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Guest Post: Matt Bentley on the Recent Google Algorithm Change and Its Impact on Domain Investors

Elliot Silver
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28

Google Unleashes “Revenge of the Niche Publishers“

Though it’s gone largely unnoticed in the domain industry, a Google algorithm update announced today may just be the best news the domain industry has heard in years. A first step towards ending the long reign of the “MegaSite”, content factories churning out endless supplies of content and ranking solely by the size and authority of their domain.

Or, it may just be another PR move from a search behemoth increasingly under fire for the declining quality of their results. Only time and detailed analysis of the results will tell.

So why should domain investors care about Google changes?

Since ~2007 Big G’s never-ending quest to fight spam has increasingly emphasized Site Authority ie, how big and well-linked a website is. Eric Schmidt famously stated that “[big] brands are how you sort out the cesspool” of the internet.

The unsurprising result of an emphasis on Site Authority was the rise of MegaSites like eHow, AssociatedContent, and About.com, where non-expert writers could make it to the top of the search results not because of their knowledge or the quality of their content, but because of the power of the host domain.

For those with multiple domains, 1+1+1 = 2. Three articles posted on 3 niche sites are worth far less than 3 articles posted on one mega site. The more domains you have, the bleaker the picture.

Now, with the Farmer Update, the pendulum may finally be swinging back in the other direction.

The domain industry needs this change. We need expert bloggers, mom-and-pop businesses, and niche publishers to be able to compete successfully in the search results, on their own domains. If they can’t, they’ll shift resources to social media platforms and hosted content solutions like article marketing rather than spending a lot on a domain for a site that nobody visits.

And finally, domainers increasingly are niche publishers. For those learning scalable domain development, targeted search traffic is an increasingly necessary replacement for declining parking revenues.

As of today, that goal may have just become a little bit easier.

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Matt Bentley is a niche publisher, domain investor, former CEO of Sedo.com, and founder of BetterSEO.com, a stealth-phase content analytics startup.

Afternic Sells Nearly $700k in Domains

Elliot Silver
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18

Afternic just released its sales report for last week, and the company sold over 125 domain names for $2,000 or more (publicly disclosed sales only). In total, the company sold just shy of $700,000 worth of domain names.

To be quite honest, many of the domain names that were sold are names I wouldn’t even hand register. It goes to show that if you put your names for sale on a site like Afternic or Sedo, a buyer may just find your name.

pinkzone.com $12,000.00
InternetMarketingService.com $9,200.00
incatrail.com $9,000.00
artbuzz.com $8,075.00
coolgames.org $7,500.00
hartwood.com $7,000.00
fineworld.com $6,577.00
2822.com $6,000.00
dirtgames.com $5,500.00
wallo.com $5,488.00
dator.com $5,400.00
jumpingmouse.com $5,188.00
selecao.com $5,000.00
eclean.com $5,000.00
nucleare.com $4,788.00
xmwa.com $4,500.00
workhub.com $4,500.00
palinfo.com $4,388.00
strala.com $4,250.00
mysteryflight.com $4,000.00
WhitePony.com $4,000.00
surnet.com $4,000.00
novabiz.com $3,940.00
casacaribe.com $3,888.00
everydaysuccess.com $3,750.00
geekwire.com $3,688.00
druckservice.com $3,650.00
situate.com $3,520.00
situate.com $3,520.00
taras.com $3,500.00
DuplicateFile.com $3,500.00
lugnutcovers.com $3,500.00
upandcomer.com $3,488.00
militaryaffairs.com $3,388.00
charterus.com $3,321.00
Rentis.com $3,310.00
tbbnet.com $3,288.00
femu.com $3,240.00
readingimprovement.com $3,220.00
salesmatters.com $3,188.00
sycamorepartners.com $3,188.00
ohsushi.com $3,188.00
artdiscover.com $3,188.00
businessfurniture.net $3,188.00
responsable.net $3,188.00
nvus.org $3,188.00
yesfamily.com $3,088.00
machinebuilding.com $3,088.00
electroplanet.com $3,088.00
chinaquality.com $3,000.00
IQDB.com $3,000.00
charma.com $3,000.00
serviceplus.net $3,000.00
loyaltyconnect.com $2,988.00
thewolvesden.com $2,988.00
clipshow.com $2,988.00
protoe.com $2,959.00
coeliac.com $2,900.00
heavenlyliving.com $2,800.00
happychoice.com $2,750.00
behaviour.net $2,688.00
avaianas.com $2,600.00
dressyouup.com $2,588.00
livefury.com $2,588.00
atomicdata.com $2,588.00
digitalreality.net $2,588.00
indiebookstore.com $2,500.00
deogroup.com $2,500.00
connoisseurgroup.com $2,500.00
bothwell.com $2,500.00
mrnerd.com $2,500.00
masterhomes.com $2,500.00
masterhomes.com $2,500.00
suiteservices.com $2,488.00
wildlifephotographer.com $2,488.00
usauto.net $2,488.00
caymanbeachresort.com $2,450.00
mobilecontainerservice.com $2,391.00
i-confess.com $2,388.00
aestheticmedicine.org $2,388.00
icewatches.com $2,377.00
OfficeKing.com $2,370.00
luxurypens.com $2,300.00
ingredientes.com $2,300.00
LuxuryPens.com $2,300.00
pursuingchrist.com $2,288.00
blip.net $2,275.00
powervpn.com $2,250.00
tradeu.com $2,250.00
tradeu.com $2,250.00
primetimeplayers.com $2,231.60
artsection.com $2,230.00
mexicovive.com $2,200.00
nrep.com $2,200.00
asteriskconsulting.com $2,188.00
playlodge.com $2,188.00
hiddeninn.com $2,188.00
forumtrading.com $2,149.00
parentshow.com $2,149.00
cardstatus.com $2,149.00
comparehub.com $2,100.00
wholesaleessentialoils.com $2,100.00
clipsoft.com $2,093.00
healthportfolio.com $2,088.00
opportunityunlimited.com $2,088.00
lowart.com $2,088.00
3to1.com $2,088.00
crossconnected.com $2,088.00
freepocket.com $2,088.00
learningdimensions.com $2,088.00
clickandcollect.com $2,088.00
skydiversonline.com $2,070.00
betterfurniture.com $2,070.00
pipewave.com $2,000.00
valdis.com $2,000.00
icyblue.com $2,000.00
talentpath.com $2,000.00
eliteflorist.com $2,000.00
cyberweather.com $2,000.00
statetv.com $2,000.00
hydrobot.com $2,000.00
virtualcollector.com $2,000.00
santor.com $2,000.00
cligger.com $2,000.00
uvpool.com $2,000.00
wehelp.net $2,000.00
manyphotos.com $1,988.00
halfmarathontrainingschedule.com $1,988.00
halfmarathontrainingschedule.com $1,988.00
acctdept.com $1,900.00
northdakotasports.com $1,900.00
yaa.org $1,900.00
ShareFocus.com $1,895.00
mrlittle.com $1,888.00
therealeconomy.com $1,888.00
grassworld.com $1,888.00
suiteservice.com $1,888.00
lowspeed.com $1,888.00
promotionpoint.com $1,888.00
acairfilters.com $1,888.00
digitalreality.org $1,888.00
masterconcept.com $1,860.00
basketballgames.net $1,850.00
nationalstock.com $1,800.00
readingresults.com $1,800.00
safetytrainingonline.com $1,800.00
changemanagementinstitute.com $1,800.00
paykiosk.com $1,800.00
webvisual.com $1,800.00
americasource.com $1,800.00
goldmarketing.com $1,800.00
storelli.com $1,799.00
residentialinvestor.com $1,798.00
medtracking.com $1,788.00
tutormarket.com $1,788.00
numbersource.com $1,788.00
moneychamp.com $1,788.00
coolschool.org $1,788.00
mindjuice.org $1,788.00
golets.com $1,750.00
rewardyou.com $1,750.00
ranchochico.com $1,750.00
myvessel.com $1,745.00
theglobalforum.com $1,700.00
mecenter.com $1,700.00
QuickerCASH.com $1,700.00
plasticsprocessing.com $1,699.00
autoys.com $1,699.00
increasemyscore.com $1,699.00
RoomMall.com $1,695.00
morrisonhealth.com $1,688.00
mindofman.com $1,688.00
synergisticmarketing.com $1,688.00
littleknight.com $1,688.00
plushmattress.com $1,688.00
captech.net $1,688.00
yahir.net $1,688.00
propertylisters.com $1,678.00
moderateparty.org $1,672.00
panelsaws.com $1,600.00
icrh.net $1,600.00
KHub.net $1,600.00
DefyConvention.com $1,595.00
PrudenceGroup.com $1,595.00
approvedequipment.com $1,588.00
pneumatichydraulic.com $1,588.00
parentsarea.com $1,588.00
c-hill.com $1,588.00
safeneighbor.com $1,588.00
cedarshingles.org $1,588.00
rfta.net $1,588.00
indiafoods.com $1,560.00
flexoptions.com $1,510.00
smartgigs.com $1,500.00
paradisemusic.com $1,500.00
anytimeinsurance.com $1,500.00
adoptabunny.com $1,500.00
viewcapital.com $1,500.00
gastromania.com $1,500.00
empoweringleadership.com $1,500.00
homewatchdogs.com $1,500.00
skincarenews.com $1,500.00
sportseyeglasses.com $1,500.00
mycareerbook.com $1,500.00
shmoozer.com $1,500.00
builtbygod.com $1,500.00
globalparadigm.com $1,500.00
docall.com $1,500.00
travellersshop.com $1,500.00
itstravel.com $1,500.00
LocalDrink.com $1,500.00
Tracki.com $1,500.00
tiendadecoracion.com $1,500.00
autocreditrepair.com $1,500.00
cufe.org $1,500.00
newgames.net $1,500.00
endinghunger.org $1,500.00
humanframe.com $1,488.00
sporttourism.com $1,488.00
ttfdesign.com $1,488.00
aptmanagement.com $1,488.00
mini-cabs.com $1,488.00
odysseycommunications.com $1,488.00
factastic.com $1,450.00
internetonlinemarketing.com $1,414.31
lonelytraveler.com $1,400.00
allerbest.com $1,400.00
420list.com $1,400.00
tanne.net $1,400.00
ShoppingForce.com $1,395.00
PrimeProcess.com $1,395.00
BuyYes.com $1,395.00
ringsdirect.com $1,392.00
fullblack.com $1,388.00
amigomobile.com $1,388.00
sporthub.net $1,388.00
orgchart.org $1,388.00
TopLife.net $1,388.00
usalandsale.com $1,377.00
discountdentalcare.com $1,355.00
wespeak.net $1,354.00
accessaudio.com $1,350.00
worldexporter.com $1,350.00
WorldExporter.com $1,350.00
salesguard.com $1,350.00
goodgames.org $1,350.00
gettingpersonal.org $1,349.00
bloggeraid.com $1,340.00
innovationlink.com $1,325.00
zeropc.com $1,300.00
cpanewsletter.com $1,300.00
betwey.com $1,300.00
supergames.net $1,300.00
MachDynamics.com $1,295.00
manufacturingenterprise.com $1,288.00
resolutionsystems.com $1,288.00
hedgefinance.com $1,288.00
raiseyourhand.org $1,288.00
radarscreen.net $1,288.00
skygame.net $1,288.00
mygarden.org $1,288.00
Psychological.net $1,280.00
companyliving.com $1,275.00
comparebot.com $1,252.00
lendingbroker.com $1,250.00
servicemakers.com $1,250.00
digitalsafes.com $1,250.00
arthe.com $1,250.00
christianfunerals.com $1,250.00
bankingcomplaints.com $1,250.00
entercloud.com $1,250.00
danceworks.org $1,250.00
floridacampers.com $1,200.00
teamfuture.com $1,200.00
sessionone.com $1,200.00
cravechocolate.com $1,200.00
popularclicks.com $1,200.00
thegents.com $1,200.00
diyfinance.com $1,200.00
pixpay.com $1,200.00
ddate.net $1,200.00
safetytips.net $1,200.00
Sleeps.co $1,200.00
NetSpike.com $1,195.00
joespizza.org $1,188.00
terraindirect.com $1,182.00
deskpal.com $1,182.00
WirelessBill.com $1,125.00
hongkongmassage.com $1,102.00
droogs.com $1,100.00
rebeccajames.com $1,100.00
mauiattorney.com $1,100.00
partnersfriends.com $1,088.00
surplustool.com $1,088.00
launchamerica.com $1,088.00
itstaffing.org $1,088.00
marketcommentary.net $1,088.00
security-cameras.net $1,088.00
joespizza.net $1,088.00
eversavecoupons.com $1,053.00
certifiedadvantage.com $1,050.00
caribbeandevelopment.com $1,011.00
godandyou.com $1,000.00
coachtouring.com $1,000.00
moneyvista.com $1,000.00
expeditionclub.com $1,000.00
wealthforwomen.com $1,000.00
mattpeters.com $1,000.00
beyondwebsites.com $1,000.00
clinicalphotography.com $1,000.00
royalwoods.com $1,000.00
captainsteamer.com $1,000.00
grassinc.com $1,000.00
furniturebook.com $1,000.00
wdmgroup.com $1,000.00
buy-vitamins.com $1,000.00
signaturecommercial.com $1,000.00
upandcomers.com $1,000.00
prettypopular.com $1,000.00
cappelleria.com $1,000.00
compliancedirector.com $1,000.00
thetutoringcompany.com $1,000.00
expressvending.com $1,000.00
teleoperator.com $1,000.00
mediatoolkit.com $1,000.00
magnaenergy.com $1,000.00
NowPAL.com $1,000.00
CalorieTracker.com $1,000.00
VistaAmerica.com $1,000.00
psid.net $1,000.00
torontocondos.org $1,000.00
docsonline.net $1,000.00
webgames.org $1,000.00
administratie.net $1,000.00
lowincome.org $1,000.00

It’s Official: Sex.com Sale a Guinness World Record

Elliot Silver
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14

World RecordMost of us probably already know that the $13 million sale of Sex.com was the top all-cash, public domain sale of all time. This sale has now been officially documented by the folks at Guinness World Records, the organization that publishes the Guinness Book of World Records.

In a press release issued this morning, Sedo, celebrating its 10 year anniversary, has announced that the Sex.com sale set a Guinness World Record for “most expensive internet address domain name.”

I am not sure if this was a newly introduced category in the Guinness World Records or if there was a previous title holder, but it’s pretty cool to see the sale of a domain name listed as a World Record. Congrats to Sedo!

Press Release Follows:

Sedo, the online domain specialist, today announced that its recent brokerage of Sex.com has earned the Guinness World Recordâ„¢ for “most expensive internet address domain name.” Sex.com was sold for £8.2 million on 17th November 2010.

Sedo, which celebrated its milestone 10-year anniversary on 12 February, has grown to be a trusted advisor in the domain industry. As the world’s largest domain name marketplace, Sedo has brokered over £240 million worth of domain names including a number of high-profile, seven-figure transactions for premium domains such as Vodka.com, Pizza.com and Russia.com.

“The sale of Sex.com was truly a team effort. We spent about two years with the domain, establishing the relationship, researching and finding the right buyer and managing the domain’s transfer,” said Kathy Nielsen, director of sales at Sedo. “We’re honoured that Sedo was trusted with such a high-value and high-profile sale, and we’re ecstatic that it is now being recognized by Guinness World Records as a record-breaking deal.”

“With a prominent sale like Sex.com, the domain transfer process can be incredibly complicated,” said Jeremiah Johnston, chief operating officer and global counsel at Sedo. “But what makes Sedo unparalleled in the industry is that we work just as closely with domains of any size – to expedite and simplify the transaction, as well as eliminate unnecessary risks for both the seller and new owner.”

To learn more about the 2010 domain marketplace, sales figures and statistics, please visit Sedo’s 2010/Q4 1010 Domain Market Study: http://sedo.co.uk/fileadmin/documents/pressdownload/Q4_2010_DomainMarketStudy_UK.pdf

Mike Mann on Sedo .CO Auction

Elliot Silver
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59

As you may or may not be aware, many of the domain names in yesterday’s .CO domain auction held at Sedo are owned by legendary domain investor, Mike Mann. Mike was the founder of Buy Domains, which he sold to NameMedia, and he currently operates DomainMarket.com. He remains the largest non-institutional shareholder in NameMedia, and he is an active philanthropist with Grassroots.org.

Aside from Sedo and perhaps the .CO Registry, Mike and his company had the most on the line with this auction. I asked him for some comments on it, and he was kind enough to reply.

Read More

Sedo Premium .CO Auction Ends Today

Elliot Silver
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86

As I’ve mentioned before, the premium .CO domain auction being held by Sedo ends today in just a few hours. As of now, the following domain names have bids at $2,000 or higher, although most haven’t met reserves:

shop.co 20,000 USD
love.co 20,000 USD
casino.co 17,500 USD
news.co 10,001 USD
bank.co 9,000 USD
money.co 5,100 USD
shopping.co 5,000 USD
art.co 5,000 USD
lasvegas.co 4,600 USD
chico.co 4,500 USD
pizza.co 4,444 USD
gold.co 3,000 USD
football.co 3,000 USD
time.co 3,000 USD
solar.co 3,000 USD
ruby.co 3,000 USD
music.co 3,000 USD
oil.co 2,555 USD
law.co 2,555 USD
creditcards.co 2,500 USD
technology.co 2,500 USD
download.co 2,222 USD
health.co 2,050 USD
finance.co 2,000 USD
tequila.co 2,000 USD

It’s going to be interesting to see what types of bids the domain names receive in the final hours. Sedo has been marketing these domain names in a variety of ways, including radio advertisements.

Is Sedo Advertising .CO Auction on the Radio?

Elliot Silver
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26

As I’ve mentioned in the past, Sedo is currently holding its .CO premium auction, now through February 17, 2011.  They are advertising the auction in a number of places, but one place I wouldn’t have suspected would be the radio.

Steve Morsa sent me a note today, mentioning that he believes he heard a radio spot for the .CO auction in Los Angeles:

“Heard a short (seemed like 15-30 second long only) Sedo radio ad yesterday afternoon where they pitched that they sold domains; and that they had a number of .co ones up (or coming up) for auction.

It ran on the most-listened to news station in the L.A. metro market KNX News Radio. 1070 AM.”

Wonder how much radio time the company may have purchased across the US. Seems like an interesting method to get the word out. Only issue could be tracking results unless they happened to use a unique url like Sedo.com/radio or something like that.

Always good to see an expansion of advertising channels for companies selling domain names.

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