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

Drum Roll Please……Announcing……The most provocative
T.R.A.F.F.I.C. Ever!!

Or

With a year to plan this single event and do it the way
Howard and I do things, get ready for some of the hottest topics we have ever
discussed, the best venue we have ever had and the timeliest show ever. Sponsored
by Skenzo and add the best food and networking events in the Industry and we
have TRAFFIC SOBE 2010!! Usually I do not put the schedule together until just
a few weeks out. This year, I already have the topics set and it won’t be for
the faint of heart. Ruffling feathers is our specialty and South Beach
will be for the heavyweights, lightweights and middle weights, but won’t be for
fly weights. You’ll have fun at T.R.A.F.F.I.C. but come because of the
opportunity and the unique way we push the envelope every single time. One year
of rest and this will be the one T.R.A.F.F.I.C. that will be as memorable as
the opener in Delray in 2004. T.R.A.F.F.I.C. is all grown up and ready to
tackle South Beach like only Domainers can. Fast cars, fast women, fast money
and all the rest. There is only one South Beach and the money making party
starts soon. October 17-20 to be exact.

Because of all the great advice we have gotten from
our long time supporters, we are not changing the recipe of T.R.A.F.F.I.C.. We
do it FIRST CLASS or we won’t do it at all. The right way or no way. Rise
to the occasion. Raise your game. Don’t be a spectator. Jump in and be a
player. Jump in and see why T.R.A.F.F.I.C. has changed so many lives and how it
is impossible to talk about the domain industry without mentioning
T.R.A.F.F.I.C. over and over and over again.

Act early and save big. Take the first step and we
will do the rest. We will put you right in the center of the domain
universe. We have some big announcements coming and with each one you will know just how spectacular a show this is going to be. Our Keynote has already been selected and we have surprises and more surprises in store for you. We are working on more things than ever and it is happening all at one time. You will witness a be part of something that few can put into words.

The history of
T.R.A.F.F.I.C. is synonymous with
the history of the industry. We met at T.R.A.F.F.I.C., grew our
companies and assets at TRAFFIC and together we have
harnessed the power of an entire industry at precisely the right time.
You can't rewrite history. Many major deals were made and negotiated at
T.R.A.F.F.I.C. Companies were born. Companies have soared. Records have
been broken. Records are still held. The most coveted awards in the
industry presented in front of your peers that YOU decide. So come
and join the fun. We go where no other show dares to go. We have nothing
to
sell but progress. Progress that YOU make happen. Plus all the dividends
that play out well after the show is over.

All prices are guaranteed lowest that will be
available. If we have any special along the way, we will DOUBLE your refund on
the difference. So with a deal like that, relax, know you are getting the best
rate and sign up right now, right here. T.R.A.F.F.I.C. has had more than
20 shows in 7 countries in just 6 years. Life changing relationships began and
have been forged at T.R.A.F.F.I.C.. That’s PRICELESS. Be honest, put a price, a
value on the relationships you have made with us over the years and you know
that there is no better place on the planet to be than at T.R.A.F.F.I.C. in
South Beach with your friends and business associates and fellow domainers. The refueling that you will walk away with, is worth the price of admission.

We are looking for pre-show event sponsors. A great
way to get personal for a limited budget. Plus we have deals for exhibiting and
sponsoring like never before. We can tailor a sponsorship that meets your
budget and gives you bang for the buck.

That’s the spiel folks. With all our energy focused
on this show, it will be another landmark in the domain industry and when we
walk away on October 20^th……everyone in the industry and
beyond will know it. We may be in the “Domain Business” but more importantly,
we are in business of succeeding, investing, growing our portfolios networking
with like minded folks and 12 other things. We try to give you tools that
transcend the industry we all focus on. T.R.A.F.F.I.C. will make us all more
productive and better people. Life is short. Make the most of it.

Lastly, let me address the meals and why they are
the backbone of the entire show. When we talk networking there is no greater
networking on earth than breaking bread with friend or foe. For thousands of
years this has been the accepted practice of peace and progress and
understanding. Breaking bread allows folks to dial it back a few notches. It
allows them to engage in a different way and manner. Let's be honest. We are an
industry of conflicting businesses. An industry of competitiveness by auctions
and the like. An industry of 'Type A' personalities. However, the one
thing that we all have in common is that the vast majority of Domainers are
decent people with big hearts who want to do great things for both themselves
and their families and then leave something better for society in the process.
Basic things that we all have in common that supersedes so many of our
obstacles.

TRAFFIC means business and that means we focus on
Eagles and those that want to become eagles. While we are always reaching down
to help others up, those that try and drag us down will be met with full resistance.
So the choice is yours, raise your game because there is no way we will lower
ours. Our formula is tried and We do it First Class and that is not going to
change. We force nobody to come. Everyone that comes has some skin in the game
and THAT is the spark that ignites deals and opportunities. A formula that
nobody has been able to duplicate.

Our proudest moments at T.R.A.F.F.I.C. have been
when a domainer brings family members to the conference; be it their wives,
husbands, significant others, kids, parents, friends, uncles etc. That is why
we make it so reasonable for them to attend and make it as family friendly as
any trade show can be. We lose $$$ when you bring them, but our families
decided it was worth it to meet your families. To have them involved in
what you do, why you do it and see how many others do it. Quality folks from
all backgrounds, all walks of life, all countries of the world. Working hard
every day regardless of how it may look. Investing days and nights making the
best for you and them. A keen understanding of what you do because they may
someday be responsible for that business. That is why T.R.A.F.F.I.C. is
much more than a show about domains or a show about business. It is a show
about life and we will never apologize for the path we have taken and continue
on. Come early, spend the weekend with us and add some extra value to this very
special show at theLoews in South Beach. BTW....the Loews Hotel is the nicest,
newest and most beautiful on the beach. Top drawer, sparkling clean and is the
ONLY hotel in South Florida that can not only rival the Diplomat but with the
location will become your new favorite. When you leave you will say,
'T.R.A.F.F.I.C. Magic is back' Book the roomRIGHT NOW as this is the #1 most occupied hotel in Florida.

So without further delay, here is theprice
schedule for T.R.A.F.F.I.C. South Beach 2010. We believe that you will believe
that you got a bargain when you walk away. We want you to seize opportunity
early so we have perks at every level to give you a reason to sign up right
now. When you sign up early that allows us to plan more efficiently with less
guessing. That results in a better show, better networking, better parties,
better seminars, better auctions, better everything. Like they say, 'When things get tough, the tough get going.' So don't pull back on the throttle now. This is the time to put the pedal to the metal and make events happen as opposed to being a victim of those events.

T.R.A.F.F.I.C. Early Bird Registration June 17^th through
June 30th = $995 depending on availability (Limited to the first 100
registrations) Plus a SURPRISE Gift from Rick and Howard as a special thanks
for always signing up early to come to T.R.A.F.F.I.C. and help plan things.
(The first 50 signups get an additional $100 room credit at the hotel)

This page will self destruct and be offline by 5PM tomorrow or before, so don't delay.

Spouse and family rate just $199 starting June 21

T.R.A.F.F.I.C. Prime Registration Until July 31^st
= $1295
Spouse and family rate just $299

T.R.A.F.F.I.C. Pre Registration Until September 30^{th =}$1495

T..R.A.F.F.I.C. Standard Registration After September
30^th = $1795

Group Rates - 5 Ticket Package $4750 Early
Bird
Group Rates - 10 Ticket Package $9250 Early
Bird

Group Rates - 5 Ticket Package $5995 Until
July 31
Group Rates - 10 Ticket Package $11,500 Until July
31

Group Rates - 5 Ticket Package $6495 Until
September 30^th
Group Rates - 10 Ticket Package $12,500
September 30th

Registration Opens Noon Sunday October 17^th

Morning Folks!!

Vancouver TRAFFICopens today and it marks our first trip to
Canada. In the past year or so TRAFFIC has gone to Australia, Holland, Italy
and still have Ireland and Hong Kong before year’s end plus the big bash on
South Beach. We know Rick Latona and his team have been working hard to make Vancouver another history making event before heading toDublinin August.

In a few days I will be sending out the first detailed
information about our South Beach show in October. Unlike past years, the
schedule is mostly complete. Howard and I have contracted for our guest speaker. Somebody
you may never have heard of but will change your life with his words and
thoughts. I really mean, change your life. He will reveal secrets that have
long been locked deep because who was keeping those secrets. But when you get
fired from a company like that, there are tales to tell and laundry to sort out. I have heard some of those
tales and they are captivating and will help all of us in our journey.

At TRAFFIC we take great risks to get great results. When we
don’t do it right, everyone knows. So we have no choice but to hit perfection
each and every time. We have to nail it each and every time. We have to make it something special
each and every time.

So stay tuned for more news as it develops in Vancouver and
then spread worldwide in the coming months. TRAFFIC means business and the sprint is on!

Have a GREAT Day!
Rick Schwartz

Morning Folk!!

How can folks stay ahead of the game when they deny the
reality of the times? I am not sure what drives human nature. I just observe
how it manifests. I talked about the recession before there was a recession. It
bothered some. I guess for those guys I should just BS them because reality is
a bit hard to deal with. They are not pigeons, they are ostriches. The closer reality gets, the more they
bury their head in the sand and don’t want to deal with it. Cash reserves begin to get lower and the longer the downturn lasts, the better chance we have of hitting a 'Breaking Point.'

So here we are, the summer of 2010. We had that little blip
of an increased business cycle. That was just what it was, a blip. We are in some of
the most troubled times of most of our lives. I can’t remember when so many
things were at the brink. The brink and climax. The brink any way you want to
look at it. So many things at the very edge. The world is a tinderbox. This is
not going to be a boring summer. This is going to be some very unsettling
times.

But that does not mean there is not opportunity. That just
means it is time to make hay. Not be an Ostrich. This is the time to take a
risk, but you better bet right! This is not a time for big mistakes. It is a
time for a big win. But you have to be selective. Be patient. You don’t need
100, you need 1. Just 1 hit during this era.

We are in a hurricane of an economy. In that type storm you
can have ferocious winds and torrential rains one minute and then perfectly
calm the next. Then ferocious winds and torrential rains. The process repeats
itself many times. Until you get that final squall. Hang on, that is always the
worst one. The one that does the MOST damage because it hits when everything is
weakened. I believe we are going into the economic squall. Folks are weakened and the worst is yet to come.

The things I see I just don’t like. What if I told you that
the cost of homes could drop another 15%-50% no matter how good your property
or the location? I can draw the picture for you to show you EXACTLY why that is
LIKELY to happen. Not everywhere.
But let’s take this scenario from my local area.

You have beach areas and you have inland areas about 30
minutes from the ocean.. Originally because it was much less expensive inland.
But in time even the inland was built up.
So what happens when you own a $10 Million house in the inland area and
houses on the ocean are selling for $5 Million?? Well, you have a very big
problem. First of all you can’t sell that house inland. You can walk away. You may be
forced to walk away especially if you owe over $ 5 Million. So then what is the
value of that $10M house??
$3M????? Remember, you can buy that house on the ocean for $5M. The bank is likely to get it back. So timber!!!
The most expensive homes in the least desirable areas are about to crumble.
That is just a housing example and the reason I use that is because it will
paralyze folks for decades. They can’t sell, that means they can’t move. They
may not be able to afford it long term, so they just walk away. Collapse. It
will be played out in town after town and city after city. I really want to be
wrong, but the above case is happening everywhere at every level. Next to domains, nothing I pay attention to more than real estate and the weakness I see and the REASON for that weakness.

There is an equation here and it is based on time and years
and whether you will have the resources and/or income and how long. So if you
can wait things out, you can do very well. But the market out there is like
quicksand and I don’t think anyone has a handle on how this will all play out.
Countries going broke and states are out of cash. Believe it is not happening, fine.
Be an Ostrich. But things are unstable at best. They can spiral out of control.
Look around,, things are already out of control.

You can and should thrive during these times. But that is
only up to one person in the world. As I stated early on in this downturn, you
can hit the throttle and go for it, or you can pull back on the throttle and
surely get washed away. It is your choice and your choice alone…….Pigeon,
Ostrich, or Eagle.

Have a GREAT Day!
Rick Schwartz

Morning Folks!!

We all want to try and understand and sell to the end user.
There is a reason the end user is hard to make contact with. The reason I have
seen played out dozens of times. Instead of thoughtful deliberation, MOST
businesses will jump on the first idea. That is as far is it goes. I think that
becomes the base problem. So many just pick the first solution, not the best
solution. The first name, not the best name. Instead of thinking of 5 or 10
possibilities, then weeding out the weak ones and finally deciding on the best
one……this is NOT the road they use. I am amazed by this huge pitfall that so
many have and display. The name of your company may be the single most important
thing you do next to the model to make a profit.

Oh yeah, model to make a profit. That component is lacking
in oh so many projects. It is not that they could not build it to be
profitable, but since they are all in a rush, they just never do it. It’s like
the conversation to get and find traffic. Their answer is always…”No problem, we got that covered.” But as we all know, most don’t really have that covered
and they are stunned when they are hit in the face with the reality of things.

What’s the damn rush?? That’s all I really want to know.
When there is no need to be in a hurry to begin with. It’s not a bad thing to
find an answer that is not perfect.
It is a bad thing to stop before you find that perfect answer. It is bad
because it is lying there. The best answer is always just lying right next to
all the others. You just got to dig a little deeper. Look a little wider. Ask
some more pointed questions. Do the things that will give you the best and you
just may end up with the best. If not, you will still be in the competition by
accident. As others stumble with their decisions you just keep gaining on the
pack. The longer the race is, the wider your margin of victory. Last time I
looked, this is a marathon. The Internet and domain names will be here long after we are all
gone. Make the best decisions and the best things will unfold. As the 'Great Gratz' used to say......'Never rush when you are in a hurry'

Have a GREAT Day!
Rick Schwartz

Morning Folks!!

What is my direct relationship to Travelocity? Well
there was really none until recently and much more today. Travelocity is making
me bonus dollars and increasing the value of one of my domain in the process.

One of the very first domains I ever bought is still one of my
favorites. It is the type of domain that is pretty interesting because it is
universal. Some may call it a brandable, I just look at it as a promotional
domain name. So Travelocity starts running a new campaign showing they are
different than Priceline and Orbitz because they have “Top Secret
Hotels”. They go on to repeat that phrase 3 times during the 30 second
spot. “Top Secret Hotels”, “Top Secret Hotels”., “Top Secret Hotels” to very
large audiences. No, I don’t own TopSecretHotels.com. BUT……I do own
TopSecret.com and the numbers are increasing. Traffic is up 5 fold and I can
only hope they keep running the commercial more frequently and for a long time.

Positioning yourself and positioning your portfolio for the future can
pay huge dividends in time. Long live the Gnome!

Have a GREAT Day!
Rick Schwartz

Morning Folks!!

A couple weeks ago I wrote about domainers buying pigeon shit and of course all the pigeons are still coming to terms with it. I am so sick of folks saying there are no more type in domains. BS! There are. There will always be and until you figure out things, you won't find them, but others will.

Funny thing........
The DAY I was writing about the FACT that there are still type-in domains for registration fee and PIGEONS and the naysayers of course don't believe it........I registered those domains below. They started getting traffic immediately. One I registered LAST NIGHT already has traffic. This may not be the best example as it may be time sensitive, but right now..........Out of 16 domains I registered on April 29, 11 already are making $$$ and the others are just a bit premature. So for the know nothings.....you still know nothing! But go right ahead and make a fool of yourself.
bpspill.com 255 visitors $12.55 earnings
oilspillingulf.com 132 visitors $11.80 earnings
gulfspill.com 165 and $14.95
bpoilspill.org 76 and $1.17
gulfoilleak.com 70 and $2.08
bpspill.com 244 and $12.55
bpspill.org 17 and .48
bpoilslick.com 1035 and $14.39
gulfcoastoilcleanup.com 15 and $3.99
gulfoilcleanup.com 40 and $6.33
gulfoilleak.com 72 and 2.08

bplivefeed.com 64 and .09 in first 36 hours
So the next time some MORON says there are no more type in domains, tell them the same thing I did in 1999. Tell them they are wrong, lazy, don't know what to look for and others will find them if you don't. Believe me, this is not too good a list. But it PROVES that there are still domains that can be hand registered and make $$$. But of course some MORON with a lot of pigeon shit will even challenge RESULTS! When that happens, I will just look at the post from the past 2 days and so will everyone else. That is my answer before you even ask. Don't argue against PROOF just to argue! Time to LEARN!

Have a GREAT Day!
Rick Schwartz

Morning Folks!!

In 1996 I made my first public post about domain names. My post was removed. I then made another post. It was also removed. By the third post, I was banned. I went to an early real estate forum in which these guys were flipping double wide homes. I came and explained something new to flip that would require less time, less paperwork and much more rewarding. Not a single one would give a listen. That was repeated many times over the years. Many times. Many sectors. To this day and beyond. Until recently that was very frustrating. Matter of fact I often say that TRAFFIC was born out of frustration and anger.

Then a couple weeks back somebody sent me a simple thought and it is like a pill you can use to tune out the morons of the world. The time wasters. The ones that will never concede a point and usually have an agenda. So, take a deep breath, and print out the following statement and keep it close to you because it will come in handy more often than you might thnk. It will save you time and energy and aggravation. That is if you value your time, energy and well being.

'It is impossible to defeat an ignorant person in an Argument'

Have a GREAT Day!
Rick Schwartz

Morning Folks!!

Every once in a while the real world cuts to the chase and here is one of those moments. So if you want to see Michael Arrington get taken to the shed, this is your chance.

There is a 57 second clip 

and the entire 25 minutes 

Enjoy!

Have a GREAT Day!
Rick Schwartz

PS: I like women that know how to say F**k and Sh*t in business and in the board room. 

Morning Folks!!

The #1 way in life to “Work Smarter” is to manage your time better, have a plan, learn to streamline and understand what time is.
See, time is our only natural resource and when we run out of it, we die. When
we waste it, we may not even know. The first years don’t count as anyone
reading this for the first time is probably at least 20. The last years don’t
count because you are likely sick and not able to move the way you did when you
were 20. So let’s define that is
over 80. Point is you have about 60 years to do whatever if you stay healthy. (Minus
your current age over 20) So something that will make you rich in 100 years, ain’t
gonna help ya one bit. But getting rich quick only works when you work smarter
than the next guy.

60 years = about 21,915 days. 526,000 hours. 31,557,600
minutes.

So now that we have dissected life and time, let’s dissect
the the 24 hour day. 1440 minutes. The average guy sleeps for 8 (480 minutes), works for 8 (480 minutes) and there
are 8 hours left (480 minutes). Of those 8 hours maybe 1 hour or more is used to get to and
from work. Takes another 30 minutes to get ready for work. Now you are down to
6.5 hours. You have shopping, cleaning, car washes, kids to pick up, people to
meet and let’s face it, for most, there are not enough hours in the day. But
when you work smarter, there are more than enough hours. While everyone else is rushing and hurrying, you can be on cruise control with plenty of time.

Every minute is important but if you use your time right,
you will have many hours of leisure time. Maybe all of your time can be leisure
if you do it right. But the first
step in the process is to stop. Stop what you are doing. Just stop. Sit down.
Stop. Really stop. Take a couple days and STOP LIFE. Once you do that you can
carefully think about your average day and change the dynamics of your life for
the better. It takes 30 days to break a bad habit and replace it with a good
habit. That alone adds time to life. Manage your time better and you will live longer.

Planes are faster than stagecoaches. That is a way to extend
life by moving faster and more efficiently. Cars are a bit faster and more
convenient than horses. Must have
been tough to spend a weekend at the cabin when it took you 12 days to get
there. Everything man does is to speed things up which translates to a longer
life. Not because it is physically longer, but you can do so much more in the
confines of that time span.

A minute saved is a minute you live longer. A minute you do
more things. A minute you earn more money. Someone that wastes your time cannot
do anything worse to somebody else. To me, that is the highest crime. Folks
that waste your time. But the real
crime is allowing it to happen in the first place. So which is more important?
Pissing off somebody that is about to waste your time or reclaiming the time as
your own? That is why it is better to cut right to the chase.

If you double your minutes, you can likely double your
income. Walking and chewing gum. The road map is easier than one might think.
Entire books have been written on the subject. But a few paragraphs may be more
powerful. I don’t have to sell you anything. Like a book. So I can be concise
and get to the point. Which I have.

Have a GREAT Day!
Rick Schwartz

Morning Folks!!

Since Day One I always believed that domains would be traded
like other collectibles. So far that has proven difficult. See, I would rather
trade one unique asset for another as opposed to a dollar value. So I am in the
midst of compiling a list of domains I would sell that don’t fit into my
overall business plan. Now what does not strengthen my collection may fortify
somebody else’s.

Most of these are prime one and 2 word domains. I am not a .net guy but I have some
superb .nets because when I could not register the .com, that may have been a
backup or I may have had the .com and wanted the .net and .org. Men.net,
Ladies.org would fit into domains like that. I have a number of NNN and LLL
domains. Once in a while I will sell these. Last month I sold 273.com for
$50,000 and this is the first time I am disclosing that. (Ron)

But when I go through my list of what I call “Orphan
Domains” they are only “Orphan” to me because I may be weak in that particular
sector and only have one domain that is related. I certainly would trade that
one which could be prime as a domain can be for another because it fills a
need.

Problem with domain trading is you have to have really good
domains to trade with. Back in the
1960’s I used to collect baseball cards. I had thousands and thousands and
thousands. We would “Flip” them in a game and win 100 or more at a time. We
would trade we would do lots of things. But there was this “Bob Uecker” card.
Number #195 I believe it was. In almost every pack you would buy you would get
the dreaded Bob Uecker card. That card was like a crappy domain. They were everywhere
and he was nowhere. Nobody ever heard of him. He did not make a mark on the
game and was a .200 career average which is about as bad as anyone next to a
pitcher. He did however make a name for himself as a broadcaster and did many
commercials. Mostly always making
fun of his unremarkable big league career.

My mother tossed those cards in the garbage when we moved to
Maryland. Cards that would have been way into the 6 figures or more today. But that is
another story for another day. Point is we traded cards. We filled in our
collections. We understood the value of the cards we had but at 12 years old,
we did not understand future value.

I am CERTAIN that if I assembled a group of domainers with
prime domains that could segregate a couple dozen that they would consider
trading and then pass that list around we would witness multiple trades. Some
domains could be traded for 5 others, like baseball players or baseball
cards. Some with cash. Some with other consideration. Since 2004 and many years
before that I have really wanted this to happen and there has just been no
appetite in the industry to do it. I always believe it is timing. So I will try
once again. I think being creative in this area is key.

The key to trading is if you want a domain that somebody has
you have to give them more than equal value. That is what motivates them to
sell to begin with. If I wanted a Mickey Mantle Rookie card I could hardly
trade for a Bob Uecker card. But a Bob Uecker and a Pete Rose and maybe we have
something to talk about. Or maybe 200 Bob Uecker cards to use for flipping
because they have little value and you don’t care if you lose some of those.
Point is there is a way and we are all missing a huge opportunity to grow our
businesses in a meaningful way. It really
is time to do this.

I have 7000 domains. Not a lot in the scheme of things. But
I could isolate 100 or 1000 of them that I would not get excited about to sell
for $10k or $20k or even $50k, but
would get very excited if I could trade one of those type domains for a plural
of what I have. Maybe a misspell.
Maybe just a close match.
But there is opportunity there that has yet to be exploited. Great
opportunity. I would even trade
income producing domains for ones with no income if I think it helps solidify
my portfolio.

This time I am going to do something different. I am going
to make that list of domains I would trade and make them public. I will
probably do it over the summer. I started a few months back. Maybe I will post
a list soon to see if there is any desire to do this finally. There truly is a
great opportunity here.

Have a GREAT Day!
Rick Schwartz