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I have done a follow-up to my first article on the changes that replaced Afternic domain search with general GoDaddy domain search, and also obtained additional information from company representatives. The article is now published at NameTalent.
Here is a short summary of key results based on searching for 67 names in various categories that are listed on Afternic, and seeing what was shown and suggested:
The most seriously impacted names are alternative country extensions and new extension names, or any names using make offer.
There is a very simple solution. The Afternic splash page, if we can't have the previous Afternic search, should simply have a link to GoDaddy Auctions. (instead of general GoDaddy search). That effectively displays sensible aftermarket names without confusion of a search dominated by hand registration suggestions. In many ways (see article) it would be an improvement over the old Afternic search, and would meet the goal of GoDaddy branding and GoDaddy purchase integration.
The full article has detail on the extensive testing that I did (searched for 67 different names and analyzed the 3000+ search suggestions from GD search). Of course precise results will continue to change, and may vary with searcher location.
Please read details at: https://nametalent.com/2024/03/a-second-look-at-afternic-godaddy-search/
-Bob
@James Iles FYI
I hope GD will consider changing to show GoDaddy Auction search, rather than GoDaddy general search, for visitors to the Afternic site.
Here is a short summary of key results based on searching for 67 names in various categories that are listed on Afternic, and seeing what was shown and suggested:
- Searchers that enter a full name with dot and extension will be presented that name, as far as I can see in all cases.
- Without dot and extension, most, but not quite all, legacy extension names will be presented if the search is for exactly that term and if they are priced. Afternic names listed with Make Offer will not be presented.
- I could only check .ca national extension names, but they were always presented, and probably that holds for other.
- For the names I checked, all .xyz did appear in results if the exact term is searched, with or without extension.
- I had mixed results for the small number of single word .io and .co that I checked, some were in results, some were not.
- Only a few aftermarket names are presented in the 45 results for each search. The vast majority are available hand registrations (see article for the full breakdown).
- Similar names available on Afternic to the search term are sometimes presented.
- Matches across dot are not presented unless the exact name is searched (i.e. if I search for the name planners.page it will show if entered that way, but not if I search for PlannersPage or PlannersPage.com). I don't know why, because their system does understand correctly to promote available hand registration across the dot.
- Other generic country codes like .me and .cc, even though in the old Afternic the exact term would be in the top half page, are no longer presented within the search results even when the exact term is used in search, again unless the search specifically includes the dot and extension, such as example.me.
- The AI-powered search at GoDaddy does not show aftermarket names.
The most seriously impacted names are alternative country extensions and new extension names, or any names using make offer.
There is a very simple solution. The Afternic splash page, if we can't have the previous Afternic search, should simply have a link to GoDaddy Auctions. (instead of general GoDaddy search). That effectively displays sensible aftermarket names without confusion of a search dominated by hand registration suggestions. In many ways (see article) it would be an improvement over the old Afternic search, and would meet the goal of GoDaddy branding and GoDaddy purchase integration.
The full article has detail on the extensive testing that I did (searched for 67 different names and analyzed the 3000+ search suggestions from GD search). Of course precise results will continue to change, and may vary with searcher location.
Please read details at: https://nametalent.com/2024/03/a-second-look-at-afternic-godaddy-search/
-Bob
@James Iles FYI
I hope GD will consider changing to show GoDaddy Auction search, rather than GoDaddy general search, for visitors to the Afternic site.
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