In the vast expanse of the digital domain,
Where dreams unfold, and fortunes reign.
A new year dawns, a canvas to explore,
With domain names in our portfolio, we seek success galore.
Some chase the .com, a classic endeavor,
In the realm of the web, an extension to savor.
Others set sail on the .AI, .CO, or .IO tides,
Innovation and tech, with them, they ride.
I monitor thousands of high quality domain names with the help of DomainTools. I use the Registrant Monitor tool to keep track of certain domain registrants, and I also use the Domain Monitor tool to track thousands of great domain names.
Over the last week, I noticed a large swath of exceptional domain names in the NameFind portfolio appear to have been sold. This includes some of its top one word, two word, and short acronym.com domain names. This is in addition to the well-publicized NameFind auction on GoDaddy Auctions.
In my GoDaddy control panel, I have the ability to search for domain names based on their current nameservers. One thing I do from time to time – and should do more often – is look through the nameservers to ensure nothing stands out as incorrect.
The other day, I was looking for domain names parked on specific nameservers so I could make an update. When I clicked the nameserver search button at GoDaddy, I noticed quite a few nameservers I did not recognize as being set by me. In addition, some were very old nameservers I haven’t used in a long time (like Moniker DNS).
After a few seconds, I realized the unrecognized nameservers were connected to domain names I won at auction at domain registrars I don’t use. Instead of managing the domain names there for any time, I had immediately transferred them to my GoDaddy account. For whatever reason, I neglected to update the nameservers. This was an own-goal for me, but I am glad I caught the error and updated the domain names. The domain names set to Moniker nameservers are two personal domain names I previously used for forwarding but now keep just because.
Searching for domain names by nameserver is something I plan to do every so often. I don’t have enough names that this will ever become a major issue, but it’s such a simple search that I might as well do it every so often just to be sure nothing slipped through the cracks.
I have to assume other registrars have similar search functionality, so this could apply to people who use other domain registrars.
Public.com is an exceptional domain name that had been owned by Anything.com up for many years. At some point between 2018 and 2019, the domain name appears to have been sold for an undisclosed amount of money. The buyer, as it turns out, is a company called Public. That company got its start on the two word, off-brand HelloPublic.com domain name.
Why did Public decide to acquire its brand match Public.com domain name? One might guess it was for enhanced marketability and/or to convey trust with customers and clients. We needn’t guess the reasons any longer. In a response to Greg Isenberg’s tweet about the benefits of acquiring a premium .com domain name, Jannick Malling, Co-founder & Co-CEO of Public, shared his rationale for acquiring Public.com:
