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Looking For Mentorship. First Development, SmartAuction.co.uk

Discussion in 'Services Wanted' started by LEGEND, Aug 11, 2016.

  1. LEGEND Canada

    LEGEND Member

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    Hello,

    As the title states I'm looking for mentorship on my first attempt to develop an online website/business. I don't live in the UK(from Canada) so it would be difficult for me to build[​IMG] out a business from this domain locally. I think the domain itself is a premium name but I feel that I am not experienced enough nor do I have the network in the UK to go through the proper channels to find a group of end users willing to purchase the domain. With that in mind I am willing to provide a generous commission(20% of whatever sale is garnered+percentage of the business profits) to an entrepreneurial domainer with experience in building out online businesses from premium domains. Understandably this is a considerable commitment in good faith for anyone so I understand if people are reluctant. What I plan to do is develop the site into an online auction site for Antiques, Jewelry, Art, Classic Cars etc. The obvious difficulties would be marketing, advertisement, etc. However, I have figured out a "smart" way to get products up for auction, without a lot of groundwork. Just to make sure there aren't any misunderstandings, I don't plant to be the "auctioneer or auction house" only facilitate the transaction. I'll have more info on the business plan to those willing to PM me.
    I am a fairly new programmer(did one course in uni) and still live on a student budget, working part time but I am hungry and ready to go all into this.

    LiveRate.co.uk

    I look forward to hearing anyone interested in this opportunity and even though your may not be willing to help it would be great if I could hear some words of advice.

    Best regards,

    Albert N. aka Slader23

    P.S
    Following this development I plan to build out businesses with a few other domains, in my portfolio. Some will be easier to do than others, so at this stage I am trying to figure out what to market to end-users for a sale and what to prioritize for development. Here is an example one of domains I have collected for this purpose.

    247Delivery.co.uk
     
  2. Domain Forum

    Acorn Domains Elite Member

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  3. LEGEND Canada

    LEGEND Member

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    Can't seem to edit the thread. So let me just clear up a few things, SLADER23 is my username for NP. LiveRate.co.uk and 247Delivery.co.uk are two other domains that I plan to develop after SmartAuction.co.uk if they don't get any offers acceptable by the time my first business build out is complete.
     
  4. scottmccloud

    scottmccloud Well-Known Member

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    Smartauction.co.uk is not a premium domain.

    You're basically asking someone to do all the legwork for you and build you an entire online business and give them just 20% of the profits. No sane person is going to take you up on that I'm afraid.

    To build a successful online auction site like you mention is a mammoth project, not just in terms of the technicalities of the site but much more in the marketing of it. You're competing with Ebay! Unless you've got deep, deep pockets I can't see it ever happening.
     
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  5. LEGEND Canada

    LEGEND Member

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    SmartAuction is a premium domain name. So are Artbid, Liverate and a few others I own, it only takes a simple search on godaddy or namecheap to figure that out because the exact match name in useless gtlds like .webcam or .party, are available for purchase with PREMIUM pricing so please do a little research before you make comments like that, because I certainly did before purchasing the domain. Like I said earlier, I am not making a pure auction site nor am I acting as an auction house. There will be basically no groundwork needed to be done, this more about networking than anything related to the actual development of the website. I'm not trying to "sell an idea" I'm trying to get helpful information and get it done. I will not be competing Ebay because what I hope to build will be different. I'm not trying to be an auction house, I'm trying to facilitate the transaction in other words my website will be more of a portal than an merchant and thats the only information I'll be able to give you without revealing anything important.
     
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  6. scottmccloud

    scottmccloud Well-Known Member

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    Artbid and LiveRate aren't premium. Because silly prices are being asked in other extensions doesn't make them premium names. The .co.uk market is very different from .com and domains that may have value in the .com can sometimes be worthless in the .co.uk. SmartAuction and LiveRate aren't bad domains, they are just not what I (and many others I'd guess) would call premium.

    I wish you luck with your projects anyway and you might want to register your domains in the .uk as well as the .co.uk.
     
  7. LEGEND Canada

    LEGEND Member

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    1. What is considered a premium domain for almost all registrars is based on a number of quantifiable metrics. So you considering the registration price for those names in ngtlds as "silly" means either your ignorant or uninformed. There is nothing silly about a Live exchange rate or Live rate and a site where you can bid on art i.e Artbid website, in fact both names are either registered or developed in developed in 20+ tlds. For example https://artbid.pt/ and http://www.artbid.co.il/,
    2. You do not represent all UK domainers, it is also illogical to assume what other people may think of something based on a generalization you've concluded on by yourself and without any research.
    3. I may register the .uk but tbh the .uk isn't my top priority because it will take time for the tld extension to gain traction in terms of use. At this point its in the early stages and will take some time for it to be properly marketed to younger audiences for use. In other words .UK needs to be heavily marketed to a younger age group for it to be normalized for use when that age group reaches the point where they have the highest buying power. When that time comes its dominance will be reflected in the UK domain space, by there being more registrations of that cctld extension that its predecessor.

    Thanks for your opinion.
     
  8. Murray

    Murray Well-Known Member

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    His opinion on this is representative of UK domainers I would say

    Don't get me wrong they aren't that bad, just pretty speculative, ones you will probably sit on for 10 years (if you hold them that long) and never get a sniff of interest; personally I wouldn't bother registering them.
     
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  9. Adam H

    Adam H Well-Known Member

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    Will only echo what Murry and Scott have said, but if you're that confident in their value prior or after development.....but are lacking the skill set to develop your self then put your money where your mouth is and fund the development, that way you retain full ownership on your "potential" and if it does take off you don't have any JV partners or equity holders to deal with.

    Best of luck.
     
  10. Lovekraft United Kingdom

    Lovekraft Well-Known Member

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    Agree with the above comments, definitely not premium. Not sure i'd pay reg fee either. Sorry, clearly it's not what you want to hear but nobody has said so to be negative, just their honest opinion.
     
  11. martin-s United Kingdom

    martin-s Well-Known Member

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    Just to echo that these folks are trying to offer you good advice, based on superior knowledge of the UK market.

    These domains aren't what we would consider "premium", though they are potentially "brandable", sure.

    We all learnt expensive lessons when we started out in domains and the UK market is very different to .com and other global extensions. Prices are an order of magnitude lower generally than .com.
     
  12. martin-s United Kingdom

    martin-s Well-Known Member

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    PS. If you're genuinely looking for "mentorship" as you posted in your title thread, it would be worth rethinking your approach to the advice and guidance you receive :)
     
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  13. deluxedomains

    deluxedomains Well-Known Member

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    Every one of us only give advice so you don't make the mistakes we made.but sometimes I guess it's good 2 make own mistakes to make us realise.all the best for your projects.
     
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  14. Bailey United Kingdom

    Bailey Well-Known Member

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    I still make plenty after 17 years - And I don't even do development :rolleyes:

    Yep, i'd love somebody to come and develop my domains for 20%.

    I think we all Know by the Tone of the Original poster this is a No-Win Thread for any of us replying. The domains all seem to be registered last week. No harm in trying though. Must admit I've been tempted by domains that have big sites on the .com but, are limited to the US market as a NON-Trade Marked seemingly successful operations - But, No it's not a good road you'd be registering domains all day long
     
  15. spiderspider

    spiderspider Active Member

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    What others have said.

    As you're in Canada, you may not know that there are 2 main companies who do this already. They offer the broadcast of live auctions, online bidding, total management for the auction house etc etc.

    I do ALOT of buying and selling through auction houses, and trust me when I say, there is nothing new that you can bring to 'facilitate the transaction'. You'll be competing with 2 established companies, in a niche where change last happened when we changed from Pound Shillings and Pence. They won't move over to a new company, when the one they are with is doing perfect, and has a massive customer base.

    I don't wish to put you off, but do your research, and you'll soon see that all the reputable auction houses are online, and have their auctions facilitated already.
     
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  16. Admin

    Admin Administrator Staff Member

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    @LEGEND Muriuki, you really need to slow down and reflect. You are welcome here but you've been very out of hand in your handling of the 'advice and comments' given to you (which you sought). You are new here, you are from across the pond and by your own admission not UK domain market savvy and by your other comments probably in your early 20's. You've come to the UK's main domain forum and asked for advice on a very lightly sketched idea and shot down the UK experiened domainers with claims that THEY are either ignorant or uninformed. Really not cool or the way to motivate advice or potential project partners. That's my comment on your attitude, now to the proposition.

    You've asked for advice and project partners for a vague idea about developing brandable (not premium) UK domains. If you want to argue about what a premium UK domain is then suggest a definition. If we say its a domain with a minimum value of £1k then that is why we say they are not premium, because you won't sell those domains for that. Nor £500 and probably not £50. If we could all register 'free to reg' domains for £3.50 and sell them for a grand the week after, we would all be doing it. You are not in dumb company on this forum. One final bit of advice, you don't seem to appreciate the concept of brand protection. If you were serious about building out a domain you just reg'd on .co.uk then you should without a seconds doubt register the .UK. It's naive not to, just saying.
     
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  17. LEGEND Canada

    LEGEND Member

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    Thank you everyone for your comments and suggestions. I am sorry if I put any of you of it was not my intention. I now have garnered an entirely different perspective on how to conduct myself when domaining..
    Best regards,

    Legend
     
  18. LEGEND Canada

    LEGEND Member

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    Looking back at the replies I made, I can see that I definitely came off as combative, disrespectful and ignorant. I am really sorry about this, I probably seemed like a complete dunce. However, thanks to your comments I've learned very quickly about what to expect in the community and how I should be conducting myself. Yes I am in my early 20's and have no real experience in the namespace. I'm probably going to drop domain after reading everyone's comments and doing a little more research. I really didn't mean to come across like such a a$$hole, but, I've realized through this experience that I need to take a more pragmatic/softer approach when looking for help and be less stubborn. I am grateful for every opinion as every person who has commented in this thread brings a wealth of experience to the table.

    Legend
     
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