History will look back on the current state of domaining as “a golden age,” in which people have never before risen so successfully so quickly.

“Progress rarely comes without disruption. Life never goes in a straight line.”

Steve Forbes

The claim has the ring of a myth. But environmental scientists say it is real.

The reason is that hot water dissolves contaminants more quickly than cold water, and many pipes in homes contain lead that can leach into water. And lead can damage the brain and nervous system, especially in young children.

Lead is rarely found in source water, but can enter it through corroded plumbing. The Environmental Protection Agency says that older homes are more likely to have lead pipes and fixtures, but that even newer plumbing advertised as “lead-free” can still contain as much as 8 percent lead. A study published in The Journal of Environmental Health in 2002 found that tap water represented 14 to 20 percent of total lead exposure.

Scientists emphasize that the risk is small. But to minimize it, the E.P.A. says cold tap water should always be used for preparing baby formula, cooking and drinking. It also warns that boiling water does not remove lead but can actually increase its concentration. More information is at www.epa.gov/lead or (800) 424-5323 (LEAD).

THE BOTTOM LINE

Hot water from the tap should never be used for cooking or drinking.

Source : The New York Times

I recently sold idnmail.com and idnemail.com and 2 other names for a combined $15,000. The sale was not very satisfying. When I registered those names, my intention was to hang on to them for at least 5 years where IDN (Internationalized Domain Names) would be in mass use worldwide.

Every time I sell a domain name, I wonder if I could have gotten more for it. But domain valuation is a tricky pony. You can do your best to access market value, it’s current and future potential and the net loss you will incur by giving up a name based on future domain name market share.

Fundamentally, one major aspect where domain name investing is different than stock market investing is that there is no high point in its trading value. Selling a domain name for less than what you paid for is pretty much non existent unless you are in a financial quagmire and need some funds ASAP.

I was expecting to make a cool $100k in due time with the sale of IDNemail names. I am not sure what the new owner feels about them. But I am convinced the buyer got a stupendous bargain.

The sale is listed on DNJournal dated January 31, 2008.

A Domain Name Forum is a great place to learn about the domain name industry. If you hang in there long enough, you will learn as much what NOT to do rather than what can be done to be a successful domainer. But it is all worth it.

It allows you to sell, trade your domain names at wholesale prices. Finding an end user who will pay market prices is virtually impossible. But the knowledge gained over a period of time is precious indeed.

Yes, domain names are a great way to invest in specific commercial or social niches. When you are part of the forum, you will gain insights to what is current and possibly what is to come.

Join the domain name forum and be a part of this exciting and profitable industry.

About 2 yeas ago I had the privilege to attend a free business seminar on the Internet sponsored by Project Enterprise.

The class instructor in the course of session said something very profound, which I as a marketing student had not given much attention to in my business. She said, every business needs to know it’s sales cycle. By that what she meant was, every business needs to know how long it would take them to make an average sale. It cannot be indefinite.

Based on your sales cycle, you can determine how successful your business eventually will be. Case in point, a fast food store’s sales cycle is concluded pretty much within a day. A Real Estate agent’s sales cycle may conclude within a day, a week or a few months.

Similarly, a broker negotiating a big merger may take months or even years to bring about a deal. The payoff better be good or it is not worth the effort to squander that much time for a return which may not be sustainable.

I give my individual domains on average 18 months to 5 years for a sales transaction to conclude. I normally do not make a lot of mistakes. I do realize my gains within 18 months. If I do not, I know for the most part that I own a portfolio which is very valuable and the right buyer will come along in due time. Not only that, I figure out before my investment who among a group of buyers will be my potential client. If you are a domainer, you better know who your potential buyer(s) will be for your investment. If I am convinced a certain domain name is a dud, I let it go.

When I see traffic stats for my domain names, I see that there is active interest in those properties and I need do little to advertise them on a singular basis.

When I buy a new domain name, I am in it for the long haul. I know I will have to spend at least $50 per name over the course of the next 5 years to extract maximum benefit from my investment.

If you are in any form of business, make sure you understand and project your sales cycle. Know, when your investment will mature and give it a time line. Do not put your time, money and resources into a project without figuring out your business sales cycle.

Failing which, you will endlessly flirt with failure and losses.