Every Friday, DomainSherpa.com provides you with a hand-selected, editorially-based review of the weekly news. In this summary, you will find the latest articles and videos produced by DomainSherpa staff and contributors. You will also find links to the best news articles in the domain name industry – so you don’t have to spend your time searching for news or reading something that was not worth your time.
This Week’s DomainSherpa Interview
- VIDEO: Lead Generation at SeniorHomes.com: From Launch to $5M in Funding – With Chris Rodde
How do you build a successful lead generation business to help the growing aging population in the United States?
Chris Rodde shares how he and his two co-founders, Jay Goldstein and Tom Blumer – who were all well versed in lead generation – took an idea and built it into a business that now generates millions in revenue.
In this interview, Rodde answers questions about building a senior-care lead generation business that can be applied to any other niche or market, including:
* How they verified the need for this lead generation business
* How they convinced 2,300 senior living communities to back them
* How to set a price per lead, how much per lead is generated, and how the quality of leads is preserved
Watch The Full Show Now »
This Week’s News in Review
ICANN: .WeScrewedUpAgain – 14-Jun-12
Group publishes private details of new top level domain applicants. During the ICANN press conference on Wednesday a reporter stood up and asked if ICANN had told applicants that their email addresses and phone numbers would be published. Yes, was the response. Something to the tune of “we told everyone this would be an open…
.WTF? — 20 New Top-level Domain Names That Should Exist, But … – 14-Jun-12
On Tuesday, the list of new proposed top-level domains, and the companies seeking to control them, was published by ICANN. The new contenders
GOP Congressional Candidate Admits Buying Sex-themed Domain Names – 14-Jun-12
On Thursday morning, Mother Jones reported that GOP congressional candidate Trey Radel, a former Fox radio talk show host in southwest Florida, had once owned a company that registered a number of smutty Internet domain names. Many of the sex-related web addresses were in Spanish. The list included such sites as www.casadelasputas (whore house), and www.sexguideonline.com. Radel did not respond to repeated requests for comment from Mother Jones. But after our story broke, Florida news outlets started hounding Radel for an explanation. This afternoon, he finally addressed the matter.
Rush is On to Snap Up Domain Names – 14-Jun-12
Banks, sports codes, universities and a handful of opportunists are among the first 40 Australian applications to go after a generic domain name.
Amazon.com Won’t Offer Domain Names to The Public – 14-Jun-12
Amazon.com intends to only offer domain registrations to itself. Amazon.com has applied for 7 …
Amazon.com Won’t Offer Domain Names to The Public – 14-Jun-12
Amazon.com intends to only offer domain registrations to itself. Amazon.com has applied for 76 top level domain names. But don’t expect to be able to register any second level domains underneath them. I just reviewed eight of the company’s applications, and each one has similar language explaining who can register a second level domain under…
ICANN’s Call for New Domain Names Brings Criticism, and $357 Million – 14-Jun-12
The corporation that regulates the Internet plans to increase the number of “top level” domains from the current 22 to 1,000 domains starting in early 2013. The proposed domains offer a cross-section of the Internet — what we use it for, and where the money is.
Over 40% of Fortune 100 Apply for Top Level Domain Names – 14-Jun-12
Tech, pharma, consumer and financial companies more likely to apply. At least 42 of the top 100 companies in the Fortune 500 applied for one or more top level domains. I’ve embedded the spreadsheet showing the companies below. This is actually a bit harder to sort out than I expected; some companies applied under unusual…
New TLDs Include at Least Four Contested .brand Applications – 13-Jun-12
Companies battle each other for rights to top level domains. I’ve identified at least four cases of contested .brand top level domain applications, defined here as a case where two different brand holders are going after the same top level domain. .Monster – Monster, Inc. vs. Monster Worldwide, Inc. The former sells really expensive cables…
Domain Names Go Beyond .com – 13-Jun-12
If the trademark “The World’s Favorite Ketchup” isn’t enough to steer garnish-less consumers to H.J. Heinz’s website, a domain name claiming all things ketchup might do the trick.
New Domain Names Tempt Amazon, Google, Microsoft – 13-Jun-12
ICANN’s plan to approve new domain names sought by companies
spurs competition for desirable suffixes such as .app and .book.
DotHealth, LLC Applies for .health New Generic Top Level Domain – 13-Jun-12
DotHealth, LLC has applied to ICANN for the .health new top level domain. DotHealth has the support of health sciences industry organizations includin
21 Indian COs Apply for Domain Names Priced Over Rs 1 Cr Each – 13-Jun-12
21 Indian cos apply for domain names priced over Rs 1 cr each – Leading corporate houses like Reliance Industries, Airtel and State Bank of India have applied to the Internet Corp.
Demand Media Up On Gains in Domain Names Wars – 13-Jun-12
Shares of Demand Media gain on signs it will win control of many new domain names on the Internet.
Uniregistry to Offer Single Trademark Block Across All Its Top Level Domains – 13-Jun-12
Uniregistry tries a different approach. Frank Schilling is definitely trying to shake things up with his new TLD play Uniregistry. Here are some interesting sections of his applications: On defensive registrations: “Our financial projections do not include, expect, nor rely upon an assumed profit from defensive registrations… …Brand owners who are not interested in using…
Uniregistry to Offer Single Trademark Block Across All Its Top Level Domains – 13-Jun-12
Uniregistry tries a different approach. Frank Schilling is definitely trying to shake things up with his new TLD play Uniregistry. Here are some interesting sections of his applications: On defensive registrations: “Our financial projections do not include, expect, nor rely upon an assumed profit from defensive registrations… …Brand owners who are not interested in using…
These Community TLD Applications are a Complete Joke – 13-Jun-12
Be ready to prove you’re part of the .shop community if you want to register a .shop domain. One of the biggest problems I’ve had with the new TLD applicant guidebook is preference given to applications representing a so-called community. This is ripe for gaming. Consider these applications that say they are representing a “community”…
These Community TLD Applications are a Complete Joke – 13-Jun-12
Be ready to prove you’re part of the .shop community if you want to register a .shop domain. One of the biggest problems I’ve had with the new TLD applicant guidebook is preference given to applications representing a so-called community. This is ripe for gaming. Consider these applications that say they are representing a “community”…
.doh! Group Applies for .dotAfrica, Vistaprint Applies for .webs Twice, and Merck for .merck Thrice – 13-Jun-12
Coming soon, .africa and .dotafrica. There were certainly some interesting top level domain applications released today. But it looks like a few companies made mistakes — or wasted some money at the very least. First, some have reported that they were surprised to only see one .africa application. After all, DotConnectAfrica said it was going…
NBA, MLB, and NFL Apply for Top Level Domains – 13-Jun-12
Are you ready for .baseball? The United States’ three biggest professional sports leagues have applied to ICANN to run their own top level domains. As I predicted, Major League Baseball applied for .MLB. It also applied for .baseball. It will face a play-off with .baseball though, as Donuts Inc also applied for the domain.
New Wave of Internet Domain Names Gets Unveiled – 13-Jun-12
The organization that assigns Internet addresses releases its list of newly approved web suffixes today, from .doctor to .bank. Many predict the proliferation of these suffixes will touch off a virtual land grab.
Peter Dengate Thrush’s Reaction to Today’s Top Level Domain Reveals – 13-Jun-12
Former ICANN chairman notes some surprises today, but says he’s still digesting all of the data. Peter Dengate Thrush was chairman of ICANN’s board when it finally approved the new top level domain plan. Now he’s with Top Level Domain Holdings (TLDH), which is one of the biggest applicants for new top level domains.
Google and Amazon Compete On 21 New Top Level Domain Applications – 12-Jun-12
Google and Amazon had a lot of the same ideas for new top level domains. One of the biggest battles over new top level domains will pit internet heavyweights Google and Amazon against each other. Amazon applied for 76 top level domains and Google applied for 101 top level domains. But I count 20…
Donuts Also Applies for .sucks — Here’s Its List of 307 Applications – 12-Jun-12
A fight breaks out over .sucks top level domain. Donuts, Inc. is the biggest applicant for new top level domains. But it’s a little difficult to parse that information from ICANN’s release of applications since every one has a different corporation attached to it. (The list of registry company names looks a lot like SnapNames…
NABP Applies for New .pharmacy Generic Top-level Domain to … – 12-Jun-12
The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® (NABP®), with the support of a global coalition of stakeholders, has applied to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to own and operate the new .PHARMACY generic Top-Level Domain (gTLD). At a time when the vast majority of Web sites selling prescription drugs online are doing so illegally – many of them selling unapproved, substandard, and counterfeit medicine – NABP is seeking to establish the .PHARMACY space as a secure and trustworthy destination where consumers can be sure the medications they buy online are authentic and safe.
Go Daddy Taps Deutsch for New Era of “GoDaddy-esque” Advertising – 12-Jun-12
Go Daddy commercials: love them, or not … the edgy, slightly inappropriate TV commercials have helped make the Web hosting provider and domain name registrar a world leader on the Internet and a household name with mainstream audiences. Now, Go Daddy is announcing plans to evolve the iconic brand with a new marketing effort set to debut during the Olympics NBC broadcast. The campaign is titled “Inside / Out” and was created by the New York office of Deutsch Inc.
CIRCA Plans to Implement French Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs) – 12-Jun-12
Byron Holland, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Internet Registration Authority, has posted an update on CIRA’s plans to introduce IDN…
Facebook Gets Facebookofsex.pro Domain Name – 11-Jun-12
Social network registers two Facebook sex domains. Last year Facebook sued FriendFinder Networks over its FacebookOfSex.com web site, ultimately resulting in a transfer of the domain name to Facebook. Now the company has registered two similar domains, FacebookOfSex.pro and Facebooksex.pro. The two domains were previously owned by a registrant called “Netud” in France.
Frank Schilling Applies for 54 New Tlds, Juan Calle Also in The Mix – 11-Jun-12
Schilling applies for 54 domains, reports Paul Sloan. CNET’s Paul Sloan, who has been covering the domain name industry for many years, just wrote a piece on new top level domains that teases out more details behind Frank Schilling’s plans for new TLDs. Sloan reports that uber domainer Frank Schilling is applying for 54 top…
Afilias Bringing Hundreds of New Top Level Domains to The Internet – 11-Jun-12
Afilias Limited, the operator of the .INFO, .MOBI and .PRO top level domains (TLD) and a leading provider of registry technical services, today announced that its technology will support 305 new generic TLD applications to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).
Wolters Kluwer Completes Application for Global Top Level Domain of ‘.wolterskluwer’ – 11-Jun-12
Wolters Kluwer, a global leader in professional information services, announced today that it has successfully completed its application for the new global Top Level Domain (gTLD) of ‘.wolterskluwer’ with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). Wolters Kluwer will be among the very first global players to manage its own .company domain name registry. Professional customers working in an ever complex informational context will derive a greatly enhanced user experience from the new gTLD ‘.wolterskluwer’.
How The Internet Will Get New Domain Name Suffixes – 11-Jun-12
On Wednesday, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers will release a list of some 2,000 proposals for new Internet address suffixes. They can represent hobbies, ethnic groups, corporate brand names and more.
How The Internet Will Get New Domain Name Suffixes – 11-Jun-12
On Wednesday, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers will release a list of some 2,000 proposals for new Internet address suffixes. They can represent hobbies, ethnic groups, corporate brand names and more.
Ficora Investigating Large Cybersquatting Case Involving 886 .fi Domains – 11-Jun-12
The Finnish Communications Regulatory Authority, operator of the Finnish ccTLD domain .FI, is examining close to one thousand deliberately misspelled Finnish.
SnapNames co-founder Ray King Behind Registry Applying for 10 Top Level Domains – 11-Jun-12
King’s latest venture applies for ten top level domains. Raymond King, the co-founder of SnapNames (later bought by Oversee.net and then KeyDrive) and founder of AboutUs, Inc., is applying for 10 top level domain names through his new company Top Level Design, LLC. King has partnered with early stage investor Peter Brual, who doesn’t appear…
ICM Registry Proposes to Add .sex, .porn and .adult to List of Approved Domains – 11-Jun-12
ICM Registry, the company that brought .xxx to the Web last December, is applying to add .sex, .porn and .adult to its list of suggestive suffixes in next week’s expansion of the Internet’s generic top-level domains — the .com ending of a Web address.
Sedo Adjusts Earnings Guidance Down, But There’s a Silver Lining for Domain Parkers – 11-Jun-12
Sedo paying out more to top domain parking clients. Sedo Holding has lowered its earnings forecast for the current year due to “confirming margin development in Domain Marketing in the second quarter 2012.” While this may seem like a bad thing, there’s a silver lining for some of Sedo’s larger domain parking clients. When asked…
Sedo Adjusts Earnings Guidance Down, But There’s a Silver Lining for Domain Parkers – 11-Jun-12
Sedo paying out more to top domain parking clients. Sedo Holding has lowered its earnings forecast for the current year due to “confirming margin development in Domain Marketing in the second quarter 2012.” While this may seem like a bad thing, there’s a silver lining for some of Sedo’s larger domain parking clients.
Here’s What Mike Mann Thinks About New TLDs – 11-Jun-12
He has an opinion on everything. Here’s what he thinks about new TLDs. Last week I published comments from a number of domain industry professionals about what they think new top level domains will mean for domainers. I think I forgot to tell Mike Mann to keep his comments to 100 words.
New TLD Updates: Neustar 358, Key-Systems 31 – 11-Jun-12
Neustar signs up boatloads of new TLD applicants and news from Key-Systems. New top level domain news stories are coming fast and furious today. Here are a couple more updates: Nuestar (NYSE: NSR) said it has been selected as the backend registry services provider for 358 top level domain applications. The actual number the company…
Digital Archery May Have Technical Bugs – 10-Jun-12
Big new top level domain applicant finds odd results with digital archery system. Digital archery, which creates a secondary timestamp for new TLD applications that will determine how they are batched, is run through ICANN’s TLD Application System (TAS). This is the same system that was taken offline for over a month due to a…
Demand Media Releases More Details About Its gTLD Plans and Deal With Donuts – 10-Jun-12
Demand Media applies for 26 TLDs outright and has rights to up to 107 applied for by partner Donuts, Inc. Demand Media announced today that it has applied for 26 top level domains on its own, and also can obtain rights to 107 gTLDs being applied for by Donuts, Inc. In May it announced that…
ICANN Pays Close to $1 Million for CEO in 2011. Here’s Compensation for 18 Other ICANN Employees. – 10-Jun-12
Rod Beckstrom’s total compensation and benefits nearly $1 million last fiscal year; many other highly paid employees at non-profit. ICANN has published its Form 990 tax return for the financial year ending June, 2011. Here’s what top employees earned (including non-taxable benefits): Rod Beckstrom, CEO $998,230 Akram Atallah, COO $133,812 Doug Brent, COO $348,628 John…
Frank Schilling Unveils His New gTLD Company: Uniregistry.com – 10-Jun-12
Frank Schilling one of the largest private domain name portfolio owners in the world through Name Administration, is getting into the new gTLD space, as a registry, making application for some new gTLD’s and today officially launched his new gTLD company called Uniregistry.
Frank Schilling and Team Launch Uniregistry Corp – 10-Jun-12
Uniregistry Corp., a new registry services company formed by Managing Director Frank Schilling and other established industry veterans, is pleased to announce that it has applied to ICANN to operate certain new top-level domains, expanding the world of registration opportunities for domain name registrants. Uniregistry’s founders have a rich history of service to domain name registrants and have channeled their efforts and long-standing culture of service into this new venture.
Quinstreet Acquires Onlineeducation.com – 10-Jun-12
Quinstreet picks up online education lead gen site. Lead generation company Quinstreet (NASDAQ: QNST) has acquired the web site and domain name OnlineEducation.com. I can’t find any mention — nor a price — for the acquisition in Quinstreet’s SEC filings. But the seller was BigLeads.com, which bought the domain name on eBay for $100,000 back […]
Facebook quietly scoops up typo domain: wwwFacebook.com – 10-Jun-12
It looks like Facebook has finally gotten control over one of the most popular typo variations of it’s website. As Fusible first reported a few days ago, according to DomainTools.com historical records, wwwFacebook.com had expired in late May of this year and was listed on the SnapNames marketplace available for a backorder. The previous owner used whois privacy protection services from Moniker to keep their identity hidden.
Campaign Domain Squatters Look to 2020 – 08-Jun-12
The holders of sites like Biden2020.com and BobbyJindal2016.com hope to cash in big on future political bids.
Economist On Digital Archery: “Frankly, Anything is Better Than This” – 08-Jun-12
Thies Lindenthal finds fault with ICANN’s digital archery. Plenty of people have come out against ICANN’s digital archery plan for new top level domains. Digital archery will determine the batch in which a new TLD application is reviewed and ultimately will have correlation to when they come online. See: Fate of new TLD order determined…
.XXX Up to 137k Active Registrations, 220k Total, and New $630k Premium Sale – 07-Jun-12
.XXX registry about to announce details of premium sale as registration count continues to grow. The .xxx domain name now has 137,000 active registrations, ICM Registry founder Stuart Lawley told Domain Name Wire today. The latest official ICANN numbers for the domain date to the end of February with 128,736 registrations. That means the TLD…
Moniker and SnapNames Announce Auction Catalog for Premium International and ccTLD Domain Names – 07-Jun-12
Moniker and SnapNames, both KeyDrive S. A. companies, published the final catalog and opened bidding for their Premium International & ccTLD Auction. Bids can be placed online now through July 19, 2012, at 12:15 p.m. U.S. Pacific (3:15 p.m. U.S. Eastern).
Apple Wins Aplestore.com Domain, Still Seeks itunes.net & Others – 07-Jun-12
Apple has won ownership over the domain name “aplestore.com” through arbitration, though the company still hopes to take control of many other domains, most prominently “itunes.net.”
Experts Weigh In: What Do New Tlds Mean for Domainers? – 07-Jun-12
What should domain investors think about as new TLDs come to market? Companies have submitted close to 2,000 applications to ICANN to run new top level domains covering everything from .app to .zippo. What will this mean for domainers as we watch a flood of top level domains hit the market in the coming years?
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