Oversee.net

Oversee Lays Off 13% of Staff

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I just received an email from Oversee.net announcing “a staff reduction of 13 percent.” I am not sure if this number reflects those who have left the company in recent months or if this is a new round of layoffs, but I’ve reach out to ask. The company also stated that there are pending new hires.

It’s a bummer to see any company in the domain space letting go of staff, and I wish those people all the best.

Here are the details in an email I just received from the company:

“As part of its plan to address new growth opportunities, Oversee.net has realigned its work force resulting in a staff reduction of 13 percent. These moves, along with pending new hires, will allow the company to leverage core assets to innovate more effectively, improve competitive positioning and achieve growth

If you have questions or would like to talk with Scott Morrow, Co-President of Oversee, please let me know.”

Jeff Kupietzky Starts Blog

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Now that he is no longer CEO of Oversee.net and has moved to Israel with his family, Jeff Kupietzky has started a blog at LAXCEO.com. Jeff’s blog will be a personal blog reflecting upon his time as CEO and how he transitions into his new life.

Here’s what Jeff says his blog will cover:

“As I transition out of a full-time CEO role in Los Angeles, I will be blogging about what it means to be a fomer CEO (exCEO) while also reflecting what it was like to manage multiple offices around the world frequently traveling though  my home  airport (LAX).”

Although his time at Oversee may have been more brief than he and others had hoped, I think there is a lot to learn from Jeff’s experiences and hopefully he will share some of them with his readers.

I am sure he has some sort of non-disclosure agreement that would prevent him from discussing Oversee business, but hopefully he can reflect upon some of his experiences and we can learn from them to grow our businesses.

Jeff Kupietzky’s Last Day

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According to the news release from Oversee.net a few weeks ago, today is Jeff Kupietsky’s last day. I don’t know who is stepping into the role as Oversee CEO, but perhaps more information will be forthcoming.

During Kupietsky’s tenure at Oversee (5 years with the company and 2.5 as President and CEO), the company became one of the largest players in the domain investment space. The company acquired Moniker and Snapnames, and with its Domain Sponsor platform, Oversee has a division for just about all elements of the domain lifecycle / ecosystem.

I certainly wish Jeff and his family all the best.

Domain Sponsor: No More Redirects

Domain Sponsor sent an email this morning informing its  customers that they can no longer re-direct their domain names that are parked with the company. This prohibition was made in response to a new policy instituted by its “largest upstream advertising partner,” which I’ve been told  is Google.

Customers who use URL redirection will have to make changes to the DNS of their domain names and park them using Domain Sponsor’s nameservers. The email is below, along with directions on how to re-configure domain names that use URL redirection.

“DomainSponsor’s largest upstream advertising partner has instituted a policy requiring all parking services using its feeds to stop accepting traffic sent via URL redirection.

Therefore, if you currently use URL redirection to send traffic to DomainSponsor, please take immediate steps to change the registrar settings on applicable domains to DomainSponsor’s DNS/Nameserver. This will ensure uninterrupted monetization of your traffic.

If you are interested in discussing monetization options for your previously redirected traffic, please contact your DomainSponsor account manager.

Instructions for Clients Using a URL Redirection or Rotator Service:

If you are using the old URL forwarding or URL redirection string method, please follow these steps.

1. LOGIN TO DOMAINSPONSOR. Add all domains previously using URL forwarding or redirection into an existing or new portfolio. A new portfolio can be created using the dropdown menu under the “Add Domains” tab. Portfolios can be used to group domains into categories as you wish.

2. LOGIN TO YOUR DOMAIN HOSTING COMPANY OR REGISTRAR ADMIN PANEL. Because registrars and domain hosting companies vary, we cannot provide exact instructions. However, most registrar admin panels offer an option to “change DNS” or “point Nameserver”. For your convenience, most registrars allow you to apply DNS changes to most if not all of the domains in your account at one time. Please refer to your registrar’s online help center for exact steps needed to change DNS settings.

3. IN YOUR REGISTRAR ADMIN PANEL, CHANGE THE DNS or NAMESERVER TO:
Primary Name Server: NS1.DSREDIRECTION.COM
Secondary Name Server: NS2.DSREDIRECTION.COM
Instructions for Clients Currently Using DNS Method

If you are currently using the DNS method to connect your domains to DomainSponsor, there is no need to change anything. Simply continue to use this method for all new domains added, and remember to add new domains to your DomainSponsor account.

As a reminder, the DNS or Nameserver setting at your registrar or domain hosting company should be as follows:

Primary Name Server: NS1.DSREDIRECTION.COM
Secondary Name Server: NS2.DSREDIRECTION.COM
Instructions for Adding New Domains:

Please use the DNS method by first adding new domains to your DomainSponsor admin panel and then ensuring that the DNS setting at your registrar or domain hosting company is set to use DomainSponsor’s DNS/Nameservers. If you were previously auto-generating a URL forwarding string, remember to disable this function in your registrar admin panel.

Primary Name Server: NS1.DSREDIRECTION.COM
Secondary Name Server: NS2.DSREDIRECTION.COM
We Are Ready to Provide Assistance!

We greatly appreciate your prompt cooperation in helping us comply with our advertising partner’s requirements.

During this transition process, our goal is to provide you with uninterrupted, industry-leading parking solutions. Therefore, we are standing by to assist in any way we can.

If you need help, please contact either your Account Manager or the DomainSponsor Support Team at DSsupport@domainsponsor.com or (213) 892-1194.”

2012 DomainFest: Good Bye Playboy Mansion

domainfest globalI received a press release this morning announcing the dates of DomainFest 2012. The conference will once again be held at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows in Santa Monica, California from Tuesday, January 31 – Thursday, February 2, 2012. Registration for attendees opens in a few weeks on September 1, 2011, and the early bird discount rate is $995.

I looked over the agenda, and there is no more Playboy Mansion party scheduled. DomainFest held a party at the Playboy Mansion for the last three years. A number of conference attendees became sick upon the conclusion of the conference, and there were reports that alleged that the Playboy Mansion may have been the culprit. In any case, after considerable mainstream press reports from around the world, it’s no surprise that there won’t be another conference party there this year.

The full press release from Oversee is below, and you can visit the DomainFest website to see the agenda and get other important event details.

Do you think attendance will be up, down, or the same?

Press Release:

DOMAINSPONSOR ANNOUNCES 2012 DATE FOR DOMAINFEST GLOBAL CONFERENCE
The largest and most respected conference designed specifically for domain name investors and online publishers returns to Santa Monica

LOS ANGELES, California and FRANKFURT, Germany (August 11, 2011) — DomainSponsor ®, the domain name monetization unit of Oversee.net ® and organizer of the critically acclaimed DOMAINfest ® series of conferences, has announced it will host its annual DOMAINfest Global ® event from January 31 to February 2, 2012, at the luxurious Fairmont Miramar Hotel in Santa Monica, Calif.

As in past years, the entire Fairmont Miramar Hotel has been reserved exclusively for DOMAINfest Global in order to provide attendees with an intimate, distraction-free environment that maximizes networking opportunities.

Speakers, Agenda and Evening Entertainment
Domain investors, publishers and online marketers attending DOMAINfest Global can once again expect an agenda filled with highly relevant learning and networking opportunities. Expert speakers and panelists will offer insights and tips that can immediately improve business performance and results. First-class evening dinner parties promise to provide unique, fun backdrops for the formation of long-lasting business partnerships and friendships.

Highlights from the February 2011 conference included a standing-room-only keynote address from legendary Go Daddy CEO Bob Parsons, plus an entertaining fireside chat with Ben Mezrich, author of The Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook. More than 700 domain name investors, online marketing professionals, and service providers from 30 countries attended the conference.

Registration Opens September 1
An early bird registration fee of $995, which includes all sessions, meals and official evening parties, will apply from September 1 through September 30. From October 1 through December 31 the standard discounted rate will be $1,195 per attendee. Beginning on January 1, the regular pre-conference rate of $1,295 will apply.

DOMAINfest has arranged for discounted hotel room rates at the Fairmont Miramar hotel. For reservation details, please visit: http://domainfest.com/hotel.

Sponsorship Opportunities Available
A record number of 37 sponsors and exhibitors successfully promoted their brands to the event’s high profile audience in February 2011. Information about 2012 sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities is available at http://domainfest.com/sponsorship-options. Inquiries can be sent to sales@domainfest.com.

New York Meet-Up
For the first time ever, DOMAINfest is hosting a New York meet-up event on August 23 from 7:00-10:00 p.m. US Eastern time at the Mad46 Rooftop Lounge, on the 19th floor of the Roosevelt Hotel at Madison Avenue and 46th Street. Attendees will enjoy speed networking, dinner and cocktails. Registration is $150 and is available online: http://www.domainfest.com/NewYork2011/register.

About DOMAINfest
Founded and hosted by DomainSponsor ®, the direct navigation traffic monetization division of Oversee.net, DOMAINfest ® is a conference series that brings domain industry and Internet professionals together to learn, network, and do business. Attendees include online advertising experts, domain publishers, domain monetization experts, SEO and SEM specialists, website developers, online marketers, ad or affiliate network suppliers, search advertising providers, venture capitalists, bankers and trademark/legal advisors. For more information, visit
http://www.domainfest.com.
About Oversee.net Oversee.net ® is a leader in Internet performance advertising. Its businesses are driven by a robust technology platform that processes over 40 million revenue events a month. With a portfolio of more than one million domain names, Oversee’s Domain Business is a top pay-per-click advertising network, delivering highly targeted ads to 300 million unique users worldwide per month. Vertical Markets, Oversee’s rapidly growing lead generation business, utilizes highly scalable SEO, SEM and CMS tools to attract customers to the company’s own travel, shopping, and financial services web sites, providing end users with the information they need to make smart purchase decisions. Headquartered in Los Angeles, Oversee has offices in Portland, Ore., Pompano Beach, Fla., New York City and Frankfurt, Germany.

Jeff Kupietzky Out as Oversee.net CEO

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A couple of people called me yesterday asking if I heard anything recent about Oversee.net CEO Jeff Kupietzky, and I had not. I also noticed a few Google searches with Jeff’s name yesterday, and I thought that something might be up at the company, especially in light of the recent shakeup at the company covered by DNN.

I reached out to Oversee spokesman Mason Cole, and he has just confirmed the upcoming departure of Kupietzky as company CEO.  According to Cole,

“I am confirming the departure of Jeff Kupietzky from his executive role with Oversee at the end of August.   After five years with the company and the last two and a half years as CEO and President, Jeff has elected for personal reasons to relocate his family to Israel.   The day-to-day operations and strategic vision for Oversee will be led by the company’s Co-Presidents, Debra Domeyer and Scott Morrow.   They are supported by an operating committee which includes CFO Liz Murray, and General Counsel Todd Greene.”

In addition to Cole’s confirmation, the company issued a statement about the departure of Kupietsky:

“On behalf of the Board and all Oversee employees, I thank Jeff for his service to the company,” said Board Chairman and Oversee co-founder Lawrence Ng. “He successfully navigated the company through some difficult challenges and positioned it as an industry leader. We all wish him the best of luck in his new home and as he continues his successful career.” Mr. Ng also expressed his confidence in the company’s leadership: “We feel extremely fortunate to have such a talented team of executives who are well respected throughout the industry. We are extremely confident in their knowledge and capabilities, as well as their passion to lead us to our next chapter of growth.”

I am not sure if Kupietzky is leaving the company completely, as I was simply told it was a departure “from his executive role with Oversee.” I wish him all the best with whatever his future plans may be.

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