Google Kills Domain Tasting? - In a report on Jay Westerdal’s blog, Google may stop serving ads on all domains, less than five days old.
Therefore someone who registers a domain will not get any revenue information and would not know which names to keep and which to throw back within the 5 day grace period
Readers to our blog know our position on domain tasting.
We are against it.
We do not do it
We have never done it.
It is an abusive practice which leads to wholesale registrations of highly trademark infringing terms.
Although ... read more ...
Monthly Archives: January 2008
Fri 25th January 2008
DomainFest: How did we do??? - Ok, so everyone make predictions, but not too many go back and see how it worked out.
We will give it a shot
So before the domainfest auction we listed 46 names we thought were overpriced and unlightly to sell.
Out of the 46, only one did sell, food.la for $11,250. The other 45 did not sell.
Not bad.
Of the 110 we picked most lightly to sell 47 did not.
Also not terrible.
In total there were 131 domains sold
Just to be transparent
We bought:
holland.net
stallions.com
mintcoins.com
cornerbar.com
We ... read more ...
February T.R.A.F.F.I.C. Auction Could Be Record-Setting -
First cut at premium domain names looks promising.
It’s been six months since Moniker and TRAFFIC teamed up to shatter a domain name auction record, selling over $10M in domains in an afternoon. Since that time no auctions have come close to this record.
After reviewing the first cut of premium domains for next month’s TRAFFIC conference in Las Vegas, it looks like this one can shatter the previous record. There’s a big caveat though: it depends on the reserves ... read more ...
Thu 24th January 2008
Domainers Choice Awards: Ammar, Elliot and Frank take home a Gold - The first Domainer’s Choice Awards were announced last night at the closing dinner for DomainFest.
Ammar Kubba’s company TrafficZ, won the award for best Parking Company.
Ammar is a great guy, a good friend and one of our long term parking partners for our own portfolio.
We congratulate Ammar and his team.
In maybe the night’s biggest upset, my friend Elliot Silver and his blog, ElliotsBlog, won for best blog, beating out some incredible competition in two other friends of mine, Sahar Sarid’s, ... read more ...
DomainFest Second Day Closes during $2.3 Million - The second day of the live SnapNames.com auction, at DomainFest closed today with 2.3 Million in sales.
The two day total was being around 3.1 million.
Here are the domains that sold today:
$400,000 porn.net
$300,000 bookmarks.com
$195,000 photograph.com
$100,000 yemen.com
$90,000 females.com
$80,000 intimate.com
$67,500 joysticks.com
$65,000 kathy.com
$52,500 fishing.net
$50,000 beijing.net
$45,000 crocodile.com
$45,000 learners.com
$40,000 ... read more ...
For More Domain Sales, Categorize Your Domains -
Afternic claims categorized domains 2.8x more likely to sell.
If you list your domains for sale on sites such as Afternic and Sedo, you should take the extra time to properly categorize your domains. According to NameMedia, domains on Afternic that are categorized (e.g. “Education”, “Events”) are 2.8 times as likely to sell as domains that are not categorized.
This makes sense. When I search for domains to buy at Afternic, I usually browse by the categories ... read more ...
Bookmarks.com Sells for $300,000 -
Bookmarks.com first to crack six figures at SnapNames auction.
The second day of SnapNames live auction is underway, and Bookmarks.com is leading the show after 90 lots. The domain started at $250,000 and ended at $300,000. Porn.net has sold for $400,000.
I’m watching the auction live through SnapNames live bidding software. Other notable sales include:
Actor.net $20,000
Arrange.com $20,000
BankAuctions.com $25,000
Beijing.net $50,000
Boathouses.com $10,000
BusinessDegree.com ... read more ...
Wed 23rd January 2008
DomainFest Auction Nets $800K -
Here are the names that did not sell:
biddingtips.com
collegeplacement.com
discountvision.com
japanesetoys.com
lastlaughs.com
loveconfessions.com
onlinevoyeur.com
photoslideshow.com
pieshops.com
primeattractions.com
primemoneymarket.com
privateadventure.com
singleapartments.com
sprays.com
tvshorts.com
usnationalparks.com
warmsweater.com
girlfriends.mobi
castles.net
coffeebrewing.net
commandments.net
creditadvisor.net
gamestuff.net
naturals.net
poverty.net
giver.org
babyservices.com
bankdiscounts.com
baseballcity.com
commoditytips.com
computerplace.com
creditavailable.com
creditfraudtips.com
sex.la
love.la
live.la
foreign.net
checking.mobi
newsstand.mobi
bigamist.com
tasty.mobi
debtstore.com
dialupisp.com
diamondcolorchart.com
donateit.com
drugfreeremedy.com
drugville.com
dyslexiaresources.com
energyinvesting.com
energytax.com
espirits.com
boot.net
earache.net
chemists.net
fingerprints.net
clubhouses.net
fanoffer.com
discountluxury.net
cellphonedirect.net
forumvideos.com
freedigitalmusic.com
freeloanfinder.com
fundanalyzer.com
furnitureonsale.com
camerabarn.com
candygifts.com
cheesedog.com
collegediscounts.com
gamertips.com
giftplates.com
golfsuccesstips.com
greatcd.com
insuranceportability.com
filmactor.com
fanoffers.com
fightaddictions.com
lowcostmedications.com
luxuryescort.com
mists.com
petitioners.com
phoenixdoctors.com
politicalfactcheck.com
qud.com
radioparts.com
recentfilms.com
resubmit.com
rxl.com
securityrates.com
slowest.com
teenageinsurance.com
topratedcameras.com
topratedpcs.com
tradealerts.com
uploadringtones.com
guru.mobi
results.mobi
bloopers.mobi
casinobet.mobi
tickethub.mobi
wordoftheday.mobi
voteridcard.com
activate.mobi
anglers.net
greenteas.net
investorguide.net
legalcounsel.net
mediate.net
onlinechats.net
realvideos.net
taxed.net
third.net
tort.net
tradefairs.net
travelog.net
attorneyguide.org
feds.org
blouse.net
eventsremembered.com
cartoonvideos.com
miaminightlife.com
exercising.com
... read more ...
Is Sedo Worth $350M? -
Annual domain study sheds light on company’s prominence in domain market.
We know Sedo is a behemoth in the domain industry. But just how big is it and what is the company worth? Sedo’s latest domain market study, along with majority owner AdLINK’s financial reports, sheds some light.
AdLINK currently owns 75.94% of Sedo. It purchased 52.14% of the company in 2005 for EUR 14.031M, giving the company a pre-money valuation of approximately EUR 28M at the time. ... read more ...
SnapNames Live Auction Enters Day 2 -
First day has solid sales; big ticket domains to be auctioned off today.
The first day of SnapNames’ live domain auction at DomainFEST appears to have been a success. The first day included lower priced domains. Big ticket domains — including invitro.com, track.com, and athlete.com — go on auction today.
Domain Name News blogged results as they happened yesterday evening. It looks like Alimony.com was the clear winner, taking in $75,000. Butcher.com did ... read more ...
Salient, Domain Strategies Team Up on Wifi.com -
Companies ink deal to enhance wifi.com web site.
Salient Properties, which bought Wifi.com for $225,000 in 2006, has found a partner to help further develop the site. In an e-mail sent this evening, Salient Properties owner Stuart Wood (see Domain Name Wire profile) wrote:
Although I am not at liberty to go into extensive details, yet, I can tell you Salient Properties, LLC. (our parent company) has inked an agreement with Domain Strategies, Inc. to take the business ... read more ...
6 things to check BEFORE shopping a domain -
Here’s my checklist, wish it helps –
1. No. of Letters (12 is my extent – unless the a gem)
2. Industry applicability
3. Business devise acceptability
4. Size of aim market
5. Growth intensity of aim market
6. Timeline compartment a sale / growth is achieved.
Good Luck
Via: mwzd.com
Tue 22nd January 2008
Stock Market Update - As predicted last night, the down tumbled 450 points at the opening, but after the fed cut the fed fun rate by 3/4 of a point.
The fed also cut the discount rate, the rate it charges banks to borrow from the central registry by the same 3/4 point.
This was the largest rate cut by the fed since October 1984.
Stocks recovered at 11am and the Dow was only down around 55 points.
At noon, the Dow, was heading back down at 180.
Google which hit as low as $561 in the morning recovered back to $595, by noon ... read more ...
Bad Day for WallStreet Coming - By all estimates today should be a brutal day on wall street, following 4-7% losses in stock indexes all around the world.
The US markets were closed Monday for MLK day, but everywhere else, the market reacted to the Bush plan to return up to $800 to each taxpayer by spring 2008, to fix the US economy, with a overwhelming thumbs down.
As we discussed several days ago, the US economy is in, or quickly heading to a recession that will be felt worldwide.
If the Dow Jones follows suit, look for an ... read more ...
Yahoo.com Rumored to Cutting Staff - According to a report published by CNN.com, Yahoo.com is getting ready to annouce the lay off of hundreds of workers in a cost cutting measure as soon as the end of the month.
You can view the full story here:
http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/apwire/885a7463d6d44a1dddeadfc542b8444f.htm
Google+Michael Berkens ... read more ...
Domain Name Stocks Not Immune to Selloff -
Stocks of domain name related companies down sharply since beginning of Q4 2007.
Domain values may be on the rise, but domain name related stocks are feeling the heat of stock selloffs.
As of just minutes ago, the Dow Jones Industrial Average and SP 500 are down 15% and 16% respectively since the close of trading on October 1, 2007. Shares of many domain stocks are down more sharply, although some are withstanding the selloff.
The chart below shows intraday prices ... read more ...
Mon 21st January 2008
DomainFest: Ready to GO - We travelled all day to the left coast for the DomainFest show.
We will be reporting on the activities and the 2 days of auctions.
If you want to participate in the auction, you should immediately checkout SnapNames.com site.
They are using software you will have to download to participate in the live auction and/or watch it.
Now we are going to collapse for a couple of hours.
Talk to you soon
Google+Michael Berkens ... read more ...
Sport.co.uk sells for £135,000, Casino.co.uk £3.0M -
Company acquires domain name for sports portal.
British internet media company MediaCorp has purchased Sport.co.uk for £135,000 (approximately $262,000 USD). The company plans to create a sports portal with the site.
MediaCorp sold Casino.co.uk for £3.0M in cash last year, with incentives of up to £0.625m if the domain sells well. From what I can tell, this sale has not been reported in the domain name industry and would be the highest ever reported sale ... read more ...
Sun 20th January 2008
SnapNames Auction: Our Take - SnapNames.com has Published there list of live domains for its auction to be held this Tuesday and Wed.
These are our top picks out of the list, (in no particular order) as the most interesting and most lightly to sell:
Porn.net $400,000 (sex.net sold for $450K at a traffic auction in 2006)
Fishing.net $25,000
Cakes.net $59
SoapOperas.com $100,000 (purchased at a traffic auction in 2006 for 55K)
Massachusetts.net $27,500
No.org $28,000
Nursing.net $50,000
Oregon.net $27,500
Newyork.net $325,000
ar.com $225,000 ... read more ...
Fri 18th January 2008
ireport.com Sells for $750,000 - Reported by Mr. Rick Schwartz today on his blog, Rick sold the domains ireport.com and i-report.com to Cable News Network (CNN) for $750,000.
CNN has been using the term “ireport” for many months now as a platform for viewers to send in their own video clips of “new” stories.
We congratulate Rick and CNN on the transaction.
This sale, combined with Oak Hills annouced investment in Oversee.net, and the 1.2 Million dollar auction held by Moniker.com, all this week, shows continued strength ... read more ...
NameJet.com Announces New Pricing Policy - NameJet.com announced a new pricing program for it backorder and auction services
Here are the highlights:
Minimum Bid prices on backordered names dropped to $29 from $70 on “some names”. The announcement was not clear on which domains, would have which minimum prices, but we assume like SnapNames.com, the minimum price will vary depending on which registrar is dropping the domain.
The announcement did say that any backorders placed prior to the change, would be reduced to the new minimum amount, ... read more ...
Are Domain Registrars Web 1.0? Yes, and that’s good. -
Domains are the core of the web. Web 2.0? We don’t need that bubble.
TechCrunch is known for covering web 2.0 companies. So when the blog recently covered Oversee.net’s acquisition of Moniker, one reader commented that this wasn’t right for the site:
“Only domainers even know about this Web 1.0 company. How is this Web 2.0 news?”
You know buddy, you’re right. Moniker is a web 1.0 company. Here’s how it’s different from a web 2.0 company:
1. It ... read more ...
2008 Domain Survey Input -
Readers can suggest question options.
It’s almost time for the 3rd Annual Domain Name Wire Survey. This annual survey helps get a finger on the pulse of the domain community, covering important trends and predictions for the future.
Part of the survey includes selecting the best companies for particular services (e.g. registrar, parking). The number of domain service providers has exploded over the past couple years, and that’s where I need your help. For ... read more ...
Thu 17th January 2008
NameJet.com Sales - Here are some prices from notable domain auction at NameJet.com in the last couple of days:
zkw.com $7,800
helponline.com $5,700
Payoffbills.com $4,600
bostoncatering.com $2,600
dograces.com $2,200
southfloridarentals.com $2,100
travelwashington.com $2,000
hotbeaches.com $1,600
hairthinning.com ... read more ...
CNN Buys iReport.com for $750,000 -
Rick Schwartz sells domain name to media company.
Rick Schwartz has sold the domains iReport.com and i-Report.com to Turner Broadcasting System, parent of CNN, reports DNJournal. The purchase price was $750,000.
The outspoken Schwartz, the self-proclaimed “Domain King”, is known for his bullish view on domain names and for creating the popular T.R.A.F.F.I.C. domain conferences.
CNN has an iReport program where individuals can submit video news. iReport was ... read more ...