Domain auctions are something the great majority of domainers participate in frequently. Many domain names that are expiring can be back ordered and won at subsequent auctions at places like Namejet, Snapnames and others. There are domain name auctions ending almost every minute at auction houses like GoDaddy, Sedo, Bido, Flippa, EBAY and many others. There are exciting domain name auctions that take place live at domain conferences like T.R.A.F.F.I.C. Some people like the thrill of being in an auction, whether it be live or just on-line, constantly refreshing the screen as the auction winds down to determine if they are the winner. Many domainers get involved in auctions, but some really have no intention on winning the name. They just want to participate, perhaps to have some insight into the final result. Lately, there are many great names that appear in domain auctions all of the time, making it a real exciting part of being in the domain name business at this time. However, like anything, there are some good things, some bad things and some down right ugly things associated with domain name auctions, depending on whether your a buyer or seller, and they are discussed here from my point of view.

Domain Auctions – The Good, The Bad and the Ugly

GoDaddy recently changed their auction rules by extending the time added to the ending of each auction, anytime there is a bidder in the last 5 minutes of the auction. They have been operating for quite some time with just a two minute time extension and then recently changed it to 10 minutes. Within 24 hours of making that change, due to an outpouring of complaints, they changed it to 5 minutes, where is currently stands now. Many auction houses do this, in hopes of driving up the bidding and perhaps e-mailing those that have been outbid with a warning so that they can revisit and perhaps provide a higher bid. Flippa adds an entire hour each time there is a bid within the last hour. Most buyers hate the time extensions for several reasons. Some domainers like to “snipe” names, providing a last second bid in hopes of winning the name, while not drawing attention to the name. Time extensions really don’t allow for “sniping” in its purest form. Domain buyers are also busy people and time extensions only eat more time that a domainer could be spending on many other things. If they like the name, they need to be active in the auction and if someone else likes it too, you can have a bidding war that can go on for hours. I find it crazy when those that know how the extensions work still wait until the trickling seconds to provide another bid, only wasting valuable time! Like most, as a buyer of domain names, I hate the time extensions for domain name auction bidding. On the other hand, as a seller of domain names, time extensions are awesome, especially when there is a bidding war for your name. Time extensions allow you some time to really hype up the ongoing bidding war by using social media, like Facebook or Twitter. Like I said earlier, many like the thrill of an auction and bidding wars provide the perception of demand, although it’s not really a perception, it’s realty at that point.

Not every auction platform has time extensions. A great example is EBAY. I have sniped many items from EBAY sellers by bidding at the last seconds, but also lost many items to somebody else doing the same thing. The majority of auction houses do have incremental bidding, which means that each bid are provided in certain pre-defined increments, so that someone is not constantly outbid by a penny. If they really want the item, they need to be willing to up the bid to at least next increment, which is always set before the auction begins. My favorite domain name auction feature is proxy bidding, which allows you to place the maximum amount you are willing to bid for a given domain name. The auction platform will then enter a bid on your behalf against other bidders in the smallest required increment and up to your set maximum amount. It is a great feature, especially for a part time domainer like me, because it let’s me do my day job and not have to closely follow the domain auctions as they are happening. I know what I’m willing to pay and I set that amount. If I get the name, I know I got a deal and know I can sell the name for a higher price. While its my favorite feature, I kick myself often, as I’ve lost many domain names by somebody winning the name for one bidding increment above my maximum bid. I always seem to grind my teeth when it happens, but one should always set limits and stick with your guns in the end. I don’t know about you, but I’m in this to make some money. If you watch any of the auction hunter shows out there, they all operate the same way. That’s why they are successful and have their own show! I wonder who will have the first reality domaining show?

A controversial point among domainers with domain name marketplaces like SEDO, 4.cn and others is that once a seller receives an offer on their domain name, they have the option to kick it into public domain auctions, where the bidders offered price is utilized as the reserve price for the domain auctions. After reading several threads on the subject within domain forums, it is apparent that some domainers really despise this practice. On the other hand, there are many sellers who love the idea, as it provides a chance to get the name into a public auction, where there are many more eyes and possibilities for a higher priced sale. A seller does need to be comfortable with the initial offer, however, because the auction results in a sale for at least that initially offered amount.

Another good and bad point about auctions, depending on if you are a buyer or a seller, are the reserves, which we’ve touched upon already. A seller can set a reserve price for their name at most auction houses, thereby insuring that they will get what they want for the domain name (at a minimum), assuming there are bidders for the name. Most auction houses charge an additional fee for setting a reserve and sometimes the fee is dependent on the reserve amount set.

Having participated in many many auctions over the years for a variety of different things, it is very apparent that the most ugly side of auctions is the non-paying high bidder. Nothing is more annoying that a high bidder backing out of the deal and not paying for what they have won, other than a seller not sending the merchandise because they feel the auction did not command enough money from the winning bidder. I’ve experienced both and neither will get you in a good mood. It is a real waste of time for the seller and/or buyer and is always a real loser for the auction house. The domaining industry is a small world and what comes around goes around. As such, think twice before backing out of a deal, whether a buyer or a seller, as your reputation will be tarnished and you’ll have a harder time getting deals done. Many domain forums and blogs have name and Shame posts, whether deadbeat buyers and sellers are called out and identified. You’ll never see me on these lists and I better not see yu either!

Thanks for checking out some of the good, the bad and the ugly associated with domain name auctions!

Domain Auctions – The Good, The Bad and the Ugly

Domain Auctions – The Good, The Bad and the Ugly
Domain Auctions | Domain Auctions | domain Auctions | domain Auctions | Domain Auctions | Domain Auctions

Using Google AdSense

Using Google AdSense is a smart idea to make money online, whether you have developed a website or blog that is generating some traffic. While there is some controversy among domainers as to whether or not using Google AdSense on their domain selling portfolio site is smart idea, I’ll leave that for a future post. Most domainers park their websites and generate some income from parking companies, who basically populate your domain name landing page with relevant Google AdSense ads, allowing you to get paid per click. There is nothing difficult involved with parking your names and it is as simple as registering with the company, adding your domain names and changing your domain name servers associated with the name. That’s why most domainers park their names, there is little work and they can collect some residual income. It’s no secret, however, that they are leaving money on the table and that developing your domain name into a relevant website and populating it with quality content and your own Google AdSense ads, can be a much more lucrative proposition. It takes a little work, but it really is worth it. Like many forms of advertising, there are always proven tips and tricks that you can utilize to maximize the revenue generating potential your website or blog has while using Google AdSense. This article has been written to share some tips and tricks that have proven successful in boosting my income while using Google AdSense, including a recent lesson I learned through a Google warning notification. Let’s start there.

Using Google AdSense | Using Google AdSense | Using Google AdSense | Using Google AdSense |

As everybody likes to learn something new each day, let’s start with the recent lesson learned, after I received a Google Warning notification relating to a violation pertaining to using Google AdSense on one of my websites. For those of you who may have not seen such a message before, here is what is looked like:

Hello,
This is a warning message to alert you that there is action required to bring your AdSense account into compliance with our AdSense program policies. We’ve provided additional details below, along with the actions to be taken on your part.

Issue ID#: XXXXXXXXX

Affected website: XXXXXXXXXX.com

Example page where violation occurred: http://www.XXXXXXXXXX.com

Action required: Please make changes to your site within 72 hours.

Current account status: Active

Violation explanation

AD MISLABELING: Publishers may not implement Google ads in a manner that disguises the ads in any way. For instance, publishers may not place ads under misleading headers or titles as this may confuse users into thinking the ads are actually site links related to that header. To avoid this issue, we ask that publishers use only “sponsored links” or “advertisements” to label ads. More information about this policy can be found in our help center at ( https://www.google.com/adsense/support/as/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=115985 ).

How to resolve:
If you received a notification in regard to page content, please either remove the content from your site or remove ads from the violating pages. If you received a notification in regards to the way ads are implemented on your site, please make the necessary changes to your implementation. We will automatically review the site again after 72 hours. You do not need to contact us if you make changes. Please be aware that if changes are not made within the required time frame, ad serving will be disabled to the affected website listed above.

Additionally, please be aware that the URL above is just an example and that the same violations may exist on other pages of this website or other sites that you own. To reduce the likelihood of future warnings from us, we suggest that you review all your sites for compliance. For more information regarding our policy warning notifications, visit our Help Center: https://support.google.com/adsense/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=1378153&ctx=topic.

We thank you in advance for your cooperation.

Sincerely,

The Google AdSense Team
end

It did not take me long to correct my issue and I was very happy that Google reached out to me to let me know how to correct my issue, so that I could continue using Google ADSense on my website. My issue was simple, I had one of my Google AdSense headings titled “My Sponsors”, which is actually against Google’s policies, as explained above. As Google explains, you can not disguise the ads in any way and to avoid this issue, they suggest that publishers use only “sponsored links” or “advertisements” to label ads.

Using Google AdSense | Using Google AdSense | Using Google AdSense | Using Google AdSense | Using Google AdSense | Using Google AdSense | Using Google AdSense | Using Google AdSense |

I have seen this common mistake on many websites and I’m pretty sure DNForum also suggests using this language in their DNFCollege, which I highly recommend!

Okay, now that you have learned something, let me roll into some other tips and tricks that I have picked up along the way using Google AdSense.

Using Google AdSense Tips and Tricks

The first tip is to be sure and show both image and text ads. Image ads using Google AdSense compete in the same auction for your ad space that text ads do. As such, choosing to display both image and text ads will certainly increase the competition for ads to appear on your website or blog, and most likely will also increase your earnings. Instructions on how to enable image ads on your site can be found in Google’s Help Center.

The next tip is to really make your first ad unit count: Google AdSense loads the highest paying ad on a page first, so if you want to improve your revenue, you need to make sure that your best performing ad unit is the first in your HTML code. The neaty gritty of how you can really make your first ad unit count by using Google AdSense can be found here.

Another great tip is to ensure optimal ad placement, which is really important. The placement of your Google AdSense ads plays a significant role in revenue earning potential and user experience. While Google often recommends placing an ad above the fold, they also suggest that it is just as important that users can easily find the content they are looking for. Additional tips on Google AdSense ad placement can be found here.

Always remember, you can also add a search box (or two). A publisher can put up two AdSense for search boxes (along with three standard Google AdSense for content ad units and three link units) on each page of your website. Google AdSense for search lets you place a Custom Search Engine on your site to provide users with web search, and it is a free product. You’ll also earn revenue from relevant ads on the search results page, so it is a no brainer.

Lastly, although it seems like common sense, most forget to really focus on ensuring that your site has a positive user experience! It should be obvious that user experience can make or break your website. With so many other sites offering similar services and information, it’s extremely important to differentiate your site in the eyes of your users by providing a better experience. The attention of most users is limited, so you really only have a few seconds to provide a good experience and quickly guide the user to what they’re looking for.

Using Google AdSense is really how you can make some good money on-line, but you need to follow the rules and you need to maximize the potential of your site as much as you can. Hopefully some of these tips and tricks using Google AdSense are helpful to you. As I have another list of additional tips that I have found very profitable, I’ll be sure to write another post to follow up this one soon! In the mean time, good luck using Google AdSense!

Using Google AdSense

Using Google AdSense | Using Google AdSense | Using Google AdSense | Using Google AdSense | Using Google AdSense | Using Google AdSense | Using Google AdSense | Using Google AdSense | Using Google AdSense

Domain Name Appraisal Scam – Last year, after a month into domaining, I posted the following paragraphs at DNForum. The post has had over 2,000 views and I thought I should repost it here, as they guys are still at it and probably always will be!

Domain Name Appraisal Scam

Domain Name Appraisal Scam | Domain Name Appraisal Scam | Domain Name Appraisal Scam | Domain Name Appraisal Scam

Newbies – learn this first! – dont get taken by this old appraisal scam!!
NEWBIES PLEASE READ AND BEWARE – old timers have probably already seen this somewhere here before, but if not, here’s a chain of recent e-mails, going back, with the first here at the top.

begin

RE: SOULSACRAFICE.COM

Hello,

We noticed that you currently sell this domain (correct?).

We are interested in purchasing it. What is your desired price?

If you have other names for sale please email me your domains with prices, especially if you have financial, adult, Hosting and TV related names.

We are looking forward to doing business with you.

Regards,

Mark Reitman

CEO
Website Domain Hosting Inc

end

I responded with the following:

Hello there. Thank you for your inquiry regarding the above referenced
website. Unfortunately, this is one of several sites that I own that I’m
looking to develop.
I suppose I’d consider an offer if you are really interested.

I also have some adult and financial websites that I would entertain offers
for such as…
end

Domain Name Appraisal Scam | Domain Name Appraisal Scam | Domain Name Appraisal Scam | Domain Name Appraisal Scam

The next day, I got this response:

Vincent,

What do you think about 14,000 USD for your domain name?

Have you had your domain names evaluated in the past? I mean domain
appraisals. Without valuation we cannot be sure in the sale price. It’s very
important for me in terms of reselling too. But we must engage a valuation
company with REAL manual service. So I will only accept valuations from
independent sources I and my partners trust.

To avoid mistakes I asked domain experts about reputable appraisal
companies. Please check this blog with suggestions from other sellers and
buyers:
http://www.forum-windows-club.com/Archive/593842731.htm (note that the link no longer works)

Do you sell domain with a web site or just the name?

Domain without content is ok with me. Web site is not necessary.

If, for example, the valuation comes higher you can adjust your asking price
accordingly. It will be fair. I also hope you can give me 12% – 15%
discount.

After you send me the valuation via email (usually it takes 1-2 days to
obtain it) we’ll continue our negotiations.

What is your preferred payment method: Escrow.com, International wire
transfer, PayPal.com or something else?

Hope we can come to an agreement fast.

Looking forward to your reply.

end

Domain Name Appraisal Scam | Domain Name Appraisal Scam | Domain Name Appraisal Scam | Domain Name Appraisal Scam

That’s their scam – they entice you as a greedy domainer with a high $$$ offer, in hope that you’ll order the appraisal, for which he gets a commission or perhaps the whole thing. The scam blog he references points you in the direction of two appraisal companys, both scams themselves.

I responded back the following:
Hello again, I have not had the domain evaluated in the past via appraisal, although based on my experience, I no longer utilize or depend on appraisals, as I have sold domain names in the past for 50X what an appraisal had said, and I have also sold domain names that were sold for a very small fraction of what they were appraised at. A friend also recently order appraisals from two independent agencies and the difference was greater than $10,000.
At the end of the day, the domain is worth what somebody pays for it.
The domain does not currently have a website and exists as just the name at this time, parked at Sedo. As such, there is very little traffic to the site at this point, as it requires development and SEO.
With all that being said, I would accept $15,000 USD for the referenced domain name and would begin the transfer process as soon as funds have been cleared via my preferred payment method, Escrow.com. I’d also be agreeable to a potential discount/commission for you, if you secure the $15,000 price and assure that the deal is done in a timely and professional manner. Obviously you’d be paid when the transaction is finalized. Let me know if you accept and I will forward you my paypal information.

He responded with this:

As a seller you should provide me with an appraisal first. This is a reasonable practice.

I’ve found not all the appraisals are accurate. So I accept real manual appraisals from trusted sources only.

I don’t trust $14-$20 services. Nobody will do a research for $14. We need a real manual service.
As to the most known brands: the more orders the company gets, the less time they can afford to spend on each appraisal.

I wanted to use Afternic.com but looks like this company has a bad reputation. Afternic’s appraisal service has a lot of bad reviews.

I was told about manual research service from http://www.DomainMart.com. It costs – $200/hour.

Many experienced sellers suggested us http://www.AuthorizedAppraisal.com/ as a trustworthy manual service. They charge about 50 euros name not per hour. We’ve read only positive comments about them. And I have my own positive experience with this company
end

Domain Name Appraisal Scam | Domain Name Appraisal Scam | Domain Name Appraisal Scam | Domain Name Appraisal Scam

I responded with this and never heard back from him again:

How can I be sure this is not an appraisal scam? In fact, quick research on “authorized appraisal” indicates that they are associated with these scams. Additionally, the domain name itself is a pigeon shit typo domain name that is worth a handreg, IMO, but yet the offer was an astronomical amount. These folks prey on newbies, knowing they are naive and looking for a quick hit.

Sorry for the length here, but good lesson to be learned!

Domain Name Appraisal Scam | Domain Name Appraisal Scam | Domain Name Appraisal Scam | Domain Name Appraisal Scam

Domain Name Appraisal Scam

Domain Name Appraisal Scam

Working That Domain Name with Radio

I heard an advertisement on a radio station recently for the new up and coming company, Dollar Shave Club, using DollarShaveClub.com for their website. Now, while this is a three word long domain name to type-in, it certainly is memorable and radio-friendly, which is really all that matters at the end of the day. The radio ad is generally funny and certainly grabs your attention. The memorable domain name allowed me to visit their website and check out more about this company, once I got back to a computer. The domain name speaks for itself, as they are selling razors for shaving at a very low cost, compared to the high priced ones you’ll currently find in your local store that vibrate or shoot laser beams. Another humorous pitch for their razors via video can immediately be seen upon logging onto their website. The website overall is very simple and cuts to the chase with very little frills.

You have to give credit where credit is due. Let’s face it, these guys found a niche that was staring at them in the mirror each morning. Who isn’t tired of paying too much for razors, let along everything else. I know when I was a kid, paying for water was a complete foreign concept and now its a billion dollar industry. Anyway, they recognized a need, they secured a memorable and applicable domain name and the developed and implemented a marketing campaign to get the word out. That’s how its done. I predict that this company will do extremely well, growing leaps and bounds in their very first year. I love to see new start-ups come out of the blocks with a bang, like this one did.

Another start-up taking advantage of the internet and using radio advertising to get the word out is DestinationXL.com, a place to find clothing for the heavier among us. The site is run by CMRG Apparel, LLC and is obviously geared towards men’s clothing, interconnecting several XL brand on-line stores such as CasualMale XL, Rochester Big and Tall, Living XL and others. Again, a pretty long domain name, but memorable and descriptive nonetheless. I personally had not heard of the company prior to the radio ad, but once I did, it stuck in my head, so that I could pay them a visit on line and check out what they had to offer.

Now, it is obvious that in these two examples, the amount of type-in traffic received was likely nil prior to radio advertising, as very few would type in these names. It really takes a great marketing plan using a good mix of print, television, internet and radio advertising to get the word out. It also takes a good memorable and descriptive domain name to be the ultimate portal where your eCommerce is done. I am guessing that these names were likely hand registered and not purchased in the aftermarket for big $$$. Today, everywhere you go, you see domain names. Whether it’s a television commercial, in a printed ad or a roadside billboard, somebody is advertising a product or service and broadcasting their domain names to get the best bang for their buck. The majority of magazines, television and radio stations and other news media are all on-line and have their own domains. Most of the retail stores, food chains and many other small businesses are also on-line using their own domains. The number of existing registered domain names out there is mind boggling and it grows almost as fast as the US deficit. However, there is still plenty of room for creativity and with the right plan in place, plenty of room for success.

E-commerce is growing each and every day and so are the number of websites trying to compete for your eyes and wallet. Be a pioneer like these guys and carve out your niche, but remember, before you jump in headfirst, be sure to have a solid plan, part of which should be a marketing plan. Be sure to utilize the older forms of advertising, like radio, to get the word out and give your domain name some momentum. Once that’s going, assuming you have a good product, you’ll experience a snowball effect, just like these guys!

Working That Domain Name with Radio

Working That Domain Name with Radio | Working That Domain Name with Radio | Working That Domain Name with Radio | Working That Domain Name with Radio
Working That Domain Name with Radio | Working That Domain Name with Radio | Working That Domain Name with Radio | Working That Domain Name with Radio
Working That Domain Name with Radio