Morning Folks!!
As many of you know I have been in a lot of industries. Emerging industries or emerging companies. Usually blazing new trails with new products or new ideas. They all have a common thread. They all have more self-inflicted wounds than ones from their competitors or enemies or from the outside. That makes themselves their worst enemy.
It was true in the adult world as I watched their “Industry” see a high point and then because of abuse and attitudes I also watched it melt. Watched many of the players that built it walk away. Disperse. Go in different directions. Do new things. It was never as much fun after that. That was not the first time I witnessed it so I knew how things would unfold.
I would say we are flirting with that point in the domain industry. Folks early on were humble and enjoyed progressing and new ways of doing things and sharing and supporting. It was fun because we did not take it or us so seriously. But we are at the point now where the face and look of the industry is changing. We have become hardened in our attitudes. Hobby has turned into business. Business has turned into doing whatever you have to do. Doing whatever you have to do has turned into how others react and view what you have to do and see if it affects them. Even if it doesn't afffect then directly they are still likely to have strong opinions about it. So friends are made. Foes are made. Sides are taken. Reactions then dictate business. It deteriorates into a vicious circle. It's hard to cure that virus.
The industry as we know it is in change. Massive change. What once was a tight group are slowly departing and going there own ways. Smaller groups. Less power. More diversity.Some fighting for survival. That is a normal phenomenon. It happens as an industry matures. It happens when an industry is hit by adversity. It happens when things are changing. Right now we have all three at one time and more. So welcome to the beginning of the end of the “Good ole days.”
Look what the first half of 2009 has brought us already. Ron Sheridan no longer at Domain Sponsor. Matt Bentley not with Sedo. Dan Warner leaving Fabulous. Add the ones I missed. Add the ones that are coming. That equals a changing face. Funny how outlooks are different on the way up the hill as opposed to going down the hill and measuring at the same points. When you are climbing and hit $20 million you are excited and life is great. On the other side, when you hit higher numbers and fall back to $20 million, there is despair at hand. The Same number, just a different outlook.
The seeds of the end were planted quite a while ago. The beginning of one road and the opening of many. Soon you will ask, “Whatever happened to so and so?” Many of us will get distracted in many different ways. We will take different paths from here. Those paths will likely cross again. But they won’t crisscross in the way we have grown accustom to.
Have a GREAT Day!
Rick Schwartz
Ron
And so the story goes in the domain industry, as it has in so many others before it. Original players will move on, and others will sit around and lament about the good ole’ days. Some will evolve and remain relevant, while others become stale and irrelevant. New players will emerge, some of whom will have a real impact and continue to move the industry forward.
Thankfully, like all industries, the”founding fathers” will always be fondly remembered.
Who knows …. in 2050 someone will come to the center stage at a TRAFFIC 2050 Conference and accept the”Rick Schwartz Industry Innovator Award”
Daniel Dryzek
Domain industry needs changes. We just can’t do the same things, same business as we did two years ago. We have to switch to another level to survive and to grow this business in the future. No more same old parking solutions, no more same domain live auctions and… domain conferences. All this parts of domaining puzzle have to change, evolve. World is changing, that’s why we have to move and innovate, and do things in a different way.
williamhite
Good stuff guys, the same old can change. Innovate is a great inspiring word. Our purpose for life drives others to want to help others. Wealth is important and how we share our wealth is as important. Domainers have many common goals and traits, Well it’s true The Round Table Conference will the honors of master mining the PPC industry. Our cash parking disaster. We have proven technology today used by other industries that we can implement into the cash revenue systems. Innovate the advertising and marketing and start off with brand/product exposure advertising. We could potentially turn domains into revenue happy sites. If you need more info Just ask Rick to give us a call.
UFO
Yes, the”Golden Age” has probably gone, what I think you are referring to in marketing speak is the”early adopters” who were more entrepreneurial and/or hard core IT Techies and saw the opportunity early on, these people were self taught in a rapidly evolving industry. Now we have lots of people in the game because it’s mainstream i.e.”Market Maturity”.
In the Market Maturity phase you see consolidations, squeezing of margins and so forth which has all happened. In fact we started into this phase around 2005-6 if you ask me.
The market now is one of development and applications as the”viable land” is occupied with settlers. If you don’t wish to go that road then it’s a case of pastures new.
Successclick
Guard is gone and the New Guard is here! Say goodbye to domaining!”
Then, Rick, let us know we’ve been slapped in the face by your famous sign off”Have a GREAT day!”
Rick, you didn’t list ONE reason why the domain industry’s”golden era” is about to end.”Golden Era”. Is that the era where you made your money and then sat back and looked at your success and now predict the demise of everyone, anyone, who came in”after” you? I know you made a lot of your money with Adult domains. I know several other millionaires who did the same, and they left the”adult” niche because they wanted to get”legit” and probably clean their souls, but it wasn’t because the”adult” business wasn’t making money. Most adult domainers switched to legit by 2002, including yourself.
There’s been some changes in personnel in major domain companies. That’s been going on since we’ve been involved in this industry. So what else is new?
You’ve done great, Rick. Why do you post this negative crap because you might see yourself migrating with your millions to some new moneymaking opportunity? What’s your point? What’s your goal with posting this article?
So many people respect your opinion, and you’ve sent them to bed with butterflies in their stomach.
And how does your bed feel, and the satisfaction of your stomach after a great dinner and probably a $100 bottle of wine? (I might have lowballed the wine price).
Come on dude, give us a piece of”candy” that we can all feel good about. Your posts are now starting to look like gloating and”ha ha, I made it big, good luck to the rest of you SUCKERS”.
Maybe I’m misreading your article, but your headline kind of sells me on your intent. I don’t see how any domainer can endorse what you wrote. It’s like writing your own epitaph.
So what should I do? Stop renewing my 3800 ten year filtered domains? I give up. You sold me, dude. I’m getting into plastic robotic photovoltaic solar cells made from graphene alloy and I’m putting all my money into the stock market and real estate. Oh, and oil.
DotWTF.com
Interesting post Stephen, I think the business had to change it was a niche cottage industry. There was no real money back in the mid 90’s, the early adopters got in early and got the best land. Other have mapped out new strategies and gameplans and the business would have to change, first off if you made a ton of money being a domainer, do you still really want to check droplists 10 hours a day and then do keyword research? There are a lot who did change to cleanse their souls, I agree with Stephen 100 %. The Internet is the important thing and it continues to grow and provide more opportunity to more people, domains are the pathway and while the players may retire there are always new players stepping up, No more Michael,Magic and Bird in the NBA its now Kobe,Lebron and Wade. The NBA is still here and though a longing for nostalgia there is always a new game.
Danny Pryor
It’s sad I didn’t catch on to the Golden Era of domaining, even though I’ve been in the domain and web development space for about 9 years. But better late than never. One Golden Age may be passing, but a new one will be emerging as the industry emerges and becomes more supported by even more emerging companies. Bit players will fade quickly. Serious players will always remain, and the industry could one day be poised to become recognized as THE INTERNET. It will always continue to involve solid partnerships and working together. Those who wish to go their separate way, or who don’t share their ideas with people who can help implement those plans, will be the wash-outs. If there is anything this industry can provide, for people who have the proper mindset, it’s opportunity and vision. I’m very proud to be a part of it.
Successclick
Dang, the first points got waylaid somehow when I posted the response. What you read from me is only 3/4’s of what I wrote, the beginning I lost when I posted it. No, I don’t blame Rick for that… it was something I did in the copy paste.
Rick has huge power in this industry, he’s truly a master at this game. Why he wrote this article belies logic for me. He runs the biggest domain conference (TRAFFIC), and still owns some of the most valuable domains in the world. Why allow all the online marketing directors in advertising and mainstream companies read this type of post and turn their backs on the importance of owning prodservs domains?
How can this help sign up attendees for the next TRAFFIC conference? How does this fare for new domain buyers, including companies wanting to own their prodservs as domains?
I’ve already received emails from new domain investors, asking”Why do domain experts say they have the valuable marketing answer online for companies, but then say the”Golden era of domains” is dead? I’m not kidding. I don’t know how to answer that.
The domain industry, like all other industries, is in a constant flux and evolution. That doesn’t mean the”golden era” of domains has ended, unless domains are no longer needed to get to a website. This isn’t like when the”golden era” of horse and buggy ended in 1915 when automobiles started being mass produced.
No doubt, Rick is smart, so maybe he has something up his sleeve to surprise us and make us feel better. I sure hope so. His words can make domain sales increase or drop, and that’s a huge responsibility.
Rick Schwartz
SC….Excuse me but no where in this post did I talk about Domain Names? I talked about the domain INDUSTRY. The PLAYERS in the industry. The ATTITUDES of that industry. The evolution of the industry. The different parts and stages of this industry that mirror others that I was in.
Never about domain names. My record on what I think about GREAT domain names is crystal clear.
Successclick
Rick,
Sorry I misunderstood your intent in your article. It definitely threw me, along with a lot of other readers, when you headline says, verbatim:
“Golden Era of DOMAINS about to End?”
Didn’t say domain”industry”, so your tagline put me on the wrong foot.
Glad to see you’re still on track, ready to surprise us with new and better ways to make money with domain investing.
Thanks, and much success. Whew!
Successclick
I was talking to a few domainers about this post by Rick and we all came to the conclusion that Rick meant to say,
“The GOLD RUSH of Domains Is About To End”, not the”Golden Era”.
That makes more sense, because we all believe the”golden era” of domaining is just beginning.
Thanks!