GoDaddy’s power in domain registration cannot be ignored.
Here’s a tip to any registries for new domains coming online in the next couple years: before you create your marketing strategy and invest in infrastructure, go cozy up with your new pal Bob Parsons at GoDaddy.
Registries make money when more domains are registered as they get a typically flat fee for each domain registered. For example, VeriSign gets $6.42 for each .com domain registered.
With GoDaddy claiming to take nearly 50% of the new domain registration business, you can’t ignore its marketing power. If GoDaddy promotes your domain it will be successful. If it doesn’t, then you face an uphill battle.
Consider .mobi. As of April 2008 there were 903,941 total .mobi domains registered across 155 registrars according to mTLD filings with ICANN. GoDaddy held 434,141 of them — that’s 48%.
Domains that launched 5 years ago have a somewhat lesser share at GoDaddy, but it’s still strong. GoDaddy registered 28% of the two million .biz domains and 34% of the five million .info domains as of the end of April.
If GoDaddy includes a registry’s domain in its famous “protect your brand” upsell, where it offers a deep discount on alternative extensions for a name you choose, you can expect sales to go through the roof. Ditto if GoDaddy offers special pricing.
If GoDaddy decides to jack up the price of a registry’s domain extension, it could be a rough road ahead.
So registries, be sure to hop on your private jet and visit Scottsdale. Hire a couple scantily clad models and go off-roading with Parsons. It might be the smartest business move you’ve ever made.
KH says
That explains why .US has been such a dog, because Nuestar markets it (or doesn’t) and GoDaddy has put it in the back room. When you check a domain, GoDaddy gives you the choice of com* .tv .info* .org* .net* .mobi* .me . You have to search around to register a .US.
Couch Potato Gal says
.US is a dog for a lot of reasons, most related to the inept way in which Nuestar has handled it, and the idiotic policies of the DOC. If consumer demand is high enough, I have no doubt Godaddy will have a renewed interest it. It’s called capitalism man. Get used to it.
Erick says
GoDaddy is cheap and nice for basic domains. But the moment you are big and have to deal with other issues (such as spammers spamvertising your domain) GoDaddy becomes GoMonkey. Customer service staff are ok for basic account functions, for which frankly no service is necessary other than if you REALLY need a helping hand in general with tech stuff.
For more serious hosters, eNom.com and it’s bulk “bulkregister.com” are the very top choices. They know their stuff when it comes to server technology. Their pricing is transparent and their interface is smart and clean instead of all the clunky garbage GoDaddy includes in its stupid site.