Monday, February 25, 2008

A Fractional Domaining Opportunity In Albuquerque?

As someone who years ago worked for a community newspaper for several years, and as an individual who appreciates the many positive contributions newspapers make to society, it saddens me when I learn that a newspaper like the afternoon daily Albuquerque Tribune has printed its last issue.

Albuquerque, New Mexico now has only one major daily newspaper and a huge void in the space the Tribune filled in reaching out with news, features, and advertising content to its daily circulation of 9,600. Lack of competition usually does not help promote greater opportunities for wide expression of opinions, better coverage of news, and lower advertising rates.

E.W. Scripps, the Tribune's parent company, has been seeking a buyer for the newspaper's remnants, including the Tribune's web site (ABQTrib.com) and archives. (Note: According to Alexa.com, the web site has 1,685 sites that link to it.)

It is sad that many columnists, reporters, and others who have developed a loyal readership base over the years will now be silenced -- at least in the print medium to which the readers were accustomed. I wonder how they would fare online under a "Tribune" umbrella?

Does this seem like an opportunity for a Fractional Domain Ownership group -- maybe including some former employees -- to form and "revive" the Albuquerque Tribune as perhaps a "web-only" news site/local portal to serve Albuquerque?

To the right group, the domain name and archives could be a worthwhile investment.

We'll see what happens.

Fusu's Historic Launch: Fractional Domainers Buying eel.com, Other Domains

Well, the official launch of Fusu, the world's first domain stock exchange, was announced on February 19th, 2008 at the T.R.A.F.F.I.C. WEST Domain Conference and Expo in Las Vegas, marking a historic event in the domain industry and in the emergence of Fractional Domaining as a possible route to liquidity for domain owners and as an investment option for individuals and businesses.

If the Initial Domain Offering (IDO) of the domain "
eel.com" (initial value = $250,000) is an indication, interest in obtaining fractional interests of premium generic domain names may be high. According to a Fusu news release on Saturday, the eel.com IDO -- available until tomorrow, February 26th -- was already 80% subscribed.

The participation of domain industry leaders David and Michael Castello of
Castello Cities Internet Network, owners of eel.com, in the first Fusu IDO certainly demonstrates their support of the fractional domaining concept and lends credibility to the Fusu exchange model.

More details about the Fusu IDO process are available at:
https://www.fusu.com/node/172

Other domains currently up for auction via Fusu IDO's are: Warning.com (ends tomorrow, 2-26), Flowers.mobi, owned by "Domain King" Rick Schwartz (ends Wednesday, 2-27), and rvx.com (ends Friday, 2-29).

If you are interested in learning more and/or being a part -- and grabbing a piece -- of history, then NOW is the time to visit
Fusu.com!

And, if you get involved and become a fractional domain owner via one or more of the Fusu IDO auctions, please share your comments about your involvement and the process here! Thanks!