Business Idea: Why not "pool" our money....

[izopod]

To buy worthwhile domains that would produce income. The "idea" is not unique in regular business circles. Partners buying property, etc to broaden their influence on a market.

My idea...

Rather than buying subpar names, and slapping ppc links on them, why not get together with about 5 or 10 other people (you could absolutely trust) and create a "Yung YE" type business model.

The reason I mention this is that our market is a "fractured one" with a few big players and many, many small players. In a market like this you could harness the energy and resources of the small players to create an entity that becomes dominate. in the long run, your ROI would be much higher than if you bought a bunch of lower valued names, and tried to produce income that way.

Now for the discussion....

 

[Mr Webname]

why not get together with about 5 or 10 other people (you could absolutely trust) ....

Now maybe there could be a stumbling block somewhere! :wink:

 

[izopod]

Now maybe there could be a stumbling block somewhere! :wink:

:evil:

 

[izopod]

Now maybe there could be a stumbling block somewhere! :wink:

. d

 

[E=MC2]

pm sent

 

[WebCat]

Izo-

Although in principle, this sounds like a good idea, it is frought with potentially huge problems. Human nature being what it is, people have a way of being very cantankerous.

For example, I have had a few knock down discussions with members here about pretty basic issus like fairness and objectivity, things you'd think would be self-evident, yet they turn out not to be.

Different people in different places, even different countries, legal jurisdiction, default remedies, division of labor versus division of profits, joint liability, control over domain disposition, etc....

The list could go on and on. The definitive database recognizes only one owner, so unless that "owner" is a formally created partnership or corporation, that means one person. The potential risks in that should also be self-evident!

But again- in theory, it's a sound principle. But it's always in the execution wherein lies the problems!

DrWebCat :wink:

 

[izopod]

But again- in theory, it's a sound principle. But it's always in the execution wherein lies the problems!

DrWebCat :wink:

Thanks for getting the discussion going WC.

The way to get something like this going is to build trust. To get to know people who have similiar values, tastes, AND resources ($$$). The problem with building trust "online" is that most of the time you are never able to meet one another. That is one essential element in forming business relationships.

This is one reason why I have often advocated for a DN convention be held. HOWEVER, do you really need a convention to get together? If you know someone lives close to you and you are interested in forming a "DN Business Club", I'd say go for it. Create a "DNFlorida.org" site, if you live in florida, and try to foster interest through your site. It's just a matter of being creative, and taking risks.

Now, there is another way of building trust with people "you don't really know". I've purchased a few names on this board, and there are some that I'd form a business relationship without having to meet. It's how they conducted themselves in the transaction that gives me clues as to how they would conduct themselves as a partner.

Baby steps...forms strong bonds (active ones), then form a "corporation"... then get together "online" or "offline" regularly to discuss which names appeal to your newfound "business".

 

[stevo]

AND resources ($$$).

What is your definition of resources? One man's mountain is another man's molehole. Do you have in mind a set initial investment?

 

[izopod]

Do you have in mind a set initial investment?

I guess that would be set by the group. You don't necessarily have to have a lot of $$$. You could be domain rich, but cash poor. Money shouldn't be the deciding factor for you inclusion in a group, but is one thing to look at.

Once the business is up and running, the goal "should be" for the business to pay for itself.

Bottomline: Good people, with good ideas=success

 

[Anthony Ng]

... why not get together with about 5 or 10 other people (you could absolutely trust) ...

I don't think it's wise for anyone to participate in something like that (e.g. "pool our money") not to say to propose that in a forum. I know of people who work together in some kind of joint venture, but a) they do not openly disclose their marvellous ideas to hundreds if not thousands of dunnowho's, at least not at the very start; and b) they won't even think of a project of the scale that is FINANCIALLY close (not to say competitive) to Yun Ye's operation (more likely they are of non-profit nature). For partnership of that size, it would be really difficult to find just the fourth person. I suggest throwing a party or barbecue instead when it comes to 10. LOL!

 

[izopod]

Stevo just gave me a "great" idea.

Instead of money being involved here, why not just "domains" in the initial stages. That would lower your risk.

SO, to belong to a club you put up your best domain. The group will vote whether you're in, or out.

This would also solve the problem of who owns the domain in the end. You keep it. This makes "trust" a non-factor, expect for on payday. This could be remedied, through equal access to "passwords" to the "pay-out" location to see what was made for the month. In short the group would receive an equal payout from each site.

I'd recommend a "DN Club" should only have between 5 and 10 members, to keep clarity and focus in check.

To stay in the group, you would agree to purchase a name, that the group agrees to. Maybe do this every quarter (???).

If you don't want to belong to the group anymore then all you'd do is simply "drop" out, and take your names with you. The group then could decide on who to take your place. Deciding factor: Personality and Domains.

Discussion??

 

[izopod]

You're such a "buzz kill" NS... I agree this idea is fraught will perils and risks, but what is the alternative.... Become a "Name Slave"???

Lighten up, throw some ideas out there to challenge mine. Do something besides critique.

izopodian philsophy: To remain on an island with everyone else will ensure you have lots of company, but will do little for your bottom line.

I don't think it's wise for anyone to participate in something like that (e.g. "pool our money") not to say to propose that in a forum. I know of people who work together in some kind of joint venture, but a) they do not openly disclose their marvellous ideas to hundreds if not thousands of dunnowho's, at least not at the very start; and b) they won't even think of a project of the scale that is FINANCIALLY close (not to say competitive) to Yun Ye's operation (more likely they are of non-profit nature). For partnership of that size, it would be really difficult to find just the fourth person. I suggest throwing a party or barbecue instead when it comes to 10. LOL!

 

[WebCat]

Izo- As much as I like you, I'm afraid you have just given a good example of why things like this can break down easily. Nameslave, who is very intelligent and well educated expressed an opposing viewpoint, and your reaction was basically an attack.

If an idea is good it will stand up to, and in fact be IMPROVED by a thoughtful critique. You should welcome and thank him for his well-expressed opinion. Disagree with his ideas, don't call him names ("buzz kill") or ridicule his name (...become a Name Slave?"). This does not engender respect, or trust, or even a sense of fair play.

Just my opinion. You may now commence with attacking me should you feel so inclined. :wink:

WebCat

 

[Bionic]

I agree with Izopod with his comments that to get above competition
requires large scale resources. The resources in DNF combined could
make a multi million start up. The major internet companies, mostly
SEs only have a small number of sites, and only buy occasionally.

Because business operation can be divided into modules there are ways to
distribute the capital. A whole pool of people could contribute traffic, e.g a
new S.E. might need 10,000 hits a day to start up, that's 10 people each
providing 1,000 uniques a day. The domain owners supply the name, then
there's management, programming...

A business could be drawn up until one of the sites becomes viable.
Then about $1,000 is pooled (or taken from profits) to form a company,
so the domain name is bought by the board of directors, and a 51%
vote is needed to change ownship of the name after that.

Everything to run a company can be done on internet. I'll volunteer mrfind.com (SE) and casinovegas.com for selection.

 

[petertdavis]

It's actually not as risky as you might think if you set up a proper corporation, and made sure nobody could 'steal' the domains. It would be easiest for legal reasons if everyone were located in the same country though, but not impossible to include people in different countries. Once you've been through the process of setting up a new corporation a few times, it's not as intimidating anymore. As I always state with any business venture, though, don't put more money into it than you can afford to lose.