01 February, 2007    

Hello Friends, old and new. Happy New Year.

Today we are all back after a glorious month of January on holiday away from the internet Domain business. With two exceptions, the entire administrative staff took 27 days away. Two heroes and the entire sales agent group held down the fort!

There is so much to say as I review the most successful year in the history of CubaDomainsForSale.com; successful both in growth and in overall business. Measured in sales, services performed and Domain name portfolio quantity, we exceeded every projection. More importantly, as measured in new friends made, the last twelve months are unforgettable.

Every year we add to thisr list of good friends. This past year we met and spoke with several outstanding and inspiring individuals and families from around the world. Some of these relationships are now flourishing as profitable and fun businesses.

As to the Cuba Domain name business, we have gained new and important perspective on Cuban business and political timing and the way the country really works. We have been fortunate to 'meet' a couple of individuals with an intuitive knowledge on the subject. As regards the business of our business, here too we have made good contacts with far thinking and experienced business minded people who seem to have a desire to know the unique science which is the investment in, and the sales of, Cuba related Domain names.

Following are a few of my musings on the year that has past, my view of the year to come and what it may bring.

COMING THIS YEAR
More business partnerships with new friends. Our internet property portfolio has opened some interesting doors all of which we look forward to entering.

Advertising, page by page. In the past year, we have teased ad space on some select pages. As the calls and e-mails have come in, policies have been codified and decisions have been made. You will see tasteful managed ads, soon.

A book..... yes, another book. We have been preparing a minor work on one of our favorite subjects, Cuba. The announcement will come here sometime in the fourth quarter of 2007. Do we have the time? No. Will we do it? Get your money out! Now as of today, 26 February we have a clue..... a CUBAN COOK BOOK, coming soon!

More joint ventures utilizing our Domain properties, site Design and Hosting. In the third quarter of this year, we will increase Domain name leasing and management of some Domain names in commercial ventures.

By year's end, we will begin accepting payment, both by wire transfer and as we have always done, by certified funds, in € - Euros as well as in £ - Pounds Sterling and in ¥ - Yuan. The currency of standard at CubaDomainsForSale.com will continue to be the $ - United States Dollar.

We are still trying to figure out how to do our job better. Help us, HERE.

GOING THIS YEAR
The brokerage part of our business. Our business plan is to always increase service and brokerage has been a valuable building block of this business. However, due to market realities, in 2007, we will act only upon our own internet properties. There will be exceptions; this is the rule. ALL existing Domain brokerage relationships will be honored, spirit and letter, to the satisfaction of our brokerage associates.

NOT CHANGING THIS YEAR
Your account executive has not and probably will not change. Every agent has signed a new contract through June 2008. All day-to-day sales will be handled as always. To a lesser extent and in certain special cases I will still be involved. I plan to go to an all-electronic, on-line system, of some sort, in the first half of next year.

Our service will not change in 2007, except as we figure how to make it better.

THE CUBAN DOMAIN NAME MARKET
Having been in the land and development disciplines for most of my business life, I easily apply lessons learned there to the Domain name business. Market realities reveal a finite number of good Cuban Domain names remaining. The cost of Domain names that we purchase to hold for resale is up by 655% in the last 12 months. Needless to say, our November 15th minimum price increase from $850.00 to $1,100.00, therefore, is not realistic, long term.

DOMAIN NAME PRICING - PRICE REQUEST
In July of 2005, there will be a blanket price increase in the minimum priced Domain names, now $1,100.00 (U. S.) Premium Domain names and 'Suites' of Domain names, a market that we invented and dominate, will also increase proportionately. It is almost impossible to acquire the four Domain names comprising a Suite. Our theory of the value of owning all four Domain names, both Cuba and Cuban along with their plural counterparts, when the cost of search engine placement is so high, and squatting is so prevalent, has been proven to be correct and to be a prudent business strategy. We presently catalog over 400 Suite Domain name sets.

POLITICAL CONSIDERATIONS AND THE DOMAIN NAME BUSINESS
In this category, we have views public and private..... business and emotional. As regards CubaDomainsForSale.com, we accept the views of the U. S. administration and live by the spirit and letter of those views. We also bow to the realities of the sovereign Government of Cuba and are grateful for the consistency and transparencies of their policies and the evolution of their oversight.

Our guess is that we see Cuba cracking open to an American market in 2005. Yes, we are just simple enough to display our naiveté for all to see (the burden of leadership you know!) That is our best guesstimate. We see the U. S. Presidential election as having bearing on this. It is obvious that others agree, as our 2004 Cuba Domain name business is brisk. We are planning additional changes to our acquisition and sales strategies against that day.

I have some personal concerns about merchantable land title in a new Cuba. This directly affects the speed with which all value in the re-emerging business culture will be established. I personally have done a great deal of research on the subject. Frankly, it is a mess that promises to be even worse than that in Eastern Europe. All final controlling decisions will be political. The Cuban people, as a culture, are among the most politically astute in the world. My trust, confidence and investment is in those strengths. I plan to issue a White Paper on the subject of Land Titles in the New Cuba later this year and will request qualified input for publication here.

On a personal note, there are other business interests that I must personally service. I can only wish that CubaDomainsForSale.com were the only call on my productive business time. I have come too many miles down the business road to allow the soft spot in my heart to guide the softer spots in my head!

Well my friend, I am about to run down here. I am grateful for your business and for your friendship. This past year, 21.3% of our business was with repeat clients, many just like yourself. Of that fact I am most proud. I am told by the staff that I could stay and eat for a year in Cuba, if I were to accept every offer of hospitality. The warmth of that thought, in this new year, I shall hold dear. I wish all the best to you and all that you hold dear.    Dan.

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