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Occupy Protests Moving Smartly Online

Elliot Silver
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10

Although the “Occupy Wall St.” protestors’ messages may not be cohesive, their domain name strategy seems to be.

I was curious to see if those in the “Occupy” city protests have been buying related domain names, and it appears that many are. Domain names like OccupyWallStreet.com and similar names are registered by the Occupy Wall Street group, and they forward to the primary OccupyWallSt.org website. Other geodomain names have been registered as well.

In addition to dozens of others not listed, the following “Occupy” city domain names have been registered, as the protests continue to spread across cities throughout the United States:

  • OccupyNewYork.com
  • OccupyBoston.com
  • OccupySeattle.com
  • OccupySanFrancisco.com
  • OccupyPhiladelphia.com
  • OccupyMiami.com
  • OccupyChicago.com
  • OccupySanDiego.com
  • OccupyPortland.com

Smartly, many of these domain names have been registered simply to forward to each local movements’ website. For instance, OccupyPortland.com forwards to the website at OccupyPortland.org, and OccupySanDiego.com forwards to OccupySD.org.

One thing I also find interesting is that many of the websites are different from each other, but they have similar themes. In addition, it appears that many of the domain names are registered to different registrants.

From an observer’s perspective, it’s interesting to watch how these protests have been spreading. I won’t opine on the actual protests because it’s not related to the topic of my blog, but from a domain name and branding perspective, the group seems cohesive.

Saturday Afternoon Updates: Several Large Sales Reported This Week

Elliot Silver
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21

Hope you’re having a nice weekend. As much as the death of Apple’s Steve Jobs was somewhat expected, it was still really sad to hear about. In looking around at the devices I use on a daily basis, almost everything important to me is from Apple (with the exception of my Blackberry). The guy was an innovator and his presence will be missed. Anyway, I want to share some updates with you.

– For my Jewish readers currently observing Yom Kippur, I hope you have an easy fast. It’s during the Jewish holidays that I wish I would be doing more with Torah.com. I am sure I will eventually be able to turn it into a meaningful website.

– Shaun Pilfold’s company sold two great domain names last week, although the sales prices are subject to a non-disclosure agreement. Pilfold sold Campgrounds.com and RVParks.com. Pilfold originally picked up Campgrounds.com for a reported $175,000in 2007, and  I believe a company had been leasing the names for a few years. I am quite certain this was a lucrative sale and I congratulate Shaun.

– I read a press release announcing that Gay.XXX sold for half a million dollars this past week. Wow. I am pretty floored about the sale price. It sure does make Frank Schilling and Michael Berkens look pretty savvy after their .XXX investments/purchases.

– Just because Gay.XXX sold for $500k, it doesn’t mean that RandomGayDomain.XXX will be worth anything. I think the biggest issue with some domain investors buying gTLD domain names is that they buy crappy names and then get pissed at the Registry and everyone but themselves. If you stick to good domain names, you’ll probably make money.

– I’m very happy the Yankees and Devil Rays lost each of there ALDS series and the Philies lost the NLDS. I’m a Red Sox fan, and if the Sox don’t win, I thoroughly enjoy rooting against the Yankees.

– Some recent domain purchases I’ve made: SciaticaTreatment.com, LinkwheelService.com, MemoryBoxes.com, AftermarketPrices.com, RosslynRealEstate.com, and CallCenterOperations.com. Feel free to share yours in the comment section.

Hope you have a great weekend!

Using .CO & .ME Locally

Elliot Silver
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12

I saw this newspaper dispenser in Portland, Maine this morning and thought of you so I snapped a photo and want to share it. A number of companies in Maine (state abbreviation is ME) are using .ME as if it were its own local ccTLD.

This afternoon, I saw the Name.com video I embedded below, and it makes a similar point, but with a focus on Colorado (state abbreviation is CO).

Because Google allows domain owners who own .CO and .ME domain names to target visitors in the US, it makes sense to some companies in Maine and Colorado to use their states’ respective abbreviations. I won’t be surprised to see New York City businesses using .NYC in the near future.

BTW, one of the things I like about Name.com is their videos. It’s a small company and their weekly videos are great for building the brand and allowing customers to get to know the company. I feel like I know many of the people, even though I haven’t met all of them.

Guest Post with Ned O’Meara: Aussie Domain Market News

Elliot Silver
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4

Firstly, thank you to Elliot for inviting me to do a guest article. I was delighted to be asked.

I’m pleased to say that little by little the Aussie market is opening up at last. For those of you that thought there were just too many rules and regulations, it may well be time to have another look. Perhaps even consider putting a few eggs in other baskets?

The biggest and best change has just been officially announced in the last 24 hours by our regulator auDA. The 6 month prohibition on selling new domain names (or domains bought on the drop auctions) is being abolished come the 10th November. All I and other domainers can say is “hallelujah”! Official announcement here: http://www.auda.org.au/news-archive/auda-06102011/

Yes, we do have a few other rules and a bit of red tape, but compared to a few years back it is paradise. For those that make the effort now to become registered to buy Aussie domains, then I believe this will pay off big time in the future. Imho!

Our ccTLD is .com.au / .net.au etc. Currently there are just over 2,230,000 domains registered. So we’re still a baby compared to other markets. And therein lies the opportunity imo.

The beauty of our fledgling market (compared to .com) is that there are some absolute bargains to be picked up on both the drops and the secondary market. But the other exciting factor – particularly for domainers – are that there are some excellent “enduser” sales starting to happen as well.

The most recent blockbuster sale was investmentproperty.com.au. It cracked $125,001 on the drop auctions at Netfleet.com.au (plus had a similar bid at Drop.com.au)! This was way above what even seasoned domainers thought it would be worth! Have a read about it here in the Sydney Morning Herald.

Two other worthy sales this year were Poker.com.au and Deals.com.au – both went for $100,000. Top Aussie sales this year are listed here on DN Trade. I’m a partner in this forum, and would invite anyone keen on learning a bit more about Aussie domains to please join up. Adam Dicker of DNForum.com was very kind to give us an introduction on DNF as well.

If I can help anyone with information on how to easily set up an Aussie account, or if you have any further questions on the Aussie market, please email me.

Best wishes, Ned

Ned O’Meara is a full-time domainer who lives in Queensland, Australia. Aussie domains are his passion – and he also is the administrator at DN Trade – a domain forum for Aussie domain owners. He was also a panel member on the recent auDA Secondary Market Working Group (that recommended the abolishment of the 6 month rule). He can be contacted at ned at dntrade dot com.au (don’t forget the.au!)

Banks.com Wants to Sell Look.com

Elliot Silver
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0

Banks.com, a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange / American Stock Exchange, sent out a press release this morning announcing that the company has put Look.com up for sale as part of a divestiture of its “non-core domain assets.” The domain name has been listed for sale on Sedo and received 26 offers (granted there’s no offer minimum).

The price to purchase Look.com was not revealed, but the company seems to be looking to make a deal in the near term. According to the press release, “the company plans to accept the best immediate offer it receives for Look.com and reinvest the proceeds of the sale into continuing to expand its presence in the online tax vertical.”

Back in July of 2008, Look.com was for sale on Ebay for $2 million, according to a Gawker article. I am unsure of when Banks.com acquired Look.com, but privacy shield was removed for the first time since 2007 in February of 2010.

If you’re interested in making an offer for Look.com, the contact information for the CEO of Banks.com is listed in the press release below.

Banks.com Press Release:

Banks.com, Inc. operator of leading financial services focused online media properties, today announced that it has exited its legacy search business and that it will begin divesting its non-core domain assets beginning with the sale of the domain name, Look.com.

“With our exiting the search business, we will begin divesting those assets that are not core to the finance vertical and convert those assets into cash to help build our core business going forward,” said Dan O’Donnell, Chief Executive Officer of Banks.com. “Look.com isn’t just a great domain name; it’s a phenomenal domain name the likes of which rarely come up for sale. We encourage any interested parties to make their interest known.”

The company plans to accept the best immediate offer it receives for Look.com and reinvest the proceeds of the sale into continuing to expand its presence in the online tax vertical. Interested parties may email their offers and inquiries to the contact provided below.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and may include statements regarding acquisitions, business estimates, future contracts, future financial performance and results of operations, including cost of revenues, operating expenses, interest expense, net loss and cash flow. Unless otherwise required by law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise after the date of this press release. Additional information concerning risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or suggested in the forward-looking statements may be found in Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Annual Reports on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

About Banks.com

Banks.com, Inc. owns and operates internet media properties including: banks.com, irs.com, filelater.com and mystockfund.com. Our properties provide users with finance-related content and services and vendors with targeted online advertising opportunities. Through banks.com, we provide access to current financial content, including financial news, business articles, interest rates, stock quotes and financial calculators. We also provide users access to tax related services including online tax preparation through irs.com, online tax extensions through filelater.com, and online stock brokerage services through mystockfund.com.

Contact Information:Dan O’DonnellChairman and Chief Executive OfficerBanks.com, Inc.(415) 962-9799dodonnell@banks.com

BMA.com Hit With UDRP

Elliot Silver
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28

When I think of the acronym, BMA, nothing really comes to mind off of the top of my head. Unfortunately for the owner of BMA.com, a company believes its rights  supersedes  that of the registrant, and it filed a UDRP for the domain name at the  World Intellectual Property Organization.

According to the WIPO UDRP database, a UDRP was filed for BMA.com very recently. The complainant is a company called  Braunschweiger Maschinenanstalt AG, which I’ve never heard of before reading this.  Based on the logo on its website, BMA-Worldwide.com, the company wishes to be known as BMA.

AcronymFinder.com lists 81 results for the “BMA” acronym (it does not include this company among its results). The TESS database at the United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) lists 32 records for the term “BMA,” 13 of which are live. Other companies and organizations that use the BMA acronym include:

  • Baltimore Museum of Art
  • Business Marketing Association
  • British Medical Association
  • Baptist Missionary Association
  • Banco Macro Sa (Stock symbol is BMA)
  • Blue Mountain Artists
  • Birmingham Museum of Art
  • Boisselle Morton & Associates
  • … Countless other companies using BMA initials

At the present time, BMA.com is parked with what appears to me to be an untargeted landing page. From my perspective, this would indicate the owner didn’t intentionally park the name to confuse visitors into thinking it is related to Braunschweiger Maschinenanstalt AG.  There is also an advertising banner at the top that says “Bachelor of Musical Arts & More.”

I hope the domain owner has a good UDRP attorney.

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