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

Morning Folks!!

If I were really to describe myself and my single greatest strength I would say I am an Efficiency Expert. That is my overall gift. I start from a point of complete inefficiency and work my way forward until I am totally efficient in whatever project I a working on or even life itself. Now I am also sloppy on things that don't really matter. I ignore those things. I don't add them to my clutter.

It is funny how I see things and the parallels I make and the historical point of references I use. I can see through the eyes of a farmer but I have never farmed. I can see through the eyes of a plumber and I have never plumbed. I can see through the eyes of different groups even tho I have never done what they are doing. But I stole certain elements and principles that they live by and have been able to apply them to other things to make parallels that guide me.

Some folks start from the inner sides and work out, I work from the outer sides and work in. I start with the answer and look for the question. I start at the back door and search for the front door. I start at the top of the pyramid not at the bottom corner of it.

All of this just allows me to look at things completely opposite of most others and when you do that it is so easy to pick out what does not belong or find what is missing or whatever you need to do. Then when you add human nature into the mix it gets even more complex but easier to spot the pitfalls. See things going south before they do go south. Some are like neon signs.

It is why I knew in 1996 that the .com name would replace the 800 number as the lifeline of every entity on earth. Certain of it to my core. Like everything I had ever learned was so I would realize that one piece of information that would become life changing.

I was certain of that fact to unfold and that was the only thing that mattered. The result. The end game. Setting up the umbrella on the beach because they even knew they would look for the beach. That was working from the end and working back. That is taking one parallel and applying it to another medium to finding and EXACT ANSWER and then betting the farm on it. I have the start and the end. You all can QUIBBLE about the middle! I start with the answer and look for the question and here I sit waiting for others to do the same and they are. So I know their destination and their need, want and desires when they get there. Before they even know the question. Before they ever even enter the race. Before their journey begins. That is called a 20 year head start. And when you know exactly where they are heading, the hardest job is patience and that job is over.

I try and triage life at every point. Jump right to the end and then look for the masses at the starting point.

Rick Schwartz

Afternoon Folks!!

I am approaching my 1300th post in 6.5 years. I average a little over 1/2 post per day during that period. That's a fraction of what most other daily bloggers do. So I would say I get pretty good bang for the buck. I enjoy writing. I use it as a cathartic exercise when I am wronged. I use it as an outlet for me to deeply think about any given subject. I use it to interact with peers and see what they think about this or that. I try to hit a nerve. Move the needle. Do something to disrupt your thought process to provoke you into a discussion.

Sometimes I play the devils advocate. I find it easy to do. It's called being able to see both sides of an issue. Or maybe even 3 or 4 sides.

Sometimes I don't write at all. Sometimes for days, weeks or even longer. But I would rather sit at my keyboard in the morning and have something of interest come to me that I can share. And "Share" is the keyword in my writing. I share what is on my mind. I share how I see things. I share what I believe. It's much easier to do today then when I started in 1996.

Now if I added all, those posts together, well it would be in the many thousands. Some even sound as if they were written yesterday. Those are my favorite ones. The ones that stand the test of time. eRealestate.com was just like a 1996-1999 summary of things that I could assemble. Things have changed so much. Much more to come.

So thanks Mrs. Hall and her "Creative Writing" class.

I have a great post coming tomorrow that I think you folks will really enjoy and one you can get a lot out of. So look for it early tomorrow.

Rick Schwartz

Morning Folks!!

The Government is closed. My question is was it really even open?

I don't know many government agencies that work well. Who cares about sending folks home that don't care anyways?

So 800,000 are home today. Maybe they can watch the Price is Right. Better yet, they can go to a government agency that is still open and experience what we do every day.

If it were private enterprise running those agencies they could probably do the same with 8000 people and get better results. The last time there was a shutdown the stock market went up not down. Efficiency is a wonderful thing.

So enjoy the show. So you can't go to the Statue of Liberty today. Big deal. It was closed for many years for renovations.

The Washington Monument won't open today. It was closed for 2 years after that earthquake.

It won't affect a single thing you do today or tomorrow or next week.

Let them all go home and let's just start again.

Rick Schwartz

Morning Folks!!

There are domainers that really play the game well and do well. They can spot a $100k or $1MM domain from the Goodyear blimp. Yet others are so busy flipping that they are unable to distinguish the domains to keep. These folks will always work harder. But if they slowed down just a bit, they could work smarter too.

First of all the domain game will never be over until the Internet closes down. So you can get into domaining on any given day and make your fortune. Now I said GET IN on any given day. I did not say GET OUT. Investing is a time game. And you don't need money. You need to buy time. You can get the rights to a domain of great value for a period of time and focus your energy and make some $$$ when you flip. You can target specific domains to flip that you don't even own. There are so many ways and so few have the time to think about that. They always have time for a knee jerk reaction. But going deep. Thinking it all out. Having a plan. Forget about it. Some folks are in too big a rush to fail that they look down at success.

What gives a domain  value is when OTHERS have a need and use for it. When MANY OTHERS have a need and use the value is even higher.

Keywords are important because so many folks have a need, want and desire for them. The more words before and after the keyword is what limits that need. However it could also increase that need if the other word is the perfect match. The extension counts. Gold vs Tin. And folks, Tin, does not just overnight turn  into gold.

Domain game for me is kind of seasonal. I go out, grab my domains and then like a bear, bury them for the winter or winters. I gather and collect. The last thing I think of is eating them. I want to plant them so the fruit it bears can feed me forever. If you pick right there is one mere thing between a $1000 domain and a $100,000. It's called time. Plant the seed. Germinate the seed. Water the plant. Tend to it as needed. Be amazed when it grows into a huge tree and un-amazed when there is a forest. Read that one again!

You have to get out of your comfort zone to change your life. You have to challenge yourself and not be afraid to be challenged. You have to be courageous enough to dare yourself to do things you have never done. Thoughts have to be married with action. Action has to be made by well thought out and good decisions. We all have opportunity crossing our paths each day. Most don't see it so they can't seize it and it drives me crazy sad for them.

Rick Schwartz

Morning Folks!!

After the lauch on the other Apple IOS systems I am still having issues with IOS7 or should I say IOS7.2.

I just got thru changing a bunch of battery saving options I read about on this cnet article.

But the big issues are UNREADABLE pastel green background with small white writing. It can't be seen! What idiot accepted this as ok? It isn't. It sucks.

If used to be clear. Black, white and read to answer a call. Now you can't even read what it says. As with putting the call in the background. The lime green banner on top can not be read as I just demonstrated. Now not ONE PERSON at Apple can figure that one out??? inexcusable! What would Jobs Say??

The keyboard is not any more accurate but the bold letters are now thin letters and hard to read. Another idiot move!

Don't use the zoom feature on the accessibility menu or you may never use your phone again.

I like the rapid picture-taking on the camera. I like the multiple page view for nesting apps.

Did I mention the battery life sucks? It does. I went from 2 day charges to less than 1 day.

I love it and I hate it. I want them to fix these issues and others SOON. I want them to be Apple and not worry about Brand-x.

Steve Jobs is a little deader today then he was before IOS7 came out and I fear we will get further away from his vision going forward if they allow such thoughtless mistakes like this to slip thru an entire company.

Somebody posted this as a comment and may be of interest to some.

Petition for downgrading to iOS6 …..
http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/allow-to-downgrade-ios?source=s.fwd&r_by=8876533

Rick Schwartz

Morning Folks!!

It's called a "Meeting of the minds" and when that happens, deals are done.

So here is a deal I made over the weekend with just 3 emails.

Hello,

My name is Xxx Xxxxxx, I have recently looked into starting a xxxxx blog and naturally looked into xxxxxblog.com. I am not looking to buy it as you have made it very clear you aren't in the selling business. However I do believe the domain has a lot of potential to be monetized. It may not become your highest grossing domain due to the nature of the domain, but it clearly has potential. 

(He then goes into a bit of his background which I won't publish here)

If interested, please feel free to email back to discuss more,

Thank you,

He replies and tells me his plan and why. He states after that:

"One Idea i have, is you maintain sole ownership of the domain, and i have sole ownership of the content(Just in case either of us decide to part ways.) This would exclude the profit made from the content of course. However, this is just an idea, and am very open to hearing your ideas."

I Replied:

Morning Folks!!

Just a quick update. First the rooms at the Ritz go from $275/night to $399/night this Friday. So book your rooms today before you forget.

The final auction list is now online here. If you domain is not listed, please contact me ASAP!

We are less than 3 weeks away from our 25th show and the start of our 10th year. Buy tickets today and get on board.

If you have been following my posts you know things are heating up to 2004 levels and beyond. You know I now belive we are in the gravitational pull of that 20 year plan. There is no doubt whatsoever as the proof and mile markers are there for all to see and the timeline is right on the money!

If it is still 2009 or 2010 for you, then time to come to TRAFFIC, raise your game, get out of your funk and change your life! All I can do is try to motivate you by pointing out the life changing benefits.

There is a reason that there are a flood of 6 and 7 figure domain names sales going on during the last weeks. So each day for the next 3 weeks wake up and ask yourself do you really want to be sitting on the sidelines when there is clear evidence that things are popping? Maybe it is the right TIME to get back into the game.

Rick Schwartz

Morning Folks,

Frank Schilling made a BRILLIANT video that he released recently. It really is brilliant as is his comment on Berkens Blog. The video immediately below.

There is no Schwartz vs Schilling but that seems to be the perception. I love Frank. We have never had a cross word and why should we? It does not mean I can't have doubts or ask tough questions. It doesn't mean I have to agree. It doesn't mean I have to disagree. We are all examining an unknown and we all come at that unknown from a different POV. The beauty is we get to share our visions, bet on them and REALITY will win.

Frank and I have spent hours 1 on 1 at TRAFFIC discussing domains and the future as well as emails and on my board and just a decade of conversations and friendship. In Frank's position he should be doing exactly what he is doing and doing so well. If I were his advisor, I would advise him to do what he is doing. But even Frank is going to have winners and losers when each extension is measured against the next. Some may go nowhere. But it only takes 1 to be another life changer. So I still keep an open mind and new evidence and new information is the formula to change my stance. That has not happened yet and the more I study things the more certain  I get. But I am sway-able on certain things. The only thing that can't sway me is that the value of GREAT .coms can only skyrocket.

That all said, I see Franks Journey and it really does remind me of the song and old Coke commercial.

"I'd like to teach the  world to sing in perfect harmony."

So "I'd like to teach the  world to sing in perfect harmony" is the tall order that Frank has taken on. Herculean task!

Think about the job to be done to complete that task. Some would say "Mission Impossible".  Ever hear me sing?

I mean even Coca-Cola can't pull off this one.  I can't sing. Frank can at least carry a tune!

I’d like to build the world a home
And furnish it with love
Grow apple trees and honey bees 
And snow white turtle doves
I’d like to teach the world to sing
In perfect harmony
I’d like to hold it in my arms
And keep it company

I’d like to see the world for once
All standing hand in hand
And hear them echo through the hills
For peace throughout the land
That’s the song I hear
Let the world sing today
A song of peace that echoes on
And never goes away

I’d like to teach the world to sing
In perfect harmony
I’d like to hold it in my arms 
And keep it company
I’d like to see the world for once
All standing hand in hand
And hear them echo through the hills
For peace throughout the land
That’s the song I hear
Let the world sing today
A song of peace that echoes on
And never goes away
A song of peace that echoes on
And n-e-v-e-r g-o-e-s a-w-a-y

Point is changing Human Behavior is the single greatest challenge one can take on. I see no downside in what is coming other than the confusion it will likely cause and when folks are confused, Human Nature and Human Behavior kick in. To me, that is not a downside. That is a bonus. That is exciting. None of us can lose no matter which direction things go in as long as you are keenly aware of where we are each step of the way.

I don't see an AM/FM radio parallel. FM gave you stereo and music. There was a reason to change to FM. So there was a difference. And AM never died. It sizzles with advertising dollars even today. But still no parallel. TV was going to kill radio. I guess you guys don't remember that far back. Well did it? Did cd's? What killed radio? Nothing killed radio and it flouishes even today. Just look at SIRIUS.

The parallel might be 800 numbers and 888 and 866 and 855. And if investors bought all the 866 numbers, how meaningful would it or could it be?

The dynamics that must be there are end users and great content. Without those elements, I don't see much. I speak to end-users. Some will purchase defensively and never activate the domain. Others may buy a gTLD but they all said they would merely point it to their .com. The rest say they already have their .com and don't need anything else. That is the majority.

I just don't see that harmony coming anytime soon. I don't see this being done for the right reasons. The overall benefit is limited and as an INVESTOR these are the things I have to weigh. Again, I look at it thru the eyes of an investor and an end-user.

Just look at how .com unfolded and why. Then look at the other extensions and ask why they look more like .mobi?

Frank and I just disagree on how things will unfold and the consumer and future will determine things. Not any of us. I just know the epic challenge ahead and it will take many billions of dollars to sway behavior. And that is just the first stage to get to value. Domainers selling domains to other domainers won't move the needle much if at all. End-users are the ones that create value. Domainers create Tulips.

And I will say the same thing about .whatever that I said about .com. "Your first purchases are your most important purchases". Everyone just discounts that. But it is key to having the wind at your back and a future of success. And the beauty with our industry, you can wake up on any given morning and start all over again and do it a better way.

Look, we can be seeing the greatest launch of all time or we could be seeing one of the biggest duds ever. I measure success by TV ads. Radio ads. Billboards. Magazine ads. Newspaper ads. ADS, ADS, ADS. Continuous and widespread. That will be what I am looking for. That is how I measure the viability of an extension.

All I would say is this. I would GLADLY take what I paid for whatever .mobi's I have left. I would GLADLY take what I paid for whatever .xxx's I have left. I would GLADLY take what I paid for whatever .co's I have left. And many of you would too.

I can't wait to sit down with Frank at TRAFFIC. I want to see his vision as closely as he does. Does not mean he can convince me. But I am ALWAYS open to being convinced with new information and evidence that is real. I am always sway-able. But that is different from blowing in the wind and chasing every shadow. Exciting times and the only losers are domainers that have yet to learn the difference between diamonds and old broken coke bottles.

And the one thing Franks knows about me, nothing I wrote here is anything I would not say directly to Frank. And I probably just did.

Cheers Frank!! Congrats, good luck and even if we disagree or don't see the same vision, I am rooting for your success. I really do hope you can teach the world to sing. We are always looking for that next pot of gold.

Rick Schwartz

Morning Folks!!

While everyone is wrapped up in gTLD's, I think the bigger story may be getting missed. Online gaming is becoming legal and that will fuel the Internet more than anything on the horizon.

"Nevada's law limits digital play for real money to poker, but there's plenty of enthusiasm for the game. Ultimate Poker dealt its first hand on April 30 and had dealt 10 million by Aug. 1, the company said in a statement last month. In addition to saturating casinos with signage, Ultimate Poker's strategy includes significant direct marketing."

The entire Adage Story is here.

We are talking about one entity. One state. One  tiny corner of the world.

Is the "Facebook Casino" coming? Amazon? Wal-Mart?

Rick Schwartz

Morning Folks!!

Failure is easy to spot. They have signs and fingerprints as does success.

If you don't ask the right questions you are going to be surprised many times in life. Usually those surprises are expensive.

And the hard questions are usually missed or ignored. The ones with murky or even no answers. You can't be afraid of questions and many are. Most are. They have silly answers to key concerns.

I have been involved in many businesses and it's a minefield no matter how sophisticated you are. That is why 8 out of 10 fail. There are always so many unknowns and lousy answers for some of the knowns.

But an unknown is not the same as not knowing or being unaware. Sometimes you don't have the answer just yet, but you are aware of  the question and that protects you from disaster which can occur from being surprised or unprepared for a question. Splitting hairs? Yes, perhaps, but don't ignore that the difference between winning and losing or success or failure many times comes down to that split hair.

Rick Schwartz