Electron Interactive Acquires Storage.com and 1-866-STORAGE

From the Electron Blog:

“Electron Interactive, Inc. is announcing today that it has completed the acquisition of the Internet domain name Storage.com in the first of a series of major domains acquisitions the Internet firm is planning to make. The exact terms of the transaction are not being disclosed, however, it is reported to be one of the largest domain name transactions to take place in 2008…. (continued)”

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The Future of Personal Computing

http://www.ergoindemand.com/monitor-arms-multiple-monitors.htm
http://www.digitaltigers.com/zenview.asp?h=getzenviewmonitorsnow&kw=zenview

Who wouldn’t want at least one of these?

4 Companies to Watch

1. Skype
2. Salesforce.com / Force.com
3. oDesk
4. 37 Signals

See what these companies enable over the next 5 to 10 years. Guess what it means for the value of domain names?

Swiss Domain Security - SwitchGuard Domains

“A SWITCHguard domain name gives the holder of a domain name not only the same functions as for SWITCHbasic domain names but also maximum security and protection against unintended changes. The new product offers you the following security elements:

Increased security through the allocation of up to five trusted third parties
Additional checks on updates through a countercheck by at least one other person
Additional security through the specification of an IP address range for the trusted third parties (optional)”

– Source: SwitchGuard Domains

Do any .com registrars do this?

From Concept to Design: Top50.com Preview Unveiled

When setting out to design Top50.com, my requirements were simple: to create a world-class design fitting for a domain whose purpose is to display the “best of the best”. So from the outset, I knew I would be working with a best-of-breed design team.

Having developed many web properties over the past 10 years, I’ve worked with a large number of designers. One thing I have found, especially at the cheaper end of the spectrum, is that quality varies widely between designers and even for the designer across different projects. I have always found it difficult to find and retain quality designers who consistently deliver good design for the web.

I analyzed the portfolios, philosophy, and business practices of a dozen or so firms. One firm stood out in several ways. This firm not only demonstrated the ability to churn out great design after great design, across a wide variety of verticals, but also intimately understood the link between premium domain names and premium online brands.

The firm is Graphics.net. Working with a high-end graphics firm is not cheap, but I highly recommend it if you’re serious about projecting a professional image.

I’d like to thank Danno, Seth, Mike, and everyone else from the Graphics.net team for the excellent work they did in making the Top50.com concept into a masterful design reality.

I’m proud to say that the final touches on the Top50.com design are nearing completion. Here’s a preview of what it’s going to look like:

This is the first step in turning a premium domain name into a premium Internet brand — and ultimately, a premium Internet business.

Electron Announces Upcoming Launch of Top50.com

In October, 2007, my company acquired the domain name Top50.com, securing financing from Domain Capital to complete the purchase.

For the past several months, we’ve been developing the domain and it is now nearing completion. We are gearing up for an early February launch. It’s a lot of work to take a prime, generic domain name and turn it into a fully-fledged online business.

Of course, that’s the business we are in at Electron. It is the focus of our anticipated growth in 2008 and beyond. We believe that the highest-leverage opportunity online (for us) is acquiring premium domain names in the five and six-figure range, and multiplying their income by ten to one hundred fold by implementing a comprehensive online marketing plan and unique business model.

This is possible because many domain names are not optimally suited for the direct navigation business model. Top50.com is a prime example. In this case, the value of what I call the “brand equity” in the domain (the untapped, inherent brand recognition value of the domain alone) far exceeds the value of the domain as a source of type-in traffic.

By launching an actual online business on top of this type of domain, we unlock this brand equity and realize an instant gain in the value of the property. In other words, we turn what was previously only a $50,000 domain name into a multi-million dollar online business.

Domains can be acquired using financing or a lease-option model to achieve even more leverage. Several companies have cropped up in this area — Domain Capital (a company we are working with), Domain Backers, and LeaseThis, among others.

We intend to acquire and develop a new major domain name each quarter this year.

In upcoming posts, I will talk about the specifics and rationale behind the acquisition and devleopment of Top50.com. Specifically, I will touch on domain selection, business model strategy, design, development, and ongoing marketing and opererations strategy.

Oversee.net Acquires Moniker

Just received this notice from Oversee.net

“To SnapNames Customers:
We’re contacting you with an update about Oversee.net, the parent company of SnapNames. Moniker and its TrafficClub program, well-known service providers in the domain name industry, have been acquired by Oversee.net.

This will not directly affect your participation at SnapNames. However, the combination of services and capabilities by Oversee, SnapNames and Moniker bring all customers a menu of services that support needs throughout the life cycle of a domain name, including procurement, monetization and sales. Watch for more information in the coming weeks about new services available to you.”

Oversee.net seems to be on an acquisition spree lately — seems not too long ago they acquired domain auction house Snapnames. With the Moniker acquisition, Oversee.net is shaping up to be one of the strongest entities in the domain industry.

Bubble 2.0 Video Talks About Domain Names

I came across this very funny video today:

My favorite part is in the middle when they talk about domain names. They jokingly make a reference to “telephone without the t” (elephone.com) as a domain that a web 2.0 company might adopt.

Of course, I had to type it in to see what was there. I was greeted with the signature Frank Schilling (Name Administration) parked page:

Looks like those Web 2.0 guys are going to have to try even harder to find a domain. Elephone is just a bit too meaningful.

Of course, they could just spend 0.001% of their VC money to acquire a decent one in the aftermarket. But they’re too smart for that.

Update: Video has been removed. Youtube says, “This video is no longer available due to a copyright claim by a third party.”

Jupiter Research Media Analyst Barry Parr on WallStreet.com - Clueless?

Jupiter Research Media Analyst Barry Parr, on the subject of WallStreet.com not getting any bids higher than $3 million:

“There’s not a lot of inherent value in either the name or the existing business.” (Source)

I’m sorry, but this quote is just idiotic and is representative of the cluelessness that pervades corporate America. There is not a lot of inherent value in the name WallStreet.com? What?

How is this “analysis” being passed off as something to listen to? If there’s not a lot of inherent value in the name WallStreet.com, then why did someone bid $3 million? Was that for nothing?

Even Steve Forbes sees the inherent value. (The fact that it got his attention enough to comment on it is the inherent value.)

TRAFFIC Auction Names - A Name Strategy Analysis

These were the names I was tracking for the upcoming TRAFFIC auction.

ComicBookStore.com $5,001 - $10,000 (Update: Sold for $13,000)

I like this one for a number of reasons. Usually I would stay away from names with “store” on the end, but in this case it actually makes sense.

Strategically, this domain obviously has to be a comic book store. That’s another reason why I like the domain — it’s patently obvious what it should be. Everyone knows what it is, and what it’s for.

There seem to be a number of comic book affiliate programs that could be used in order to avoid the unwanted overhead of holding inventory or processing orders for physical products.

With a good design, integrated commissionable products, content to supplement the products, and a strong SEO strategy, this domain could be a big earner in a short period of time.

ChineseCheckers.com $1 - $5,000 (Update: Sold for $6500)

Sure, it’s a small niche, but the reserve price reflects that. What’s good about this domain is that it is category-defining. There is simply no other domain that describes this category.

I like domains that are what they are.

ChineseCheckers.com should be a place where you can play Chinese checkers, learn about Chinese checkers, and buy products related to Chinese checkers. Because of the fact that this name is in the online gaming space, it is also somewhat of a viral play — friends spreading it to friends spreading it to friends…

Nice domain for < $5k.

TuxedoRental.com $25,001 - $50,000 (Update: Sold for $65,000)

This is probably best used as a straight lead-gen site. Since there is a high margin on tuxedo rentals this is a good “money” site.

DiscountTours.com $5,001 - $10,000

Lead-gen again. I haven’t checked the search numbers on the “discount tours” term, but it’s a strong brand nonetheless at this price range.

Podiatrists.com $100,001 - $250,000

Directory. Every podiatrist in the United States should be paying $19.99 a month to be listed on this site. (How many podiatrists is that?)

Great domain.

AutoFinancing.com $25,001 - $50,000

sportsscores.com $50,001 - $100,000

promotion.com $50,001 - $100,000

delawareinsurance.com $5,001 - $10,000

sciencefiction.com $250,001 - $500,000

certifiedorganic.com $5,001 - $10,000

caribbeanvacations.com $25,001 - $50,000

communication.com $100,001 - $250,000

ItalianMafia.com $5,001 - $10,000

… this one shouldn’t in the list. I wouldn’t touch this domain with a 10 foot pole.

rapvideos.com $1 - $5,000

If this goes for anywhere near this listed reserve price, I will be shocked. This domain has huge potential for a viral community site.

martialarts.com $250,001 - $500,000

I see this domain being best leveraged in a combination of two plays: directory and community.

americans.org $25,001 - $50,000