What is a domainer?
Tuesday, February 17th, 2009Information Found On Wikipedia
Domainer is a slang term for referring to individuals, companies, or organizations whose business model includes accumulating a portfolio of generic internet domain names. They consider their conduct in buying, selling, and developing domain names to be in the same spirit as real estate investing. Domainers generate revenue via domain parking as well as through the resale of domain names and by developing domain names into fully functioning websites. Domainers are also sometimes referred to as domain investors and commercial registrants and bulk registrants. Domainers are able to purchase domains more cheaply from Domain name resellers than the average consumer due to purchases in bulk.
As of December 2006, there are an estimated 8,000 to 10,000 individuals globally who make buying and selling domain names a part of their business. USA Today reported that many Domainers prefer to remain anonymous due to the competitive and controversial nature of their business. In the same report, it was stated that known sales of 5,851 domain names generated $29 million in 2005, compared with known sales of 3,813 names for $15 million in 2004.
A domainer engaging in domaining should not be confused with a domaineer who practices domaineering. Domaineering is the web-based marketing business of acquiring and monetizing Internet domain names primarily for their use as an advertising medium rather than speculating on domains for resale as is the main focus of domaining.