Google: We’re Committed to Domain Channel
Thursday, January 29th, 2009
Google’s Hal Bailey discusses domain parking at DOMAINfest.
In what can only be described as an awkward session, Google Adsense for Domains’ Hal Bailey discussed the future of the domain channel at DOMAINfest Global today in Los Angeles.
The good news for domainers is that Bailey said the company is committed to the domain channel and believes it adds value to domainers. Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) will not exit the domain channel “any time soon”, he said. He also said Google does not want to compete with domain parking companies and views them as a value-add.
“We value our partners,” Bailey said. “They provide value to us and they provide value to [domainers].”
In 2008, Google focused on traffic quality, and that will continue.
The session started turned awkward once the floor was opened up for questions. It was awkward for a couple reasons. First, some of the audience’s questions didn’t make sense or where about Google products unrelated to Adsense for Domains. Bailey’s group doesn’t actually manage the Adsense for Domains “direct” product, and only works with partners such as Oversee. Second, the audience was generally hostile to Google’s perceived lack of transparency. Bailey dodged many questions stating he couldn’t comment on them. When I asked Bailey what, other than the economy, was driving down domain parking revenue, he replied it was the economy.
Bailey will be at the networking session this afternoon to meet with domainers face-to-face.
Further Reading:
Nice info. Thanks for posting.
[...] Google: We’re Committed to Domain Channel by DNW [...]
Sounds like Hal needs to brush up on his political non-answer deflect-the-question replies.
[...] In 2008, Google focused on traffic quality, and that will continue. More… [...]
There video of this session? Domain Parking co’s are a value-add in terms of designing technology and optimizing it, but they are also value-taking in that they have to give up a larger share for it….
The video I captured didn’t come out well.
The biggest value-add of the domain companies is Google doesn’t have to provide support to every jack and jane domain owner.
Nice reporting.
The word “committed” kinda’ contrasts with “not any time soon”. I wish he was more clear.
Good news, anyhow.
@ Johnny “The word “committed†kinda’ contrasts with “not any time soonâ€
Hal was very cautious. If he said they were “committed” and then there was a shake-up in a year, people would say he lied. So I think he was just covering himself.
I fealt like even though some of the questions were a bit off Hal still didn’t actually really answer any of the questions that were asked. Fortunately he did slip in those positive nuggets like “Google is not pulling out of the domain channel any time soon”.
Why doesn’t he just admit that when he says “Transparency” he is talking about end users. The advertisers only enjoy slightly more transparancey than we do.
This is interesting, is there any specified number of domains one has to obtain to use it.
@ Bihar – it used to require 750k uniques/month to get a direct account. The Google Adsense for Domains “online” has no minimum.