2008 Domain Name Round Table – Round Up
Posted April 30th, 2008
When your business is the internet, so too are your companions and as vast and ever changing as virtual space may be there is a longing for human connection in this business that is more urgent than in others. Perhaps this is responsible for the thick energy that surrounds domain conferences. For those of us who spend more time looking at our computer screens than our loved ones Domain Name Roundtable is an exciting event; A chance to meet and interact with colleagues on the other side of the digital divide.
The 2008 Domain Name Roundtable in San Francisco, California was particularly interesting as we are on the threshold of uncertain economic times as well as a shift in the way we interact with the infinite chasm we call the internet. NameSmash sat down with Marksmen Colleagues who attended the conference Cyntia King and Lysha Montiel to find out how this years meet up stacks up with previous Round Table events.
NameSmash: How did you find the mood of domain roundtable?
Cyntia King: I thought there was an unusual dichotomy between ‘Domainers’ (individual speculators) and corporate buyers/sellers.
The Domainers seemed worried about the market presumably due the economy and talk about impending recession. The corporate players appeared confident that the shift of mainstream advertising to the internet is gaining momentum, means increased business/revenue for them.
Lysha Montiel: A bit fearful and cautious. Mostly the “parking” folks…(Name of session was “Parking Analyzed.”) Amar Kubba said, “We are in a slowing economy, so there is less money for advertising.” Ed Russell from NameDrive said it was the most negative roundtable he’d been to. He went on to say, “Everyone is a little scared.”
NS: What session or event (or meal) did you feel was indespensible?
CK: I think I got the most out of the ‘Updating Your Legal Mind’ session. As big business moves increasingly into the domain business, there will be less-and-less ‘wild west’ and more-and-more common business practice (including litigation). This session provided some really good insight into what we need to be prepared for.
LM: The legal session. Great quote from Karen Bernstein. “All I can see is that this industry is really changing. Domainers and brand owners will need to work together.” They panel also discussed the “Snow Bill.” They say it’s a significant piece of legislation. Hasn’t passed yet.
NS: How do you choose which sessions you will attend?
CK: I only missed the session in which DomainTools talked about their new products/services. In the future I’ll concentrate more on the panelists rather than the topics as it seemed some presenters were willing to share information/and exchange ideas, and some only wanted to hawk their latest product/service.
LM: Went to all of them this time. There weren’t several sessions running at the same time.
NS: In what direction would you like to see future DN Round Tables go?
CK: Its not so much a direction, but I’d really like to see more diversity of ideas/perspectives in the panels. I think all the attendees have a basic knowledge of the topics, what we need is more open discussion/debate. There’s not much to learn in a 1½-hour long session where all the panelists say the same thing and agree with one another.
LM: More applicable information… More variety, panel-wise–(domainers, brand owners, attorneys, etc.) Less of a marketing tool…Many of the panel members are selling their product while they are up there. Pretty blatant..
NS: From what you witnessed in San Francisco what was the general feeling on the next year of domaining?
CK: Domain portfolio holders still expect domain values to go up, but they’re worried about shrinking parking revenues and how the downturn in the economy may affect domain sales. Buyers/sellers in general appear to be in a ‘wait and see’ mode believing the market will bounce back when the economy improves.
LM: Cautiously optimistic.
Posted in Uncategorized by Kelly Hardy
