Mike: If you were able to start your domaining career over today, with all the knowledge you currently possess, what would you do differently? My wife is my business partner, best friend and a so much more. I’m also extremely lucky to have an amazing wife that helps where needed. The one suggestion I’ll give is focus on money generating activities and cut out the fat. Patrick: I have to admit, I am disorganized and probably not the best person to give advice.
How do you manage to keep everything moving? Mike: Like many domainers, full-time and part-time, you’re a busy guy with many demands on your time. Add the tag line “What’s Cooking In The Domain World” and it’s a hit recipe. Well, I loved it so much I made it my primary blog and of course all kitchens need a head chef.
Patrick: Roughly 2 ½ years ago a fellow NamePros forum member and domainer sold me. Mike: I’m curious, where did the “Chef” in “Chef Patrick” originate? In fact that’s a big tip to new and old investors, treat your developments as unique businesses, no two are the same. I am also in the process of developing multiple websites, being the top name. In the past I would have said buy and flip, but now that there is less need to make a quick dollar I’m becoming more patient and working towards bigger sales. Patrick: I am all over the board on this one. Mike: What is your current domaining strategy? Do you prefer to buy and flip, invest long term, or develop? Why is that your preference? Bob’s marketing, although not intentional, has done a lot to bring domain names main stream. Monte has been a part of over $300 million in domain name sales and Bob has over 45 million domain names registered with GoDaddy. Most influential to the industry would have to be between Monte Cahn and Bob Parsons’. Patrick: Wow, this is a very tough question. I realized it’s a difficult question to answer, but who would you say have been the most influential to the industry? Mike: You have met and interviewed some pretty important people in the domain industry. When explaining domain names to less web savvy clients I continually use the analogies of land/houses and domains. It can either be developed or sold as-is when the right buyer comes along. I look at a domain name like a vacant piece of land. Having experience in both industries, are there similarities and lessons that can be carried from one industry to the other? Are we in a domaining bubble? I often hear similarities drawn between real estate and domaining. Mike: You come from a real estate background.
In fact we just announced this week our next cruising dates and big news that Frank Schilling will be joining us in Grand Cayman. Yes, without a doubt there will be a DNCruise 2011. And for time, well my wife and I spent hours upon hours on the phone booking people and making sure all the details were correct. I got a lot of support from fellow bloggers and friends. Total spent in marketing the first DNCruise was less than $500. I’d say this is a tie between two things, marketing budget and time. Mike: Last year you organized the successful domain cruise? How difficult is it to pull an event like that together? What would you say was the most successful part? Can we expect a Domain Cruise II? You recently announced that you left the company. Mike: Let’s start out with your role at. Aside from his busy schedule and spending time with his family, Patrick made some time to answer some questions me. You may have seen his videos on his blog or at Bido, where he provided a clip of marketing tips. He’s also the well know personality behind, co-host of Domain Masters Radio, Captain of the Domain Cruise, speaker, and a former Domain Sales Specialist for. Patrick Ruddell, aka Chef Patrick, is a real estate investor turned domainer.