like to see the world for once
All standing hand in hand
And hear them echo through the hills
For peace throughout the land
That’s the song I hear
Let the world sing today
A song of peace that echoes on
And never goes away
A song of peace that echoes on
And n-e-v-e-r g-o-e-s a-w-a-y

Point is changing Human Behavior is the single greatest challenge one can take on. I see no downside in what is coming other than the confusion it will likely cause and when folks are confused, Human Nature and Human Behavior kick in. To me, that is not a downside. That is a bonus. That is exciting. None of us can lose no matter which direction things go in as long as you are keenly aware of where we are each step of the way.

I don't see an AM/FM radio parallel. FM gave you stereo and music. There was a reason to change to FM. So there was a difference. And AM never died. It sizzles with advertising dollars even today. But still no parallel. TV was going to kill radio. I guess you guys don't remember that far back. Well did it? Did cd's? What killed radio? Nothing killed radio and it flouishes even today. Just look at SIRIUS.

The parallel might be 800 numbers and 888 and 866 and 855. And if investors bought all the 866 numbers, how meaningful would it or could it be?

The dynamics that must be there are end users and great content. Without those elements, I don't see much. I speak to end-users. Some will purchase defensively and never activate the domain. Others may buy a gTLD but they all said they would merely point it to their .com. The rest say they already have their .com and don't need anything else. That is the majority.

I just don't see that harmony coming anytime soon. I don't see this being done for the right reasons. The overall benefit is limited and as an INVESTOR these are the things I have to weigh. Again, I look at it thru the eyes of an investor and an end-user.

Just look at how .com unfolded and why. Then look at the other extensions and ask why they look more like .mobi?

Frank and I just disagree on how things will unfold and the consumer and future will determine things. Not any of us. I just know the epic challenge ahead and it will take many billions of dollars to sway behavior. And that is just the first stage to get to value. Domainers selling domains to other domainers won't move the needle much if at all. End-users are the ones that create value. Domainers create Tulips.

And I will say the same thing about .whatever that I said about .com. "Your first purchases are your most important purchases". Everyone just discounts that. But it is key to having the wind at your back and a future of success. And the beauty with our industry, you can wake up on any given morning and start all over again and do it a better way.

Look, we can be seeing the greatest launch of all time or we could be seeing one of the biggest duds ever. I measure success by TV ads. Radio ads. Billboards. Magazine ads. Newspaper ads. ADS, ADS, ADS. Continuous and widespread. That will be what I am looking for. That is how I measure the viability of an extension.

All I would say is this. I would GLADLY take what I paid for whatever .mobi's I have left. I would GLADLY take what I paid for whatever .xxx's I have left. I would GLADLY take what I paid for whatever .co's I have left. And many of you would too.

I can't wait to sit down with Frank at TRAFFIC. I want to see his vision as closely as he does. Does not mean he can convince me. But I am ALWAYS open to being convinced with new information and evidence that is real. I am always sway-able. But that is different from blowing in the wind and chasing every shadow. Exciting times and the only losers are domainers that have yet to learn the difference between diamonds and old broken coke bottles.

And the one thing Franks knows about me, nothing I wrote here is anything I would not say directly to Frank. And I probably just did.

Cheers Frank!! Congrats, good luck and even if we disagree or don't see the same vision, I am rooting for your success. I really do hope you can teach the world to sing. We are always looking for that next pot of gold.

Rick Schwartz

Morning Folks!!

While everyone is wrapped up in gTLD's, I think the bigger story may be getting missed. Online gaming is becoming legal and that will fuel the Internet more than anything on the horizon.

"Nevada's law limits digital play for real money to poker, but there's plenty of enthusiasm for the game. Ultimate Poker dealt its first hand on April 30 and had dealt 10 million by Aug. 1, the company said in a statement last month. In addition to saturating casinos with signage, Ultimate Poker's strategy includes significant direct marketing."

The entire Adage Story is here.

We are talking about one entity. One state. One  tiny corner of the world.

Is the "Facebook Casino" coming? Amazon? Wal-Mart?

Rick Schwartz

Morning Folks!!

Failure is easy to spot. They have signs and fingerprints as does success.

If you don't ask the right questions you are going to be surprised many times in life. Usually those surprises are expensive.

And the hard questions are usually missed or ignored. The ones with murky or even no answers. You can't be afraid of questions and many are. Most are. They have silly answers to key concerns.

I have been involved in many businesses and it's a minefield no matter how sophisticated you are. That is why 8 out of 10 fail. There are always so many unknowns and lousy answers for some of the knowns.

But an unknown is not the same as not knowing or being unaware. Sometimes you don't have the answer just yet, but you are aware of  the question and that protects you from disaster which can occur from being surprised or unprepared for a question. Splitting hairs? Yes, perhaps, but don't ignore that the difference between winning and losing or success or failure many times comes down to that split hair.

Rick Schwartz

Afternoon Folks!!

What are the first things that come to mind when you talk about .Net?

For me it reminds me of the early days. It also reminds me of techies. It reminds me it is not .com and is the consolation prize.

It also says something about longevity as it is old and established. So .net sounds foundational and institutional while .biz sounds like a fly by night. Just saying'.

So with .Whatever that further defines and accentuates more established extensions intended or not. It does not mean that .mobi will be revived. It does mean that .net could emerge with a clearer identity than it has had before. I see it competing with .web perhaps. Of course I am sure .web wants to compete with .com.

But what I believe will happen is all the current extensions will get a second look. Some will look better than others and so while everyone is looking in one direction, don't be surprised if something flashes from a direction that could be surprising.

What happens to business when 700 gTLD's come out and the one that adds the most registrations next to .com is .net and at an accelerated pace? What happens when you add up the increases for the current extensions and their growth is bigger and faster than the growth driving it?

All I am saying is expect the unexpected. And when you expect the unexpected you don't just throw yourself into something. You observe. Kinda like the stock market. You can get killed between 9:30 and 10AM. Best to let things settle in and then take a fresh look at what things look like.

Rick Schwartz

Morning Folks!!

According to the 1and1.com pre-reservation system for new gTLD's .web is #1 and that is no surprise. I have written about .web as the best chance of survivability and adoption by the masses. However the big surprise to me is .online at #2. Really?? Of course this is like Fantasy Football as these are not binding and so who really knows.

Pretty long extension .online. 4 extra letters. What is surprising to me is I own many domains what end with "online.com" and over the years ave been under performers. Maybe this dynamic will change things. Like going back to the future. Almost left for dead. Some of my earliest registrations.

We don't know how this may or may not be manipulated. But it is the only barometer out there at this point so a flawed compass is better than no compass as long as the compass is constant but not stuck.

Everyone talks about 1 Million registrations of any extension. So that would total up to 700 million domains. Don't think so. So some are going to hit that million and for each that does there will be 5-10 that can't blow past 10,000 or maybe less.

I don't see how any of us can lose either way. But even a success on the registry/registrar level does not guarantee success for the investor or  end-user. If they reject it, confused by it or even angry about it, game over before it begins. But I truly don't know all the answers. If you pay close attention , they ALWAYS reveal themselves at the proper time.

Let's just call it the great race and the great experiment. Will be fun for all regardless of the outcome. Opportunity is spelled the same way no matter what vehicle or disguise it comes in.

Rick Schwartz

Morning Folks!!

As investors in domain names there are many parallels to draw on. Those parallels contain answers where there are no answers. Give maps where there are no maps. Provide a compass where there is no True North. A parallel is an express lane to the future. A parallel is how some make fortunes.

What I love about investing in domain names is I have never seen an other item with so many parallels. A 1 oz gold coin is a one ounce gold coin. You can use it in a variety of ways but it is 1 oz. What will fluctuate is the market price of that one ounce.

Real Estate, Oil, Gold, Stocks, exit ramps, malls, Times Square, more etc's than I have time or room to write.

That added up to my initial premise: "Domains would go up faster in value than any other commodity in the history of mankind".

That so paramount to me!  That was the single most clear vision I had and it was based on Consumers and End-Users. It would be the merger of these 2 groups that would be the catalyst for what I saw. I saw empowerment. That's it. Empowerment.

I saw the poorest of poor and the most rural of rural being able to go to a common place and compete. I saw young and old embracing it. I saw the power of something and what it might look like in 20 years. I would then be overwhelmed by the enormity of what I saw. And each day that has passed I have been just a bit more overwhelmed than the day before.

And now, overwhelmed to the point I can no longer put it in words. To enter an era that so closely resembles my very first premises is something I just want to savor and enjoy. And the most overwhelming is that we are just starting this epic journey. It's starts with understanding this medium. But more importantly it is not about us but by how the consumer and the end-user are beginning to understand it. Consumers are sometimes many steps ahead of business. That is the case online and that is why business chases the consumer like a mad dog chasing a car not the other way around.

If the consumer doesn't care, ya lose. What we all do is consumer based and business is our link to that consumer. They have finally reached the point of that understanding and that is why you are seeing so much activity.

Facebook is wonderful. Twitter is Terriffic. Linkedin is mandatory. But all those are filtered by other parties before it reaches business and the end-user. Domains are pure.

The Domain Industry is merely a star in the solar system. We control nothing but some other stars.

We are about to see what happen when theory and reality collide. When folks that think they are in control find out their control is 100% dependant on the actions of others. I always knew there would be great expansion on the Internet. Some of it needed and makes sense. Those are naturally accepted by consumers and end-users. Notice there is a "Dash" with "end-user". Well I think the "Dash" could end up being a big rival to .whatever.

All I can say is this is all a great bonus I never envisioned and am so thankful it is here. Contrast is what helps sell things. Now we are about to have significant contrast and that is good for all. .Whatever is not a threat. It is an opportunity. I just think different opportunities come in different forms and different packages. When a parallel intersects, it is no longer a parallel.

Rick Schwartz

Morning Folks!!

When I started investing in domains that is exactly what I was doing. Investing! Taking extra funds and instead of buying stocks or saving it I decided to risk it on an investment. But that is not the path that most folks follow today and had I followed that path, I would have failed. Nobody would have given me a dime for what I had. So when you are forced to make a living and you have the steam roller at your heals, you don't have the luxury of time to think and plan and execute.

Now the majority of folks will buy that gTLD investment today and trying to flip it tomorrow. Some will have some success. But many more need to figure out how to bridge those 20 years Frank talks about before they sink with renewal fees. That is why I often talk about building an engine to support those names.

Let's do some math. Let's say you buy 1000 gtld's at $25.00/year. So that is $25,000/year x 20 years = $500k. And you may or may not have something with value.

Or

You could buy a $500k domain name right now and finance it for 20 years and never look back. Probably could pay it off in 10 years because a $500k domain comes with traffic and earnings and that reduces the note considerably. And if you are smart about what you are doing, it won't cost you a DIME out of your pocket because your new business will generate those payments.

So I just described 2 roads. One is unknown and the other could be a no-brainer. You could do it at different levels. Finance a $100k domain. But first and foremost you must know which one to get as there are $500k domains with limited commercial value too.

And so.....I Could Have Just as easily Failed in 1996 by Doing what Some will do in 2013. There are many paths to climb this mountain. Just think before you climb because there are paths with not only less headwinds, but actual tailwinds.

Rick Schwartz