It is an internet universe. The buzz (and reality) are building. Superior logic is at work and it’s “Get on board or get left behind!”

The time is here for premium domains. Businesses are realizing, with every passing day, that their internet survival is actually the future of their company. So embrace it … or risk obsolescence. It’s an A-B, black or white choice and time is running out. Great domain names are in demand. The longer the wait, the higher the price of entry. Segue to …

Stealth.com is the new name of Stealth Computer Corporation. How about that? Add them to the list of companies who “get it”. Stealth.com‘s press release states:

The Stealth.com name change better reflects the company’s brand and establishes prominent brand identity as a leading manufacturer of Industrial Rugged and specialized computer products.

The company’s web site, Stealth.com, is an essential integrated business tool. Not only does it facilitate business activity, but also serves as an important source of information for prospective buyers.

The company goes on to point out (what premium domainers have known for years) that “the name change better positions our company … and provides for a short and easy to remember moniker”.

A+ business logic. A+ business strategy. Congratulations to Stealth.com.

.COM Domains, Internet Domains domain name investment, rebranding

As we move into 2009, it appears the domain name market just continues to heat up. Toys.com was just acquired by Faculty Lounge for $1,250,000 in a February 4th private auction held at the law offices of Pachulski Stang Ziehl & Jones LLP.

The internet is widely regarded as the future of commerce. This phenomenon is causing business enterprises to migrate their marketing, and even their existence, to the world of the internet. It was forecasted years ago that brick-and-mortar stores would gradually fade from view as their counterparts operated more profitably from an online location. 

Toys.com is about as pure as you can get if you want to be synonymous with “toys”. Yet again, we see the relevance & importance of a premium domain name acting as an ultimate portal and memorable online identity.

We don’t know exactly know how this domain will be utilized, or what the new owner’s plans are. Might be children’s toys. Might be cars, boats, and planes for the jet set. Or even adult toys. I will assume for now that whatever the owner’s intention, it will probably relate to “toys”, and that the owner will have gotten off to a very good start with a premium name.

Hmm? Just occurred to me. What about candy.com? Toys & candy go together! Like soda pop and crushed ice, bikinis and suntan lotion.

.COM Domains, Domain Sales ecommerce, toys

The Greater Women’s Business Council (GWBC), started in 2000, is an Atlanta-based organization that specializes in linking certified Women’s Business Enterprises (WBE’s) with major corporations, governmental agencies, and other WBE’s. Their corporate partners include the likes of: Accenture, Bank of America, AT&T, Comcast, Georgia Pacific, Coca Cola, Office Depot, Nokia, The Home Depot, Turner Broadcasting, UPS, Ernst & Young, and others.

The official website of the GWBC is www.GWBC.biz, and it provides excellent guidelines for obtaining national certification as a Women’s Business Enterprise. The GWBC.biz site focuses on developing new opportunities to connect with large corporations, and networking to generate new avenues of business.

The GWBC was originally known as the Georgia Women’s Business Council. Due to the organization’s regional successes and national recognition, they are now expanding into North and South Carolina and have retitled to the Greater Women’s Business Council.

Roz Lewis is the Executive Director of the GWBC, and she shared that the .biz (Business) internet address has been a a good fit for the organization’s business-centric focus. The GWBC have a variety of upcoming events which will take place in 2009. One of the organization’s goals is to expand into the Carolinas. To this end, they have an upcoming business event set for February 26 in Charlotte, North Carolina (America’s 18th largest city).

PremiumDomains.biz are especially interested in the GWBC and their prospective growth and influence in North Carolina. North Carolina was recently ranked as having the # 1 workforce in the nation in a comprehensive CNBC study. And were also ranked as the 5th leading business environment in the country. As a 42 year resident of North Carolina, I’ve seen dramatic advancements in North Carolina’s growth during my lifetime.

Looking ahead, I think the GWBC will quite possibly have a prominent place in North Carolina as the state furthers its status & relevance as a business incubator.

.BIZ Domain Names .biz, GWBC, North Carolina

Choosing a great domain might be the first step in your new start. Changing life or career directions is a journey of faith, and hopefully determination. It’s been written that success is the birth of a dream, driven by passion, and constructed piece-by-piece through planning and hard work. As a premium domain enthusiast, I’m a diehard proponent that any internet idea is launched more easily, and lifted higher, by a really good quality domain name.

A fair number of bloggers have expressed serious concern about the fragility of the U.S. economy. It is true that companies are continuing to lay off workers, and there is a general atmosphere of skepticism all around. Just how bad things get, before they get better, is hard to answer. But they will get better. So be ready.

Some people are exploring the possibility of a career change and pursuing their own internet-related business. To work from home is the goal of many people. If you’re reading this, perhaps you are looking for a unique opportunity to start a website or online biz.

It must be said that a great domain, by itself, is not a business model. It is only one part of a larger end product. However, a premium domain is the platform on which the future is built. Many future decisions and important ideas will be laid down upon this foundation. If the foundation is weak, future construction will be compromised. If the foundation is solid, everything which follows will be strengthened.

Many domainers (general businesses too) make one of two common errors. They either get overly excited and commit to an impulsive domain name choice. Or, they take the casual approach without much forethought at all about the importance of their domain name selection. Preparation is extremely important in any long term project. Plotting out one’s steps and thinking ahead are so very important in achieving a successful end objective.

In considering a domain name purchase, make a list of domains related to the product, service, or idea that you will be launching. Enter these words (or phrases) into the major search engines and take note of: 1. how many search result listings are produced, and 2. how many advertisers are competing for the search word/phrase.

Is the domain clear and unambiguous such that people know exactly what is being sold or offered? “Denver Condos” is extremely clear. “Living Well in Denver” is vague. “Denver Condos” produces over 75,000 Google search listings and numerous advertisers. “Living Well in Denver” produces 3 search listings and not one advertiser. This instructs you that one domain will create a solid foundation, and is already strongly associated with a product in the minds of consumers. The other domain will require extra work to brand as a site for Denver Condo shoppers.

Choosing a great domain, especially a premium domain, is something that will require careful consideration. Most important business decisions demand patience, an eye for detail, and a global overview at the same time. When the economy turns around, and opportunities heat up, people will be itching to jump. Some will have planned and prepared. While others will be eager to dive in without a clear view of what’s ahead. Use this time, now, to plan ahead in regard to your future domaining.

If so inclined, acquire a nice quality internet property that centers around your primary interest, or that ties into your main area of expertise. Ideas will flow. Wheels will turn. Goals will be achieved.

Internet Domains domain name investing, investing

.MOBI is the (mobile) domain extension released in 2006 and specifically designed to show internet content on mobile phones. There are an estimated 2 billion mobile phones in use around the globe. Most of these devices cannot display a typical website whose content and layout are too complex to be viewed on a mobile phone’s display.

Because ”mobile websites” need to be compatible on a wide variety of phones, the dotMobi corporation introduced guidelines for mobile website development to help insure a good user experience. Since .MOBI’s release, Apple’s iPhone hit the market and contained the ability to display full websites by letting users scroll in any direction to view portions of a complete webpage.

However, .MOBI websites remain important, and useful, since they are easy to navigate on a majority of mobile devices. Not to mention the fact that a high percentage of mobile phone users around the world do not own an iPhone. Most importantly, .MOBI has received considerable support from major Fortune 500 companies … many of which have already launched their company’s official .MOBI site.

One nice example of a scaled down, yet fully functional site, is MiamiLimos.mobi (a geo-targeted mobile domain name). There aren’t many bells & whistles, but that is the real utility of the MiamiLimos.mobi site. It provides essential information on renting a Miami-area limo detailing the types of vehicles available (SUV’s, Hummers, Stretch Limos, and the Lincoln Town Car).

Mobile surfers of MiamiLimos.mobi will find pricing, contact information, and transportation coverage areas which include airports, cruise ports, and all cities in South Florida.

You can submit your limousine request via phone call, or by submitting an easy-to-use request form completed right on your mobile phone. Home James!

Interested readers might also check out Manhattan.mobi to see what else is happening in the geodomain arena.

.MOBI Domain Names miami, mobile

The DOMAINfest Global 2009 Conference finished up January 30th in Hollywood, California. The live auction on the 29th produced a few notable domain sales that deserve reflection. First up is none other than Wife.com which sold for a glamourous $100,000. Ka-ching!

For reasons better left unsaid, poor Husband.com drew only a respectable $25,000. Better luck next time guys!

Worthy mention goes to Movie.info ($7000) which should make a great website about … movie info. Generally, plural generic domain names are preferred although the singular in this case is just right. Also grabbing attention was Cosmetics.net ($25,000) which is a highly profitable, high-interest retail business niche.

Domain Sales domainfest

The premium domain, Dollars.com, is presently enjoying the highest bid of any name on the auction block at Sedo. With just over two days left to go, the bid is $389,000 ($302,500 EUR). Contemplate for a moment the future of Dollars.com. Financial and investment services? Premium portal for a large international bank? A state lottery website? Maybe a new online department store like Amazon or Overstock?

I remember registering DollarsPlus.com in February of 2000 thinking initially it would make a catchy name for online investing. I eventually let that one drop after recognizing that generic domains were the better focus, and more bankable. I was right. Needless to say, Dollars.com would have been an ideal selection had it been available.

The domain was originally registered in June of 1995. Pretty early for someone to have jumped on the internet domain bandwagon. It appears that Dollars.com has changed hands at least once with a documented sale occurring July 2007 when Rick Latona sold it for $650,000 to Virtual Network SA.

Currently, it is still registered to: Virtual Network SA, and hosted at Network Solutions (who were a leading domain registrar through much of the 1990′s). My online research suggests that some mysterious gyrations have occurred around Dollars.com. There appears to have been one other prior offer via auction, in 2008, leading to a high six-figure bid. However, there is no record that the offer closed in a definitive sale.

Hard to say if this recent Sedo offer will end in a successful conclusion. Remains to be seen. Stay tuned!

Update: Dollars.com did sell for $389,000.

.COM Domains, Domain Sales .com, investing, premium