Your investment in Mobi... Are you Up, Down or Even?

[Raider]

Out of the 500 remaining I will be dropping 60 or so, but I have just bought another 25.

What I'm trying to get at is, you say you had 1200 at one point and now you have 500, that leaves 700, What happened to the 700? How many of the 700 dropped?

 

[Newton]

Sold about 50 or 60 of the 700 and let the remainder expire / drop

 

[lotk.com]

I bought one off of here, sold it for double the price I paid on here a week later.... and that was the end of .mobi for me.

 

[ukbackorder]

A lot of people managed to make money selling their .mobi to other domainers. It's the 'greater fool' principle. However I remember the abuse, fighting, and massive arguments about the extension when it came out. There were lots of cries of 'you'll see how big it's going to be in a few years, think outside of the box blah blah, flowers.mobi sold for a fortune so our domains are worth fortunes' etc. At the time I said exactly what I said now. A worthless extension that will make some people rich pushing to other domainers (who will then push further or let them drop - domainer A always wins in this situation and domainer B either has to find a domainer C or becomes the one holding the bomb), some will make money via development (which could be done through any extension), and most will drop. Along with most of them went the newbies into the market at the time who were some of it's most vocal supporters. We've seen this too many times over the years yet domainers fall for the same hype at the launch of every new extension.

 

[katherine]

We've seen this too many times over the years yet domainers fall for the same hype at the launch of every new extension.

Most of the time, people learn their lesson after they get burned (or they drop out and find another hobby).
But there is always a new generation to pick up where the previous one left. The new generation thinks the future will be unlike the past, yet the same pattern of failure repeats itself.

 

[Raider]

A lot of people managed to make money selling their .mobi to other domainers. It's the 'greater fool' principle. However I remember the abuse, fighting, and massive arguments about the extension when it came out. There were lots of cries of 'you'll see how big it's going to be in a few years, think outside of the box blah blah, flowers.mobi sold for a fortune so our domains are worth fortunes' etc. At the time I said exactly what I said now. A worthless extension that will make some people rich pushing to other domainers (who will then push further or let them drop - domainer A always wins in this situation and domainer B either has to find a domainer C or becomes the one holding the bomb), some will make money via development (which could be done through any extension), and most will drop. Along with most of them went the newbies into the market at the time who were some of it's most vocal supporters. We've seen this too many times over the years yet domainers fall for the same hype at the launch of every new extension.

I remember it well... Here's what really got to me about the hype, Intentional or unintentional, they were hyping a TLD and selling their domains to others who are now stuck with an investment they cant recover from, For all those members who hyped this TLD, I think they share some responsibility for everyone who got burned by this... I know many newbies were sucked into all the hype, hype from reputable members who they put their trust in. It's amazing what greed does to some people.

 

[Poker]

A lot of people managed to make money selling their .mobi to other domainers. It's the 'greater fool' principle. However I remember the abuse, fighting, and massive arguments about the extension when it came out. There were lots of cries of 'you'll see how big it's going to be in a few years, think outside of the box blah blah

Check out some of these responses back in 2006:

http://www.dnforum.com/f408/get-any-mobile-domain-you-want-free-thread-185390.html

 

[Gerry]

Yup, totally worthless.

I encourage you to continue to drop your 3 letter and 4 letter words (not random letters) and your prime geo's.

I will be glad to take the above off your hands for renewal fee.

 

[Raider]

Check out some of these responses back in 2006:

http://www.dnforum.com/f408/get-any-mobile-domain-you-want-free-thread-185390.html

At least we can agree on something;

I just don't like all the hype and I rather see people save their money. They are trying to create demand where demand doest not exist, it's marketing 101.

Well said BTW.

---------- Post added at 12:29 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:24 PM ----------

I will be glad to take the above off your hands for renewal fee.

Why just the renewal fee? Why not give them back what they paid?

Were still talking about the next dot com aren't we?, Surely their worth far more than just the cost of reg fees.

 

[Newton]

I remember it well... Here's what really got to me about the hype, Intentional or unintentional, they were hyping a TLD and selling their domains to others who are now stuck with an investment they cant recover from, For all those members who hyped this TLD, I think they share some responsibility for everyone who got burned by this... I know many newbies were sucked into all the hype, hype from reputable members who they put their trust in. It's amazing what greed does to some people.

The only way to earn money past the initial offering of mobi was always in the development, and I have always been a strong advocate of this. Flipping domains would only last just so long, as these names have no traffic nor do they warrant large sums without... development. It is true that it doesn't have to be a dot mobi to work on mobile devices, hence why I also use a lot of dot com's too.

There are pictures too http://losers.mobi

I have a responsibility to spend the money earned from mobi each and every month on aged whisky, a harem of cute escorts, a box of cuban cigars and my tailor who has the remarkable ability to source exquisite cloth.

Perhaps you could start your very own support group / forum for those who didn't make money with not just mobi, but the entire spectrum of tld's out there, as that may ease that monkey on your back? Who knows, it could be your true calling?

BTW I am still buying one word dot mobi domains and although I will not pay much, everyone is welcome to send me a pm with prices.

 

[Gerry]

I'm still hyped on it. Actively buying. Like I said, I'll take those prime geo's and 3 and 4 letter english dictionary words.

 

[katherine]

Sure, every extension can be 'developed', after all that's what domain names are made for. But saying development is the way to go to make money, is a polite way of saying they have little raw value and are unfit for pure play domaining. You could make money developing .biz or .co domains too, and not be restricted to mobile design.
Thanks for the picture

 

[Gerry]

Perhaps you could start your very own support group / forum for those who didn't make money with not just mobi, but the entire spectrum of tld's out there, as that may ease that monkey on your back? Who knows, it could be your true calling?

No, she is destined to have that monkey on her back.

Mercy, I would love to see her dole out advice to domain investors and how she has built her empire.

Talk about a boatload of hype and cow dung...


Newt, great to see you again ol chap. You and Rob be sure to raise your glasses and give a toast to me on your next outing.

---------- Post added at 05:49 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:41 PM ----------

Sure, every extension can be 'developed', after all that's what domain names are made for. But saying development is the way to go to make money, is a polite way of saying they have little raw value and are unfit for pure play domaining. You could make money developing .biz or .co domains too, and not be restricted to mobile design.
Thanks for the picture

Yeah, I guess that picture is clearer to those that have built sites and monitized properly.

Seriously, anyone have any idea how many dot com are regged/dropped on a percentage basis vs. how many .mobi were regged/dropped on a percentage basis? Someone on this forum created such a site. The ratio of .com regged and dropped vs. the ratio of .mobi regged and dropped was staggering. Simply staggering.

So if anyone wants to chastise anyone else for hype and investment in any domains, think and look again. Every one already in the market of domaindom wants to get fresh meat and money into the business. So the hype machine is in full swing on the .co, .com, .net, and dare I say the .ca from the looks of this forum. Surely, is every single .ca LLL a gold mine and a gem? Convince me it is.

Did you know the number of .com and .net domains regged and what percentage of those are merely parked pages? I do. Google it. And convince how profitable those parking (or even making sites) are.

Yea, there are exceptions to every rule. Its better sometimes to make the rules.

 

[Newton]

Sure, every extension can be 'developed', after all that's what domain names are made for. But saying development is the way to go to make money, is a polite way of saying they have little raw value and are unfit for pure play domaining. You could make money developing .biz or .co domains too, and not be restricted to mobile design.
Thanks for the picture

I tried parking initially with various companies and I also tried various moble ad companies who were "very disappointing" to say the least. The afterglow of the mobi climax meant that development was the only way forward. I actually like mobile sites and it does not matter which extension I use, it just happened to be mobi

You are most welcome Katherine

---------- Post added at 07:32 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:28 PM ----------

Newt, great to see you again ol chap. You and Rob be sure to raise your glasses and give a toast to me on your next outing.

Good to see you too mate and we will

 

[katherine]

Seriously, anyone have any idea how many dot com are regged/dropped on a percentage basis vs. how many .mobi were regged/dropped on a percentage basis? Someone on this forum created such a site. The ratio of .com regged and dropped vs. the ratio of .mobi regged and dropped was staggering. Simply staggering.

Sure there is a lot of crap in .com and lots of (pigeon) drops too. But the new registrations and renewals more than offset the drops, .com is still growing at a healthy pace. And that growth is not fostered just by speculation. On the other hand, .mobi is not growing a lot (just looking at registration stats), it's the domainers that are keeping it afloat. Indeed, .com & .mobi have very different patterns.

---------- Post added at 01:19 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:17 AM ----------

I tried parking initially with various companies and I also tried various moble ad companies who were "very disappointing" to say the least.

It's pretty normal since .mobi domains will have no natural traffic. But PPC is not the only way to make money, there is money to be made in sales to end users too. For domains that are in demand

 

[Newton]

It's pretty normal since .mobi domains will have no natural traffic. But PPC is not the only way to make money, there is money to be made in sales to end users too. For domains that are in demand

I completely agree, I have sold quite a few names and also given plenty away for free, to small businesses and individuals who have shown they wanted the name and true to their word, they have put up a site. There have been offers on the names that I am keeping too... they are not all sittingdowntohaveteaandacrumpetwithdebandronnie.mobi

 

[Gerry]

I have sold quite a few names and also given plenty away for free, to small businesses and individuals who have shown they wanted the name and true to their word, they have put up a site.

I have done this as well, but went as far as to do the site for the organization and then donate. They were elated. These were well known non-profits. It was an effort to keep the names from being misused and use the name by the intended organization. I did a far market appraisal of the name as well as my time as a tax donation. It was a win-win for all.

As for selling, well newt you've been a benefactor of some very good deals (cheap) and glad to do it.

My biggest .mobi sale came last year after for the umpteenth time it was declared dead.

 

[Raider]

The only way to earn money past the initial offering of mobi was always in the development, and I have always been a strong advocate of this. Flipping domains would only last just so long, as these names have no traffic nor do they warrant large sums without... development. It is true that it doesn't have to be a dot mobi to work on mobile devices, hence why I also use a lot of dot com's too.

There are pictures too http://losers.mobi

I have a responsibility to spend the money earned from mobi each and every month on aged whisky, a harem of cute escorts, a box of cuban cigars and my tailor who has the remarkable ability to source exquisite cloth.

Perhaps you could start your very own support group / forum for those who didn't make money with not just mobi, but the entire spectrum of tld's out there, as that may ease that monkey on your back? Who knows, it could be your true calling?

BTW I am still buying one word dot mobi domains and although I will not pay much, everyone is welcome to send me a pm with prices.

What your saying is; Because buyers failed to develop their .mobi's they have nobody to blame but themselves for the domain values dropping? Nice angle, but try selling that one to somebody else.

Fact is, a great number of mobi investors here were sold into a false belief that .mobi was going to take off, It was repeatedly compared to the dot com TLD, suggesting if you have a premium dot mobi, it was going to appreciate in value much like a dot com, It was a sales pitch, a pitch that lasted over a year on this Forum, where it was pushed like no other TLD before it.. The mobi crowd was beating that drum day after day, creating a thread every time a major brand adopted mobi into their advertising.

And one really has to question the motive behind all the hype that went on back then, They sure weren't doing it to reassure themselves it was a wise investment, No, I'd say "self interest" and "greed" were the primary motives for pushing it. .. The Mobi crowd figured if they could pump up mobi to the same playing level as dot com, (or close to it) it would create a DEMAND... A demand for many of those 100, 500 or 1000 Mobi's they registered, and by doing so their portfolio would increase in value and they'd be able to unload them faster, All at the expense of the gullible, the naive or the unsuspecting newbie.

For the buyers who bought into all the hype, you can blame them too, their ultimately responsible for their own actions and their old enough to know better right? But keep in mind that many of them join these forums to learn, Learn from other members who know more than they do and have a better understanding of what's going on... When they see exclusive veteran members aggressively suggesting dot Mobi is the next dot com, wouldn't you say that carries a lot of weight in their decision making?

On an ending note, I'm not one of those people who bought into all the hype, so it's no skin off my back, and no monkey on my back either, Just a lot of embarrassment, embarrassed to be part of group of domainers who would do this to their fellow man.

 

[ukbackorder]

Couldn't have summed it up better Raider. Unfortunately people take an attack on a failed extension, if they bought into the hype, as an attack on them personally.

 

[Raider]

My biggest .mobi sale came last year after for the umpteenth time it was declared dead.

Rick Schwartz had a big one last year too;

FLOWERS.MOBI - $6500.00

By my calculations, that's a $193,500 loss... One for the record books that's for sure.

http://domaingang.com/tag/traffic-sale-of-flowers-mobi-for-6500/

Couldn't have summed it up better Raider. Unfortunately people take an attack on a failed extension, if they bought into the hype, as an attack on them personally.

I think your right about that, Perhaps because they feel it's a reflection on them.

For all those members who made a profit on Mobi, I'm very happy for them.... Just don't be trying to sell me the same kind of snake oil Rick Schwartz was selling when he bought flowers.mobi.