In the business, there is something called "tasting" domains. Tasting a domain allows you five days grace period to figure out if you want to pay the full registration fee. It gives domainers some time to research the probability that this domain name will generate revenue.
During the grace period is up, the buyer of the domain can actually use the domain name and park a page full of advertising and affiliate links. This is a very standard practice because it allows a domainer the ability to see what traffic shows up spontaneously and how they get there by checking the site statistics. This gives the domain buyer some insight into whether they've picked a good name or not.
At first domain tasting was free, so many domain buyers simply tasted multiple domain names at a time and dropped any that did not appear to be generating any interest, without any expense other than their time. In fact, some domains were continuously tasted and then dropped before the grace period ended and the registration fee was due. Then, they were picked up again by the same buyer for another free 5-day grace period and thus kept in a portfolio of virtual registrations that were never paid. This practice is called domain kiting and these domains are being targeted for blacklisting by Google.
COSTS OF DOMAIN TASTING
Right now the fee for domain tasting is set to be between $0.20 and $0.30, which is far less than the $7 to $10 you'll pay to register the domain name. They say the changes will be effective mid 2008. So, you can still taste a domain, but you will pay a small fee and it won't be refunded if you choose not to register the domain. The fee is an annual fee and if you don't register the domain expires.
The change in the fee structure for domain tasting does add some expense, but not significant expenses for someone just starting. The fees are being focused on domain kiters, front runners, and other would-be domain hogs that aren't letting others register their names on the off chance they can make a fast buck for nothing. Now, they don't have the same motivation because it will cost them $1 to taste every five-domain names. Since the numbers showed they were actively tasting millions of domain names, the costs begin to skyrocket for these fraud artists into the hundreds of thousands. So, the fee structure is a boon to genuine domainers who aren't involved in domain kiting or front running. It leaves more domain names available for them to taste and gives them more freedom in the market without big players scooping up untold domain names for nothing.
EXPIRED DOMAIN NAMES
There's no way to really tell what is going to happen after the fees take effect, but the hope is that tasters will let their names expire and not try to taste them again (domain kiting). That's because each time they taste it they will have to pay $0.20 for every five days. At that rate, it's much cheaper to pay the $7 for the year and just register it. So, those names will fall into the expired domains list.
Next, all the front runners that were blindly tasting domains will not be willing to put out money on bad names. If they continue the practice, it's very probable that irate domainers would simply log into their services and bomb them with bad names that cost them $.0.20 per taste, since it is a blind process. That would quickly teach them to quit usurping the right of the person searching for a new name that they've taken the time to research and create. Network Solutions has already stated it would drop the practice once a fee took effect, but if not, you can bet the Internet community won't stand for it. So, once they drop this practice, all those names will fall into the expired list too.
Justdropped.com is a website that offers a daily deleted domains list and also a way to search through expired domains. You do have to sign up to the site even if the service is free. You can give it a starting and ending suffix and even choose the extensions you want searched. It can be a great way to sit on the sidelines and see what domains are dropping out of the cybersky from all the domain kiting and front runners that will be dropping out of the game. Their loss could be your gain.
During the grace period is up, the buyer of the domain can actually use the domain name and park a page full of advertising and affiliate links. This is a very standard practice because it allows a domainer the ability to see what traffic shows up spontaneously and how they get there by checking the site statistics. This gives the domain buyer some insight into whether they've picked a good name or not.
At first domain tasting was free, so many domain buyers simply tasted multiple domain names at a time and dropped any that did not appear to be generating any interest, without any expense other than their time. In fact, some domains were continuously tasted and then dropped before the grace period ended and the registration fee was due. Then, they were picked up again by the same buyer for another free 5-day grace period and thus kept in a portfolio of virtual registrations that were never paid. This practice is called domain kiting and these domains are being targeted for blacklisting by Google.
COSTS OF DOMAIN TASTING
Right now the fee for domain tasting is set to be between $0.20 and $0.30, which is far less than the $7 to $10 you'll pay to register the domain name. They say the changes will be effective mid 2008. So, you can still taste a domain, but you will pay a small fee and it won't be refunded if you choose not to register the domain. The fee is an annual fee and if you don't register the domain expires.
The change in the fee structure for domain tasting does add some expense, but not significant expenses for someone just starting. The fees are being focused on domain kiters, front runners, and other would-be domain hogs that aren't letting others register their names on the off chance they can make a fast buck for nothing. Now, they don't have the same motivation because it will cost them $1 to taste every five-domain names. Since the numbers showed they were actively tasting millions of domain names, the costs begin to skyrocket for these fraud artists into the hundreds of thousands. So, the fee structure is a boon to genuine domainers who aren't involved in domain kiting or front running. It leaves more domain names available for them to taste and gives them more freedom in the market without big players scooping up untold domain names for nothing.
EXPIRED DOMAIN NAMES
There's no way to really tell what is going to happen after the fees take effect, but the hope is that tasters will let their names expire and not try to taste them again (domain kiting). That's because each time they taste it they will have to pay $0.20 for every five days. At that rate, it's much cheaper to pay the $7 for the year and just register it. So, those names will fall into the expired domains list.
Next, all the front runners that were blindly tasting domains will not be willing to put out money on bad names. If they continue the practice, it's very probable that irate domainers would simply log into their services and bomb them with bad names that cost them $.0.20 per taste, since it is a blind process. That would quickly teach them to quit usurping the right of the person searching for a new name that they've taken the time to research and create. Network Solutions has already stated it would drop the practice once a fee took effect, but if not, you can bet the Internet community won't stand for it. So, once they drop this practice, all those names will fall into the expired list too.
Justdropped.com is a website that offers a daily deleted domains list and also a way to search through expired domains. You do have to sign up to the site even if the service is free. You can give it a starting and ending suffix and even choose the extensions you want searched. It can be a great way to sit on the sidelines and see what domains are dropping out of the cybersky from all the domain kiting and front runners that will be dropping out of the game. Their loss could be your gain.
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