BlogSmall business, Marketing, Promotion and Web Design

After numerous confirmations of scam-like business practices, Network Solution is now looking into implementing a feature that will allow users to “lock” domain for 4 days, instead of doing this for them automatically. Ironically, this feature look just awfully familiar - just like “domain tasting”. With difference being that now anyone can lock the domain without even providing their contact info. Don’t even need to set up various fake registrars to grab and drop domains for tasting, just keep searching for it.

Another bad trick here is that since domain name would appear registered - there is a very good chance squatters may snipe it right the moment it will be released. And it is already very well known what it means. Some of my clients paid pretty large sums for their trademarked name - just to get it faster then through the lawsuit.

Interesting facts:

• In 2000 Network Solutions was purchased by Verisign for $21 billion.
• In 2007 they were purchased for $800 million.

My take? If you have domain names at Network Solutions - move them to someone not so dangerous. GoDaddy, Moniker or NameCheap (we use all three of them) look much better.

Popularity: 34%

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• Network Solutions Plays It Dirty (January 9, 2008): So, after all this time it turns out to be true - someone DOES snitch domain names at the time of the search. Guess who that might be? Some anonymous hacker? Wrong! It's one of the largest domain name registrar - Network Solutions. Multiple blogs and other sources confirm that NetSol preserves any .com name [...]
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So, after all this time it turns out to be true - someone DOES snitch domain names at the time of the search. Guess who that might be? Some anonymous hacker? Wrong! It’s one of the largest domain name registrar - Network Solutions. Multiple blogs and other sources confirm that NetSol preserves any .com name searched through their web site for at least 4 days “to protect customers from front-runners”.

What it looks like to me is that whenever any company feels too comfortable at the place it is bad things start to happen. But off with the generalizations. I have some clients who have some domains registered through Network Solutions. After a hit like that the company might do all kinds of crazy stuff, so I better have those domains secured at other registrars.

Popularity: 32%

You might also be interested in reading this:

• Why .COM domain name is important (December 30, 2007): (initially this was a reply to the discussion on WebHostingTalk in regards to the .ws domain name for web hosting business web site) Running your company's web site doesn't really require .com domain. However, for marketing purposes, .com domain is almost a necessity, since most people are so much used to all domain names ending in [...]
• Network Solution Saga Continues (January 11, 2008): After numerous confirmations of scam-like business practices, Network Solution is now looking into implementing a feature that will allow users to "lock" domain for 4 days, instead of doing this for them automatically. Ironically, this feature look just awfully familiar - just like "domain tasting". With difference being that now anyone can lock the domain [...]
• Updating the blog (December 20, 2007): My sincere apologies if the blog will malfunction tonight - I am installing a plug-in to list domains I have for sale and the site might be a little unstable during this time. Please bear with me.
• Russian Teacher Case (February 16, 2007): Given how much publicity the case with Russian teacher Ponosov got (here's the link to the latest on Wired) I think I also have to shed some light on it, given that most people don't really understand what's really going on. However, bear in mind - I am not a lawyer, so whatever you may [...]

(initially this was a reply to the discussion on WebHostingTalk in regards to the .ws domain name for web hosting business web site)

Running your company’s web site doesn’t really require .com domain. However, for marketing purposes, .com domain is almost a necessity, since most people are so much used to all domain names ending in .com (unless you are running del.icio.us, but that’s whole another story and you wouldn’t need an advice in such a case). One of our clients is running a web site with .us domain (actually, he’s the only client who has a non-dot-com domain, as far as I know), but he is marketing to a different niche and in a different way.

In the early days of .biz and .info these TLDs were offered at a huge discount, or even for free. A lot of fraudsters, scammers and spammers have grabbed nice looking domains in those zones which led to the common perception of these domains as “knock-offs”, “fakes” or businesses in third-world countries that shouldn’t be trusted. Currently it’s not exactly true, but that’s what we usually hear from prospective clients when choosing domain name for their web sites.

.COM is a must if you are running E-commerce web site. I would also suggest same approach if you are running web hosting business. There are a lot of aftermarket names you can snatch for a very low fee (we also have some hosting domains for sale). If that’s too expensive - your business model must be wrong.

Popularity: 34%

You might also be interested in reading this:

• Network Solutions Plays It Dirty (January 9, 2008): So, after all this time it turns out to be true - someone DOES snitch domain names at the time of the search. Guess who that might be? Some anonymous hacker? Wrong! It's one of the largest domain name registrar - Network Solutions. Multiple blogs and other sources confirm that NetSol preserves any .com name [...]
• Network Solution Saga Continues (January 11, 2008): After numerous confirmations of scam-like business practices, Network Solution is now looking into implementing a feature that will allow users to "lock" domain for 4 days, instead of doing this for them automatically. Ironically, this feature look just awfully familiar - just like "domain tasting". With difference being that now anyone can lock the domain [...]
• Updating the blog (December 20, 2007): My sincere apologies if the blog will malfunction tonight - I am installing a plug-in to list domains I have for sale and the site might be a little unstable during this time. Please bear with me.
• Small business in Chicago (November 27, 2007): Yesterday I have returned from a Thanksgiving trip to Chicago. Aside from matrimonial errands (my friends were getting married) I had a chance to communicate to a lot of different people from various social groups. Aside from regular chit-chat I was inquiring on the cost of living. Obviously you can get data from various web [...]