I just read today that biggest shopping retailer Amazon.com .
They are selling books,electronics ,computers, apparel bought another retailer Zappos.com for the amount of $847 million. WOW!

“We are joining forces with Amazon because there is a huge opportunity to utilize each other’s strengths and move even faster towards our vision of delivering happiness to customers, employees and vendors,” said Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos. “We will continue to build the Zappos brand and culture in our own unique way, and we believe Amazon is the best partner to help us do this over the long term.”

Original resource

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The European Domain Name Register announced low price of new extensions .IM, and is selling for ONLY 2 Euro limited to next six months.

Dot IM stand for the Country Code TLD of The Isle of Man. Independent self-governing crown located within the British Isles,and they are separate from United Kingdom. The Isle of Man is with no wealth tax, inheritance tax, no capital gains tax, and is “ low tax economy”.

Dot IM not only represent The Isle of Man, but it can be used to personalize your business or website.
Domain name with .IM extensions cost is only 2 Euro , and will be available for next 6 months.

Search for available domains Today

Domain name market changing, and there are more domain extensions to be announced in future. Make sure you subscribe to ProTycoon Feeds or by E-mail to stay tuned.he

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I spoke a few months ago about how GoDaddy are pushing the .me to their customers and trying to increase the popularity of the extension. Going by some of the latest sales, they have succeeded, at least in the domain trading world.

Domain Name Wire yesterday reported about the latest short .me domain to sell for thousands. Capitalising on the popularity of Twitter, someone managed to sell the domain Tweet.me for $11,505. I actually think that the domain could have went for a lot more, considering how popular that term is.

Some of the other top .me sales include preview.me for $2,605, aweso.me for $2,005 and bookmark.me for $1,755 (which I think could have sold for more).

There’s nothing on the tweet.me domain just now but I have no doubt that a Twitter script or portal will be launched there over the next few months.

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About a month ago, Toys R Us purchased the premium domain Toys.com for a whopping 5.1 million dollars. I always thought that super premium domain names were traded between 2 or 3 parties at most and the final price took weeks to agree and involved a lot of haggling back and fourth.

So I was intrigued to see that Toys.com was sold in a phone auction. DirectNavigation covered the telephone auction last month .

There was a lot of breaks during the auction so I assume that behind the scenes were a lot of people discussing whether the bid was going too high. The bidding also seemed strange at times. For example, after toyrsrus bid $4,815,000, National A-1 responded with a bid of $4820,000.

Here is the transcript in full :

Bidding has finished.

toyrsrus bids $ 5,100,000

National A-1 bids $ 5,000,000

National a-1 asks for 10 minute break

toyrsrus bids $ 4,915,000

National A-1 bids $ 4820,000

toyrsrus bids $ 4,815,000

bidding is going quick so i’m going to skip a few a

National A-1 bids $ 4,530,000

toyrsrus bids $ 4,525,000

National A-1 bids $ 4,505,000

toyrsrus bids $ 4,500,000. they raised their own bid

break given until 4.55 pm est

National A-1 asks for 15 minute break. Lots of bickering between toysrus and national a-1 going on over time alloted for break.

toyrsrus bids $ 4,300,000

national A-1 bids $ 4,155,000

toyrsrus bids $ 4,150,000

5 minute break announced

national A-1 bids $3,755,000

toyrsrus bids $3,750,000

national A-1 bids $3,555,000

toyrsrus bids $3,550,000

national A-1 bids $3,305,000

toyrsrus bids $3,300,000

i’m live on the call. 6 bidders total. 5 remain. National A-1 seems determined as they immediately bid when needed. Toys R Us as well as the rest holding cards very tight

toys r us asks for 2 minute break

national A-1 bids $3,255,000

toyrsrus bids $3,250,000

national A-1 bids $3,205,000

toyrsrus bids $3,200,000

national A-1 bids $3,150,000

toyrsrus bids $3,145,000

national A-1 bids $3,140,000

toyrsrus bids $3,135,000

national A-1 bids $3,130,000

its been announced, bid increments have to be at least 5k.

a break as taken place to discuss bidding increments among the bankruptcy lawyers. we are not able to hear this. FYI – bidding is a very slow process. break should be over at 3:55 pm est

toyrsrus bids $3,125,000

national A-1 bids $3,100,000

toyrsrus bids $3,050,000

Frank Schilling just formally dropped out.

toys.com current bid is $2,900,000 to national A-1. i will update as bidding occurs.

Link : Toys.com – bought by Toy R Us for $ 5,100,000

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To move things along, I am going to list the final ways to value a domain, in no particular order. Some of these  methods and ideas can be used together to create a more complete profile of a domain’s value.  So far we covered:

1. Domain estimator tools
2. Overture results
3.  Previous sales prices

Let’s look at a few more ways that domainers can get a value on a name:

4.  Paid domain appraisals:   Paying a “professional” or auction service a fee to evaluate and price your domain has been around for awhile.  The top ones that come to mind are Moniker, Sedo or even GoDaddy. All of these companies have an auction service, and all of them claim to have the right expertise to price a domain.   Prices vary from $5.99 to $50 per domain. My personal experience has been a bit strange in that the 3 domains I had appraised at different times (same company) came back with exactly the same price, $2,000. Here’s one domainer’s review on Moniker and Sedo appraisals.

5. Price based on Revenue: Some domains are sold on a formula based on how much the domain earns each month in revenue (say from parking the domain). This is called, “multiples” and while it’s a very tangible, clear way to determine a price, some domains may be good and have no revenue. Normally with multiples, someone will say I will buy “X” type of domain earning $30 per month, and pay 2 years earnings. 30 X 24 months = $720 for this domain. Is that a good price? Well, it’s up to the seller.

6. Personal Experience: This may be a gut feeling on price, but that isn’t tangible or the same number to each person. Some people have gotten the opinion of other domainers, but the answers can really vary. If you are buying domains in a particular vertical (or topic), after time you do get a feel for pricing in that category. Someone who works with large numbers of domain sales may have a better feel for pricing, but it really comes down to finding a buyer who will pay a price you feel good about.

7. Pick a Number: Believe it or not, some people just pick a number they like. Now, this doesn’t work a lot of the time, but if you have very good, or even a premium .com domain, you can wait until you get the price you want or name your price. That’s not the average domainer. But if you can cover your costs and are willing to wait as long as it takes, then this approach has it’s place.

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Yesterday I covered some domain tools that provide a price valuation (some call it an “appraisal,” but I think of an appraisal as coming from a real person doing an evaluation) and perhaps some extra keyword data thrown in, like Estibot does.  To update, I have not heard a response from Domain Valuation, but it hasn’t been 24 hours.  I did get a response from Nameboy with a link to my domain results in the e-mail. There’s a lot of standard explanation of what goes into the appraisal. The bottom line is they priced it finally at the end:

Appraisal Value of organicbakeries.com
- Dollar Value is $3086

It was almost 3X what my domain sold for, and I would say it’s in line with previous sales of secondary quality names – what I mean by that is there are other 2-word .com organic names that are definitely top tier, like OrganicFarm.com or OrganicFood.com,etc.
I think testing a few more domains at Nameboy is worth a shot, and depending on those results, I would take their price estimates into consideration along with other factors. I don’t know if the metrics Nameboy uses is based on the current pricing market in the domain industry, which is reported down an estimated 15%, or not.

Let’s move down the list to the next item:

3. Previous Sales Prices: This type of valuation is one that is used in Real Estate (comps) and in selling antiques (price guides) as a tangible method to obtain a reasonable estimate of value. It doesn’t rely on mystery metrics, or gut feeling, but sales history which is documented information. I like to use DN Sale Price to check sales prices, but there’s also NameBio which is connected with Snap. For UK domains, Acorn Domains has a similar tool with sales prices listed and a search feature.

The pro is that you can get a good idea on recent and past values, which is nice to determine an overall value for a domain. I like that the values are compiled into one database from various sources, including live auctions or online auction sales. If yo u have a name in a particular vertical or industry, looking at similar names with similar characteristics (2 word, 3 word, .com .net etc) help give an overall idea on value as well.

The con is that using previous sales prices like this may or may not reflect a true up-to-the-minute value. You have to guess who the buyer was (another domainer, an end user, an online marketer?) which can have a big effect on a final sales price. I sold a domain a couple years ago to an end user for a good amount of money that Estibot gave a value of $30, and nothing close shows up to this name in previous sales. You also need to take into account the economic condition of the domain industry. Prices are down right now, but also the market is more flooded with domains for sale than ever, and that has a definite effect on many names.

I am sure that many human appraisal services also use a database like these sites, that incudes previous sales prices as one metric they take into consideration in doing an appraisal.

If Domain Valuation comes back with a response today, I will update this post, otherwise I’ll be back for Part III tomorrow.

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Longtime domainer and domain industry news journalist/publisher, Ron Jackson, reports today that the 2009 Geo Domaining Expo scheduled for April 28-29, may be not be happening. Ron reports that he has heard confilicting reports from two different Associated Cities Board of Directors as to whether the Geo Domain Expo is taking place as scheduled.

I have met Ron in person and he is a good journalist, and well respected in the domain industry. To follow this story, check out updates in the Lowdown section of Domain Name Journal. Ron also gave a detailed rundown last year in DN Journal on the 2008 Geo Domain Expo in Chicago, for those of you who are curious about it.

Geo-domaining is nothing new in domaining circles, but I noticed lately that there is more focused interest in geo-domaining for anyone serious about targeted an industry or topic in a specific location (for example, by State or City in the US). I wrote about submitting domains for live auctions the other day, and I got an e-mail from a rep at Moniker stating that one of the domain categories they wanted submissions for at TRAFFIC Silicon Valley was “geo-domains.”  Moniker gave the following examples:

 Example of good Geo names:  Sanjosehotels.com, jacksonvillehomes.com, NYPlasticsurgeon.com

From an SEO perspective, geo domains are gaining in importance, because the top SEO people are reporting (and been saying since last year) that Google has moved from basing search results on relevant keywords that appear on a webpage to what is Top SEO, Bruce Clay, called “intent-based search.”   This is in alignment with the announcement from Google last week that they are introducing “Interest-based advertising” to AdSense advertising.   Google describes “Interest-based advertising” as:

These ads will associate categories of interest — say sports, gardening, cars, pets — with your browser, based on the types of sites you visit and the pages you view. We may then use those interest categories to show you more relevant text and display ads.

Not only are “user interests” tracked, user location (easy to track by IP) and locational interest search engine queries are tracked as well. It’s totally changing the way search queries are fulfilled, and geo-domains will carry alot of gravity or weight in search engine query results if the website under a geo domain is a quality site (you know, passes the search engine quality score, natch).

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I was reading a private domainer board, and ran across this portfolio sale from Jamie Parks at Domainer Developer.  I prefer 2 keyword .com names, particularly generic keyword phrases.  There are some names on the list that look like good names for the price  ($1 !!) Some really good prices…hope Jamie still has them on the table!Some examples:

AFTERMARKETAUCTIONS.COM – $20 Could be good for cars, domains, parts and what have you. A quick check on Estibot and this one was “priced” at $80. Not that I put alot of stock in Estibot….But it’s an idea of some value.

COURTROOMFIGHTS.COM – $10 LOL – this could be a hilarious video site.

MOBILEWEBLABS.COM – $10 – I really like this one, esp as we move much deeper into the Mobile Web.
MOBILEWEBSITEDEVELOPER.COM – $10
MOBILEWEBSITEDEVELOPERS.COM – $5

NIGHTLYAUCTION.COM – $20 Is this sort of like Woot! What’s not to love? Beats the nightly news lately. w00t w00t~!

LEGALTECHCONSULTANT.COM – $10 – Could be new career direction if domaining doesn’t work out Good Field…
LEGALTECHJOB.COM – $10

LOCALRECORDSTORES.COM – $10 – I haven’t seen a local record store in a long time. Our last one locally finally died about 3 years ago. Jamie, this one might have to be discounted to the $1 pile. Sorry!

TAXADVICEBLOG.COM – $20 – Tax season is still upon us in the US. This topic is evergreen, and blogs are as big as ever.
TAXEXPERTBLOG.COM – $20

I think alot of these names on the list have the potential for a quick flip, and an extra $50-100 profit for a domainer that’s got some motivation. Anybody up for listing some names on Sedo? Or reselling on Snap? I love Snap for selling. I have sold most of my domains at Snaps auctions and Jonathan Stanfill (and the rest of the crew like Theresa) are super to work with. And they are super busy, too, with good reason. I can’t say I make a killing on what I sell, but other than my regular work, selling at Snap was my next best earner last year.

There’s a number of LLLL domains too, lots of LLLL.mobis, if you are in the market for only $2 each:

IONZ.INFO
PRYZ.INFO
SHFT.INFO
ENDD.INFO
SIZL.INFO

Have fun checking it out! There’s alot to choose from.

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Sedo sent out a security email today with the following message :

We have been informed that due to a security problem at one of our competitors a list of their customer data including plaintext passwords is currently circulating on the web including relevant hacker forums.

Our Security and Compliance Team has found several of our own customers matching the publicly available list. Due to the seriousness of this matter combined with the possibility that you might be using the same login data/password at more than one parking company, we strongly suggest you to change your password at Sedo.

Sedo uses cryptographically unbreakable ciphertext for password checks and does not store your password in plaintext. This, and a variety of other security measures, ensures that your Sedo account is always safe from third parties.

We generally recommend to always use different login IDs for different sites and never hand out login IDs to any third party.

Should you have any further questions or needs, your dedicated account manager is looking forward to help.

Kind regards,

Your Sedo Security and Compliance Team

Although not named, apparently they are referring to Name Drive, which has had a lot of accounts hacked recently. Because of the number of parking companies available to domainers, Sedo were concerned that NameDrive account holders who have their account hacked will have the same email and password login as Sedo.

If you do have several accounts at domain registars and parking websites, it’s worth using different passwords for each one incase something like this happens

Update February 6th

I receiived this email from NameDrive today.

Hello,

This is a mail to inform you that a minimal number of NameDrive accounts
were the targets of a security breach recently.
This affected less than 1% of our database.

While we do not believe that your account has been affected and we have
no indication of unauthorized access, we are informing you as a
precaution that you should change your login passwords to any other
online programs for which you use the same password as you do to log
into NameDrive.com.

Your NameDrive password has already been changed automatically for you.

If you haven’t already done so, you can retrieve your new password by
logging into your account on the NameDrive homepage.

While we have always had strict security measures in place, we have
taken yet further measures to enhance our security measures with
immediate effect.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at
info@namedrive.com.

Your NameDrive team

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From 5 February 2009, the owner of the .org domain extension, The Public Interest Registry, will introduce a ‘Anti-Abuse Policy’.

In a recent announcement they stated that :

Abusive use(s) of .ORG domain names should not be tolerated. The nature of such abuses creates security and stability issues for the registry, registrars and registrants, as well as for users of the Internet in general.

The PIR defines abusive use of a domain as the wrong or excessive use of power, position or ability, and includes, without limitation, the following:

• Illegal or fraudulent actions;
• Spam: The use of electronic messaging systems to send unsolicited bulk messages. The term applies to e-mail spam and similar abuses such as instant messaging spam, mobile messaging spam, and the spamming of Web sites and Internet forums. An example, for purposes of illustration, would be the use of email in denial-of-service attacks;
• Phishing: The use of counterfeit Web pages that are designed to trick recipients into divulging sensitive data such as usernames, passwords, or financial data;
• Pharming: The redirecting of unknowing users to fraudulent sites or services, typically through DNS hijacking or poisoning;
• Willful distribution of malware: The dissemination of software designed to infiltrate or damage a computer system without the owner’s informed consent.
  Examples include, without limitation, computer viruses, worms, keyloggers, and trojan horses;
• Fast flux hosting: Use of fast-flux techniques to disguise the location of Web sites or other Internet services, or to avoid detection and mitigation efforts, or to host illegal activities. Fast-flux techniques use DNS to frequently change the location on the Internet to which the domain name of an Internet host or name server resolves. Fast flux hosting may be used only with prior permission of PIR;
• Botnet command and control: Services run on a domain name that are used to control a collection of compromised computers or “zombies,” or to direct denial-of-service attacks (DDoS attacks);
• Distribution of child pornography; and
• Illegal Access to Other Computers or Networks: Illegally accessing computers, accounts, or networks belonging to another party, or attempting to penetrate security measures of another individual’s system (often known as “hacking”). Also, any activity that might be used as a precursor to an attempted system penetration (e.g., port scan, stealth scan, or other information gathering activity).

PIR reserves the right to deny, cancel or transfer any registration or transaction, or place any domain name(s) on registry lock, hold or similar status, that it deems necessary, in its discretion; (1) to protect the integrity and stability of the registry; (2) to comply with any applicable laws, government rules or requirements, requests of law enforcement, or any dispute resolution process; (3) to avoid any liability, civil or criminal, on the part of PIR, as well as its affiliates, subsidiaries, officers, directors, and employees; (4) per the terms of the registration agreement or (5) to correct mistakes made by PIR or any Registrar in connection with a domain name registration.

PIR also reserves the right to place upon registry lock, hold or similar status a domain name during resolution of a dispute.

On the one hand, I think it’s good that they are looking at ways to stop spammers, phishing and child pornography sites. However, on the other hand, it’s worrying that a domain registry has this much control. Hopefully it isn’t a sign of things to come i.e. will other domain registars look for the ability to take domains from domainers.

What do you think, is this a good thing?

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