Any webmaster who’s built a site from scratch was in some ways a domainer, faced with the charge of creating and committing to a name. Did you enjoy that process? Was it a stress, or was it fun too?

If you did enjoy it, then maybe domaining as a practice in its own right is something for you to explore. This article expands a little more on the nature of the domainer and the practice of domaining to help you know if you should consider pushing further down this road.

Collector

I never collected stamps, somewhat collected coins briefly when I was young, but was never really much of an accumulator type. Then I realized that it wasn’t that I didn’t like collecting, but it was that I needed utility in my connections.

More about utility in a bit, but for now, if the idea of a growing collection of items valuable for different reasons send happiness chemicals firing in your brain, give it a shot. If you buy a few and find yourself having fun, you’ll know.

Much as I made some mistakes in my domain name purchases, I get joy out of looking at my collection, especially knowing why I think each is valuable. I think that joy is necessary for a prospective domainer.

Buyer/Seller

In most cases, for me, if the only utility of a thing I buy is its potential to sell, I am generally not very interested, but it makes a difference how it’s being sold. If I need some kind of yard sale, or if I have to manage and bump an Ebay item or Craiglist listing, I’m just not the type to put in the time. The process feels to inefficient.

With domain names, though, the process is more streamlined and controllable. Virtual items are almost always easier than physical ones, as they allow global reach and instant delivery.

If you are like me, and like the buying and selling but can’t be fussed to manage things like shipping, domaining might be your best bet. If you are the type to be fine with the logistical tasks of material objects, you still have he core buy/sell brain, and might enjoy the massive marketplace of domaining.

Analyst

I won’t put my trust in someone else to valuate domains for me. I will get a second opinion from fellow domainers, but always after a strong foundation of assessment of my own.

It’s partly the search engine optimizer in me, but I find peace andfun in attacking a domain from a variety of angles and forming an opinion about its worth. It takes time to develop the analytical skills, but hopefully my site here will help with that.

All to say, if that kind of work appeals to you, domaining could be a good fit.

Entrepreneur

At the end of the day, domains are investments, whether you intend to build or sell. If you are drawn to act in the face of an opportunity, you can see specific profit potential and be compelled to move forward, then you will have more success as a domainer.

Creator

I mean ‘creator’ in two senses. One is more as a builder. I think it’s fine to be a domainer to just buy and sell instead of developing actual sites, but a builder will not only enjoy it more, but potentially be more successful, quite like someone who buys a house in need of renovations to eventually flip for profit.

The other sense is as a creative, inspired person. I will provide ways to find and assess valuable domains, but the ability to think outside the box can be huge in tapping into a non-saturated market.

Anyone can check a PR score, but if you are creative about how you can use a domain and its potential you will have more success.

Furthermore, it’s another reason I prefer it to other kinds of buy/sell collecting. I enjoy being creative, and I get to have that streak fulfilled to a decent extent considering the analytical and methodical nature of domaining. It’s about being insightful in developing new methodologies.

Webmaster

People new to web development and marketing in general can succeed as a domainer, and I will do my best to make sure that happens, but the fact is that deep experience in the relevant fields is extremely useful.

If you are already savvy about hosting, programming, design, SEO, and other skill areas, you are primed to move into this field.

Anything else I’m forgetting?