Name Ninja’s @BillSweetman will be mingling with Ottawa #startups at #accelerateOTT today. Ask him your domain name questions.
— Name Ninja (@NameNinja) June 6, 2014
Bill Sweetman is pretty well known in domain investment circles. For a number of years, he worked as Vice President, Domain Portfolio at Tucows and General Manager of YummyNames. Last year, he left the company and started his own domain consulting firm, Name Ninja.
Many people who offer domain consulting services  rely on word of mouth referrals for their new business. Domain industry companies most likely know the names and specialties of some of the better known domain consultants, and consultants get a fair amount of work from companies within the space.
I saw Name Ninja’s tweet above, and I want to highlight it because I think it’s a great way to generate new business and find new clients. I am sure other domain consulting companies do the same thing as Bill, and it’s a good way to meet clients.
For most people in the domain investment business, buying and selling domain names is an easy task. Experienced people know how to approach domain owners and negotiate deals. I assume it is second nature to most people who make a living in the domain space.
To others who aren’t as familiar with the world of domain names, it can be a daunting task to find a domain name, contact an owner, and negotiate a deal. A startup that chooses the wrong domain name risks confusing potential customers. They also risk setting themselves up to have to buy a less confusing domain name down the road for a lot of money. Hiring a domain consultant can help these companies get a good domain name at a reasonable price right at the start. Domain consultants can bring value to their clients. In addition to Sweetman, there are a number of experienced domain industry veterans who offer domain consulting services (like Right of the Dot as one example).
I sometimes take personal meetings and events for granted. I tend to prefer to stay in my office and do everything online or over the phone. Meeting with potential clients in person is a smart way to make a connection with them and let them know you can help. Perhaps consulting services aren’t needed at the time of a meeting, but people will remember someone they met when the time comes. It is wise of consulting companies to step out of the domain space to find new clients, and I think they will be rewarded as a result.
Nothing beats in-person networking. Just remember to bring lots of business cards!
Do you ever run into other domain consultants at events like that?
Never. So many events, so few domain consultants. ;+)
I am always surprised by some of the basic questions asked by CTO’s and heads of Marketing but sometimes a domain is too important not to speak with a consultant, for example the request comes down from the CEO and they don’t want to mess up the opportunity.
You’re a hard worker and very knowledgable Bill, I’m happy to see you become a success you deserve it 🙂
Hi Bill………….Don’t you get bummed out discussing domains with people who ought to know?
Best of luck, to you Sir………Craig
@ Craig, I love talking domain names with people no matter how knowledgeable or not they are. I spend a lot of time defending legitimate domainers who tend to get lumped in with cybersquatters. The domain investment industry does have an image problem, unfortunately. The more we educate people about the good guys and gals in this industry the better. Cheers, Bill.