This post is about a comment left by "dcmike77" after I wrote about Rascal Flatts dropping the ball several times during their concert to advertise their website. You can see my post here and this was dcmike77’s comment:

"You’re an idiot. Rascal Flatts doesn’t need to heavily advertise their name because the domain IS their name. Geesh. People will go to their domain through direct nav. Maybe if their domain was rascalflattsmusic.com for example."

Now I am not really all that upset that he called me an "idoit" because he has every right to think what he wants. Now the problem I do have, is when I think he’s 100% wrong about the direct navigation, advertising and this is WHY! (for those who didn’t read the post he commented on, Rascal Flatts displayed their domain as the curtain dropped, but many people were leaving before it came all the way down and that was it)

My comment I replied back with was:
#1) Only One in Six people USE Direct Navagation!
#2) Why let people GUESS that’s their URL!
#3) 2,271 People Per Day search for the term Rascal Flatts. If they already know what their website is, why are all the people searching for it? All 68,130 PER MONTH!!!
#4) Advertising! Rascal Flatts is DIFFERENT then RascalFlatts.com

I felt I needed to explain more then just my comment and clearly I think dcmike77 just doesn’t "Get It".

So why is Rascal Flatts "different" then the URL. One is the Band and the other is part of it’s business! Rascal Flatts the band in one way Sells Tickets, but not Litterally. The website does.

I went to Walmart today and right on their bags, Walmart.com . I stopped at Subway on the way home for some supper. Subway.com right on the bag! It’s really like “Free Advertising”! They are printing on the bag anyway, why not attract people to your website so they can Buy More stuff or find out information or contact you. You can promote a new product or promote a new song and so on…

The balloon’s dropped at the concert were printed on with the logo already, why not include their domain to draw attention to it. By Mike saying that people will just automatically go to the site via direct navagation because their band name matches it’s domain nearly made me hit the floor!  Does Rascal Flatts even need a website? I mean why would they want to sell any T-Shirts or Tickets or Music. They don’t need to make any money, they don’t need to let people know they are coming to town! Come on….

TV ads cost a TON. Radio ads are not Free. Billboards cost a bunch. Print ads are pricey…

They are playing the concert AND doing business at the same time. In doing the business, they need to promote where these direct customers, they have right in front of them can go to see more! By putting the domain up, makes the customer THINK about the domain and the site… NOT showing the domain doesn’t even make a customer think of "online" while adding the .com DOES.

Anytime you get a free way to advertise your business you shouldn’t think twice, DO IT! Bags, Tags, Cups, Pens etc. If your printing and pay that cost already, put your Domain Name on it as well. Get your customers to Think about your online part of your business!

Now there is a fine line of over doing it, but they were not even close!

Facts Mike, Facts!

As I said yesterday my wife and I were going to the Rascal Flatts & Taylor Swift "Bob That Head" concert. The last couple of concerts I went to, both Toby Keith and Brad Paisley used their backdrops to promote their websites/Domain Names. Why not, I mean you have thousands of people at the show, people taking pictures that make those domain names show up more then anyone would know etc. This didn’t happen last night until the final curtain drop when RascalFlatts.com was displayed. The problem with that, that’s when people were Leaving! I didn’t even have my camera out to take the picture. lol

Another mistake, was they never "Said" a word about the site or domain. The last and final mistake was when they dropped Thousands of balloons near the end of the show. The balloons had the Rascal Flatts "Bob That Head" tour 2008 Logo on it but failed to have RascalFlatts.com . Big Mistake! These thousands of balloons were all taken home by fans. The same fans that paid $72.50 for a ticket to see them, that buy Their music, Shirts and so on!

You have Thousands of fans "customers", taking stuff home (Pictures, Balloons) and no direct line for them to easily find and Purchase Your Stuff! It would of been simple to add their domain to the balloons and same as the backdrop as it changed often.

All in all it was a great time and very good concert. Being a business man myself that Understands the internet, they did drop the ball when it came to marketing their Domain Name/Website. Taylor Swift never said a word either or had any backdrop with it  on. Her backdrop simply just said Taylor Swift.

We had great seats and my wife and I had a great time! It was important to both of us to take some time and forget all these crazy money issues and put them aside to enjoy some music and fun.

With these huge digital backdrops you can see how easy it is to flash in your Domain Name from time to time!

There was a stage that wrapped around which clearly we were good and close to part of it. We just have a tiny Sony digital camera so it has nearly no zoom. These people were just simply very close.

My wife just before the show and the reason why I work so hard!

www.RascalFlatts.com and www.TaylorSwift.com are both there websites by the way.

My wife and I will be heading to the Rascal Flatts Bob that head concert tonight. www.RascalFlatts.com  Taylor Swift will be opening the show as she is a newbie but has some pretty cool songs. www.TaylorSwift.com .

It’s nice to see both bands use their exact match domain names. The last concert I went to, they marketed a website pretty heavy during the show, so we will see what happens tonight.

I will try and post some pictures tomorrow of us and who we see.

so don’t screw it up~

Why be in a "rush" when you are writing up your sales pitch? Most people write about 2 maybe 3 lines of text and that’s it. 9 times out of 10 this little write up is going to contain wording that nearly ALL domain sale write up’s have… Premium, Great Domain, Don’t miss out, Last Chance, Need to sell for another project etc.

Be Different! Put some time into your write up! Facts are GREAT! Build the HYPE! Prove it!

Provide examples of your claims. Prove your domain is Priced Right. Let people know how you handle the deal from start to finish.

Remember, your not just selling your domain, your gaining a customer with this sale!

When you push your domain for sale, you want it to be the Only Time it’s for sale. Listing and relisting and listing again just lowers the value. Get it right the first time!

The HYPE is really what sells the domain, but you have to build it. Think about this "bailout package". Congress sold it on Hype and Fear. Nobody in the public read it and I’m sure many congress and house members didn’t either!

That was a bailout package for nearly a TRILLION DOLLARS. You are likely selling something for a Thousand or a few thousand. Hype, Facts and being different will help you sell your domain names no matter what!

It’s been a busy couple of days for me. I have been trying to close up two deals that are currently open and would be nice to have the cash on hand for more buying power.

I just about have the Aftermarket.com sale (Dabbler.com) closed as I pushed the domain yesterday. Still waiting on Paypal notification of my pending eCheck that will take another 5 business days to clear, but I like to keep things in one place so I use paypal if I think it’s safe.

I just pushed Swanton.com for the sale via Sedo. Waiting on payment for that as well but should be coming shortly. I am still not all that happy with Sedo. I was in contact with my buyer and he paid on Monday. Today (Wed) checking my Sedo account no payment was showing up. After contacting Sedo, all of a sudden they stated payment was made. I also do not like the fact that they send Emails for most of their contact. I do verify via my account at Sedo, but it can be wrong. I wish the only emails they would send is a Notification to "Check Your Sedo Account" or something like that.

I have been doing more Manual Dropcatching. The reason I said Manual, is becuase I do not use any script to show you YOU can do it as well with a little work.

I simply Download the Pending Delete list via NameJet.com for the day I wish to go for the domains. I then use my DRT Software and run a scan. Once the scan is finished, I start digging. This whold process (minus the scan) should take less then 1 hour.

Then about 12:45 PM Central Time I start getting ready for the 1 PM Central Time Drop. The drop really goes on for about 1.5 hours but most domains should drop from 1-2 PM Central Time.

I use Moniker and use the "bulk check", load my list of domains (copy the list) so I can reload and reload etc while doing my searches. As the domains become available, I register them..

Some recent domains that I have been getting (some days I get none) are. EarthBreaking.com, CustomDefense.com, AffordableTransportation.com, AutoBelts.com, UltraProfit.com, PleaseAll.com, DeluxeTools.com and FortuneReader.com to name a few.

Offers are Really down for me, so if your not getting any, your not the only one. I am thinking of "trying" a couple new things so I will let you know how that goes.