Can any one company turn a domain into a business?

[A D]

If you had a high end domain to develop, who would you turn to do build out the property?

Can anyone in this industry really build out a business and not just a website?

Most companies I have seen cannot.

Who can?

This should spark a great debate.

-=DCG=-

 

[Tia Wood]

I am wondering why web developers should be responsible to tie the loose ends of a business plan? Shouldn't domainers know how to build out their business for a domain before they contact a company to build their site? Building a website and building a business are two totally different things, as you have seen and are obviously expressing here.

No, most web development companies cannot build out a business because their focus is building a website around your business plan. If the domain owner has nothing planned out (or is poorly planned out) - what comes out is "just a website".

Sure, there are a lot who have different levels of experience with business and can consult on many levels. But the main focus is taking your ideas, your focus, your goals and converting them to a website.

I often see many domainers frustrated with this because they want more than "just a website" but miss this big component.

For anyone trying to monetize their domains: get into the business mindset. No, you don't have to run a business entity to do this but having a well thought out, well researched, well planned focus "site blueprint" to hand a web development company ensures you don't end up with "just a website".

 

[A D]

No, most web development companies cannot build out a business because their focus is building a website around your business plan. If the domain owner has nothing planned out (or is poorly planned out) - what comes out is "just a website".

That's a good point, but with most domainers owning multiple domains they would like built out, it would be nice if a company could offer a solution from concept to design.

It would be worth giving up a piece of ownership if someone could bring that to the table.

-=DCG=-

 

[Tia Wood]

It would be worth giving up a piece of ownership if someone could bring that to the table. =DCG=-

Some can and do. Not all. I have an agreement with someone along the lines of what you described but not all web developers are domainers and there are plenty who don't know a lick about anything else but building a website (referring to building traffic, revenue, domaining, etc). lol

---------- Post added at 03:23 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:19 PM ----------

with most domainers owning multiple domains they would like built out

I've never understood the "hyper business" concept. All one needs is to be successful at one? Or a handful but why the need (for a domainer) to manage multiple sites as businesses?

 

[Onward]

I am in the process of doing this right now with a company I met while at a traffic conference. The thing to realize (which I may not have realized earlier) is that on an original idea, you have to write a complete business plan, become the project manager, be the beta tester, and become the problem solver when you run into the daily problems that comes with an original idea...oh yeah...and be the bank as well. The developer basically does what you instruct them to do...If the developer could really take care of everything aside from the idea (and the bank)...that would be amazing and I would be willing to give up some equity there on a high end domain.

 

[Tia Wood]

Well said, Onward.

 

[A D]

Sometimes, you may not have a clear idea onw hat would make a domains/website successful but somebody else might.

That's why people sell domains they don't have a clear concept on.

-=DCG=-

 

[Biggie]

If you had a high end domain to develop, who would you turn to do build out the property?

Can anyone in this industry really build out a business and not just a website?

Most companies I have seen cannot.

Who can?

This should spark a great debate.

-=DCG=-

if you have a domain, regardless to whether it's high end or not....if you cannot translate the "idea or business model" to the developers, how can one expect success


i watched "inside google" a few months ago on cable

when they are conceiving a website based around a business model, they lay out each page of the website on paper. where each link goes, color choices, images placement, etc, etc.


but they have in-house developers who may also be assisting with the business model





look at groupon, not a high-end domain until the company 'blew-up'

feedburner

everyblock


check out techcocktail.com, they support start-ups and have incubator projects


then too, what is your measure of a successful business?

as any website that makes a profit, could be deemed a business.....in the eyes of irs

 

[Onward]

Sounds like the company you need is someone who puts together the following:
1. Domain owner
2. VC
3. Idea
4 Developer

Is there such a company aside from google internally? Maybe there should be.

 

[A D]

Is there such a company aside from google internally? Maybe there should be.

Agree, that is my point, nobody does this.

Lots of companies offer pieces but 1 or 2 pices alone won't make a site profitable.

-=DCG=-

 

[Luc]

Maybe the question should be... "can any one company turn a domain into a business?".

The issue with using a word like develop is that everyone has a different definition of what it means (ex: devhub, whypark, etc).

Developing a domain into a business is hard, time consuming and not guaranteed to pay off. Probably why no created a business out of that.

But it would be AWESOME if there was a company out there that you could hand off a great generic to and see it turn into a real business. I know we've been talking about this for almost a decade and we probably will for some time.

 

[ngconcepts]

If a company did all 4 of the above, why would they turn around and give all their work to another company? I think that is why there isn't a company out there who does all of the line items in one and then just hand it over to another business who will run it. Maybe there would be if the price is right but haven't heard of anything like that before.

To add onto what NameHoney said, I have gone through the same thing with several clients. They not only want you to develop the website, but they expect you to bring them business as well. My analogy is to that of a general contractor. The contractor is responsible of building out the place, not bring customers through the door.

 

[petrosc]

The best way to do something like that is through a joined venture. Instead of looking for a company to develop it you can look for a partner who will develop it into a business in exchange for equity in the business.

Something like the concept you described a few years ago, where you were asking members to develop some of your names in exchange for your development funding and a % in the business. It's not easy to find the right people but it isn't impossible either. Have people pitch their development ideas, evaluate them as individuals and as business men, and if you select a partner, maybe ask for a certain amount of money (can be $1-2k) to keep him motivated and bound that he will carry out the plan.

 

[INFORG]

I say this only partially to be funny - "domainers are lazy". They want to hand reg a thousand names in bulk, turn on some auto-blog, feed, affiliate machine and watch them go to number 1 on Google and make tons of money. Even those of us who do some development, only do it half a$$ed most of the time, and have way more domains than we have time to develop. We domainers need to flip the question around: "Why would any serious development company want to put all of the work and effort into a name to only get part of the return?" They are smart enough to know that with an idea, the technical expertise, and some branding capital, they can do it themselves on a lesser name or just buy a name to do it.

Maybe we overestimate what we are bringing to the table with just a domain name or a domain name plus some cash? The folks that are good at doing what you are looking for don't need you.

Just my humble opinion.

 

[A D]

Maybe the question should be... "can any one company turn a domain into a business?".

I changed the title as your version is much more accurate.

-=DCG=-

 

[A D]

The folks that are good at doing what you are looking for don't need you.

They still need the asset to decrease the amount of work they need to put into it.

I they sell mortgages and I have mortgages.com surely it will benefit them to get my leads.

-=DCG=-

 

[Melly]

This is a subject that actually annoys me at times. I have had domainers pay me to create a site for them and then get angry because their site doesn't make money. It's not the developers responsibility to have your site create money unless that was part of plan or was discussed beforehand. If someone hires me to build their site, drive traffic to it and help it earn then fine that is considered more of a partnership, but if I am only paid to create the website then the rest is up to the owner.

Also there are people out there that think if you build a website revenue will instantly happen which is very rarely the case unless you own a domain that gets tons of natural traffic and doesn't need any work done.

It would be nice to hire a company/individual that could completely develop and build a company from scratch for you but again if they could do that they are going to be better off doing it for themselves instead of others. Otherwise it's almost like working as an affiliate. Bringing in business and helping it to grow once its started. At least imo

 

[INFORG]

They still need the asset to decrease the amount of work they need to put into it.

I they sell mortgages and I have mortgages.com surely it will benefit them to get my leads.

-=DCG=-

It would benefit them to buy you out on the front end since they know they can increase conversion.

A little analogy: If I own an apartment complex, in a great neighborhood, but it is outdated and needs to be completely remodeled to recognize the true potential -how easy would it be for me to "partner" with a developer to refurb the whole thing, redesign the grounds, and floor plans, etc. and I'll give them a piece of the rents in the future? Unlikely you'd find one. You have to have a plan, work with people that can help you make the plan, find contractors to do the job, arrange financing, etc. Nobody is just going to do it all for you and take a piece of a pie that may or may not come to be in the future.

 

[A D]

I have had domainers pay me to create a site for them and then get angry because their site doesn't make money.

I agree that is rediculous.

-=DCG=-

 

[Melly]

I mean the thing is usually I go as far as to help them find affiliate programs etc, place the ads and don't mind helping them find individuals who can help build traffic, backlinks and all that good stuff but those who think its your fault that the site doesn't earn is irritating.