If there was ever a “you had to be there” week it was probably Webfest. There was so much information being passed at the conference and afterhours parties that can’t be shared it was crazy. Most of the info was just deals that had been done, how people were making money, and other gossip and information. The majority of the info can’t be shared and it won’t. Any blogger knows that’s the first thing they say is “Don’t publish this”. And I won’t but I will generalize.
Two of the main events were both “no photography, no recording” events. Kim Kardashian asked that no photos or recordings were made of the talk. While I have both for my personal keepsakes I won’t publish them because Kim and Oversee were nice enough to let me participate in a photo shoot after the talk that I can publish (photos later). The same was true for the Magic Castle, but for a different reason. The magicians don’t want you figuring out the tricks through photos and videos. They did make time for some shots after the show. But those two weren’t the weren’t the only things that were on the down low. Here a few more.
1. I got to talk to a few of the Google guys for quite a while. They finished up a big domain parking project back in November that will go into effect fairly soon. Some say it will change parking, I don’t think its anything close to that. I think it will only change parking for those that are doing things on the fringe.
2. A million dollar domain sale is about finished. It was interesting to watch the discussion throughout the week. It’s funny watching people talking about spending a million dollars like I would consider buying a new bicycle. “It’s nice but what am I going to do with it?”
3. Some businesses are doing well, a few aren’t. One or two are about to disappear after one more go at it. Thankfully, the businesses that are about out of cash won’t really effect any customers and their money.
4. Braden Pollock (I know he Google alerts his name so hello Braden) is getting ready for big things (more big things). For many of you he is going to make you a lot of money and himself even more. I am going to prepare for it until it’s ready so I can participate.
5. Morgan Linton is playing with the big boys. Morgan is doing great things with great people and I’m proud of him.
6. The big money is in the buildouts. Domain owners that are concentrating on buildouts are doing very well. Not only do they own a great domain, have consistent income, but they also have a business that can be sold. Every discussion I had of those that were having trouble monetizing were they guys that were building out 100 sites a month. On the contrary the guys raking it in had one or two a year. Not a coincidence.
7. The domain companies don’t like the bloggers that bitch all the time. Several conversations included companies asking why we don’t try and contact them directly before writing. I’ll give one example. Talking to the nice representatives from DomainNameSales they told me that somebody had complained about not paying via MassPay on Paypal. There are jurisdictional issues with paypal and they can’t use it from the Cayman Islands. Yet the article was written without prior communication to ask why? In short, the reputation of bloggers is pretty good with domain investors, pretty weak with domain companies.
” In short, the reputation of bloggers is pretty good with domain investors, pretty weak with domain companies”. – Shane
I think that’s the way it should be, regarding above quote. Bloggers should not have cozy relationship with companies. Depending on the blog, facts should reported period. No matter whose ox is gored.
For instance, the article you (Shane) did about Traffic and phone bidding; you put in your 2 cents without kissing anybody’s ass.
Good article.
Domen,
It’s not about being cozy, it’s about professional respect and doing a bit of homework before spouting off. Every time you take an ad you have a relationship. You can still question and respect those around you
Happy to read you got your adrenalin dose, and you come back more motivated than ever. Continue blogging everyday so my banner ad get the maximum exposure … LOL
What happen in domain conferences stay in domain conferences, nothing new, so I was not expecting any secret revealed, probably many deals happened there and we will see in the next weeks or months the public result.
Impatience, impulsiveness, frustration, the feeling to never be listen or rarely get a response lead to the kind of post you reference above. While I admit the headline was a bit sharp and the blogger was missinformed at the same time it changes from many blog posts I see lately that are only blattant and recurent promotion without any interest.
Hello Shane,
RE: – 1. :I got to talk to a few of the Google guys for quite a while. They finished up a big domain parking project back in November that will go into effect fairly soon. Some say it will change parking, I don’t think its anything close to that. I think it will only change parking for those that are doing things on the fringe.”
Its no wonder Google is promoting Parking, and its in their best interest not domainers. Domainers are being lulled into settling for less not more through the Parking Systems.
No I am not drinking or smoking, but an analogy just popped into my head. Remember the movie Matrix? Where vast pods of humans are banked so the matrix could live off humans energy? Say you look at Google as the matrix that has vast stores of .COMs in Parking pods that they feed just enough oxygen or money to these dormant .COMs keeping them under control through the parking system, whereby the .COM never gets to break free and develop into a business. Isn’t this a Matrix?
Gratefully, Jeff Schneider (Contact Group) (Metal Tiger)
Thanks for the mention, Shane. I certainly hope you’re right in that I make everybody (including myself) a whole bunch of money with my new platform.
Shane, it was a pleasure meeting you in person finally. Great post, and I agree that one had to be there to experience the great energy of the conference!
Point number 6 is the gold in this post. I would love to attend Webfest but it is too close to the Affiliate Summit, where I close the big deals for my buildouts. Either way, the motivation that you come home with from these conferences is priceless.
no photos of Kim …her ass are brand name and TM
Thanks for the kind words Shane! Awesome seeing you!
…Kim Kardasian?
I woulda rather you had beyonce, but beggars can’t be choosers…or can they?…
Thanks for the great report on Webfest. Next Stop for Domainers is Valencia – Spain.
25th to 27th of April !
The 5th European Domaining Conference welcome you all! If you need anything special, like Discount Codes or Hotel reservation just drop me a line!
Regarding #7:
My post about paypal masspay was done after I opened a support ticket with DNS and they explained they couldn’t do paypal masspay.
The ticket was then closed.
I am not sure what they wanted me to do after that? Keep my mouth shut? I have written a review for Internet Traffic. I wrote the good and I wrote the bad.