Kikabink News

If you have even a vague interest in buying and monetizing domain names… want to buy an expired domain… or simply want to understand the life cycle of a domain name, check this out:

==> Domain Life Cycle

It’s a nifty diagram and explanation of how domain names go from being available for registration… to expiring… to dropping… to becoming available again.

Love him or loathe him (or his company, Go Daddy Group, Inc.) Bob Parsons is a true character and undoubtedly one of the world’s most successful Internet entrepreneurs.

After a few previous ventures, Mr Parsons has built GoDaddy into the largest domain name registrar in the world, both in terms of new registrations and domains under management. Go Daddy currently registers or renews a domain name every second, has more than 5.5 million customers worldwide, manages more than 29 million domain names and employs more than 2,000 people!

As a private company, Go Daddy is not required to report its financial results, but its annual revenue is likely to be significantly higher than the 2006 figure of $240 million, which the company revealed in the lead-up to its since abandoned initial public offering (IPO).

Parsons is known for his risqué advertising (scantily dressed, buxom young women seem to dominate), his penchant for motorcycles, and his outspoken views about everything from domain name registration (understandably) to the treatment of war prisoners at Guantánamo Bay (less understandably).

What I don’t think anyone – certainly any entrepreneur - could question are Parson’s 16 Rules For Success. These rules range from “when you’re ready to quit, you’re closer than you think” to “anything that is not managed will deteriorate” to “never expect life to be fair”. My favorite? “Never give up”.

You’ve heard that elsewhere I’m sure… but it bears repeating, doesn’t it?

Parsons attributes his rise from rather humble beginnings to his current position as CEO of a hugely successful company to these 16 rules, and I have no doubt that EVERY reader of this newsletter would do well to internalize and follow them as well.

Personally, I recommend getting the Bob Parsons™ 16 Rules Poster. A few days ago my husband put up the poster, framed, above my desk. Whenever I glance at it, and read one or more of the rules, I get a renewed sense of purpose and excitement.

So yeah, I’m glad to have Bob Parsons watching over me…

Sources: Bob Parsons’ 16 Rules For Success, Paul Sloan, “Who’s Your Go Daddy?”, CNNMoney.com, December 19, 2006

From July 1, anyone who has registered a domain name through Yahoo’s small-business site will see their annual domain name renewal fee jump from $9.95 to $34.95.

Yahoo has been warning its customers of the impending price hike via emails sent 90 days, 60 days, and 30 days before users are set to renew their domain registrations.

According to Yahoo, new domain registrations will still only cost $9.95 and after a year, the fee will go up to $34.95. Fine, but if you visit their site, you’ll see a very prominent offer of domain names for $9.95 per year… and NO mention of the fact that the price will be $34.95 on renewals.

In my humble opinion, this failure to explain a renewal fee that is three and a half times the initial fee is, at the very least, bordering on contravening the misleading and deceptive laws here in Australia, and possibly elsewhere too.

Apparently, Yahoo is imposing the $25 price increase to meet its costs of delivering the service. Funny how other companies can sell domain names for between $5 and $10. Yahoo, however, argues that because domain name registration is not a core part of its small business suite, its domain prices can’t be as low as those of companies that focus on registering domains. Another comeback might be that low-priced domains are “loss leaders” for such companies.

My hit prediction is that less-educated customers will pay Yahoo’s excessive renewal fee - just as they tend to pay excessive fees for other products and services that can be obtained much more cheaply elsewhere. (Don’t get me started on how big name ISPs get away with charging uneducated home and small business users exorbitant fees for very average services!) Those with a bit more nous will realize that they can pay much less by going elsewhere.

Heck, check out our ad below: we offer domains for $8.95 per year (including renewals) if you use the coupon code “saveabuck”.

Sources: Holly Jackson, “Yahoo Ups Annual Domain Registration Fees”, June 27, 2008, Yahoo Small Business