Meet the team part 1 - Filipino foot soldiers - the unsung heroes in our family of companies

This week I’ll be doing a series of profiles of my staff and partners. I thought it would be appropriate to start with the team that does the bulk of the work for our web design projects. They are the unsung heroes and without them nothing would get done.

The design and development of the sites for our aeiou.com clients as well as for our internal projects are done by the fine people at Open.ph, Inc, a wholly owned entity of ours in the city of Ortigas in the country The Philippines.

Many of you know that I was one of the founders of Offshoring.com and have since sold my shares in that company. Recently we have setup a new entity there and named it Open.ph. So recently, that we don’t actually have a site up for it yet so don’t bother going to that domain.

Even though there is no site up there yet, it doesn’t mean we didn’t put a lot of thought into the new name. Think about the implications a name like Open.ph can have on the overall brand. Yes, the company there needs a brand. It’s important for recruiting, moral and focus on the mission at hand.

We’ll use open source software to keep the cost down.

Management will have an open door policy with the staff at all times.

We will remain open to new ideas and initiatives at all time.

The list goes on and on…

Anyway, back to the staff. The kindness and loyalty in the Filipino culture never ceases to amaze me. I’ve been doing business there since 2004 and won’t lie that it took me years to fully appreciate these traits.

I know now that unlike in the States, you don’t hire someone unless you truly intend on being with them for years. Your team will be loyal to you if you are loyal to them. Well, that last part is the same everywhere.

It’s really an “open” arms approach to things. We are in it together and I like it that way.

Together, we have built an assembly line system that allows us to build sites quickly and inexpensively without degrading the quality and custom touch the finished product must have for our customers.

I thank them all for their service and pledge my loyalty to them in return. We have many bright years ahead of us.

Salamat sa inyo at magandang araw sa inyong lahat.

Final Auction Inventory for Targeted T.R.A.F.F.I.C. Amsterdam released here. More names, a few .coms

It’s been a challenge to assemble this list and I’m sure everyone will have their opinions but here it is below. Please note, we’ve also added just a few great .com names just because they were too good to turn down. DiamondRings.com and FluShots.com! What great names.

As well, all bidding will be done in Euros and the reserves are represented in Euros below.

The list has been sorted here in alphabetical order for your convenience. The order will be set soon and live on proxibid.com/ricklatona.

Recent Changes

• Added Local.nl, 15,000 Euro
• Added Investors.us,  3373 Euro
• Added Paris.com.mx, 765 Euro
• Added LuxuryResorts.eu, 3520 Euro
• Added LifeInsurance.nl, 2000 Euro
• Added Vende.es, 1,500 Euro
• Added Sofa.es, 2,000 Euro
• Added Paris.me, 4,300 Euro
• Added Spain.tv, 28,000 Euro (1,000 US per year renewal)
• Added Stichting.nl, 25,000 Euro
• Added Versements.fr, 3,800 Euro
• Added FX.com.br, 15,000 Euro
• Business.de Reserve Lowered to 140,000 Euro
• Added IT.co.uk, 115,000 Euro
• Added DataRecovery.co.uk, 13,500 Euro
• Added Vakantiebon.nl, 10,000 Euro
• Added Identidad.es, 1,440 Euro
• Added VueloDirecto.es, 1,440 Euro
• Added VuelosDirectos.es 3,600 Euro
• Added Adosados.es, 1,440 Euro
• Added Donantes.es, 1,440 Euro
• Added Motoristas.es, 1,440 Euro
• Added Comprarlibros.es, 1,440 Euro

29.se    750 €
3K.co.uk    1,976 €
66.nl    3,000 €
666.nl    15,000 €
69.fr    50,000 €
85.nl    1,000 €
abc.nu    1,000 €
About.se and About.nu    20,000 €
Actors.ph and Actors.com.ph    1,080 €
Addictions.md    213 €
Advice.md    213 €
Amsterdam.tv    24,780 €
AmsterdamVacations.co.uk    360 €
AncientRome.it    360 €
Asprin.co.uk    2,274 €
Avatares.es    1,440 €
BankOfSwitzerland.ch      720 €
barbecues.us    200 €
Bible.cm    720 €
Bier.eu    7,200 €
Bioscopen.nl    10,000 €
Blackjack.co.za and Casino.co.za    35,000 €
Blog.eu    14,400 €
BowlingBalls.co.uk    1,080 €
Business.de 140,000 €
Brussels.net    6,000 €
California.cm    720 €
CallGirls.eu    2,880 €
Cams.cm    720 €
Categorias.es    1,440 €
Cena.com.mx    720 €
CestBon.com    3,600 €
CheapCars.us    3,600 €
Cinema.cm    720 €
classic.tv    10,800 €
classics.tv    10,800 €
Copenhagen.pl    200 €
Costar.es    3,600 €
CrabLegs.co.uk    360 €
Crosstrainers.co.uk    2,274 €
DataRecovery.co.uk   12,780 €
debtcollection.in    200 €
Demasiado.com.mx    720 €
Desayuno.com.mx    720 €
Diamantes.eu    7,200 €
Diamants.eu    7,200 €
Diamond.cm    720 €
DiamondRings.com    162,000 €
DiamondRings.net    4,000 €
DiamondEarrings.net    4,000 €
Downloadgratis.es    1,440 €
Draw.com    85,000 €
Drogen.eu    7,200 €
DUI.com.mx    720 €
DutyFree.eu    7,200 €
Earphones.co.uk    7,974 €
Easy.nl    10,000 €
Echtgenoot.com    216 €
Echtgenote.com    216 €
Ejemplo.es    1,440 €
Elk.co.uk    720 €
Emails.com.au    1,440 €
English.se    300 €
Euros.info    2,160 €
Euros.lu    500 €
finanzierungshilfe.de    4,320 €
Fleurs.eu    7,200 €
Flushots.com    142,000 €
Football.eu    18,000 €
fotostudio.eu    500 €
freeporn.co.uk    93,600 €
FreieKreditAuskunft.de    200 €
French.net    10,800 €
Fuel.in    200 €
germany.tv    54,000 €
Geschaft.eu    7,200 €
Girl.eu    7,200 €
Golf.cm    720 €
GolfClubs.ph and GolfClubs.com.ph    1,080 €
GolfVillas.co.uk    1,080 €
help.tv    27,000 €
Hermanos.es and Hermanas.es    2,160 €
Holland.mobi    5,000 €
home.tv    64,800 €
Honduras.hn    2,880 €
Hounds.co.uk    1,440 €
HouseAlarms.co.uk    1,080 €
Houses.co.uk    43,200 €
HouseValues.co.uk    5,694 €
Human.in    200 €
iCricket.co.in    200 €
idn - KITZBÜHELHOTELS.COM    212 €
IDN.IN    3,900 €
Illino.is    700 €
Imports.ca    3,600 €
Italianen.com    200 €
Jeux.eu    7,200 €
Job.us    25,200 €
KostenloseKreditAuskunft.de    200 €
kredit-bericht.de    200 €
KreditKarten.eu    7,200 €
LakeProperty.co.nz    360 €
LawSchools.in    360 €
lawyers.tv    18,000 €
Lending.co.uk    13,000 €
Lesbians.ca    10,800 €
LOL.co.uk    1,440 €
Lottery.cm    720 €
Lyrics.cm    720 €
Madrid.pl    200 €
Mal.com.mx    720 €
Malpractice.md    213 €
Malware.com.es    200 €
MartiniBars.co.uk    200 €
Meetings.co.uk    11,200 €
Menos.com    6,480 €
Miami.cm    720 €
Minibikes.co.uk    2,274 €
modelagentur.eu    500 €
Musica.eu    7,200 €
Musique.eu    7,200 €
navi.eu    1,000 €
NetPoker.se    300 €
NL.com    590,000 €
Nom.co.uk    1,440 €
NottingHill.com    21,600 €
Oas.is    300 €
OffshoreTaxHaven(s).co.uk    1,080 €
Onlinejuegos.es    1,440 €
Ordenadors.es    200 €
Paper.se    300 €
Paris.com.pt    200 €
Permits.eu    200 €
Permits.us    200 €
Podcast.com.au    2,475 €
Porno.co.uk    144,000 €
pornos.com.br    3,000 €
PropertyManagers.co.uk    3,500 €
prosthetics.in    200 €
QQ.nl    7,500 €
Cualquier.com.mx    720 €
racing.tv    10,080 €
RealityShows.tv    1,000 €
reclames.nl    3,850 €
Recruteurs.fr    10,000 €
Relationships.md    213 €
Report.co.uk    10,000 €
Rhodes.com    187,200 €
Roubles.eu & Rubles.eu    3,600 €
row.in     200 €
Rugs.co.uk    15,840 €
sales.tv    10,080 €
satellite.tv    21,600 €
Savvy.fr    360 €
Scholarships.ph and Scholarships.com.ph    1,080 €
ShotGlasses.co.uk    1,134 €
SintMarteen.com    216 €
skipauschale.com    396 €
Spanish.ca    3,600 €
spielbank.eu    1,000 €
sportsmemorabilia.co.uk    12,960 €
Stores.ca    3,600 €
tel.fr    5,000 €
Telecom.co.uk    20,000 €
Temas.es    1,440 €
ThankYouCards.com 32,000 €
today.tv    6,480 €
Traffic.eu    10,800 €
traffic.tv    18,000 €
TrinidadEnTobago.com    216 €
Tsjaad.com    216 €
uebernachten.de    500 €
uebernachtung.de    1,000 €
UsedBoats.co.uk    6,120 €
UsedMotorcycles.co.uk    1,440 €
vakantiebon.nl      10,000 €
Vegas.cm    720 €
Versailles.com    32,400 €
Villa.es    13,000 €
Vino.com    400,000 €
VIPS.co.uk    2,636 €
Vote.eu    10,800 €
Webcams.ph and Webcams.com.ph    1,080 €
WeddingConsultants.co.uk    936 €
WeightLoss.us    5,400 €
Wiki.eu    10,800 €
WireTransfers.co.uk    500 €
wiz.in     200 €
WTF.co.uk    1,440 €
Zapatos.com.es    5,400 €
zoetermeer.com    1,080 €

Announcing my most aggressive promotion ever!

For a limited time, until I decide to stop, I’m offering extremely favorable terms to buyers of names from my newsletter. Here it is:

Only 10% down is required and the interest is only 1.25% per month.

That’s right, I’m offering 90% financing and 15% APR. The payments are also interest only so your fixed expense will be very low. If you want to buy down the principal, I’ll let you.

There’s no better deal around. Where else could you get these terms in this economy?

Thank you Santa for the gift I wanted most

I’ve often been quoted saying that what I do for a living is answer emails. It’s really all I do during the day and somehow, through this process, multiple companies are run.

In fact, I have little time for anything else. I answer emails at traffic lights, at 2 a.m. in the morning and often, rudely, during dinner with my family! I have to, if I don’t I’m screwed. I simply can’t keep up with them.

A couple of months ago I was on a flight from Atlanta to Las Vegas. The guy sitting next to me started talking about how many emails he got. So I bet him $5 that I got 4 times as much or more. We both checked the newest emails on our iPhones while we were on the plane and when it landed we checked how many new emails downloaded. He had 22 new emails come in during the flight, which would be a lot for a normal person. I had more than 250.

If you fill out a form on this site, I get an email. If you fill out a form on DigiPawn, I get an email. aeiou.com and a host of other sites, send me emails. Every penis enlargement and v1agra company on the Internet, sends me email. When I send out my newsletter I’m bombarded by replies that unfortunately are mostly people trying to sell me their names.

I can’t and won’t use spam filters because with so many tens of thousands of domain names, the subject matter of an email that I need to see could be about virtually anything.

Christmas falling in the middle of the week is a disaster for businesses. It means that New Years will also fall in the middle of a week. It means that the world is more or less shut down for two weeks.

Yes, I have been enjoying my holidays but I’ve also used this time of only thirty emails per hour to empty my inbox and task list. I have no more reminders on Outlook that I’m snoozing every five minutes. A cluttered desk is a cluttered mind and my mind is currently uncluttered.

For now.

Financing Options at Rick Latona Auctions are Better

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Rick Latona Auctions Partners with Domain Capital.

Atlanta, Georgia USA – September 10, 2008 – Today, Rick Latona Auctions, LLC and RickLatona.com, LLC announced a partnership with Domain Capital to finance domain name purchases.

Typically, Domain Capital finances up to 60% of the purchase price, requiring a 40% down payment by the buyer. However, for a limited time, Latona Company clients have to only put 30% down on domain name purchases. The Latona Companies will take care of the remaining 10% of the down payment on the domain name.

Asked about it, Rick Latona said, “To thank our clients for their confidence and business, the Latona Companies are providing an outstanding monetary value-add for purchases through our opt-in newsletter and auctions. Now someone can buy a $100,000 name with just $30,000 down instead of $40,000 down because we are putting up $10,000 of the down payment. Domain Capital offers a great product and this is our way of thanking our customers for their business”

About Domain Capital:

Domain Capital is a financial services company that offers financing to businesses based on the inherent and recognized value of premium domain names.  Our vision is to innovate exciting new financial products and services designed to enable entrepreneurs to exploit new business models. For more information, go to www.domaincapital.com.

_________________

Note: Please ask questions about this. I realize that it may come across as a bit confusing but this is the real deal. I will make 10% of your down payment for you!

See You Down Under. Rick Latona Auctions Lands Another Contract

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

RICK LATONA AUCTIONS TO FEATURE AT TRAFFIC DOWN UNDER DOMAIN CONFERENCE

Atlanta, Georgia, USA (September 8, 2008) – Rick Latona Auctions will be holding an auction at the TRAFFIC Down Under conference on the Gold Coast, Australia. The show is scheduled to take place November 18th through the 20th. Please see the official site for details.  Rick Latona Auctions is already scheduled for an auction at the TRAFFIC conference in Brooklyn, New York (www.TargetedTraffic.com), so this will be the second TRAFFIC event for the company.  The Australian conference is being co-hosted by TRAFFIC and Fabulous.com, and it promises three unparalleled days of intense workshops, key industry speakers, and fabulous social events.

“Take a look at their agenda.” said Rick Latona of Rick Latona Auctions, “This is three solid days packed with serious industry workshops and educational sessions.  The first keynote speaker is Paul Twomey, CEO of ICANN.  TRAFFIC and the folks at Fabulous.com really have an excellent program planned.  I wouldn’t want to miss this one.”

What other industry leaders have said about Rick Latona Auctions forming their strategic alliance with TRAFFIC:

“Congrats Rick. I knew we could count on you to shake things up and keep life interesting.  You will be a force to be reckoned with.” Ron Jackson

“Rick, I have no doubt it will be a success.  Hey Rick, Is there anything in the domain world that you’re not doing?” Larry Fischer

“I believe Rick’s auction at TRAFFIC will provide the spark that the industry needs at a time and place that will make a difference.  This really is a game changer.” Rick Schwartz

Submissions to Rick Latona Auctions should be sent to Submissions@RickLatonaAuctions.com.

For more information about Rick Latona Auctions, go to www.RickLatona.com.
For more information about Fabulous, go to www.Fabulous.com.
For more information on TRAFFIC Down Under, check out their website at www.TrafficDownUnder.com, or for TRAFFIC simply go to www.TargetedTraffic.com.

About Rick Latona Auctions:
Rick Latona Auctions was founded as a natural extension to www.RickLatona.com to pursue other avenues in the domain marketplace to sell domain names.  When asked why he made the decision to launch now, Rick said, “I had been considering the idea for years.  When I realized that I was one of the largest individual resellers and brokers of domains it really became an issue of timing.  Rick Schwartz created that timing for us.  I understand what names people want and what prices will get them to bite. It’ll be more than interesting to see how this winning formula will perform in a live format.”
Mr. Latona has been in the internet and domain industry since the mid-90s and Rick Latona Auctions is just one of several companies that Mr. Latona has founded during that time.  Other ventures include:
www.RickLatona.com – RickLatona.com stays busy Buying, Hosting, Transferring, and Selling more than 1,000,000 USD worth of domain names per month.
www.DigiPawn.com – DigiPawn is the first company to recognize domain names as assets and loan money on them.  Today, it remains one of the largest companies of its kind in the world.
www.aeiou.com – Aeiou.com offers an affordable development solution for domain owners ready to move forward with their internet properties.

About Fabulous.com and the Dark Blue Sea Group:
Fabulous.com is operated by the Australian listed company, Dark Blue Sea Ltd. DBS owns more than 500,000 high quality, commercially focused, generic keyword domain names (web sites).The DBS suite of products includes Fabulous.com (an ICANN accredited domain name registrar), the Domain Distribution Network (aftermarket domain distribution and fulfillment services), DarkBlue.com (online advertising affiliate network) and Roar.com/PageSeeker.com (online advertising portals) which combine to provide a fully integrated internet marketing platform. Dark Blue Sea is listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (code: DBS) and has a Level 1 over-the-counter ADR program through the Bank of New York (code: DKBLY).

###

Contact:
David Clements
david@davidclements.com
Rick Latona Auctions, LLC
405 Brentwood Dr. NE
Atlanta, GA  30305
Ph: +1.678.468.9228

Jen Sale
pr@fabulous.com
Fabulous.com
Ph: +61.7.3007.0000

Why I like Fabulous.com

Like most large domainers I have accounts at all of the major registrars. Fabulous.com is without a doubt my favorite. There are a number of reasons for this.

My favorite thing about them is their permission based login system. I love the fact that I can have employees login to my account and register names but not transfer them out, alter the DNS or see the financial information.

There tools are by far the easiest to use.

Their site is fast.

We never have to contact their support twice. Issues get handled on the first attempt.

They are not in the United States which helps from a liability standpoint of owning so many names.

They have an excellent security. You can choose to executive lock a name which means it can’t be transferred out unless you contact Fabulous and personally ask them to.

And then there is my favorite part. They are all-around good people. Dan and Richard are both class acts.

Kudos to Fabulous.com. You deserve a shout out.

The United States has a real opportunity with Barack Obama

I consider myself an amatuer historian. I’ve read biographies on more than half of our U.S. presidents. I love reading biographies because I feel as though reading about great men helps you become one yourself. I don’t know if Obama is one of these great men but he certainly appears to have the ability to become one.

A good friend of mine once asked me what I thought all the founding fathers had in common. My answer was that they were great thinkers. Way before television and radio these men wrote letters and published them in newspapers to get their opinions out. To do so, and to do so well, they were well read themselves. All of them read thousands of books in their time.

When I hear Barack Obama speak it is like listening to one of these great men. He speaks with logic and as one that has a firm grasp of what is happening around him. It’s inspiring to know that he could be the next leader of this great country.

It’s a happy day for me now that he has secured the nomination of the democratic party.

Why I’m Sporting an Obama Banner on My Blog (+other political beliefs)

Hillary Clinton can’t win. As long as the race comes down between Barrack Obama and John McCain, as a country, I believe we’ve already won.

It is my opinion that both of these men would make better leaders than we have had in many years.
John McCain has been my favorite republican for years. It’s his liberal tendencies that I like the most. I’d bet that he’s the favorite republicans of most democrats. I strongly believe he would be the best candidate when it comes to party differences. Most republicans loathe Hillary Clinton and Obama is probably too far to the left to get much republican support. Sure I worry about his age. We’ve all seen how the office can age a person. Look at any president’s pictures from the day they took the oath until the day they left office. They all look like they gain twenty-five years not four to eight.

While I’m not convinced that Obama can get us out of the Iraqi quagmire as quickly as he boasts he can, I do think that he’s a brilliant man and capable leader. We need a charismatic person like him in the White House to regain both our international respect as well as our own national self-respect. He seems to base his opinions on logic more than anything else. Logically, most of what our government does, doesn’t make any sense. Having a logical leader would logically help solve this problem. Follow my logic?

Hillary Clinton, I believe, would base her opinions on public opinion and polls more than anything else. She’s the quintessential politician and I don’t trust a word that comes out of her mouth.

Once Obama becomes the democratic candidate, the choice gets a little more difficult to make.

I don’t mind higher taxes which is the main reason my decision to be a democrat is an easy one. This isn’t a religious statement but being Godless clinches the deal. Take out taxes and God and I can’t think of a single reason to be a Republican. I personally feel that higher taxes are a necessity for our country. We can’t possibly provide healthcare and accept our global responsibility of protecting nations from bringing humanity to a state of destruction and chaos without the funds. I’m also in the globalization business and eradicating our national debt is the most surefire way of raising the dollar’s value. A higher dollar for me would far and away offset higher taxes. I also enjoy my personal freedoms, my right to surf whatever crazy websites I want without them being illegal and I’d certainly like to see stem cell research and other emerging technologies not stymied by the republicans. For all of these reasons I’m a democrat.

On the other hand, I firmly support The United States approach to policing the world. I’m worried that Obama will pull too far away from this. I’m sure many Americans and nearly everyone else will have a problem with this statement but let me explain.

After World War I the League of Nations was established. President Wilson and his foreign counterparts believed that the way to avoid another global conflict was for a group of powerful nations to police the world. They were right but they didn’t do their job. For twenty years they never took this task seriously and punished Germany for a war (WWI) that really wasn’t their fault but instead the result of all European powers building up their force to a point where firing started and nobody could even remember why. Fascism arose due to an do-nothing-League-of-Nations and before we knew it we were in another world war.

After World War II we tried again. This time we formed the United Nations and France, Russia, China, The United Kingdom and The United States took on the primary responsibility of policing the world. It was widely considered during this period that policing the world was a necessity. All the great thinkers of the age agreed.

What are we to do now that we are the sole remaining super power? I’ll tell you. We must police the world. It is our responsibility alone until the European Union gets its own common military in order and can share the burden.

Where George Bush will go down as one of the world’s worst presidents is his horrible handling of this awesome responsibility. Just because he muddled it, doesn’t mean the work doesn’t need to be done.
So once again I believe that we’ll be forced to make a presidential vote based on the lesser of two evils. While I believe McCain is the man to make the tough military decisions he’s still a republican and ultimately I’ll vote Obama. Hopefully, once in office, he’ll continue our long tradition of policing the world without getting us directly involved with unnecessary conflicts like the one in Iraq.

If there is a God, I pray to  him now that Clinton doesn’t win.