How many people have had difficulty with their name, re-branding or domain name?

Hey everyone - My name's Preet.

I'm just some dude who (after a sh***y experience trying to purchase the domain name for my first ever business [with no success btw], promised myself I'd always use a startup name or brand based on 'domain name' availability.

2-3 years later, after buying a handful of domains originally for some indie projects (late 2019), I've now ended up with a large portfolio of domain names, many aftermarket sales, UDRP complaints (can google: Data Site LLC vs Preet Singh) and lots of experience.

I've always been a solopreneur but while looking for a potential co-founder last year, I started attending local startup events in Sydney and noticed a really big gap (or lack of understanding?) between domains, branding, radio test, and the importance of it all.

With knowledge via ChatGPT, OpenAI, Midjourney, Stable D etc. getting cheaper and cheaper, I know for a fact (based on conversations with some industry-leading names, some multi-billion dollar co-founders who I met through domain name sales etc., and the data I get from my domains and offers too) people are slowly learning the importance of branding but if you have any stories worth sharing, I'd love to hear them.

PS: Before anyone judges me for 'having lots of domains', I understand your potential frustration but I assure you I have much much better intentions (I give many of them away, actually put some up for resale and would happily help/ give a domain name to someone who has a project I really think is worth backing, for free) than many conglomerates who buy domains (thousands and thousands of them - including companies you wouldn't really think 'are in the domain name game' such as PwC, Empire State Building etc. LOL), and never ever let them see the light of day as a startup again*

*rarely ever consider reselling (exceptions include Elon convincing eBay to sell him back x.com).

I'm looking to start a podcast soon where I'll be going through:

a) Daily domain names (I find a lot, daily - can't buy them all) and expired domain names + those for sale via reverse auctions (which I think are worth it whether they be brandables, short names or just great fits or niche products and services).

b) Trademarks, UDRP, RDNH cases (many big companies who feel like bullying little owners or those with 'the ideal domain name' end up taking part in something called 'reverse domain name hijacking' - and it's not only frustrating as h**l, but it's avoidable, and the more light we bring to this practise, the less (I hope) companies will take part in this type of unethical conduct. Go to rdnh.com for examples :) Feel free to ask me questions if you have any also.

c) many of the domains I have (many .com's, .ai and other and am more than happy to) and hoping to find like minded people, not-for-profits, and other projects (open source etc.) or uses for some of the domains I have

d) recent domain name sales. E.g. connect.com was recently sold for $10m USD I think.

Sure, for those who have 'some experience' in the branding/ domain name space, dnjournal.com does a good job at outlining many, but sometimes it's a little late and sometimes, there's many other sales it misses which you can find by browsing the right twitter personalities, blogs and/or other sites like namebio.com) and (rarely but I do) going through public companies' reports and filings to figure out how much they paid for domains (my backgrounds in accounting, thankfully).

e) going over branding stories such as

• the fact that the 'iPhone' brand/ name patent is NOT owned by Apple - and actually owned by Cisco who Apple pays a royalty/ licensing fee to use. This (unlikely) may have changed, but until recently, was definitely the case.

or

• how convert kit tried to rebrand to seva.com (still owns it if you go on to seva.com yourself you can read the 'reverse' decision) and how it was a great example of 'focusing on short but not focusing on context/ translation/ radio test and enough due diligence'.

Also, I want to keep the podcasts as short as possible as some of the existing domain name podcasts (no offence and I mean this in the absolute nicest way possible as some of these people are godsend and I have learnt a LOT from them - tend to drag out and assume a lot of the listeners are 'domainers' where as I am coming from the point of view of 'a solopreneur in an AI driven world, who wants to ensure branding isn't the thing that lets me down, but instead helps me stand out - and trying to share this knowledge with others too).

Lots of creative ways to use domain names for campaigns, redirects, blocking competition or gaining an edge on other contenders. I NEVER ever intentionally (this is called bad faith) take someone else's name, register a domain name that's someone else's brand (I focus on dictionary words, or combinations of).

Please share your stories, any feedback and any advice - I would really really appreciate it.

PS: For now (the irony, as I found it extremely difficult to settle on a name for the podcast) it'll be called one of the below

worldsbestname.com, nameswarehouse.com, sitehustles.com or just my name (ideally not) preetsingh.com

Thanks in advance and if you have any questions, I'm always happy to help (not here to sell anything, just share what I know and meet like minded people, while figuring out my own startup called 'rekn.com - real estate knowledge network), a video first, social-maps based livestreaming platform for all things property, diy and renovations. But that's for another day