Domain Scams by Marc Charles

7:32 AM

Heres an honest question from a blog subscriber....


Question: I’ve heard about people making money buying and selling domain names. I know this market was hot during the dot com boom. But does it still present a viable “side income” opportunity today?

 Answer Marc Charles:

Yes. Buying and selling domain names can be a viable side business.

The domain market was extremely hot from 1999-2002, and my “domain portfolio” performed nicely during this period.

But the domain market is far from over.

Just to clarify…a domain name is the official name of a computer (host) which is connected to the Internet, like www.BlahBlahBlah.com

 

Domain names are alphabetic Internet addresses which end with a period and three or four letters like .com, .net, .biz, .edu, and .info, etc.

There are more than 80,000,000 “dot com” domains active on the Internet according to DomainTools.com.

In order to function on the Internet, a host needs an alphabetic domain name which has an associated numerical Internet Protocol (IP) address record. 

For example, the IP address for BlahBlahBlah.com could be 208.77.188.16

Every business goes through cycles or waves; buying and selling domain names is no different.

But domain names are still a vital part of doing business on the Internet. 

Therefore, the market for domain names is extremely active, which means millions of people (and companies) buy and sell domain names on a regular basis.

So, how do you make money with these things?

It’s easier than buying a book on Amazon.com!

Here are eight high-traffic domain marketplaces and auction sites on the Internet:

·        Sedo.com

·        Pool.com

·        GoDaddy.com

·        BuyDomains.com

·        Afternic.com

·        DomainAuctionsScript.com

·        BuySellWebsites.com

·        SitePointMarketplace

The objective is to buy a domain name at a relatively low cost and sell it at a higher price.

I say “relatively” lower cost because this doesn’t always mean buying domain names dirt cheap.

In some cases it might require buying a domain name for $500, and selling it for $1000 or more.

However, I purchased a domain name with the precious metal gold in it for $15 in 2001. I recently sold this domain (and a corresponding website) for $5000. This is more than a 30,000% return on my investment!

Granted, this domain name sale included website programming, image files, membership list and a database. But these elements cost me less than $1000 - so my actual return on investment was still pretty good.

Here’s an insider’s secret for buying profitable domain names.

Look to the future!

In other words, things, people and events that are popular today, may not be popular in 2 weeks, 2 months or 2 years.

When I purchased the domain name with the precious metal gold in it I suspected precious metals might be a hot commodity in the future (after a stock market crash), and I was right.

So, when you’re purchasing domain names look for topics, events, people, music and technology which should be popular down the road.

For example, most of the domain names associated with “American Idol” (the popular TV show) have already been purchased and in some cases are overvalued.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t make money on domain names with the phrase “American Idol” or something related to the show.

The idea is to look to the future when purchasing domain names.

This might mean contestant names in Season 8 of American Idol, special reunion concert tickets like the Simon and Garfunkel Tour (SimonGarfunkelReunion09 is available as of this writing), or special events like the 2010 Olympics (2010-Olympic-Tickets.com is still available as of this writing)…your domain names should be profitable.

Think of domain names like real estate.

Four years ago property in South Beach Miami FL was hot and sold at a huge premium. The same property today is selling at a huge discount.

The same is true in the “domain portfolio” business.

Companies like GoDaddy.com have millions of domain names in their portfolio. GoDaddy.com is domain name registrar – meaning they are authorized by ICANN to sell and register domain names.

GoDaddy.com also buys domain names at a low cost and sells them for a profit. GoDaddy.com also aggressively purchases domain names when expire!

You can purchase domain names at relatively low costs at these four registrars:

DotEasy.com

GoDaddy.com

Sedo.com

Netfirms

More Profitable Domain Ideas

You can also grab domain names with “built in” popularity. These domain names were recently offered for sale in the SitePoint Marketplace:

SantaNews.com ($1,500)

LocalSwineFlu.com ($50)

RealPokerStars.com ($100)

SecretForexTrading.com ($30)

The combinations for domain names are almost endless.

Buying and selling domain names can be a viable side business and the start up costs are minimal. 

I hope that helps! 

Marc Charles

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Fighting Post Con Depression

PCD, also known as Post Con Depression affects millions of us everyday. What is Post Con Depression? It is a depressive state one falls into after enjoying the highs of a convention. After spending months working on costumes, scheduling photo shoots, making travel arrangements and spending quality time with out of state friends, we find that we have to return to our normal everyday lives. Its hard. Its an adjustment. It can seriously suck. So how do we bounce back? Hopefully this article can help you fight the blues.

Lets be realistic for a minute; none of us expect a con to last forever, right? So why does PCD hit us so hard each and every time? Shouldnt we be use to it by now? The answer is no and dont ever feel bad for experiencing it. Its natural that we would miss the friends that we see only a few times a year. We also miss the creativity and excitement of a con. How do we cope?  Below is a helpful list:

1. Start planning for your next con: Part of the problem with PCD is that now that the con is over, we have nothing to look forward to. But that doesnt have to be the case. How about planning for your next con? Lord knows it takes a great deal of money and organization so you might as well get a head start on costumes, cosplay groups and photo shoots. Now theres something to look forward to!

2. Hang out with friends: I completely understand what its like to have friends scattered all over the country. The best part of traveling is all of the friends you get to see and catch up with. But dont forget, that you also have friends in your own back yard (so to speak). So why not appreciate what you have and plan a fun get together?

3. Take time to relax: Theres nothing wrong with spoiling yourself every once in a while and taking time for you. This means a variety of things including laying back and watching your favorite movie, buying yourself something nice, eating your favorite snack or spending quality time with that special someone. Find something that makes you happy and immerse yourself in it. You deserve it.

4. Communicate: If you miss your con friends, dont be afraid to tell them! Theres no reason to keep that bottled up inside and communication is key in any relationship.



5. Local Cosplay Get Togethers: Photo shoots and costumes dont have to remain inside the convention halls. Know any local costumers? Why not get together and do something creative? You can work on costumes or plan joint photo shoots.


6. Lets Get Physical: Going out for a walk or a run can benefit both your body and mind greatly.


7. If You Have to Cry, Let it Out: Dont be afraid to shed a few tears. Con life is full of a lot of emotions and its easy to become overwhelmed. If you have a moment where you feel like you want to burst into tears, go for it. I would also recommend a writing exercise to further help; write down how you are feeling and why you are feeling that way. Once you release all of that baggage, feel free to tear it up or burn the letter in the kitchen sink.

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Product Review Corset Story Corset Dress

Based in the United Kingdom, the Corset Story website features a large variety of corsets, steampunk clothing, burlesque costumes, rockabilly clothing, underbusts and more. I recently selected a white corset dress with black lace. Priced at 51.00 GBP (thats $87.14 in U.S. Dollars), this dress is available in a large variety of sizes. A drop down box is next to the product listing for you to select your size based on your waist measurements. This dress features steel boning. The shell is made of 100% Polyester. The lining is 100% Cotton. It is to be dry cleaned only and the lace on the back must be removed before doing so. The dress came with a tag featuring instructions on how to lace it up.



I have to admit that upon browsing the Corset Story website, I had trouble deciding what to select. They have a large inventory of stunning and high quality merchandise that can be used for everyday wear, photo shoots and even costumes. I finally decided on this particular dress because I felt it would be a stunning look for Zatanna. I added my wig, top hat, bow tie, gloves and fishnet stockings from my traditional Zatanna costume to this dress and the look was absolutely lovely. I was very pleased with how it all came together.

This is my first corset dress I have ever worn. I was very excited to try one for the first time. However as anyone accustomed to wearing corsets can tell you, it is a process getting yourself into it but the end result always makes it worth it. Corsets (and corset dresses) gives you a sleek and sexy look you cant achieve with anything else.

I was very pleased with this dress. Its an elegant and classy design. The quality and craftsmanship is first class. It photographed wonderfully and can be used for a variety of looks. To view a listing and to purchase this item, CLICK HERE.

                                          Visit me on my Official Facebook Page

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Real Estate in a Depression by Marc Charles

4:29 PM

Hi Gang:

Ive enclosed a question I received from an entrepreneur recently.

I thought you might like my take.


Question: Marc, whats your take on making money with real estate in the current economy?
M.F. Apple Valley MN

Answer Marc Charles:

In 2004, I mentioned more than a dozen times in my newsletter, blog, speeches and conferences real estate would end badly.

Three conference organizers did not want me back....even though I was the most popular speaker at two of the conferences (according to an attendee poll).

The reason the organizers did not want me back is because I kept talking about a "depression" and real estate collapse (in most areas of the US).

Anyway, that was yesterday....what have you done for me today!

Weve all seen the real estate fiasco...and some people have been devastated by it.

But, the real estate boom (ans BUST) was predictable. If you had eyes to see, you would have known the boom was not going to last.

When I saw a cashier from a local convenience store drive into her triple car garage, which was attached to a $400,000 home, I knew the boom was toast. This was in 2005. The boom lasted another three years, and then kaput!

Almost everyone I knew, 90%+, was bullish on real estate from 2004-2008. The reason everyone was bullish is because in most cases they were making money.

But then the market collapsed....and is still collapsing.

Most people never realize, or refuse to realize, theyre involved in hysteria. But all it takes is simple, common, horse sense. You can also seek wise counsel from someone whos already lived through hysteria or "madness of the crowd". In many cases wise counsel will be twice your age.

Ive made money on real estate. But Ive also avoided major losses. I did not lose one thin dime in real estate from 2004-2009. I was also not underwater with mortgages.

Anyway..enough with the long winded response!

Yes....you can make money on real estate in a Depression. The key is buying at super deep discounts, not being over-anxious about doing deals (or fearful), and paying cash whenever possible.

The problem with most foreclosure properties is finding a clear title, and a property with no liens. But thats another topic.

The days of Fix and Flip are over for now! This market may not recover for 10 years...if ever.

But you can still find incredible deals, offer even less, wait for your terms, and rent the property.

Drop me a note if youd to know about specific markets Im considering.

I hope that helps!

Marc Charles

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