Today's investment question - domain names

[Bing]

Has anyone bought domain names that are in some way special / meaningful / personal to them as an 'investment' ? I don't mean in order to sell on in the future, or even with the intent of starting a business, but rather to reserve some sort of future identity. Ranski made a comment on stark's number for sale thread about domain names and email addresses being the future, and I've been toying with buying 4 or 5 for a while now for no other reason than it seems a good idea.

If you have, why did you do it ? Also, where's the best place to buy and hold them, and what's a reasonable price ?

 

[PerryGunn]

I have the pgunn.com domain name for no other reason that I can redirect all my email through it and can freely change ISPs as and when necessary without worrying about orphaned email accounts

There are lots of places that offer registration services, prices vary depending on the TLD that you need, just google and find the best price - usually registering for more than 1 year at a time gives good savings.

One word of warning, there are a number of companies that monitor domain expiry and send you a 'renewal' notice/invoice as you get close to expiry, this is not illegal as you can move your domain registration between companies, but they charge inflated prices and rely on people not noticing that the 'renewal' hasn't come from their current registrar.

 

[Bing]

Cheers Perry - useful advice. I also had a look at having any domain names masked from public view (in terms of ownership details) so that sort of thing didn't happen, but it was twice the price, and there seemed to be some technicalities around who actually had control of the domain that weren't clear. Unfortunately my surname domain name is taken, but there are variations of whole names for the whole family that are still available.

 

[srhutch]

I have a couple of domains, both are my surname dot something.

Two reason, one they are easier for other to remember, but also if I move ISP as perry says it stays the same. Even let my dad use them for his email.

Think nominet can take them back from the squatters now who are trying to flog them off for big bucks.

 

[teamemmenracing]

pay about a fiver a name ...........
it doesn't end there though ........ as soon as you register a domain name like say Bing.co.uk for example, a whole bunch if chancers will then register Bing.com, .org, . just about anything else that is possible just to try and force you to buy them off them.

....... and you will be bombarded by people trying to sell you domains they don't even own lolol

I have couple of good ones ......
Bikeshite.com
Talkshite.com
and
Marilynsworld.com (for my wife)

 

[budfox]

Me, my wife and son all have firstnamelastname.co.uk - Very useful and as has been stated, using a domain that isn't related to your ISP is essential.

The other option of course is the likes of Gmail/Hotmail but that's still a poor choice compared with a decent web host and a proper domain.

 

[TonyP]

Likewise as above, I have a domain name that I use purely for email hosting across the whole family, cheap as chips.

I use IMAP protocol so that all emails are synched across all devices, read an email on my PC & it instantly shows as read on my iPad etc etc

 

[inkey$]

Er...I use Hotmail to read my emails. Is that bad?

 

[Adamski]

Er...I use Hotmail to read my emails. Is that bad?

:lol: - me too! Except I started a new "clean" or "non spam" account with Gmail too. At least when I see email on Gmail I know it's for something important. I get about 10-20 spam emails a day on hotmail


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[NeilP]

I ended up purchasing a domain but till date, have used it solely for redirecting to other sites.

It suits me fine for the time being till I bother to have a site built etc but for the most part, the redirects are sufficient for the time being.

The addedd benefit is a truly personal email address (as already stated) which can be more compact than having a name and a wealth of other characters and numbers as is the case with most new email addresses being created with popular providers.

 

[Anonymous]

I used to have a domain name for a photo website I was toying with. I gave up on it after a couple of years and let the registration go.

Now I want it back and someone else is using it!!!!

 

[PerryGunn]

Cheers Perry - useful advice. I also had a look at having any domain names masked from public view (in terms of ownership details) so that sort of thing didn't happen, but it was twice the price, and there seemed to be some technicalities around who actually had control of the domain that weren't clear. Unfortunately my surname domain name is taken, but there are variations of whole names for the whole family that are still available.

I've just checked, and you're in luck, BingTheLegend.com is unregistered and available

You could also have z4mr.com if you were so inclined...

 

[srhutch]

Just remember whatever domain you buy you might have it on your CV in the future :wink:

I hear some good ones at work when folk are applying for jobs :lol:

 

[Adamski]

My mate I wrote a dissertation on domain name hijacking when he I was at uni. Terribly boring rules that govern it.....

 

[inkey$]

Just remember whatever domain you buy you might have it on your CV in the future :wink:

s**t.....!

www.PenIsMighty.org

That might explain a few things with re: my early design career and why all my emails from the time were spam or live filming job offers.

 

[PerryGunn]

Just remember whatever domain you buy you might have it on your CV in the future :wink:

s**t.....!

http://www.PenIsMighty.org

That might explain a few things with re: my early design career and why all my emails from the time were spam or live filming job offers.

boasting again David.... :lol:

If I took up every offer I've had to enlarge my penis, I'd have to walk around pushing a wheelbarrow....

 

[inkey$]

Just remember whatever domain you buy you might have it on your CV in the future :wink:

s**t.....!

http://www.PenIsMighty.org

That might explain a few things with re: my early design career and why all my emails from the time were spam or live filming job offers.

boasting again David.... :lol:

If I took up every offer I've had to enlarge my penis, I'd have to walk around pushing a wheelbarrow....

I can't fight nature forever!

 

[PerryGunn]

I can't fight nature forever!

Unfortunately, and contrary to popular belief, it's only the nose and ears that continue to get bigger as you get older - other parts shrink

 

[bluebatmobile]

Has anyone bought domain names that are in some way special / meaningful / personal to them as an 'investment' ? I don't mean in order to sell on in the future, or even with the intent of starting a business, but rather to reserve some sort of future identity. Ranski made a comment on stark's number for sale thread about domain names and email addresses being the future, and I've been toying with buying 4 or 5 for a while now for no other reason than it seems a good idea.

If you have, why did you do it ? Also, where's the best place to buy and hold them, and what's a reasonable price ?

Hi Bing,

As you mention investment in domain names, and I acknowledge you have stated not for resale etc, but wondered if you were aware of the next big thing in Internet terms, with the current programme that is now underway to launch a whole list of new Top Level Domains (TLDs) - essentially the birth of equivalents to .com (the ending of the domain to the right of the dot). Examples include .London .fashion .blog etc, and potentially the death of .com over the longer term.

If you or any others are interested in investing in the future (I must advise that I am - quite heavily - invested) of the internet, then there is really only one avenue and that is Minds & Machines (Ticker MMX) previously Top Level Domain Holdings (Ticker TLDH). The management team have a great pedigree in start-up through to eventual sale at big bucks prices.

Please take this as it is meant - highlighting of an opportunity that at the moment hardly anyone is even aware of, rather than an unsolicited sales pitch! The internet has essentially remained unchanged for 20 odd years and the good names are long gone, this is essentially creating online real estate, with long term recurring revenue, low overheads = big cash! I'm hoping to be able clear the mortgage with this one...oh an a new car...

Anyway, no worries if no one is interested, but I would definitely recommend you take a look at their recent listing Admission Document (from name change/reverse takeover from TLDH to MMX earlier this year) http://investors.mindsandmachines.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/TLDH-to-M+M-Admission-Doc.pdf

I'd be really interested if anyone out there are IT / Internet Marketing / Domain Investors and has a view of the opportunity. Are you aware / For / Against?

 

[Bing]

bluebatmobile, thanks for the steer - it really isn't an investment though, I just want to protect some sort of identity that is meaningful to me and my family, as I'm with ranski - one day we'll all have a domain, and all our communication & identity will be linked through it. I'd rather not have a government assigned one that means nothing when it becomes reality. I am aware of the TLDs - what started me thinking about the whole idea in the first place was the launch of the .uk TLD recently.

Inkey$ - brilliant

Everyone else - cheers for the views & guidance. Keep it coming - I'm pretty sure it's a good idea for £40-50 a year to go buy a handful specific to us. Though my young, educated and continually connected son's response was, "Huh ? What are they for ?", and then proceeded to be singularly unimpressed :lol: