.info My little portfolio after 18 months!

[TheBaldOne]

I hope the following will be good news for those who have invested in .info.

Background

About two years ago I managed to register a ccTLD domain, the development use of the domain was obvious and involved the production of a major Geo-site/sites. Immediately I started work on researching the subject matter and formulating a business plan. It was during the business plan evaluation that I realised that my reach to the US market would be weak without spending a fortune in marketing and advertising. Unfortunately, not having won the lottery, the projected horrendous cost getting into the largest national market would be too great for me to proceed.

Then about 18 months ago luck struck (no I didn't win the lottery) I saw some US geo.info domains for sale, a quick few checks such as Google search stats, comparrison of .info and .com values in the aftermarket (ignoring the 'dreamers'), etc., it seemed that I could utilize these domains to get a very tiny finger tip hold in the US market. I therefore immediately purchased the domains and started hunting out more in the same niche. Ever since that first purchase I have checked daily for drops (when my epilepsy would permit) and even purchased some on the aftermarket!

Today

I now have a portfolio that covers over 1,760 US Counties, Parishies, Boroughs, and Independent Cities with populations of 20,000+, this represents approx. 97% of the total niche! What of perhaps the most important statistic available, Google 'local' exact searches? For these domains Google totals circa. 3 million per month, so that will equate to about 4 million searches a month in total accross the search engines. This definately shows people are 'associating' with their counties, etc., even though there is little in the way of developed sites to find.

Let's face it folks, I should never have been able to accumulate this portfolio, and its creation has been more by luck than anything else. It should also be taken into account that 'IF' the geo-domain .com owners had got their act together and actually co-operated together, then this portfolio and the resulting opportunity for mass development would always at best have been second fiddle.

Development

I have tried to obtain the services of a 'developer', offering a 60% share of the gross revenue for development and continued running of the proposed websites, unfortunately to no avail. I therefore have no option but to develop these myself, that means they will be nowhere as good as they should be and is therefore in reality an unfortunate waste of potential, but I have no realistic alternative.


So what is the upshot of all of this?

1) I have now stopped 'domaining'. From here on in I am just going to liquidate what domains I have that are not associated with the development plans.

2) I will not make the mistakes Marchex made with their 'Zip Code' website portfolio fiasco. Only a fool does not learn by another's mistakes.

3) I will utilize this portfolio to enable and support the development of the single ccTLD domain into an internationally recognised Geo-based site.

4) I will welcome contact from those .info domain owners who either own the unhyphenated domain where I own the hyphenated, or more especially from those who own any of the relevent 15 domains where I own neither (hyphenated or unhyphenated). My hope would be that we can work together.

The Portfolio

AbbevilleCounty.info
AcadiaParish.info
AccomackCounty.info
AdaCounty.info
AdairCounty.info
AdamsCounty.info
AddisonCounty.info
Aiken-County.info
AlachuaCounty.info
AlamanceCounty.info
Alameda-County.info
AlbanyCounty.info
AlbemarleCounty.info
AlcornCounty.info
AlexanderCounty.info
AlexandriaCity.info
AlleganCounty.info
AlleganyCounty.info
AlleghenyCounty.info
Allen-County.info
AllenParish.info
AlpenaCounty.info
Amador-County.info
AmherstCounty.info
AnchorageMunicipality.info
AndersonCounty.info
AndroscogginCounty.info
AngelinaCounty.info
Anne-Arundel-County.info
Anoka-County.info
AnsonCounty.info
Antrim-County.info
Apache-County.info
AransasCounty.info
ArapahoeCounty.info
ArlingtonCounty.info
ArmstrongCounty.info
AroostookCounty.info
Ascension-Parish.info
AsheCounty.info
Ashland-County.info
AshleyCounty.info
AsotinCounty.info
AssumptionParish.info
AtascosaCounty.info
Athens-County.info
Atlantic-County.info
AudrainCounty.info
Auglaize-County.info
AugustaCounty.info
AustinCounty.info
Autauga-County.info
AvoyellesParish.info
Baker-County.info
Baldwin-County.info
Baltimore-City.info
Baltimore-County.info
BanderaCounty.info
BannockCounty.info
Barbour-County.info
BarnstableCounty.info
BarnwellCounty.info
BarrenCounty.info
BarronCounty.info
Barrow-County.info
Barry-County.info
BartholomewCounty.info
BartonCounty.info
BartowCounty.info
Bastrop-County.info
BaxterCounty.info
Bay-County.info
BeaufortCounty.info
BeauregardParish.info
BeaverCounty.info
BeckerCounty.info
BeckhamCounty.info
Bedford-County.info
BeeCounty.info
BelknapCounty.info
BellCounty.info
Belmont-County.info
BeltramiCounty.info
BenningtonCounty.info
BentonCounty.info
BergenCounty.info
BerkeleyCounty.info
BerksCounty.info
BerkshireCounty.info
Bernalillo-County.info
BerrienCounty.info
BexarCounty.info
Bibb-County.info
BinghamCounty.info
BlackHawkCounty.info
BladenCounty.info
BlaineCounty.info
BlairCounty.info
Blount-County.info
BlueEarthCounty.info
BolivarCounty.info
BonnerCounty.info
BonnevilleCounty.info
Boone-County.info
BossierParish.info
BotetourtCounty.info
BowieCounty.info
BoxElderCounty.info
BoydCounty.info
BoyleCounty.info
Bradford-County.info
BradleyCounty.info
BranchCounty.info
BrazoriaCounty.info
BrazosCounty.info
BremerCounty.info
Brevard-County.info
Bristol-County.info
BronxCounty.info
BrookeCounty.info
BrookingsCounty.info
BroomeCounty.info
BroomfieldCounty.info
BrowardCounty.info
Brown-County.info
Brunswick-County.info
BryanCounty.info
Buchanan-County.info
Bucks-County.info
BuffaloCounty.info
BullittCounty.info
BullochCounty.info
BuncombeCounty.info
BurkeCounty.info
BurleighCounty.info
Burlington-County.info
Burnet-County.info
Butler-County.info
Butte-County.info
ButtsCounty.info
CabarrusCounty.info
CabellCounty.info
Cache-County.info
CaddoCounty.info
Caddo-Parish.info
CalaverasCounty.info
CalcasieuParish.info
Caldwell-County.info
CaledoniaCounty.info
Calhoun-County.info
CallawayCounty.info
CallowayCounty.info
CalumetCounty.info
Calvert-County.info
CambriaCounty.info
Camden-County.info
Cameron-County.info
CampbellCounty.info
CanadianCounty.info
Canyon-County.info
CapeGirardeauCounty.info
Cape-May-County.info
CarbonCounty.info
CarltonCounty.info
CarolineCounty.info
CarrollCounty.info
Carson-City.info
Carter-County.info
Carteret-County.info
CarverCounty.info
CascadeCounty.info
Cass-County.info
CassiaCounty.info
CaswellCounty.info
CatawbaCounty.info
CatoosaCounty.info
CattaraugusCounty.info
Cayuga-County.info
Cecil-County.info
CentreCounty.info
CerroGordoCounty.info
Chambers-County.info
Champaign-County.info
CharlesCounty.info
CharlestonCounty.info
Charlevoix-County.info
Charlotte-County.info
CharlottesvilleCity.info
ChathamCounty.info
ChattoogaCounty.info
Chautauqua-County.info
ChavesCounty.info
CheathamCounty.info
CheboyganCounty.info
Chelan-County.info
ChemungCounty.info
ChenangoCounty.info
CherokeeCounty.info
Chesapeake-City.info
CheshireCounty.info
ChesterCounty.info
Chesterfield-County.info
Chilton-County.info
ChippewaCounty.info
ChisagoCounty.info
ChittendenCounty.info
ChristianCounty.info
ChurchillCounty.info
CibolaCounty.info
Citrus-County.info
ClackamasCounty.info
ClaiborneCounty.info
ClallamCounty.info
ClareCounty.info
ClarendonCounty.info
Clarion-County.info
Clark-County.info
ClatsopCounty.info
Clay-County.info
ClaytonCounty.info
ClearfieldCounty.info
Cleburne-County.info
Clermont-County.info
Cleveland-County.info
Clinton-County.info
CoahomaCounty.info
Cobb-County.info
CochiseCounty.info
CockeCounty.info
CoconinoCounty.info
CodingtonCounty.info
CoffeeCounty.info
Colbert-County.info
ColeCounty.info
ColesCounty.info
ColletonCounty.info
CollierCounty.info
CollinCounty.info
ColoradoCounty.info
ColquittCounty.info
Columbia-County.info
Columbiana-County.info
ColumbusCounty.info
ColusaCounty.info
Comal-County.info
ComancheCounty.info
Contra-Costa-County.info
ConwayCounty.info
CookCounty.info
CookeCounty.info
CoosCounty.info
CopiahCounty.info
CortlandCounty.info
CoryellCounty.info
Coshocton-County.info
Covington-County.info
CowetaCounty.info
CowleyCounty.info
Cowlitz-County.info
CraigheadCounty.info
CravenCounty.info
Crawford-County.info
CreekCounty.info
CrispCounty.info
CrittendenCounty.info
Crook-County.info
CrowWingCounty.info
Cullman-County.info
CulpeperCounty.info
CumberlandCounty.info
CurrituckCounty.info
CurryCounty.info
Custer-County.info
Cuyahoga-County.info
DakotaCounty.info
Dale-County.info
DaneCounty.info
DanvilleCity.info
DareCounty.info
Darke-County.info
DarlingtonCounty.info
DauphinCounty.info
DavidsonCounty.info
DavieCounty.info
DaviessCounty.info
DavisCounty.info
DawsonCounty.info
DeSotoParish.info
DearbornCounty.info
Decatur-County.info
Defiance-County.info
DeKalbCounty.info
Del-Norte-County.info
Delaware-County.info
DeltaCounty.info
DentonCounty.info
DenverCounty.info
DesMoinesCounty.info
Deschutes-County.info
DeSotoCounty.info
DickinsonCounty.info
DicksonCounty.info
DillonCounty.info
DinwiddieCounty.info
DodgeCounty.info
DonaAnaCounty.info
Door-County.info
DorchesterCounty.info
DoughertyCounty.info
DouglasCounty.info
DuboisCounty.info
DubuqueCounty.info
DunklinCounty.info
DunnCounty.info
DuPageCounty.info
DuplinCounty.info
DurhamCounty.info
DutchessCounty.info
DuvalCounty.info
DyerCounty.info
Eagle-County.info
East-Baton-Rouge-Parish.info
EastFelicianaParish.info
EatonCounty.info
EauClaireCounty.info
EctorCounty.info
EddyCounty.info
EdgecombeCounty.info
EdgefieldCounty.info
EffinghamCounty.info
El-Dorado-County.info
El-Paso-County.info
ElkCounty.info
ElkhartCounty.info
ElkoCounty.info
EllisCounty.info
Elmore-County.info
Emanuel-County.info
EmmetCounty.info
ErathCounty.info
Erie-County.info
Escambia-County.info
Essex-County.info
Etowah-County.info
EvangelineParish.info
FairbanksNorthStarBorough.info
FairfaxCity.info
Fairfax-County.info
Fairfield-County.info
FanninCounty.info
FaulknerCounty.info
Fauquier-County.info
Fayette-County.info
FillmoreCounty.info
FinneyCounty.info
FlaglerCounty.info
FlatheadCounty.info
FlorenceCounty.info
Floyd-County.info
Fluvanna-County.info
FondDuLacCounty.info
FordCounty.info
ForrestCounty.info
Forsyth-County.info
Fort-Bend-County.info
FranklinParish.info
FrederickCounty.info
FredericksburgCity.info
FreebornCounty.info
FremontCounty.info
Fresno-County.info
Fulton-County.info
GadsdenCounty.info
GageCounty.info
Gallatin-County.info
Gallia-County.info
GalvestonCounty.info
Garfield-County.info
GarlandCounty.info
GarrettCounty.info
GarvinCounty.info
Gaston-County.info
GearyCounty.info
Geauga-County.info
Genesee-County.info
Geneva-County.info
GeorgeCounty.info
Georgetown-County.info
GibsonCounty.info
GilaCounty.info
GilesCounty.info
GillespieCounty.info
Gilmer-County.info
GladwinCounty.info
GlennCounty.info
GloucesterCounty.info
GlynnCounty.info
GoochlandCounty.info
GoodhueCounty.info
GordonCounty.info
GradyCounty.info
GraftonCounty.info
Graham-County.info
GraingerCounty.info
Grand ForksCounty.info
Grand-Traverse-County.info
GrantCounty.info
GrantParish.info
Granville-County.info
GratiotCounty.info
GravesCounty.info
GrayCounty.info
GraysHarborCounty.info
Grayson-County.info
GreenbrierCounty.info
GreenCounty.info
Greene-County.info
GreenupCounty.info
Greenville-County.info
GreenwoodCounty.info
GreggCounty.info
GrenadaCounty.info
GrimesCounty.info
Grundy-County.info
GuadalupeCounty.info
Guernsey-County.info
GuilfordCounty.info
Gwinnett-County.info
HabershamCounty.info
Hale-County.info
HalifaxCounty.info
HallCounty.info
HamblenCounty.info
Hamilton-County.info
HampdenCounty.info
HampshireCounty.info
HamptonCity.info
HamptonCounty.info
Hancock-County.info
Hanover-County.info
HaralsonCounty.info
Hardee-County.info
HardemanCounty.info
Hardin-County.info
Harford-County.info
HarlanCounty.info
HarnettCounty.info
HarrisCounty.info
HarrisonburgCity.info
HarrisonCounty.info
HartfordCounty.info
HarveyCounty.info
HawaiiCounty.info
HawkinsCounty.info
Hays-County.info
HaywoodCounty.info
HempsteadCounty.info
HendersonCounty.info
HendricksCounty.info
Hendry-County.info
HennepinCounty.info
HenricoCounty.info
Henry-County.info
HerkimerCounty.info
Hernando-County.info
HertfordCounty.info
HickmanCounty.info
HidalgoCounty.info
Highland-County.info
HighlandsCounty.info
Hill-County.info
HillsboroughCounty.info
Hillsdale-County.info
HindsCounty.info
Hocking-County.info
HockleyCounty.info
HokeCounty.info
Holmes-County.info
HonoluluCounty.info
HoodRiverCounty.info
Hood-County.info
HopewellCity.info
Hopkins-County.info
Horry-County.info
HotSpringCounty.info
HoughtonCounty.info
Houston-County.info
HowardCounty.info
HowellCounty.info
Hudson-County.info
Humboldt-County.info
HuntCounty.info
HunterdonCounty.info
HuntingdonCounty.info
HuntingtonCounty.info
Huron-County.info
HutchinsonCounty.info
IberiaParish.info
IbervilleParish.info
ImperialCounty.info
IndependenceCounty.info
IndianRiverCounty.info
IndianaCounty.info
InghamCounty.info
IoniaCounty.info
IoscoCounty.info
IowaCounty.info
IredellCounty.info
IronCounty.info
IroquoisCounty.info
IsabellaCounty.info
IsantiCounty.info
Island-County.info
IsleofWightCounty.info
ItascaCounty.info
ItawambaCounty.info
Jackson-County.info
JamesCityCounty.info
Jasper-County.info
Jay-County.info
JeffersonDavisParish.info
Jefferson-County.info
Jefferson-Parish.info
JenningsCounty.info
JeromeCounty.info
JerseyCounty.info
JessamineCounty.info
JimWellsCounty.info
JoDaviessCounty.info
JohnsonCounty.info
JohnstonCounty.info
JonesCounty.info
JosephineCounty.info
JuneauBorough.info
JuneauCounty.info
JuniataCounty.info
KalamazooCounty.info
Kanawha-County.info
Kandiyohi-County.info
KaneCounty.info
Kankakee-County.info
KauaiCounty.info
KaufmanCounty.info
Kay-County.info
KenaiPeninsulaBorough.info
KendallCounty.info
KennebecCounty.info
Kenosha-County.info
Kent-County.info
KentonCounty.info
Kern-County.info
KerrCounty.info
Kershaw-County.info
KewauneeCounty.info
KingGeorgeCounty.info
King-County.info
Kings-County.info
Kitsap-County.info
KittitasCounty.info
KlamathCounty.info
KlebergCounty.info
KlickitatCounty.info
Knox-County.info
KootenaiCounty.info
Kosciusko-County.info
LaCrosseCounty.info
LaPazCounty.info
LaPlataCounty.info
LaSalleCounty.info
LabetteCounty.info
Lackawanna-County.info
LacledeCounty.info
LafayetteCounty.info
LafayetteParish.info
LafourcheParish.info
LaGrangeCounty.info
LakeCounty.info
Lamar-County.info
LamoilleCounty.info
Lampasas-County.info
LancasterCounty.info
Lane-County.info
LangladeCounty.info
LapeerCounty.info
LaPorteCounty.info
LaramieCounty.info
LarimerCounty.info
LassenCounty.info
LatahCounty.info
Lauderdale-County.info
LaurelCounty.info
Laurens-County.info
Lawrence-County.info
LeFloreCounty.info
LeSueurCounty.info
LeaCounty.info
LeakeCounty.info
LeavenworthCounty.info
Lebanon-County.info
LeeCounty.info
Leelanau-County.info
LehighCounty.info
LenaweeCounty.info
LenoirCounty.info
LeonCounty.info
LetcherCounty.info
Levy-County.info
LewisandClarkCounty.info
LewisCounty.info
LexingtonCounty.info
Liberty-County.info
Licking-County.info
Limestone-County.info
LincolnCounty.info
LincolnParish.info
LinnCounty.info
LivingstonCounty.info
Livingston-Parish.info
Logan-County.info
LonokeCounty.info
Lorain-County.info
LosAngeles-County.info
LoudonCounty.info
Loudoun-County.info
LouisaCounty.info
Lowndes-County.info
LubbockCounty.info
Lucas-County.info
LumpkinCounty.info
LunaCounty.info
Luzerne-County.info
LycomingCounty.info
LynchburgCity.info
LyonCounty.info
Macomb-County.info
Macon-County.info
MacoupinCounty.info
MaderaCounty.info
MahaskaCounty.info
Mahoning-County.info
MalheurCounty.info
ManassasCity.info
Manatee-County.info
Manistee-County.info
ManitowocCounty.info
MarathonCounty.info
Marengo-County.info
Maricopa-County.info
Marin-County.info
MarinetteCounty.info
Marion-County.info
MarlboroCounty.info
MarquetteCounty.info
Marshall-County.info
Martin-County.info
MatagordaCounty.info
Matanuska-SusitnaBorough.info
Maui-County.info
MauryCounty.info
MaverickCounty.info
Mayes-County.info
McClainCounty.info
McCrackenCounty.info
McCurtainCounty.info
McDonaldCounty.info
McDonoughCounty.info
McDowellCounty.info
McDuffieCounty.info
McHenryCounty.info
McKeanCounty.info
McKinleyCounty.info
McLeanCounty.info
McLennanCounty.info
McLeodCounty.info
McMinnCounty.info
McNairyCounty.info
McPhersonCounty.info
MeadeCounty.info
MecklenburgCounty.info
MecostaCounty.info
Medina-County.info
MeekerCounty.info
Meigs-County.info
MendocinoCounty.info
MenomineeCounty.info
MercedCounty.info
MeriwetherCounty.info
MerrimackCounty.info
Mesa-County.info
Miami-County.info
Miami-DadeCounty.info
Middlesex-County.info
MidlandCounty.info
MifflinCounty.info
MilamCounty.info
MilleLacsCounty.info
MillerCounty.info
MilwaukeeCounty.info
Mineral-County.info
MingoCounty.info
MinnehahaCounty.info
MississippiCounty.info
MissoulaCounty.info
MitchellCounty.info
Mobile-County.info
MohaveCounty.info
MonmouthCounty.info
MonongaliaCounty.info
Monroe-County.info
MontcalmCounty.info
MontereyCounty.info
MontezumaCounty.info
MontgomeryCounty.info
MontroseCounty.info
MooreCounty.info
MorehouseParish.info
Morgan-County.info
Morris-County.info
MorrisonCounty.info
Morrow-County.info
MortonCounty.info
MowerCounty.info
MuhlenbergCounty.info
MultnomahCounty.info
MurrayCounty.info
MuscatineCounty.info
MuscogeeCounty.info
MuskegonCounty.info
Muskingum-County.info
MuskogeeCounty.info
NacogdochesCounty.info
Napa-County.info
NashCounty.info
Nassau-County.info
NatchitochesParish.info
Natrona-County.info
Navajo-County.info
NavarroCounty.info
NelsonCounty.info
NeshobaCounty.info
Nevada-County.info
New-Castle-County.info
NewHanoverCounty.info
NewHavenCounty.info
NewLondonCounty.info
NewYorkCounty.info
NewaygoCounty.info
NewberryCounty.info
NewportNewsCity.info
NewportCounty.info
NewtonCounty.info
NezPerceCounty.info
Niagara-County.info
NicholasCounty.info
NicolletCounty.info
NobleCounty.info
NoblesCounty.info
NodawayCounty.info
NorfolkCity.info
NorfolkCounty.info
NorthamptonCounty.info
NorthumberlandCounty.info
NuecesCounty.info
NyeCounty.info
OaklandCounty.info
ObionCounty.info
OceanaCounty.info
Ocean-County.info
Oconee-County.info
OcontoCounty.info
OgemawCounty.info
OgleCounty.info
Ohio-County.info
Okaloosa-County.info
OkanoganCounty.info
Okeechobee-County.info
OklahomaCounty.info
OkmulgeeCounty.info
OktibbehaCounty.info
OldhamCounty.info
OlmstedCounty.info
OneidaCounty.info
OnondagaCounty.info
OnslowCounty.info
OntarioCounty.info
OrangeburgCounty.info
Orange-County.info
Orleans-County.info
Orleans-Parish.info
OsageCounty.info
OsceolaCounty.info
OswegoCounty.info
OteroCounty.info
Otsego-County.info
OttawaCounty.info
OtterTailCounty.info
OuachitaCounty.info
Ouachita-Parish.info
OutagamieCounty.info
OvertonCounty.info
OwenCounty.info
OxfordCounty.info
OzaukeeCounty.info
PacificCounty.info
PageCounty.info
Palm-Beach-County.info
PaloPintoCounty.info
PanolaCounty.info
Park-County.info
ParkerCounty.info
PascoCounty.info
PasquotankCounty.info
PassaicCounty.info
Paulding-County.info
Payette-County.info
PayneCounty.info
PeachCounty.info
PearlRiverCounty.info
PenderCounty.info
PenningtonCounty.info
PenobscotCounty.info
PeoriaCounty.info
Perry-County.info
PersonCounty.info
Petersburg-City.info
PettisCounty.info
PhelpsCounty.info
PhiladelphiaCounty.info
PhillipsCounty.info
Pickaway-County.info
Pickens-County.info
Pierce-County.info
PikeCounty.info
PimaCounty.info
Pinal-County.info
PineCounty.info
Pinellas-County.info
PittCounty.info
PittsburgCounty.info
PittsylvaniaCounty.info
PlacerCounty.info
PlaqueminesParish.info
Platte-County.info
Plumas-County.info
PlymouthCounty.info
PoinsettCounty.info
PointeCoupeeParish.info
Polk-County.info
PontotocCounty.info
PopeCounty.info
PortageCounty.info
Porter-County.info
PortsmouthCity.info
PoseyCounty.info
PottawatomieCounty.info
PottawattamieCounty.info
PotterCounty.info
PowhatanCounty.info
Preble-County.info
PrentissCounty.info
PrestonCounty.info
PrinceEdwardCounty.info
PrinceGeorgeCounty.info
PrinceGeorgesCounty.info
Prince-William-County.info
ProvidenceCounty.info
PuebloCounty.info
PulaskiCounty.info
Putnam-County.info
QueenAnnesCounty.info
Queens-County.info
Racine-County.info
RaleighCounty.info
RamseyCounty.info
RandallCounty.info
Randolph-County.info
RankinCounty.info
RapidesParish.info
RavalliCounty.info
RayCounty.info
RenoCounty.info
RensselaerCounty.info
RheaCounty.info
RiceCounty.info
Richland-County.info
RichlandParish.info
RichmondCity.info
RichmondCounty.info
RileyCounty.info
Rio ArribaCounty.info
RipleyCounty.info
RiversideCounty.info
RoaneCounty.info
Roanoke-City.info
RoanokeCounty.info
RobertsonCounty.info
RobesonCounty.info
Rock IslandCounty.info
RockbridgeCounty.info
RockCounty.info
RockdaleCounty.info
RockinghamCounty.info
Rockland-County.info
RockwallCounty.info
RogersCounty.info
RoscommonCounty.info
Ross-County.info
RouttCounty.info
Rowan-County.info
RuskCounty.info
Russell-County.info
Rutherford-County.info
RutlandCounty.info
SabineParish.info
SacramentoCounty.info
SagadahocCounty.info
Saginaw-County.info
Salem-City.info
Salem-County.info
Saline-County.info
Salt-Lake-County.info
SampsonCounty.info
SanBenitoCounty.info
San-Bernardino-County.info
San-Diego-County.info
San-Francisco-County.info
SanJacintoCounty.info
SanJoaquinCounty.info
San-Juan-County.info
SanLuisObispoCounty.info
SanMateoCounty.info
SanMiguelCounty.info
SanPatricioCounty.info
SandovalCounty.info
Sandusky-County.info
SangamonCounty.info
SanilacCounty.info
SanpeteCounty.info
SantaBarbaraCounty.info
SantaClaraCounty.info
SantaCruzCounty.info
SantaFeCounty.info
Santa-Rosa-County.info
SarasotaCounty.info
Saratoga-County.info
SarpyCounty.info
SaukCounty.info
SaundersCounty.info
SchenectadyCounty.info
SchoharieCounty.info
SchuylkillCounty.info
Scioto-County.info
ScotlandCounty.info
ScottCounty.info
ScottsBluffCounty.info
SebastianCounty.info
Sedgwick-County.info
SeminoleCounty.info
Seneca-County.info
SequoyahCounty.info
Sevier-County.info
SewardCounty.info
ShastaCounty.info
ShawanoCounty.info
ShawneeCounty.info
SheboyganCounty.info
Shelby-County.info
ShenandoahCounty.info
SherburneCounty.info
SheridanCounty.info
ShiawasseeCounty.info
Silver BowCounty.info
Simpson-County.info
SiouxCounty.info
Siskiyou-County.info
Skagit-County.info
SmythCounty.info
SnohomishCounty.info
SnyderCounty.info
Solano-County.info
Somerset-County.info
Spalding-County.info
Spartanburg-County.info
Spencer-County.info
SpokaneCounty.info
SpotsylvaniaCounty.info
StBernardParish.info
StCharlesCounty.info
StCharlesParish.info
St-Clair-County.info
StCroixCounty.info
StFrancisCounty.info
StFrancoisCounty.info
StJamesParish.info
StJohn the BaptistParish.info
St-Johns-County.info
StJosephCounty.info
StLandryParish.info
StLawrenceCounty.info
St-Louis-City.info
St-Louis-County.info
St-Lucie-County.info
StMartinParish.info
St-Mary-Parish.info
StMarysCounty.info
St-Tammany-Parish.info
StaffordCounty.info
StanislausCounty.info
StanlyCounty.info
Stark-County.info
Starke-County.info
StarrCounty.info
StauntonCity.info
StearnsCounty.info
SteeleCounty.info
StephensCounty.info
StephensonCounty.info
SteubenCounty.info
StevensCounty.info
StoddardCounty.info
StokesCounty.info
StoneCounty.info
StoryCounty.info
StraffordCounty.info
StutsmanCounty.info
SuffolkCity.info
Suffolk-County.info
Sullivan-County.info
SumnerCounty.info
Sumter-County.info
SunflowerCounty.info
SurryCounty.info
SusquehannaCounty.info
Sussex-County.info
SutterCounty.info
Suwannee-County.info
SweetwaterCounty.info
TalbotCounty.info
Talladega-County.info
Tallapoosa-County.info
TaneyCounty.info
TangipahoaParish.info
TaosCounty.info
TarrantCounty.info
TateCounty.info
TattnallCounty.info
TaylorCounty.info
TazewellCounty.info
TehamaCounty.info
TellerCounty.info
TerrebonneParish.info
Teton-County.info
Texas-County.info
ThomasCounty.info
TiftCounty.info
TillamookCounty.info
TiogaCounty.info
TippahCounty.info
TippecanoeCounty.info
TiptonCounty.info
TitusCounty.info
ToddCounty.info
TollandCounty.info
TomGreenCounty.info
Tompkins-County.info
TooeleCounty.info
ToombsCounty.info
TransylvaniaCounty.info
Travis-County.info
TrempealeauCounty.info
TroupCounty.info
Trumbull-County.info
TulareCounty.info
TulsaCounty.info
TuolumneCounty.info
Tuscaloosa-County.info
Tuscarawas-County.info
TuscolaCounty.info
Twin FallsCounty.info
Tyler-County.info
UintaCounty.info
UintahCounty.info
Ulster-County.info
UmatillaCounty.info
Union-County.info
UnionParish.info
Upshur-County.info
UpsonCounty.info
UtahCounty.info
UvaldeCounty.info
Val VerdeCounty.info
ValenciaCounty.info
VanBurenCounty.info
Van-Wert-County.info
Van ZandtCounty.info
VanceCounty.info
VanderburghCounty.info
VenangoCounty.info
Ventura-County.info
VermilionCounty.info
VermilionParish.info
VernonCounty.info
VernonParish.info
VictoriaCounty.info
VigoCounty.info
VilasCounty.info
VirginiaBeachCity.info
VolusiaCounty.info
WabashaCounty.info
WabashCounty.info
WagonerCounty.info
Wake-County.info
Wakulla-County.info
WaldoCounty.info
Walker-County.info
Walla WallaCounty.info
WallerCounty.info
WaltonCounty.info
Walworth-County.info
WapelloCounty.info
WardCounty.info
WareCounty.info
Warren-County.info
WarrickCounty.info
WasatchCounty.info
WascoCounty.info
WashingtonCounty.info
WashingtonParish.info
WashoeCounty.info
WashtenawCounty.info
WataugaCounty.info
WaukeshaCounty.info
WaupacaCounty.info
WausharaCounty.info
Wayne-County.info
WaynesboroCity.info
WeakleyCounty.info
WebbCounty.info
WeberCounty.info
WebsterCounty.info
WebsterParish.info
WeldCounty.info
WellsCounty.info
WestBatonRougeParish.info
Westchester-County.info
WestmorelandCounty.info
WexfordCounty.info
WhartonCounty.info
Whatcom-County.info
WhiteCounty.info
WhitesideCounty.info
WhitfieldCounty.info
WhitleyCounty.info
WhitmanCounty.info
WichitaCounty.info
WicomicoCounty.info
Wilkes-County.info
WillacyCounty.info
WillCounty.info
WilliamsburgCounty.info
Williams-County.info
Williamson-County.info
WilsonCounty.info
WinchesterCity.info
WindhamCounty.info
WindsorCounty.info
WinnebagoCounty.info
WinneshiekCounty.info
WinonaCounty.info
Winston-County.info
WiseCounty.info
WoodburyCounty.info
Wood-County.info
WoodfordCounty.info
WorcesterCounty.info
WorthCounty.info
WrightCounty.info
Wyandot-County.info
WyandotteCounty.info
WyomingCounty.info
WytheCounty.info
Yadkin-County.info
YakimaCounty.info
YamhillCounty.info
YanktonCounty.info
Yates-County.info
YavapaiCounty.info
YazooCounty.info
YellCounty.info
YellowstoneCounty.info
YoloCounty.info
YorkCounty.info
YubaCounty.info
YumaCounty.info

Oh, and if anyone knows a good website developer who would be interested I would be more than happy to hear about them! :cy:

 

[Krossat]

I'd take them for free...

and you think you will get them free because...?
worthless comments

 

[DubDubDubDot]

I understand your excitement in your new venture, but the internet sees this sort of thing all the time from gung-ho developers without much (or any) experience. They all flame out quickly. This is probably a disaster in the making also.

You won't be able to develop 1,760 sites with original content. It is questionable if a huge media company throwing millions of dollars at this same project would be able to do it. Yet you are going to do it in 6 months partnering with a developer and apparently no content production investment?

The most prolific of developers probably wouldn't be able to do 10 sites per day of respectable quality. Even if you lowered your expectations to one site every 10 days (which is still pushing it due to the necessary localized content - if you want high quality sites), you will not find a competent developer willing to cut you 40% just for the use of your .info domains.

A more realistic scenario is to add a year or two to the registrations, sign over ownership of the domains for $0 in return for a very small revenue sharing percent (less than 5%), and let the developer do what he wants with the domains. I know you probably don't like that idea, but realistically, you aren't bringing anything to the table in your search for a developer to partner with. They will be doing all of the work. So I would be very suspicious of anyone's abilities that partners with you under your current terms.

I am willing to bet that you have been in contact with "developers" claiming to have a staff that can do this for you. In reality, their staffs are unskilled Indian laborers, none of which (and I mean none) can write good content by western world publication standards. I'm just putting this tidbit out there so you don't get caught up in that.

 

[JamesDavid]

How is this coming along?

 

[Smiler]

Developing 1760 domains one at a time is a daunting task. I hope someone is lending you a hand with that project.

 

[JamesDavid]

Any updates on the project? interested in hearing of your success. It is halfway to the 180 day mark when you will have the majority of sites launched... crunch time!

Good Luck
James

 

[eriito]

Took me a while but i read through every post in this thread
Im very new to domaining and so i know close to nothing compared to you guys
Im very interested to find out how your project works out for you
Dont know how long you have been domaining for but i wish you the best of luck with your endeavours

 

[TheBaldOne]

I will be posting an update in a few weeks time. All is progressing well. Had a couple of ups and downs (of course), but head down to the finish line now.

Eriito, firstly thank you for taking the time to read the thread and your comments. As you are new there are some things that should be pointed out to you.

- I have been in domaining for about 7 years, and this has taken nearly 2 1/2 years to plan and develop, so it is not a route I would suggest for a new domainer.

- Many domainers (probably the majority) disagree with my analysis of the market and its potential harnessing in this manner.

- Taking on any project like this is very expensive both in time and money, again please think hard and long before trying similar projects. For example think 3 years before publication and revenue earning, that means 2 years renewals, or for every domain over $14 in renewal fees.

- Finally make sure you have some one, a wife, husband, parent, good friend, priest, or preferably a psychiatrist, who will understand the reason why you forget what the outside world looks like! :cy:

It may be that I may miss my deadline slightly, but if I do it will not be for the want of sleepless nights, sweat and tears (the later mainly mine when I see my bank balance dwindle).

Also one major piece of advice to everyone who ever considers such a venture by themselves and without partners, may I suggest joining the French Foreign Legion would be an easier option at times. :hehe:

.........................

Edit - addition.

I should add that I have had to incorporate this past month (something I knew would have to be done but advice was to do it now before publication - just means more paperwork for the government).

Also at a meeting the other day we had to work out what the annual costings were, and although just under $15k sounds a lot for renewals it actually works out at less than $40 a day! Now I can 'waste' $40 in a day without even thinking about it, I am sure most of us could. Also some other possible novel sources of revenue based on the type of portfolio this is are also being explored.

Finally I should mention that I have joined GeoPublishers.com, it obviously seemed like the sensible thing to do. (If members here think they can shread me up over this imagine what the members there will do to me - always supposing I am wrong of course! )

 

[Dotmainer]

First thumbs up for following your dream/vision.

(Is this going to be good or bad is another story).

What i would like to ask:

- Do you have Exit-Point ? Time/Amount where you say "hey i tried it, have not worked, leaving" ?

(hope/wish you that you dont reach this one)

--

 

[TheBaldOne]

Hi Dotmainier, a very good question.

From the beginning I worked out that this should succeed within a year of publication of the sites, i.e. should either be profitable or have a value were the company to be sold. However, more importantly I set myself the time limit of January 2014. If by that time I have not 'succeeded' with the business then I would fold it (I would then be 55).

Now to make some eyebrows rise. After the States the project is set to be expanded globally. As I posted early on the venture into the US Counties was originally just to gain 'some visitors' in the US market. Although the concentration is now on opening in the US nothing has changed except that through good fortune and some hard work I have been able to amass the US county portfolio and now instead of opening in the UK will open in the US (a much better option by the way).

Of course the best laid plans of mice-n-men and all that still applies, so back to your original question, yes, there is an exit strategy in the event of failure. I should also say that there are various exit strategies laid out should I succeed.

 

[siga]

TheBaldOne,

Just thought I would look back in on your thread. I too hope to hear of your success. Just thought I would add my own advice/question.

I took a couple of test urls and went to check on them. They all point to the godaddy landing ad page.
Would you consider either: a, forwarding them to a parking company such as sedo/namedrive or who ever is hottest at present this would allow you to see if any receive traffic (even if it is from this page)
or b, putting up a landing page explaining your plan and looking for page sponsors or register of interest.(perhaps for a cheaper fee as they are getting at the beginning) Even if you do this and have a submit your email link so you can collect email addresses of people who may potentially use your site.

I know this is additional work but perhaps it could provide you with , email addresses, stats, potential advertisers.

 

[GiftedDomains]

i read everything here.

you clearly have balls and a vision.

of course i wish you success and good luck.

but to be honest, it seams to me that you

1) underestimated the risks and the amount of work needed.
2) overestimated the value and importance of "counties" in general in terms of revenue possibilities on internet
http://www.google.com/trends?q=counties&ctab=0&geo=us&date=all&sort=0
3) overestimated the value of county .info names

if i had this idea, i personally would have tested the idea with one single .info name, from start to a fully developed revenue earning website for local market of that county. you could have done that with a small county (to avoid too much attention from "competitors", if the idea would have been successful). that way i would see how much work it needs, how much money i can earn (if any) and if the idea works at all.

of course with one single name, you wouldn't have the bonus of having all names and implement this "leading position" in your single site. but you still would get an idea - and would have spend just 8 dollars for an experiment.

but your business plan is: ALL IN - success or disaster

the fact that you have thousands of .info names (all from same type and for one single project) to be renewed each year (and that you already paid thousands of dollars and invested thousands of hours of your time) can be good if successful, but TERRIBLE if doesn't work the way you want it to work.

because your domain names (just the domains, not the idea and the plan behind them) are more or less worthless. thats the major difference to someone who owns thousands of domain names which can be sold (without development) any time on reseller market. that means, even if you want to exit, you probably would have to drop all names without earning anything. specially after everyone saw that your plan didn't work, no one would pay anything for these domains.

additionally you will have a psychological factor: if it works its all good, but if you see that it doesn't work (which i sincerely hope doesn't happen to you), you will inevitably think "i paid so much money and i invested so much time! no, i can't let this go! .....one more year.... one more year...." - this could end up in a doom loop.

the pressure on you is and would be extremely high. unless you have couple hundred thousands of dollars to play with on internet (maybe you have it and you don't tell us - i really hope that!

anyway, on one hand i hate negative vibes and pesimism, on the other hand i also hate brainless "Run Forest! Run" type of comments. its easy to encourage you as long as its not our money! its yours. specially if we are .info lovers and investors, we might be biased and would love to see someone investing in thousands of .infos (i personally like .infos!)

anyway, now that you already done all that, fingers crossed for you.

 

[TheBaldOne]

Hi Siga,

I can say that traffic 'testing' has been done on a significant number of the domains within the portfolio, the results of which were surprisingly a little higher in most cases than I was expecting especially since no sites have been put on the domains. I should also say that a few of the domains tested actually produced traffic under what was expected. The expected traffic rate was based purely on population size of County (Counties where a county domain represents multiple actual counties within the US).

I have previously considered putting up both individual landing pages and a portfolio landing page, and although this would be a little extra work it is really insignificant in comparrison to the other work done in producing the portfolio. I can though announce that next month (July) indeed the domains will no longer be pointing towards any kind of parked pages, all will be pointing towards a specific page on the company website. So actually you could say that the plans are as you would suggest, but timing has to be considered, and patience has to be the watchword on such a project as this. (I must admit quite often I am really tempted to just publish what presently is ready - of course the loss in doing so I calculate would be far greater than any possible benefit gained.)

Finally, I will not be asking for advertiser leads presently, the nature of the advertising that will be available means that it will be better to wait until the sites go live en-masse.

Hi GD,

Firstly, I will resist the temptation to call you 'Oddball' (reference a character in 'Kelly's Heroes' who did not like 'negative vibes' :tu:).

I will now answer the three points you raise initially in turn.

1 - I did not underestimate the amount of work involved in setting the portfolio up, but by taking one step at a time have been able to manage relatively well the development.

2 - I did not overestimate the value or importance of 'county' domain names. Indeed if anything I underestimated their value in terms of type-in, search, and 'association' by the public.

3 - As it works out I have not overestimated the value of county.info domains, either financially or in usage. On this one I would say to you to think about the game 'Monopoly' and the sites on the board and values there, how they increase in value and how you could win such a game. :hehe:

I do have to agree that by developing the portfolio as a whole it is an ALL IN business plan, but with the somewhat novel revenue generating methods, etc., it had to be done this way. If the plan does not work then it does not work, this is why I set myself clear failure and success targets with exit strategies before endeavoring on this venture. This is perhaps where the vast majority of 'disasters' occur with start-up businesses generally, they do not set out clear goals and measures of success/failure before committing themselves financially. I also am no fan of the 'Run Forest, Run' approach to business development as you put it.

Again I would like to thank both Siga and GD for their comments which are obviously well intentioned and well thought out and argued, as have many posts on this thread been.

 

[JamesDavid]

any progress to report?

 

[TheBaldOne]

Hi JD,

Well I managed to crack two vertebrae a month ago - hence my non-participation on the forums and more importantly this thread. Now I am on the mend, I just wish someone would tell what feels like an elephant sitting on my back it can get off now!

Unfortunately this has put me back a month, what is worse is that at the moment I can only 'sit' comfortably for very small periods, according to the Doc's it will be a couple of months before I get back to normal. This with the increased size of the portfolio (now covering over 99%) means that launch date looks like the end of September. (Fingers crossed.)

Two things I have done since my accident. Firstly I have arranged a totally new Joomla template for the sites. (The fact that there are so many extensions for Joomla! is fantastic, I would strongly recommend others to explore this CMS system when considering development.) Secondly, I have started planning ahead for the second stage development, which of course is implementing the same development method globally - though for that stage I will definately be hiring staff. :]

 

[Kate]

Wow 6 months already.

 

[TheBaldOne]

UPDATE

So what has been going on?

1) Have acquired a new partner in the business (and a great partner at that - no he is not a member here).

2) Been working cotton socks off. Revamped idea, still the same in essence but reconfigured some aspects.

3) Finishing touches being applied over next 3 weeks, then a little button gets pushed.

4) Should be in BETA live phase within 4 weeks according to our reckoning and with fingers, toes and everything else crossed.

5) After 'testers' have tried breaking the site for us we will go live ASAP when any bugs are ironed out.

So yes I am a little behind schedule, but nothing when compared to the great scheme of things.

If anyone wants to volunteer to be a 'tester' please drop me a PM. If nothing else you will be able to have a good laugh at my expense!

Worse part has been trying to raise a steady flow of cash, but then again isn't it always for the vast majority of us.

This year the US, next year Canada, UK, Eire, Australia, New Zealand, and I guess a few others as well!

Now lets hear the howls of laughter. :lol:

 

[gpmgroup]

Now lets hear the howls of laughter.

Anybody who undertakes such a sizable project like yours should never be derided. 4 weeks is an incredibly short time to finish such a large project.

Best of luck - looking forward to seeing the finished results.

Your timing may be very good I understand one of the largest companies in the world (Market Cap $xx,xxx,xxx,xxx) is planning a new .info site over the coming months.

 

[MattheP]

Oh well... good luck! I admire your enthusiasm and hope you'll make some revenue or cut losses.

 

[orcus]

Wish you great luck, and may you turn out to be a winning dark horse!!

 

[TheBaldOne]

gpmgroup, MattheP, and orcus, thank you.

So far only one member has stepped forward to help test the sites in BETA phase, I had hoped for a few more and thought some would have out of curiosity alone, but times are tough and people do not have the time for such indulgences perhaps.

To keep this moving I am letting all my other names go, so if you are interested in hack domains or US Geo domains watch the auction listings (mind you the activity on there seems to be very slow these days).

 

[Krossat]

I'll test. I have a 4 day long weekend, so I guess I can help. Send me a pm with the details

gpmgroup, MattheP, and orcus, thank you.

So far only one member has stepped forward to help test the sites in BETA phase, I had hoped for a few more and thought some would have out of curiosity alone, but times are tough and people do not have the time for such indulgences perhaps.

To keep this moving I am letting all my other names go, so if you are interested in hack domains or US Geo domains watch the auction listings (mind you the activity on there seems to be very slow these days).

 

[JamesDavid]

excited for you and will be keeping an eye out for sure..

best of luck during the roll out!

 

[TheBaldOne]

Right, first of all thank you to all those who have 'volunteered' to help run BETA testing for us, I will get back to you either today or tomorrow. Please forgive the delay but it is hectic at the moment, as I am sure you will all appreciate.

It now looks like the sites will start going live by the end of September still (unless some more gremlins raise their ugly little heads of course).

 

[JamesDavid]

September came and went.. made me think of this thread. How are the initial launches doing? Any examples to publicize yet? Looking forward to a good report..

 

[nameflake]

It looks like some of his names here have recently expired and I'm wondering how the progress is going or if he's having trouble coming up with the renewal costs.
I could imagine it's not easy to keep track of.