Greetings

[Olé]

Hello to everyone,

Ready to join the fray- I think :)

First question: which translator/dictionary do you use? I have tried a few with mixed results. Is there a program/website that translates one keyword entry into multiple languages?

Look forward to learning from all and to buying my first IDN.

[Clotho]

Welcome Olé!

I find that I use the Google translator the most and Jim Breens from time to time. IDNTools has an excellent and very comprehensive list of dictionaries though so if I ever need something else I always start there first. The list can be found here: IDNTools - Resources (http://www.idntools.com/links.php)

[DomainDialect]

Welcome :)

[Olé]

Thank you! And thanks for the link Clotho.

[domainguru]

try this for a cool tool that translates keywords into all languages supported by google translate API:

http://www.name.com/domain-suggestions/

[sbe18]

Welcome to IDNF.

Using online resources is important.
But checking with native speakers is important for many names.

Google stats, google adwords traffic, google adwords keyword tool, are important as well.

best regards,
Steve

[Olé]

Thank you, Steve.

I am a "stats" freak, so I have that covered (I am currently addicted to IDN.bz) and I would think it is crucial to confirm any investment with a native speaker.

Having traveled to many countries and resided in a few, I am acutely aware of the "unintended consequences" non-native speakers face when communicating with native speakers and often, in my case, to the great amusement and delight of the natives. Once in Egypt, while asking directions of a shop-keeper, who only glared at me in response, his son emerged and when he found out what I was asking, he literally fell to the floor laughing. When he could speak, he told me that I was asking his father "why there was a man lying dead in the road". :)

I do have another question regarding investment in this niche. It seems that Chinese dot coms and Russian IDNs might hold particular promise based on the populations and unique qualities of the languages. I can understand speculation in these areas. However, when reviewing sales reports it seems that German IDNs have dominated sales for quite some time with very few reported sales in other languages. I realize that many sales are done in private or on forums so this doesn't paint an accurate picture, but for other IDNs outside of the ones mentioned, is it correct to assume that the risk-reward is greater due to less liquidity and a more distant payoff?

As a new investor in this space with a long-term holding mentality- I am willing to sit on a name and develop it for years if need be- but are we talking months, years, or decades? I am more than willing to take risk but am trying to get a handle on the macro-evolution of the space and where people feel we are at now.

I know this a "loaded" question with many possible answers but would appreciate any feedback on market dynamics that "might" help me to avoid critical noob mistakes.

[spacey]

welcome , just got here myself :)

[Olé]

thanks Spacey

cheers!

[sbe18]

For some one entering IDN's now.

I would approach a vertical and horizontal portfolio strategy.

ex.

Health care names.
Supplies or equipment names.

Geographical names with 'tours' or reservations or hotels ...

Google and Baidu both have confirmed that 3/4/5 word searches are the vast majority of searches.

So in the 10 largest pop languages with IDN applicability:

chinese
arabic
spanish
portuguese
german
french
hindi
russian
japanese
korean

great 2 word names are vast for harvesting....

some names are great for a business to own...
some names are great for PPC and affiliate monetization..

not many are spectacular enough to be both....

s/

[domainguru]

For some one entering IDN's now.

I would approach a vertical and horizontal portfolio strategy.

ex.

Health care names.
Supplies or equipment names.

Geographical names with 'tours' or reservations or hotels ...

Google and Baidu both have confirmed that 3/4/5 word searches are the vast majority of searches.

So in the 10 largest pop languages with IDN applicability:

chinese
arabic
spanish
portuguese
german
french
hindi
russian
japanese
korean

great 2 word names are vast for harvesting....

some names are great for a business to own...
some names are great for PPC and affiliate monetization..

not many are spectacular enough to be both....

s/

Overall great advice, but as a Thai specialist, I have to defend my corner and say that if you want to acquire volume search terms, the top Thai search terms competes on an even playing field with even the very top tier IDN languages, and certainly streets ahead of languages like Hindi.

Check out "music" or "games" on Google insight.....

Thai is easily top ten for me if you are talking "volume search terms". If you want to talk "potential for volume search terms in 5, 10, or 20 years", sure ...... but then it is all guess-work not search reality.

[touchring]

is it correct to assume that the risk-reward is greater due to less liquidity and a more distant payoff?


yes, that's right, it's a long term bet. besides german, arabic seems to be next in terms of native interest. chinese is a distant third.

[Olé]

Thanks to everyone for the discussion on this thread. Reps given to all.

After some thought, I think I will diversify across several languages in the financial/health sectors. Its probably best to invest in "what you know" and I've had some success with good PPC names in the non-idn world.

sbe18- excellent. That's exactly what I was seeking- in my long-winded way:)

domainguru- I did check search on some Thai names. Quite an eye-opener. I have a special place in my heart for Thailand. For that alone, I will probably reg/buy one or two.

Cheers.

[domainguru]

Sentiment for Thailand is great, but hopefully you can see there are more reasons than that to invest in Thai IDNs.

You know, if everyone says "Russia + China" to newcomers for places to invest their IDN $ in, you know the outcome right ..... prices for those domains will get way out of kilter, and value will be found elsewhere.

You don't have to follow the latest advice to be a smart investor. In fact, many smart investors do exactly the opposite.