Morning Folks!!
So I was in Istanbul for 2 days and 1 day in another part of Turkey (Kusadasi and Ephesus pictured below). I like to look at local magazine ads. I noticed something a little unusual. While almost all had an email address in their ads, only about one third actually had a website listed. Brought me back a few years when that was more common here. But it still made me wonder. Especially with a young population with an average age of about 35.
Then my wife was interested in an item and she told them that she did not want to make a decision right now and would email them when she got back and have them ship it to her. Which they replied that they 'don’t ship.' I thought that pretty weird and that made all of us question the legitimacy of the business even though they seemed to be solid.
I later learned that Turkey was one of the few countries in the world in which the US Post Office would not insure or even guarantee delivery. It seems their mail system is so wrought with fraud that some 20%-30% never make it to their final destination. Many have found ways around that by opening US offices and sending boatloads of merchandise. But a disconnect to be sure.
There was a noticeable difference with their next door neighbor, Greece. Websites were common, to the ads, still not to the U.S. numbers, but .gr was everywhere and .com was pretty solid there as well. The folks that can benefit the most from the Internet also seem to be the ones to embrace it last. Go figure.
On the ship I strolled in to a “CruiseCritic.com get together. There must have been about 100 members there. I was looking for the culinary tour at the time and joined the wrong group. Just shows the power of the Internet once reserved for techies and webmasters, now includes so many different groups and interests that will again transform the net to what it was meant to be. The greatest communication device ever invented. The greatest shopping tool ever invented. The greatest information resource ever invented. The greatest learning tool ever invented. The greatest gaming ever invented. The greatest this, the greatest that. I could go on all day all night and still barely scratch the surface. The greatest social gathering mechanism ever invented and that includes millions of things I would have to list here once again.
Domains are a sliver of the opportunity out there. It is a foundational sliver and that guarantees a value that can only be judged when most folks truly understand the power of this medium. I have lived and breathed this medium for 14 years as a domain owner and years before that. And while I have always understood the power that could be achieved, even I am still getting my head around it. So how long for the casual user to get their heads around it? Be patient my friends. The true value of domains may not reveal themselves until we are all long gone from this planet. Even inventions like Ben Franklin and electric are still bearing fruit hundreds of years later. Look at all the things that we would not have in our lives had there been no electric. Think old Ben would be amazed beyond words? More invented after his death. After the death of all in that era and many eras since. Perhaps the real building blocks of civilization and progress. No electric no nothing. No computer. No modern medicine. No anything we come to use and live with and get comfort from.
There will be a reason that we will not have a great depression like 1929. The reason is the Internet and the reason is much beyond. So many new products will be hitting the market and they will all be internet enabled. Things you would never even imagine. Your dishwasher. Your oven. Your refrigerator. Any electrical device. Any battery operated device. Maybe even in furniture.
We are on the edge of history. The cutting edge. That edge is about to get red hot. Hotter than anything anyone has ever seen. Once all income had to come from a local market. Today that market is any point on the globe. The realization of the power that has yet to be tapped into will unleash a wave that will last for generations. So many models to copy in one ring and apply to another ring. Another market. Another group.
Greatness comes from despair. Success is born from adversity. Depression and recession produce motivation to think and create. If you have all the food, no reason to farm. Point is getting the world out of their “Comfort zone” is the greatest thing ever to happen to the internet and to domains. After the pain will come the gain.
Have a GREAT Day!
Rick Schwartz
Jessica
Funny how things unfold in unexpected situations.
I love this one, Rick. So much thought, so many realization on the way things have been, were in the past in relation to what is happening now, thanks to our mentors in technology who invented the first computers and made possible the utilization and consumption of every God-given skill and talent, to maximize our life’s experience both online and offline – to explore the wonders of our innate capacities and use them to benefit ourselves and humankind in general.
It’s always an exciting world to live in, with endless possibilities of things we could do using our mind and imagination. The internet is the culmination of this as it showcase all facets of man’s creation by way of websites that cater to different users’ needs – social, psychological, emotional, physical, intellectual, or spiritual.
We’re here because as much as we want to express ourselves and earn money on the side, we need to propagate, multiply, or leave our mark for the next generation. Like what you said about Benjamin Franklin, like what they say about Galileo or Edison, or Einstein, we want the same to be said of us by not only our own children, our children’s children and so on someday. Fortunately for you, you’ve started 14 years ago. I’m sure as I’m breathing air right now that your name is already carved on the Domainers Walk of Fame. :)
The internet is inescapably a medium where one could make a difference. Too bad Einstein et al didn’t live to see this day to, say, shake hands with Obama, lol – or surf the internet. I wish I could say”in absence the heart grows fonder,” but I don’t wish to see them now or we’re stuck in their black and white era, just kidding. :)
They had their time and they spent it well…
We have our time now, and the best we could do is, share, continue to learn, and inspire others to do their part.
I’m glad this blog reminds me that.
M. Menius
“After the pain will come the gain.”
This could very well apply to the news organizations and what they are currently going through.
Was researching last night. The stock price of the publicly traded news organizations has plummeted: McClatchy, Gannett and the privately held companies suffering as well: Hearst, Tribune Co. All of them are losing massive amounts on their traditional hardcopy paper.
Some of these newspapers have the corresponding city.com website which is their saving grace. However, some of the cities in which they operate do not have a corresponding quality online city domain.
The”Pain” will either force a dramatic/timely restructuring, or force bankruptcy. Adapt or die basically. This is a very time sensitive issue for the papers.
For domainers, successfully weathering a downturn is in direct proportion to their prior preparation. And ability to intelligently manage costs. As a country, many have existed on credit. Over-reliance on credit can become quicksand. Never let oneself become over-extended on credit. Hard to teach that lesson.
Tia Wood
“If you have all the food, no reason to farm.”
Hmmm. I like that one.
Steve Fox
So do you think .gr for greece domains will overtake .com.
Meaning the local cctld will kill off .com over time?
I just finished my first web program to help scrabble players, http://scrabblecheat.com
but no way will I buy .cctld , too much money to cover all countries.
I think .com will be king forever.
James
Rick, looking at the state of your hotel in the photo, times must be hard – chase those guys up for the candy.com money :-)
Steve Fox
That isn’t a hotel. Its ancient ruins. There is huge money to still be made on the Internet! If you spend some time and money and research gut instincts you will find areas wide open. I had the skills but the wrong mindset. I can give credit to Rick for helping me get the right mindset. Now I work with companies in a win win situation and if the economy picks up I will do just fine. My latest work is http://sellsheets.com and it fits perfectly with Ricks ideals. It is a business and has great potential. The idea? To bring in customers/leads and businesses will pay me for the leads. Forget parking unless you got premium domains. Network network network, you will find people that need you.