Don’t Be Fooled By Dodgy Domain Flipping Courses & Software

Every week for the past month I have received emails and phone calls from people asking me to promote their domaining products. In every single case, I have said NO !!!

This morning something happened that tipped me over the edge! I received another email about a new course on “domain flipping” with outrageous claims. As such, I felt obligated to write this post and give everyone a heads up.

Here are just a few examples, so consider yourself warned.

1. Domain Flipping Course

This course claims that it made it’s owner $10,577.55 per WEEK. Oh please….give me a break!!! If you see banners with “Make Money Flipping Domains” being advertised on various blogs – it’s probably this course.

2. Domain Availability Checking Software

Earlier this year a couple of guys announced some new “domain software” and gave it away for free. It claims to check if domains are available (nothing new here). It’s something that registrars do for free, but these guys have been pushing it as something special.

The concern I have is that the data could be used for frontrunning and to record what keywords you are searching for. Newcomers to domaining – be very careful what you use to register domains with – you might find that if you come back later, someone else has already registered the domain you were after!

3. Web-based domain software.

This software also claims to check domain auctions for “aged domains”. It’s being peddled by a bunch of marketers with no experience in domain investment. When it was released I had a brief look at it; it just didn’t work.

These snakeoil salesman have since updated their software to show a small number of domain names from various auctions – sound familiar?

One of their users contacted me recently asking about domain auctions and when I showed them the REAL, full list (from the auction company) – they were completely blown away.

4. Domaining Markets  (Free PDF)

Yet another free PDF with all sorts of claims about how to make money with domains. In order to get this, you need to sign up and give them your name and email address (which is then used to market directly to you and upsell you their dodgy domaining software).

A Serious Threat

These people are a serious threat to the integrity and stability of our industry.

1. They burn newcomers.

These snake oil salesman sink their claws into newcomers (to the industry) and leave them disenfranchised and believing they can’t make $$$ from domaining. This means they don’t register domains, they don’t bid, they don’t park, they don’t develop – they are gone and don’t come back.

2. They have no regard for copyright and reproduce our work as their own.

I’ve seen first hand, content being ripped off and presented as their own work. Some people say “go after them” others say “it will catch up with them in the end”. What do you think?

3. They “teach” their followers strategies that just don’t work.

These scammers are ignorant and their so called “secret tactics” just don’t work. If I had $1 for every person that said “I saw X speak at a conference and he says I should buy an aged domain. It’s just like how wine ages. What do you think?”

4. They cause many reputational risks to our industry

Think of the last time you tried something and it didn’t work out. If asked, you will probably share your experience with others. What we are starting to see are things like:

“Oh I tried that domaining thing once – I got a free PDF, bought some software and attended some GURU’s webinar, but I didn’t make a cent!”

Unfortunately, it’s a minority that ruin it for the rest of us. It’s the same thing with cybersquatters and people who register domains containing trademarked words/phrases. When they get found out, they attract the media spotlight and all of a sudden, the industry is tarnished with the same brush.

What Is Their Motive?

The primary motive of these leaches is NOT to help people, it’s to take THEIR money! Why? Because these people simply don’t know HOW to make money with domaining. Their business model is about slapping together another $97 “how to make money course” in the hopes of taking advantage of newbies.

Who Are They?

Oxygen thieves. I’m not about to name them all here because they would love the attention. If you are domain blogger, don’t give them the publicity.

Let’s be honest, these people would be laughed at, before they even got to the DOOR of a domaining conference. Most appear out of nowhere, but some of them are on the outer rim / fringe of the Internet marketing world.

Don’t get me wrong – we all have to start somewhere; but to use an analogy, these are people who have read a John Grisham book and now they are teaching people how to be lawyers.

In any (regulated) industry, these activities would be illegal. In Australia it could be classed as misleading and deceptive conduct. I’m not going to stand here and put up with it and neither should you.

So when you get another email, facebook, twitter post from someone touting the next best thing – delete it.

Domain Dollar Store Video

There are still good expired domain names that you can register. This video clearly demonstrates that I was wrong.

ICANN: Who Wants 5,800 Domain Names?

Two ICANN gTLD registrars have bitten the dust and ICANN wants to palm off their domains to another registrar.

Who Was De-accredited?

1. Best Registration Services, Inc. dba Bestregistrar.com (IANA ID 473). They had 5,400 gTLD registrations.

2. DotForce Corp. dba DotForce.com (IANA ID 461). While they only had 400 gTLD registrations, they were based in Korea, so there could be an opportunity for someone to play in the international space.

How Do I Get 5,800 Domains?

If you are an ICANN accredited registrar, you need to send an email to Mike at ICANN by no later than 23:00 UTC on Friday, 13 June 2008, and include the following info:

1. Registrar experience, including number of registrations and customers managed;
2. Availability of sufficient customer service staffing to timely respond to customer service requests during and shortly after the bulk transfer;
3. Ability to communicate with customers in languages other than English;
4. A list of the TLDs in which accredited and operational;
5. Experience with and knowledge of bulk-transfer procedures;
6. Documentation of procedures to resolve potential disputes of domain name control or registration rights;
7. Experience as a customer-facing / “retail” registrar business;
8. Experience with second-level IDNs in the com & net zones;
9. Ability to provide ICANN with regular status reports.

Of course, if your company name is Godaddy then you probably don’t need any of this. (See sarcasm). Incidentally, if you have not read Bob Parsons 16 Rules then be sure to check them out – excellent work. Go and order the poster.