Unusual Business Ideas That Work:
PickyDomains.Com is a perfect example of how to turn one’s talent into a profitable business. With ever expanding Internet and tens of millions existing websites, finding an available domain name that’s not already taken by cybersquatters can be a real nightmare.
But one man’s problem is another man’s solution. Rather than to shell out hundreds or thousands of dollars for a domain name on the aftermarket, an increasing number of web entrepreneurs turn to professional “domain namers�.
While most naming agencies charge a non-refundable fee that can be as high as $1500 for a corporate domain, one service that unites 17 professional domain namers from countries like United States, Russia, Australia and New Zealand, decided to offer a risk-free service that costs only 50 dollars per domain.
After 50 dollars are deposited, clients start getting a list of available domain names via e-mail for a period of 30 days. If they see a domain they like, they register it and notify the service about domain acquired. The individual, who came up with the name, gets $25, the other half going to the service. If no domain is registered, the money is refunded in full.
While the idea is brainlessly simple, it appears that PickyDomains.Com has no competition with its risk-free business model. But that is almost certain to change as more people find out that finding available domain names for other people can be a profitable business.
Photo by hugoslv.
Fleur on February 3rd, 2007 at 2:06 am
That is really an innovative idea. I hope you don’t mind if I’ll also blog this one :)
BTW, I think you need to check your link as it has an extra ‘w’
XDomainer on April 12th, 2007 at 5:18 am
No offense to the topic but we’re in the net and we have to be on alert to the info we receive
One of the major reasons this service has low competition is because there is no demand
Do you really believe a professional domain will charge $25 for half/one hour of work and play with possibilities to get even these money (in case the customer like his results or register his name)
Regarding the site
I read somewhere that they made a lot of money already
Is this a joke ?
Their examples are parked or non used domains
In Google they didn’t even get a PageRank
Their site is 2 months 17 days (According to Whois created on 26.01.2007)
Their links are mostly from blogs
Also there are tools and forums right now that they give these services for free, together with popularity reports, overture queries and more
My guess is that is one man show and he’s trying to advance his work through blogs (which is not bad) but it’s certainly not the way he presents it
Cynthia on April 21st, 2007 at 9:26 pm
Hm, I am also doubting how legit they are, and whether they would really pay the contributors. Say I do contribute a domain and it gets used, what if I don’t get paid? Unless I keep checking all the domains I’ve suggested *regularly* to see if they’ve been registered, I also wouldn’t know if the idea came through PickyDomains. Also under registration it doesn’t even ask for your Paypal email for depositing funds that you do earn from a sale.
Just sounds to me like a service where tons of contributors are enticed by the idea of getting paid for picking domains, and the owner gets to bank on all these suggestions for free.
The process just isn’t transparent enough for me to recommend to others. It would help if the site also had a Blog for updates.
John on August 24th, 2007 at 1:46 pm
Hi
I signed up at this site and like Cynthia said, there was nothing that they asked for like paypal info. I suggested a few domain names, the person actually liked them. I emailed the site admin about how I receive money, I haven’t even gotten a reply. This seems like a scam to me. I tried looking up to see if others are having the same issue, I can’t find anyone with the same problems. Am I the only one whos not getting a reply from the site admin.
John
william on September 18th, 2007 at 10:20 am
I also signed up for this website and came up with domain names that 4 or 5 different subscribers said they liked, but I never received any money. The listings made by people who said they liked the names I came up with are no longer there so they apparently got what they wanted but I got nothing.
also pickydomains is blogged alot on http://www.uncommonbusiness.blogspot.com , and if you are wondering why it’s because they’re owned by the same person. He makes sure to blog about it atleast once every other week.
This week he states that pickydomains is estimating profits in the six figure range this year. Since the site began they have only had around 40 customers, which totals $2,000 IF they choose a domain that gets suggested. It’s mid september, so apparently he’s expecting to make around $98,000 in the next 3 months.
Mike on January 2nd, 2008 at 4:25 am
I submited some domain names and it said that they got published am I supposed to get an email from somebody or something for my money? I to also find it funny that they dont need any of my paypal info.
Christina on February 27th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
Hello…
I’m very interested in starting a blog.
You seem to be the master of this….and I wanted to ask you something.
I have built my knowledge on blogging by learning about it myself online. I know how it works….but I cant seem to pick myself up and doing…I feel as if I have a fear.
Do i just start? where do u recommend i start it…Thank you in advance for your reply.
Christina
kevin on February 29th, 2008 at 1:23 am
been searching for a way to make say $100 a day on line for weeks, with no luck yet .. the idea above sounded promising .. but the comments have set the story straight .. the opportunity to read comments is invaluable.
DomainerDude on February 29th, 2008 at 7:50 pm
I have also tried picky…….Here is a problem not mentioned yet. I came up with dozens of clever names that I submitted. Funny thing was, when I went to other ads that were wanting similar types of names, I found that my names were already submitted to those buyers also, but not by me! Do you think that picky takes names contributors submit and resubmit them to other buyers and if selected pocket the entire fee themselves? Another problem is I submitted to 15 buyers but the picky system only list about 8. I contacted them and got nothing but a rude “We already know that”, and it still isn’t fixed. And to Mike in the post above: When picky says your name is published, it means that it passed the picky domainers review and has been submitted to the buyer for viewing. I would not recommend any site that does not have policies, terms and conditions and privacy policy listed on the site!!!
Cliff on March 28th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
I submitted names weeks ago. All were published and that was the end of it. I didn’t receive a like or dislike from them. I tried contacting by email, but I didn’t get a response. I have searched for anyone who has made money from submitting names. Maybe someone one day will post here and surprise me. It’s a great business model. I wish someone legitimate would give them some competetion. They should charge / pay more.
TP on April 23rd, 2008 at 11:38 am
I joined yesterday and submitted 67 names. 57 of those names were published and I’m waiting to see if they will be liked or disliked by the clients. After reading all of your comments I’m very dissapointed. I thought it might be too good to be true. It really irritates me that someone else could be profiting from my ideas. Is there anyway to hold picky accountable?