There’s a new domain conference scheduled for early February in Los Angeles. DOMAINfest Global is using the slogan “The conference for domainers. By domainers.” The cost is $395 before January 1, $795 after January 1. DomainSponsor members may receive a rebate up to 100% of the cost if your account earns at least $1,000 during the period from December 1, 2006 to January 31 2007.
So is the conference really “by domainers” or is it “by DomainSponsor“? DomainSponsor appears to be walking a fine line. To their credit, they have opened the conference up for all to participate. This is in contrast to the “T.R.A.F.F.I.C.” conferences that are by invitation only. While it’s not hard to get an invitation to T.R.A.F.F.I.C., the concept is a little unusual. The open-to-all approach of DOMAINfest may truly be the future of domain conferences. It will be interesting to see if Sedo or another parking company will come aboard as a sponsor, since DomainSponsor is obviously organizing this event.
The December issue of Name Monetizer also includes information about NameMedia’s purchase of Afternic and information about Dotzup – a high quality parking service and Azoogle Ads – a pay-per-action alternative to PPC ads like Adsense.
Be sure to vote for your favorite parking service in the poll on the right-hand column at ParkQuick.com. iMonetize is currently in the lead.
Thanks to Andrew for the opportunity to post here.
– Leonard Holmes
Jerry Nolte says
iMonetize is currently planning on being a sponsor of BOTH Domainfest and TRAFFIC.
Editor says
I think DomainSponsor is fairly open to allowing But personally if DomainSponsor is putting the effort into creating this conference I don’t see a problem with them limiting competitors.
Some of the other domain companies have private conferences. In other industries, such as affiliate marketing and software, companies have user conferences that do not allow competitors to participate.
Ron Sheridan says
DOMAINfest Global is “Presented by” DomainSponsor and to be clear we are doing the work.
We wanted to create a open and informative event for all domainers. We did not see what we felt was needed happening elsewhere, so we stepped up.
SEDO is not only welcome, we would be honored to have them involved, and I am certain the entire event would be better served as a result, regardless of whether they sponsor, exhibit or merely attend.
EVERYONE is welcome to attend, exhibit and or sponsor.
David Show says
I am a “small guy” and never could afford these conferences before. So why would I care who organizes it as long as it is affordable and give me some networking opportunity?
J. says
I think the real issue here is that Domain Sponsor is the 800 pound gorilla of the field. So easy for them to be percieved as crowding out the small guys
Editor says
My perception of DomainSponsor is they are the big guys but believe they can win with the product and don’t need to play dirty. They seem to welcome competition.
(Disclaimer: DS sponsors this site)