Use DomainIQ to Help Consolidate Your Portfolio

domainiq-logoI pay for a monthly membership to DomainIQ that I use mostly to find domain names to buy. DomainIQ allows me to identify domain names that are owned by a company or associated with a particular email address. I thought of another way to use my DomainIQ membership, and it might be especially useful to people with larger portfolios.

When I was having a look at my own portfolio on DomainIQ, I realized that the results also include the domain registrar where each domain name is registered. I had look through my portfolio, and I found a few domain names at domain registrars I don’t recognize. Although a few of those registrars are owned by Network Solutions and the names were in my NSI account, there were a couple of domain names at registrars I don’t use regularly. This tool enabled me to initiate transfers and consolidate my holdings. It’s a nice additional way to use my membership.

As you might imagine,

Why Marijuana Domain Names Were Trending Last Month

verisign-logoDuring this week’s election, there were four  states in the US that had ballot questions asking voters whether or not to legalize  recreational marijuana. Voters in California, Maine, and Massachusetts (my home state) approved their ballot measures. Voters in Arizona did not approve their ballot measure. Voters in Nevada approved a ballot question regarding medical marijuana.

Perhaps as a result of these ballot questions and the potential for the growing list of states where marijuana usage is legal, Verisign reported that several marijuana-related keywords were trending in .com domain name registrations last month. Of the top 10 trending keywords in .com domain registrations for October, four were related to marijuana:

  • Cannabis
  • Marijuana
  • Weed
  • Pot

The three  states where

Rightside Announces “Connecting the Dots” Webinar Series

Rightside GroupEducating prospective buyers is an important aspect of marketing the new domain names. Rightside announced a new educational webinar series called “Connecting the Dots,” to help educate people about the new domain extensions and how to use them.

In a blog post this afternoon, the company announced the first seminar in the series will take place on November 16, 2016. The title of the first seminar is “Everything You Need to Know About Buying Domains.” This will be a 30 minute session that starts at 10am Pacific time on the 16th. Rightside’s Sean Ottey and Jebidiah Burnett will lead this webinar.

The live event is limited to 50 participants, although a  video of the webinar will be made available following the seminar (uploaded by the 21st). The webinar is free to attend and it is open to anyone. Rightside has asked

Credit Cards Now Accepted at Payoneer Escrow

payoneer-escrowA couple of months ago, I published an interview with Scott Reynolds, President of Payoneer Escrow. From speaking with Scott and Brandon Abbey, it was made clear to me that the company was going to make changes to its platform to help domain investors transact securely.

This morning, I was informed by Brandon Abbey that Payoneer Escrow is now “accepting credit card payments for transactions up to $2000.” This is a good idea because I find that some people that buy domain names from me aren’t all that familiar with wire transfers or are inconvenienced by having to send a wire transfer from their bank. Accepting credit cards makes it easier and quicker for those people to transact, and when there are less hurdles to completing a deal, it’s better for both parties.

One other update that was made at Payoneer Escrow is

In Memory of Lonnie Borck

lonnieI am terribly saddened to have learned about the sudden passing of Lonnie Borck. Lonnie was just 47 years old, and he leaves behind his wife and 5 children, who he cared for and loved dearly.

For as well regarded as Lonnie is in the domain investing community, he will be remembered more for being a caring husband, father, son, and friend. As I wrote when I interviewed Lonnie in 2007, he was a true “mentsch.”

Lonnie was very active in his local Baltimore Hatzolah (volunteer Emergency Medical Service), and he saved many lives. Lonnie was always doing what he could to help others in his community. One of the last emails I received from Lonnie was a fundraising plea to help the family of a friend who had recently died of cancer. Lonnie was always looking out for others.

I have known Lonnie for nearly ten years. There was

Rick Schwartz Sold Teem.com

Earlier today, George Kirikos tweeted about a $13.5 million round of funding for a company called Teem, that had previously been known as EventBoard:

George also mentioned that the company acquired the Teem.com domain name from well-known domain investor, Rick Schwartz:

teem-comOn Rick’s DomainKing.com website, he mentioned the sale of Teem.com, stating “Soon I will be announcing another deal for Teem.com, in which there is a cash and an equity component.”

I reached out to Rick to see if he could comment on the deal, and he said he