Domain names are becoming 21st century real estate!
You've read many blogs on getting your own domain name or maybe you already have a domain name, but did you know that Domain names are becoming 21st century real estate (Bob Parsons, CEO and founder of domain registration company GoDaddy.com)?
In 1995, I bought my first computer (windows 95 - anybody remember this one?). I wanted to know more about computers and I really wanted to know what all the hype about this "Information Superhighway" that everybody was talking about. I even had a subscription to aol, dial-up. It was horrible. I quickly learned that aol (sucked) had too many restrictions and charged more money for less service.
I switched a couple of ISP's until I found one that I liked. The benefit of this was that it made me realize that with each ISP change, my email would also change. So I did something that would ensure a lifelong email address. I registered my last name, hence my email address became myfirstname@mylastname.com I knew I was never going to change my name, so I would never have a need to change my email address (if you're a single woman and plan on getting married, this may not work for you).
This in turn allowed me to think of domain names as real estate on the Internet and as a result, I went and registered a whole bunch of names that I might have had some use for (either at that time or sometime in the future). 10 years have passed since I've done this, and now I see it is nearly impossible to find a good available domain name. Luckily I thought ahead. I still have those names. I use some, others are just waiting to be used (or sold if they wind up being valuable).
Recently, I read a blog that asked about single property domain names. I recommended that if you are listing a commercial property, it might not be a bad idea to register the address (ex: http://www.427bedfordroad.com/) chances are that the buyer may also want to buy the domain name. Or maybe you can use the domain name to advertise the property and as an incentive to the buyer include the website as a bonus.
Well, if it's not too late already, I recommend that you at least go and register your fullname.com. I see more and more realtors who have already done it, but for years now I've seen many celebrities and politicians who have done it. Good luck.
23 Comments on Domain names are becoming 21st century real estate!
APR
15
2008
Great idea about the property domain names. It costs $8 to register the name, and the cheapest web host I found is $30 per year or you could just forward the domain name to a page on your own host. Hmmm, very creative. I like creative.
Peter-I am a firm believer in the same. I purchased my name a long time ago and that is also my lifelong email address.....david@davidkucic.com. My wife and I have also purchased the domain names of our children as well as some of our other friends and relatives. We give them out as bithday/graduation gifts!
David - it sounds like we had the same thought pattern, we also bought for our children and some friends. I haven't bought any as a birthday gift though.
I also host about 2 dozen email addresses for other Nikic's around the world (australia, Serbia, Croatia, Russia, etc). I don't even know most of these people nor do I think we are related (at least not closely), but I offer any Nikic a free email address, when they randomly find my website.
Thank you for letting me know about this post. I have bought domains but I don't know about how to buy my own email address instead of using my companies email address.
Hi Windy - there are 3 steps in having your own website.
registering a domain name
building a website (this includes email)
hosting a website (the computer on the Internet which stores your website)
did you read my other blog "what's in a domain name"? this one really gives much more detail on registering domain names and would be more beneficial for you to read.
You don't buy email addresses, they are part of step #3. You take your (already) registered domain name, you build a website, then the hosting company will allow you to create email addresses (depending on your plan, you may be able to have unlimted email addresses.)
they show 4 plans starting at $3.99 up to $19.99 per month. look under "email accounts", you can have anywhere from 600 to 4,000 email accounts. this is why you don't pay anything extra for email, it's included in the hosting plan.
Peter: Domain names are becoming more valuable each day. I have several myself including my name. For properties I'm now using .info plan to keep them long term and they are less expensive.
It actually makes more sense, the only things is that .com was first and as a result will always rule. but any domain names are better than no domain names.
Hi Peter ... Although I got my first computer when you did, I was in a totally different field at the time. Unfortunately, I began in real estate only two years ago. And so many of the names I wanted were taken. Thanks for the post, I should probably look into it once again; you never know.
By the way, when a brokerage is sold, the domain names may have added value much as "the brand" does now.
Peter, Thanks for the push. I've been thinking about and talking about registering my name for a couple yrs now and keep putting it off. Today is the day.
Mercure, get creative, but it can definitely be beneficial. spending a few dollars to impress someone enough that you could make thousands, seems like a good return to me.
So true. My husband had a friend that was urging us to register domain names about 10 years ago. I wasn't in real estate and really had no concept of what a good domain name would mean down the road. With a name like Kathy Anderson I have a chance in you know what of ever getting that one now. I was able to get KathyAndersonRealtor.com though and I have since registered every decent name I can think of for my selling area before most of the masses started figuring it out.
Kathy, better late than never. sometimes, you just need to think outside the box (bun, bottle, etc.-).
I registered the name banklet.com, even though I am not in the ATM or banking business. but who knows, maybe one day, you'll be doing online banking using my banklet. it will be like a desktop widget, that will automatically connect you to any bank or account and allow you to instantly do all of your online banking, etc. you never know, keep your fingers crossed for me :-)
I couldn't agree more -- My website is www.ATLhomesearch.com, but I want something BETTER and I know I better put my thinking cap on now before all the good ones are gone.
On a side note, I have been buying street names -- for example www.AllgoodRoad.com --- as I know that over the next 10 years, I may list 2 - 5 homes on that same street and it is easier to remember than 2138AllgoodRoad.com
Think about common mis-spellings, too. A lot of people spell our name (Prest Realty) as Prest REALITY (note the i) SOmeone has had the domain PrestReality.com for several years- it goes to one of those generic-we'll find you a realtor anywhere sites with paid ads. I don't know if I would have gotten the domain or not, but it irritates me for someone else to have it.
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Great idea about the property domain names. It costs $8 to register the name, and the cheapest web host I found is $30 per year or you could just forward the domain name to a page on your own host. Hmmm, very creative. I like creative.