NameMedia division uses marketing muscle promoting domain names to small and medium businesses.

It seems like everywhere I look these days I see an ad for BuyDomains. I’m not talking about ads targeted to domain owners, but ads targeted to end users.

There were the skyscraper banner ad on GigaOm and CitySearch. And the e-mail blast to the WebProNews list (see below). And the countless other web sites showing BuyDomains banners.

BuyDomains has mastered the art of targeting end users, especially those companies able to spend $1,000-$5,000 on domains. Domainers everywhere should thank them for that. By investing money educating businesses on the value of generic domain names, the company is elevating the entire industry. Also, domain owners can directly benefit from this by listing their domains with Afternic and selecting “expanded promotion”, which will put their domains directly on the BuyDomains site.

Here is the recent ad the company sent out through Web Pro News:

Subject: Why invest in more than one Premium Domain Name?

Dear Small Business Owner,

Tough economic times call for small businesses to get creative. Here is why you should consider implementing a multi-domain strategy for your business.

COST. A memorable, highly targeted and keyword-rich domain name, garners free organic search engine traffic. By acquiring a domain name from the secondary domain market, you are spending less money in traffic than by engaging in often costly keyword search buys or print advertising.

BRANDING. Acquiring domains related to your products and or services sends a strong and consistent message to your customers and builds brand equity while avoiding customer confusion and lost traffic. For example, a photographer’s website would benefit from camera, weddings and portrait themed domains.

GLOBAL REACH. Although the “dot com” is the most common extension, you should cast your net wider by getting as many extensions possible, including country code specific extensions. Act locally, think globally!

CAPITAL INVESTMENT. Like fine wines, domain names appreciate in value as they get older, thanks to the navigation traffic they acquire from prominent search engine positioning. By acquiring multiple premium domain names you are building a valuable portfolio of assets.

Are you ready plan a multiple domain strategy for your business? BuyDomains has the largest inventory of premium domain names let us help you find one that matches your business needs. Contact a BuyDomains consultant today at 866-830-6451 (US) or 781-839-2850 (worldwide) or email domains@buydomains.com.

© DomainNameWire.com 2008.

Pizza.com Sold (Finally)
Andrew at DomainNameWire.com is reporting that Pizza.com has finally sold to National A-1, a company that owns an extensive portfolio of high caliber domain names. No official information about the sale price was reported. The domain name was previously sold at auction on Sedo.com for $2.6 million. However the winning bidder later backed out of [...]

GeoDomain Expo Finalists Announced, Voting Open
Associated Cities has announced the finalists for the GeoDomain Awards and voting is now open. Finalists can be seen on the Associated Cities site. Winners of the awards will be announced during the awards dinner at the GeoDomain Expo in Chicago on July 12th. (c) 2008 DomainNameNews.com Visit our Calendar of Domain Industry Events. Share

National A-1 Buys Pizza.com

Active domain buyer snaps up famed Pizza.com domain name.

Pizza.com, which was auctioned off for $2.6 million at Sedo in April, finally has a new home. National A-1 Advertising purchased the domain name according to updated whois records. The whois record changed to Sedo on June 28 and National A-1 either yesterday or today.

National A-1 was likely not the original bidder. It is currently unknown how much the company paid for the domain name, and National A-1 did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Domain Name Wire reached the seller Chris Clark by phone this morning. Clark declined to provide details about the sale at this time, but commended Sedo for getting the deal done.

“Sedo went above and beyond the call of duty,” said Clark. “They really did a great job.” Clark added that he was glad he chose to work with Sedo.

National A-1 is an advertiser on Domain Name Wire and actively purchases domain names. Among its domains are Free.com, Babies.com, Antiques.com, Fun.com, Cash.com, Divorce.com, Girls.com, and Boys.com.

This seems like a big win for both the seller and National A-1, but also the domain industry as a whole. As far as the general public is concerned, Pizza.com sold months ago for $2.6 million. The mainstream press never followed up to see that the sale still hadn’t gone through. But we can assume National A-1 paid a hefty price for the domain name, even if it wasn’t the original bid amount.

© DomainNameWire.com 2008.

Domain registrar changes policy on employee bidding.

GoDaddy has changed its policy on employees bidding in TDNAM domain name auctions after a firestorm erupted last week (and over the weekend).

Domain Name Wire’s original story, which was based on a thread from NamePros and additional information from a reader, put a hot topic in the limelight. At first it was confined to the domain name industry, but over the weekend the story appeared on Slashdot, Ycombinator, and Reddit. It hit the top spot on Fark’s business page today.

GoDaddy General Counsel Christine Jones released a statement today announcing the company’s change in policy:

Go Daddy has reviewed the auction and found nothing improper.

Adam Dicker’s knowledge on the auction was no different from what any customer coming to our TDNAM site would have had.

To ensure customer confidence and to avoid any possible future questions of impropriety all GD employees are now and in the future prohibited from participating in TDNAM auctions, purchasing, sales & back orders.

For more on this story and other companies’ policies on employee bidding, see:

Expired Domain Services Let Employees Bid Against Customers

Sedo and Pool Explain Employee Policies for Bidding

For another controversy regarding expired domains, see this article at The Domains.

© DomainNameWire.com 2008.

Sedo Sales of the week up to June 30th
Selected Sedo domain sales of the week up to June 30th are featured after the break. Domain name Price Currency Type Translation .COMs tell.com 400000 USD bordel.com 33000 EUR Mess/Chaos/Brothel in French qli.com 10600 USD lhg.com 10000 EUR snq.com 9900 USD aquapark.com 6500 USD livewtv.com 6300 EUR webgreetings.com 6100 EUR ecologique.com 6100 EUR Ecological in French canadalist.com 5000 USD ases.com 4100 USD megabackup.com 4000 USD jisu.com 3988 USD ioperator.com 3830 USD kuchyne.com 3800 EUR shortcover.com 3200 USD thrice.com 3150 USD tdvr.com 3050 USD website luckyclub.com 3000 USD greenbill.com 2888 USD banktunes.com 2550 USD ocal.com [...]

Much like in the stock market, the time to buy in the domain market is when domains are “on sale.”

Fear. Worry. Panic.

Those are common words to describe the U.S. stock market these days. And it’s becoming the word of the day in the domain name market.

Over the past few weeks I’ve shifted much of my cash into the stock market, even as my current stock holdings have had massive losses. After all, why would I buy into the Dow at 14,000 if I wouldn’t at 11,500? I like to buy things when they’re “on sale”.

To be sure, the stock market may continue to go down. This may not (and probably isn’t) the bottom. The U.S. is going to experience quite a hangover from excess credit and government debt. Oh yeah, and that little “oil” and “inflation” thing (very much related). But I think it will eventually turn around. Right now you have a lot of people who are tired of seeing their stocks drop, so they’re selling at the bottom. That’s not exactly “buy low, sell high”.

You’ll see the same thing in the domain name market. Many of the people that got rich in the domain business (e.g. Frank Schilling) did it when other people were getting out. As others panic, it’s your chance to get domain names cheap.

Just this week I received a call from someone whom I tried to buy a domain from in the past. He wouldn’t sell. Now he’s trying to cover some bad bets he made and needs cash. You’re going to see a lot of people in this same situation. They need cash and they’re holding relatively illiquid assets. That means you can get them cheap, they can sell them, and both people are happy.

If you have the stomach for it, now is the time to invest.

© DomainNameWire.com 2008.

GoDaddy Registers 30 Millionth Domain Name
The GoDaddy Group Inc., which includes GoDaddy.com, Wild West Domains (its resale brand) and Blue Razor (its bulk domain brand) has reached a new milestone, registering its 30 millionth domain, RulesOfSaving.com. GoDaddy is either registering, renewing or transferring about one domain every second of every day, making it the most popular domain registrar around. Although GoDaddy [...]

ICANN Policy Brief on Domain Monetization- Domain Tasting Killing Legitimate Use of Domains
In a recently released policy brief, ICANN addresses domain name monetization (PDF) as if it were a problem to be addressed. The policy brief begins by discussing and explaining domain monetization and Pay Per Click (PPC) advertising in layman terms. The paper further goes on to discuss domain tasting and points out [...]

ICANN Policy Brief on Domain Monetization- Domain Tasting Killing Legitimate Use of Domains
In a recently released policy brief, ICANN addresses domain name monetization (PDF) as if it were a problem to be addressed. The policy brief begins by discussing and explaining domain monetization and Pay Per Click (PPC) advertising in layman terms. The paper further goes on to discuss domain tasting and points out [...]

Sedo and Pool Explain Employee Policies for Bidding

Sedo has strict policy on domain speculation, Pool outlines rules.

Many people (63 comments and counting) have commented on Domain Name Wire’s article about GoDaddy letting its employees bid on domain name auctions on its site. Several readers e-mailed requests for information on other companies’ policies. Here’s what I’ve found:

Sedo - Sedo places perhaps the most restrictions on its employees of any domain company. Kate Donahue, Director of Marketing for Sedo, explained:

Each employee (even our founders) are required to sign an agreement that they will not speculate in the domain market in any form during the term of their employment with Sedo. They must also disclose any domains which they had owned prior to their employment with Sedo. We do have one exception which allows them to purchase domains including their name, children s or family names so that they can use them for personal sites, etc.

When I inquired if that makes it difficult to attract qualified employees, Donahue continued:

We have not seen any difficulty in hiring or retaining employees with these restrictions. Our priority is to maintain a secure and trusted marketplace and it is fairly standard for employees to sign an agreement that they will not speculate in the market in which they work. I think most applicants and employees understand the need for such agreements.

That’s an important note — that many other industries have clear rules against doing this.

Pool - Pool allows employees to bid in auctions with restrictions, Pool.com CEO Richard Schreier tells Domain Name Wire. Employees can bid on an auction by either a) making a single, upfront proxy bid that can’t be changed or b) “bidding to win”. In the latter scenario the employee can’t back out of the bidding at any point. He or she has to win the auction they enter. This prevents them from pumping up the price only to stick a customer with the bill.

Follow up on Enom - In Domain Name Wire’s article about GoDaddy, I quoted an employee of NameJet saying that its employees, as well as those of partners Network Solutions and eNom, are allowed to bid in NameJet auctions. I clearly stated to this NameJet phone representative who I was and what I was writing about, and she immediately answered my question, and added that “employees are responsible for paying just like every one else”. When prompted, she also said they do not receive a discount and get no unfair advantages. Adam Strong of Domain Name News contacted a Senior VP at eNom who said this is not the case. I have not personally heard from Enom yet. Until then, I’m assuming that the NameJet representative knows what she’s talking about. There may be a disconnect between NameJet and Enom proper. But the Enom representative’s comments sum up what many domainers feel about this topic: “Even if controlled, that practice has bad news written all over it.”

Updated 6/24/08 2:00 PM CDT: Enom informs me that “our employees need management sign off to purchase a domain from Namejet, however, we do have a strict policy against employees competing with customers in auction. Basically, the only way an employee can purchase a domain from Namejet is if no customer(s) backorder the domain and management signs off.” This applies to Enom and NameJet; not necessarily Network Solutions.

© DomainNameWire.com 2008.

Sedo has strict policy on domain speculation, Pool outlines rules.

Many people (63 comments and counting) have commented on Domain Name Wire’s article about GoDaddy letting its employees bid on domain name auctions on its site. Several readers e-mailed requests for information on other companies’ policies. Here’s what I’ve found:

Sedo - Sedo places perhaps the most restrictions on its employees of any domain company. Kate Donahue, Director of Marketing for Sedo, explained:

Each employee (even our founders) are required to sign an agreement that they will not speculate in the domain market in any form during the term of their employment with Sedo. They must also disclose any domains which they had owned prior to their employment with Sedo. We do have one exception which allows them to purchase domains including their name, children s or family names so that they can use them for personal sites, etc.

When I inquired if that makes it difficult to attract qualified employees, Donahue continued:

We have not seen any difficulty in hiring or retaining employees with these restrictions. Our priority is to maintain a secure and trusted marketplace and it is fairly standard for employees to sign an agreement that they will not speculate in the market in which they work. I think most applicants and employees understand the need for such agreements.

That’s an important note — that many other industries have clear rules against doing this.

Pool - Pool allows employees to bid in auctions with restrictions, Pool.com CEO Richard Schreier tells Domain Name Wire. Employees can bid on an auction by either a) making a single, upfront proxy bid that can’t be changed or b) “bidding to win”. In the latter scenario the employee can’t back out of the bidding at any point. He or she has to win the auction they enter. This prevents them from pumping up the price only to stick a customer with the bill.

Follow up on Enom - In Domain Name Wire’s article about GoDaddy, I quoted an employee of NameJet saying that its employees, as well as those of partners Network Solutions and eNom, are allowed to bid in NameJet auctions. I clearly stated to this NameJet phone representative who I was and what I was writing about, and she immediately answered my question, and added that “employees are responsible for paying just like every one else”. When prompted, she also said they do not receive a discount and get no unfair advantages. Adam Strong of Domain Name News contacted a Senior VP at eNom who said this is not the case. I have not personally heard from Enom yet. Until then, I’m assuming that the NameJet representative knows what she’s talking about. There may be a disconnect between NameJet and Enom proper. But the Enom representative’s comments sum up what many domainers feel about this topic: “Even if controlled, that practice has bad news written all over it.”

Updated 6/24/08 2:00 PM CDT: Enom informs me that “our employees need management sign off to purchase a domain from Namejet, however, we do have a strict policy against employees competing with customers in auction. Basically, the only way an employee can purchase a domain from Namejet is if no customer(s) backorder the domain and management signs off.” This applies to Enom and NameJet; not necessarily Network Solutions.

© DomainNameWire.com 2008.

DomainerMeeting Paris Live Auction results
The following are the official DomainMeeting Paris Live auction results, as provided by Moniker. The extended online auction ends on June 26th, 2008. Aftermarket.com $125,000.00 Rainbows.com $45,000.00 Domain.pl $45,000.00 PhoneAccessories.com $25,000.00 Loans.dk $15,000.00 MotorBikes.net $10,000.00 OUX.com $9,500.00 Bavarian.com $9,000.00 Next.org $9,000.00 ComputerNotebooks.com $7,500.00 AuPair.fr $6,250.00 Hoe.net $6,000.00 Indemnity.com $5,500.00 Propriedade.com $5,000.00 PetSupplies.info $5,000.00 Appeler.fr $3,500.00 AssurancesVoiture.fr $3,500.00 CareerAdvisors.com $3,500.00 BabyMedications.com $2,000.00 DVDs.us $1,800.00 DomainerMeetings.com $1,750.00 ParisCams.com $1,500.00 Meeting.eu $1,500.00 Domain.sc $1,500.00 FreeVideos.jp $1,500.00 AutomobilePolicy.com $1,250.00 Keep.info $1,150.00 Business.vg $1,050.00 Disease.es $1,000.00 LouGehrigsDisease.org $1,000.00 Vacations.org.uk $600.00 LawFirm.es $600.00 Foreclosing.co.uk [...]

Sedo to include unpaid search results on Domain Landers
Image via Wikipedia As per requirements of their main PPC provider Google, Sedo will now include unpaid search results on Domain Landers. From the Sedo announcement as posted on their site: One of these industry-wide changes is the implementation of organic search results on parked domains. Organic searches will appear at the end of a search results [...]

Domain Aftermarket Exec Bidding On Own Auctions
As reported by Andrew at DomainNameWire.com, reports have surfaced that Godaddy VP Adam Dicker has been bidding on domain auctions at TDNAM.com, the domain name after-market site he is charged with running. Network Solutions and Enom also allow employees to bid on domain names in auctions at Namejet.com. The practice of allowing employees to bid [...]

Whois Does Not Establish Domain Name Ownership
Domain Name News was forwarded a copy of a 2007 Federal Court decision that seems to be a wake up call to after-market domain name buyers to be wary of who they are buying domain names from. The California Federal Court decision should make it crystal clear to would-be domain name purchasers that true ownership [...]

DNCartoons.com Launches
Eric Rice of DomainsForMedia.com has launced a new site and newsletter called DNCartoons.com. The newsletter will feature domain names for sale that Rice is brokering, but the site and newsletter will also be taking some well deserved shots at the domain business. As the name implies DNCartoons will feature a cartoon poking fun at the [...]

The Domain Game Now On Amazon

David Kesmodel’s “The Domain Game” book, which chronicles some of the big names in domain names and how they struck it rich, is now available for order on Amazon.com for $29.99. The book ships free with Super Saver shipping. Previously it was only available through Xlibris.

So far the book has received nothing but glowing reviews. You can read Domain Name Wire’s review here.

The Domain Game starts with the story of Frank Schilling, the legendary domainer who took his family s $200,000 life savings and invested it (and more) in domain names. It also features other feel good stories, such as that of watermelon farmer Scott Day, who now owns arguably the best portfolio of domain names in the world, including Recipes.com, Shops.com, and, of course, Watermelons.com. Or the single father who lived a life in debt until he discovered domain names.

The book also does a fine job of explaining the history of domain names and in particular the expired domains drop. It details how people like Yun Ye mastered the expired domain drop to build a portfolio worth over $100 million. But of course there s a dark side to the domain name industry, and that s where Kesmodel s long hours or research hit paydirt.

This is one of those books that everyone in the industry is talking about, and really a must-read for every domainer.

© DomainNameWire.com 2008.

Network Solutions: We ll Stop Reserving if ICANN Adds Fee

Network Solutions says it will stop controversial practice if ICANN adopts fee next week.

Next week the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) board will vote on its 2009 budget. The budget includes the much-talked-about provision to make the ICANN registration fee (currently 20 cents) non refundable once a registrar’s deletions during the five day grace period exceed 10% of new registrations during a month.

Network Solutions says it will stop its controversial practice of reserving domain names searched for on its site if ICANN implements the charge. The company believes this will eliminate domain name tasting and kiting, as well as curtail the practice of frontrunning.

It’s questionable if this will actually stop frontrunning (if it even exists, which ICANN says no one has been able to prove to it), but it will certainly hurt domain tasting and kill domain kiting.

But is Network Solutions really playing the good guy? Is the company going to voluntarily stop “reserving” domain names because ICANN passes the budget? Don’t give it too much credit. After all, the company has stated in the past it will stop the practice of reserving domains because it won’t be able to afford to. By reserving domains that are searched for on its site, Network Solutions actually takes advantage of the 5 day grace period itself. If it suddenly has to pay 20 cents per domain it reserves on behalf of customers, the practice will no longer by profitable.

© DomainNameWire.com 2008.

Bido Domain Auction Preview
As announced earlier, Bido, the low-reserve one domain a day auction, is set for launch tomorrow, June 18th. Sahar Sarid, Dan Kimball and Sean Stafford were so kind to walk us through the site. The main features of the new site are: 1 domain auction per day 7 days a week Starting at 1pm ET 8% comission All auctions start at [...]