Purchasing Domains: Looking Towards the Future

I’ve spent a little time over the past few weeks taking about the value of a domain, as well as various methods for finding and purchasing domain names.   It is my hope that everyone is now looking at domain names as more than just a website URL, but also as an investment in your future.  

Every single day, 1,000’s of domains are disappearing as they are purchased, and people are doing so for under $10.00 a piece (some as low as $5.00 each).   Domains are being scooped up at a much higher rate than they are being dropped, and once gone, many are pretty much gone for good.  People are beginning to write them into their wills, and in the future, these will be passed down to children and grandchildren.  In order to get a domain that someone else has purchased, you will likely have to spend a fortune to get that domain you really wish you had.    With that said, there are plenty of great domains still available……for now.   Are you investing in your future?   

One thing that I think is very important is the ownership of your personal domain name.   Even if you end up just parking it, or redirecting it to one of your existing sites, someday you are going to want it.   Want to showcase your online skills?  Maybe you want to put your resume on there and place it on business cards?   At some point you will find a good use for it. 

While I am fairly lucky in that I don’t have a very common last name, many people do.    How many other people share your first and last name around the globe?  Get it before it is gone, because once it is gone, you are probably out of luck!

One thing I find from people that I consult with on this stuff is that they don’t look beyond themselves.   What about your spouse, and maybe more importantly, what about your kids?  One of the first things I did upon the birth of both my boys was to purchase their domains so they will be there for them when they are older and want to use them.   If I don’t, there is a great chance they will be gone in 10 years or 20 years when they go to use them.  For now they will just stay parked or redirected, but eventually the kids will be glad they have them.  

Are you just covering your immediate needs, or are you looking to the future when you are out purchasing domain names?