Meet Jeffrey (Jeff) Brooks, founder of Clicking Media, LLC! A multi-talented entrepreneur, professional photographer, brand strategist, and domain investor, Jeff brings a wealth of experience spanning both physical and digital real estate. From co-hosting the popular TalkingDOMAINS room on Clubhouse to capturing official photography for ICA events, Jeff’s journey is a inspiring story of entrepreneurship, community, and betting on yourself.
Favorite Domain:
ClickingMedia.com. It was within the first 10 domains I purchased, so I have to go with my baby! In my media business, the name represents clicking the camera and clicking the mouse, bringing together my photography and web world
Favorite Industry Conference:
ICA Annual Member Meeting. I love being able to rub elbows and have real conversations with people who have bought and sold million-dollar domains. The relationships are very personable, and members genuinely want to help.
Favorite Industry Blogs: DNJournal and Domain Name Wire
What is your current role and what are you or your company currently working on?
I wear a lot of hats at Clicking Media, LLC: professional photographer, domain investor, brand strategist, and web guy. More recently, I’ve expanded into experiential and immersive event marketing and consulting.
Tell us a little bit about your background and your personal story.
I’ve been an entrepreneur for most of my adult life. While working 33 years for a leading commercial paper supplier in Washington, DC, I also operated several businesses. My first company was a custom wall-mirror installation business, started in 1985. Later, my then-wife and I launched a mortgage brokerage that we operated for 13 years. Real estate investing came out of there too. I learned real estate investing through buying, holding, flipping, and remodeling properties. I’ve come to realize there are many similarities between physical real estate and digital real estate. Then came photography, which started as a hobby and eventually became a business. After resigning from my 33-year job in 2011, I went full-time into photography and entrepreneurship.
How did you get involved in the domain industry?
My introduction to domains came through the early days of the Internet after purchasing my first computer. I’m from the era of dial-up Internet and AOL. I started learning HTML and began building websites for myself and small businesses. Building websites required domain names, so I started acquiring them for myself and my clients.
What has been a key milestone or contribution in your career in the domain industry?
One of my fondest contributions was creating a room on Clubhouse called TalkingDOMAINS during the COVID era. During the shutdown, I found the domain community and developed some great friendships. One of those was Todd Ryan, my buddy today, who has been very instrumental in my involvement in the domain industry. There weren’t always opportunities for newer and intermediate domain investors to participate on some of the domain stages on Clubhouse. Todd encouraged me to start my own room and said he would co-host with me. So I did, creating TalkingDOMAINS as a place where people at different levels could participate, learn, share, and, of course, talk domains. True to his word, Todd co-hosted with me for over three years.
Why did you choose to support the ICA?
My buddy Todd Ryan was instrumental in introducing me to the ICA and helping me understand the importance of its work. I appreciate the value of having an organization advocating for my interests as a domain investor.
Can you share a prediction about the future of the domain industry?
Honestly, I have zero predictions! But what I would love to see are more stories of premium domains being bought and built out. A great example is Dr. Benjamin Hardy’s acquisition of Scaling.com. I’m interested not only in what a domain sells for, but also in what ultimately gets built on it.
What do you like most about the domain industry?
Opportunities! Every day, domains expire and become available through auctions and closeouts, creating opportunities to acquire them for a relatively small investment. I also love the low buy-in cost of domains. With my web development and entrepreneurial background, I see many opportunities to develop domains into brands and businesses and use them for lead generation and deal flow.
What do you wish other people knew about the ICA?
I wish more people understood that ICA’s work matters even if you’re not a domain investor. You may own only one domain, but if you’ve built a million-dollar business on it, protecting that digital asset matters. ICA advocates for domain registrant rights and provides valuable education and resources around domain ownership.
What unexpected doors opened for you because of your involvement in the domain industry?
Photography! I attended my first ICA Annual Member Meeting in 2024 with a camera in my backpack and discovered a photographer had not been hired. I started taking pictures, saw an opportunity, and eventually proposed my professional photography services for 2025. Photo and video captures have since grown into an integral part of the ICA Annual Member Meeting, with sponsorship support today. Photos tell a story, and I believe the visual content we’re creating is helping ICA share its story, market the Annual Member Meeting, and grow its membership.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received, domain related or otherwise?
I can’t point to one particular piece of advice, but here’s what I’ve learned since resigning from my job: bet on yourself. Believe in your ideas, your experiences, and your abilities. I apply that same belief to domains as brands, businesses, and assets of authority.
What are your main interests outside of the domain industry?
Photography, photography, and did I mention photography? Photography is my thing. I love capturing photos that tell stories!