Domain Name Wire Podcast

Can blockchain technology improve domain name registrars? That's what today's guest, Paul Gauvreau of 3DNS, believes. We discuss the relative benefits and potential benefits of bringing a registrar "on chain".

Also: Earnings season, .bot, domain search data, and "It is not."

Sponsor: Sav.com domain auctions

If you want to talk to someone who understands the power of a great domain, look no further than Erik Allebest. In 2005, he acquired the domain name chess.com for only $55,000 in a bankruptcy auction and hasn't looked back.

The domain paid dividends early because of how browsers worked. And the great domain still pays dividends to this day.

Chess.com now generates over $100 million a year and employees over 700 people. It welcomes 100,000 new sign ups every day.

Hear Erik's amazing story on today's show.

Also: .Com doldrums, auction changes, expired domains and more.

Sponsor: Sav.com domain transfers

On today's show, domain investor Braden Pollock explains his deal with Hilco Digital Assets, and we're also joined by Hilco Digital Assets managing director Andrew Miller. We also discuss the state of the market, and Braden reveals a new $600,000 domain name sale.

Also: .Org, .desi, bad lawyers, and going to jail over IP addresses

Sponsor: Sav.com backorders

Earlier this year, Ray King's Top Level Design sold its remaining top level domains to GoDaddy. On today's show, Ray explains why he sold. We also discuss TLD valuations and if he'll participate in the next round.

Ray is also the founder of domain name registrar PorkBun. He originally created the registrar to help sell its new top level domains. But over time, the registrar has grown thanks to word of mouth.

Sponsor: Sell your domains with Sav.com domain landers

Fred Hsu and Shayan Rostam have been in the domain business for a while. In fact, if you're fairly new to the business, you might not know who Fred is. He was a founder of Oversee.net, the company that ran DomainSponsor and the famous Domainfest events.

Through a weird chance encounter, he met Shayan Rostam, who has been in the registry business at several companies, including his own company Internet Naming Company.

They started talking about their common interest in domains, and created D3, a business they hope can bridge web2 and web3, as well as disrupt domain marketplaces. On today's show, Fred and Shayan talk about the new venture and Fred has a teaser…the return of Domainfest?

Colin C. Campbell has built and sold many companies, including several in the domain and web space. On today's show, Campbell talks about some of the things he's learned (both himself and from interviewing 200 entrepreneurs), which are part of his new book Start. Scale. Exit. Repeat.

We talk about co-founding Hostopia and Tucows, building the right team, good timing for selling businesses, growth hacks, and much more.

Sponsor: Sav.com domain transfers

My guests this week are Kamila Sekiewicz and Zak Muscovitch of the Internet Commerce Association (ICA). We kick things off by talking about the upcoming ICA meeting in Las Vegas, including some news about the Lonnie Borck Memorial Award. I mange to get Zak's blood boiling by bringing up .net price increases, and the pair fill us in on UDRP and the ICA's "ask me anything" events.

Also: Domain bidding settlement, .wallet, breach notice

Sponsor: Sav.com backorders

On today's show, Squadhelp founder Darpan Munjal shares data and ideas for how to sell more domains. One of the datapoints was so impactful that I changed the prices on about 50 of my domains after recording this interview.

We talk about domain pricing, how to get people who buy domains on payment plans to pays sooner, experiments with domain discoverability, and using remarketing to sell more domains.

Also: Top level domain news, .music, stable.com

Sponsor: Sell your domains with Sav.com domain landers

Have you ever passed up acquiring a domain only to kick yourself later? This week's guest can one-up you.

Jeremy Padawer had the opportunity to buy x.com for $10,000, only to be beaten to it by Elon Musk. On today's show, Jeremy tells the story, as well as several other great stories (including ones with no regrets!) from the early days of domains and websites…just as buying Jeremy.com.

These days, you're more likely to find Jeremy at a toy store than a domain conference. He has helped bring lots of popular toys to market in his career. It's a fun conversation.

Also: No more Google Domains, D3, Team Internet, ICA and more

Sponsor: Sav.com domain auctions

On today's show, DN Journal publisher Ron Jackson joins me to talk about the domain name market so far in 2023. We compare the top charts vs. last year and run through the top public sales of 2023. We also discuss some trends in domain sales.

Also: Namecheap badges, CBS, CentralNic and more.

Sponsor: Sav.com backorders