Typographical error domain names can still generate parking revenue for the registrant. Typically, the more valuable typo domain names are misspellings of popular websites that generate traffic. For instance, Googole.com is a typo domain name of Google.com (which happens to be registered to the search giant). Most frequently, typo domain names are simply mistyped by the user rather than errors caused by the corresponding brand.
WHEC published an article about how Genesee Brewing Company misspelled its domain name on its packaging (GeneseeeBeer.com instead of GeneseeBeer.com). The brewer lucked out when a consumer spotted the error, registered the typo domain name, and redirected the typo domain name back to the correct website.
The story was shared in a series of tweets from the brewery:
THREAD: So we have this contact form on our website where people can write to us about anything: if they have a beer question or concern, if they’d like to know what time an event starts, is the neighbor’s husband cheating? Standard stuff. pic.twitter.com/nTu2ZzqPDg
— Genesee Brewery (@GeneseeBrewery) January 6, 2020
Over the weekend, we got this email from Aaron, a Rochester native. He noticed that the URL on his Genesee Light pounder read: https://t.co/C8pAUOK71j
Count the Es…one, two…THREE?!
— Genesee Brewery (@GeneseeBrewery) January 6, 2020
We fat-fingered our own URL. pic.twitter.com/hn6yaFBsW9
— Genesee Brewery (@GeneseeBrewery) January 6, 2020
It’s like this on all 16- and 12-ounce cans of Genesee Beer and Genesee Light.
— Genesee Brewery (@GeneseeBrewery) January 6, 2020
So at first, we were like pic.twitter.com/NsBKD0L13q
— Genesee Brewery (@GeneseeBrewery) January 6, 2020
And that evolved into that feeling of sickness you sometimes get, like if you tweet something personal on your work account and then deleting seems like it takes an hour and you’re wondering: Sh*t, how many people saw this? Did my boss? Should I just *not* go into work tomorrow? pic.twitter.com/85vqR2hN3e
— Genesee Brewery (@GeneseeBrewery) January 6, 2020
But then we kept reading his email. pic.twitter.com/KY8RqZYaUk
— Genesee Brewery (@GeneseeBrewery) January 6, 2020
Aaron bought the triple-e domain AND REDIRECTED IT TO OUR WEBSITE. ON HIS OWN.
— Genesee Brewery (@GeneseeBrewery) January 6, 2020
Folks, there are good people out there, doing nice things, just because. Small gestures, big feelings. pic.twitter.com/V0uBlpQmtI
— Genesee Brewery (@GeneseeBrewery) January 6, 2020
Aaron, if you’re out there, we appreciate you. Check your email (and spam folder) pic.twitter.com/8CtLvRUdTW
— Genesee Brewery (@GeneseeBrewery) January 6, 2020
Here’s to a great 2020 🍻
— Genesee Brewery (@GeneseeBrewery) January 6, 2020
Kudos to Genesee for owning up to the error and for sharing this story. I have reached out to companies to offer a free tip about a domain name related issue, and not only do many not reply, but some even take an adversarial position. It’s gotten to the point that it’s not usually worth reaching out. I am glad to see Genesee reached out to Aaron and hopefully will send him some beer.
