I'll kick it off, between £8,000 to £10,000 on new registrations / considered purchases (cheap) with an additional few thousand on renewals.
I expect the resale market to remain bouyant both at domainer, developer, hoarder and end user level although if an end is not in sight to current financial turmoil by end of the year, we could see a downturn ourselves and even then it will be slight due to businesses going bust, their asset becoming available and instantly transferrable as cash after catch but as most can tell, activity is better than last year with investors finding domains the new stock market and much more of a safe haven in the mid term.
This in turn is seeing more entering the market at domainer level increasing competition and speculation so those with scripts need to keep finding the tricks of the trade and stay competitive or find themselves less worthy. There is a worry that developers will fall by the wayside as their customers dip but it's important domainers keep on their toes and inform of their future business prospects and that web developers should keep their stock high and varied for the upturn in work.
Additionally, I am seeing the internet industry turning to each other for a more stable profit line more than they ever have done before, sectors are developing new services to attract new business and targetting those still with an unchanged or healthy income, also partnerships are being drawn up between different sectors that hold a similar client base, this is proving profitable and opening up new opportunities for all involved even if not an instant cash pool.
A recession is a blinding period for the domain market with so many businesses dissolving and their internet assets dropping into domainer hands for resale, and coming out the other side will be even more profitable what with redundancy packets and venture capitalists reinvesting in new set ups for the next generation economy.
Stay healthy, wealthy and wise to the situation, don't talk the industry down, be innovative, look for new partners, tidy up portfolios, keep selling, keep dealing and don't cut the supply chain like the banks and most will survive. Drown the weakest by all means but don't bomb the factory that makes what you may later pick up to sell on or develop.
Now is the time to profit and build your business, not run down your activity and become a closed shop, that is probably the worst thing you could do right now. Cut costs by all means but stay active buying and selling, a million and one businesses still have purchasing power, go grab some.
Thanks
Lee
Squillions
