10 Things You’ll Only Understand If You’re a Domain Name Junkie

10 Things You’ll Only Understand If You’re a Domain Name Junkie

It’s an addiction like another.

Ten or twenty bucks will scratch that itch, but the excessive by no means lasts, and before long you’re yearning the following hit.

And the worst element? Nobody understands.

Except just perhaps a fellow addict…

“Hello. My name is Glen, and I’m a domain call junkie. My last area buy become 3 weeks, four days and seven hours in the past.”

That’s how I’d introduce myself to the aid group. (You know, the one that doesn’t exist but.) I’d rise up and inform my story to a circle of fellow addicts, who’d nod their silent guide.

My personal dependancy commenced with an act of conceitedness — I acquired the .COM version of my own name. That was 17 years ago, and proudly owning a chunk of Internet actual property become novel and interesting.

But that first area registration, just like the first high from a bootleg drug, set me at the direction to dependency.

The Telltale Signs of a Destructive Domain Habit

Like many addicts, I didn’t well known my hassle till it became too past due.

For years I advised myself buying domain names was just a innocent interest. Something to do on evenings and weekends to assist unwind after work. But over time my hobby have become a powerful obsession.

I’d awaken every morning with a head full of latest area thoughts and a burning desire to test their availability. At social events, I’d sneak out of the room to browse domain resale web sites on my phone.

And notwithstanding plans to grow to be a savvy domain “flipper,” I changed into promoting nearly not one of the domain names I bought, rather maintaining them for personal use.

Eventually, my behavior have become extra erratic. I might buy any domain names I may want to get my arms on — .ORGs, .COs, even .INFOs.

One Monday morning I hit rock bottom after I observed a dozen GoDaddy receipts in my inbox for domain names that had no sensible cause. Worse nonetheless, I couldn’t even take into account buying them.

These days I’m on the street to recuperation, and my undertaking is to assist other addicts.

So take a cautious take a look at the list beneath, and spot if you understand any of these detrimental behaviors.

If so, you might simply be a site call junkie.

#1. You Just Can’t Quit GoDaddy

When you’re a domain call junkie, you struggle to reflect onconsideration on whatever else. You spend every idle second brainstorming cool domain names in your “sooner or later, someday” on-line projects.

And as soon as an idea has surfaced, you in reality must realize — is the name already taken? It doesn’t count in which you’re, at paintings, at home, even in bed. You ought to realize.

When you find out the domain has already been taken (the good ones typically are), you start the search for possible options.

And once you’ve dived down the rabbit hollow, you can rarely move slowly again out.

#2. You Lie About How Many Domains You Own

When you begin collecting domains, it’s amusing to log in for your account and delight inside the breadth of your on-line kingdom.

But sooner or later you attain the point wherein that listing of domains is a painful reminder of a dependancy that’s out of manipulate.

When your companion catches you shopping for yet any other domain and casually asks, “How many is that now?” you faux you don’t realize, or intentionally lowball the authentic wide variety.

But of course, lying is a telltale sign your casual hobby has was a extreme hassle.

#3. You’ve Started Dabbling within the Newer TLDs

In the start (well, 1985), simply six top-stage domains (TLDs): .COM, .ORG, .NET, .EDU, .GOV and .MIL existed, however that list has considering that snowballed.

Today we have more than 1,500 TLDs such as .COFFEE, .LAWYER and .PORN.

On the one hand, domain names are extra considerable than ever, and even if your dream .COM is lengthy long past, you have loads of other alternatives for snagging a snappy name.

On the alternative hand,  who is aware of how tons prestige those more moderen domains will preserve over the longer term? Nobody wants to construct their blog across the area equal of a pet rock.

Some domain junkies won’t appearance beyond .COM, but in case you’re exploring the murkier stop of the market (.CM all and sundry?), it might be a signal that your interest’s taking a traumatic flip.

#4. You Tell Yourself You’re a “Domain Investor”

When your domain account lists tens (or maybe hundreds) of seemingly random area purchases, there are two methods to give an explanation for it.

Either it’s the result of years of clueless impulse buying from a click on-happy area junkie with no extra strategy than a half-blind pigeon pecking in the dirt.

Or it’s the culmination of a strategic acquisition marketing campaign to build a treasured portfolio of undervalued digital belongings for destiny sale.

Not noticeably, maximum domain call “fans” choose the second model.

But deep down, if you suspect there’s very little technique to your madness, it is probably time to go bloodless turkey on domains.

#five. You Read the Thesaurus… for Fun

Not each domain you dream up may be to be had for registration. The fact is, most received’t.

That’s why a thesaurus is a site collector’s first-rate pal. In fact, uncovering snappy synonyms in your state-of-the-art close to-leave out concept can be loads of amusing.

But if a word list has grow to be your favorite bedtime examine (you understand, simply in case a fab domain concept jumps out) it is able to be time to are seeking for expert help.

Because — wake up call! — it’s a reference e book, now not the today’s Jack Reacher.

#6. You Secretly Stalk the Person Who Owns YourName.Com

I was lucky. I grabbed my non-public domain before all of us else may want to.

But when you have a popular start name, otherwise you had been simply too sluggish to the punch, your quality options might also have already got gone. And that truely stings.

Because while your name’s John Brown, telling humans your treasured domestic on the Internet is TheRealJohnWBrown.Information is apparent embarrassing.

And that’s why you secretly stalk the individual that nabbed your name on line. You stake out their website, mentally mocking their pathetic efforts even as ready patiently for the right moment to pounce.

Because in the future, they’ll overlook to renew that area after which, my buddy, victory might be yours.

#7. You’ve Felt the Pain of “Lapsers Remorse”

Sometimes you see a domain for what it is — a dumb impulse purchase you’ll by no means be able to use or resell.

Maybe you attempted to make cash by using list it on the market at more than one area marketplaces but didn’t get the faintest sniff of hobby.

So when it comes up for renewal, you do the practical factor and allow it lapse. You even feel desirable approximately your level-headed selection.

Weeks later, you casually check to look if every person’s re-registered it and find it’s now indexed on a “top rate domain names” site for $three,000!

Of course, simply as it’s indexed for heaps doesn’t suggest it’s well worth heaps.

But you could’t break out the feeling you permit a treasured area slip via your arms.

#8. You’re Considering a Domain-Inspired Career Move

Sometimes you’ll stumble across a domain call that’s so good you in reality have to own it… although it’s definitely unrelated for your work or pursuits.

The smart flow might be to snag it and sell it for a profit to a person who could make appropriate use of it. But like Gollum and that damned ring, you may’t pretty convey your self to element with it.

So your mind starts to discover a destiny feasible international in which you grow to be the individual for whom this is the proper domain.

Sure it approach throwing away years of hard-received enjoy and starting a weblog in a new subject.

But finding a domain this good need to be a signal from the universe, right?

#nine. You Lose Interest in Domains Moments After Buying Them

Once the excitement of snagging the name you’ve been lusting after subsides, a faint sense of remorse can quick comply with.

“I can’t trust no one bought this yet,” speedy turns to, “I can’t trust I simply sold that.”

And the longer you keep onto a domain, the more money you rack up in wasted renewal costs.

The fine way to take your thoughts off this painful catch 22 situation? Start scouting on your next area name.

#10. You Have a Conspiracy Theory about Domain Registrars

Maybe this occurred to you…

One day you check a new area and find it available for the normal price. The subsequent day it’s a “premium” domain, commanding several thousand greenbacks.

And you may’t help however wonder:

Did my search alert the registrar to the juicy potential of this formerly unrecognized call?

You wouldn’t be alone to your suspicions. Type “do area registrars” into Google and “steal domains?” is the pinnacle vehicle-complete suggestion.

Are registrars capable of dirty hints like this? Maybe. It’s hard to make certain.

But paranoid thoughts like these might be the first sign your innocent hobby is turning into a dangerous dependancy.

Learn to Spot the Signs of Addiction Before It’s Too Late

Domain call addiction is real. And it may wreck your existence in case you don’t trap it in time.

If you watched you is probably addicted, ask yourself the following questions:

Do you visit area registration sites numerous times an afternoon?

Do you mislead buddies and circle of relatives about how many domains you very own?

Do you frequently “binge” and buy multiple domains at once?

If so, you’re likely a site name junkie.

The precise news? With the proper guide, a full recovery is viable.

But you ought to take that critical first step. Acknowledge your addiction.

So repeat after me:

“I’m a website call junkie. And nowadays’s the day I get assist.”