Introducing Afternic Boost: More domain visibility, more domain sales

[GoDaddy]

We are thrilled to announce the launch of Afternic Boost, the new program that can contribute up to a 10% increase in sales performance for participating portfolios!*

We have been experimenting with how to drive more exposure for Afternic domains on GoDaddy, and we're thrilled to announce that these experiments yielded impressive results. As a result, we're rolling out Boost as a standard inclusion for all Afternic sellers starting September 4, 2024.


Why Afternic Boost Works:
We listened to your feedback and developed Afternic Boost to address your need for greater exposure on GoDaddy. Here’s what Boost provides at launch:

• Suggested search results: Your domains will gain higher placement in GoDaddy’s suggested search results, making them more discoverable.

• Verified Badges: Boost Fast Transfer domains will feature "Verified" badges on exact-match searches, aiding visibility.

• Verified Lander Badges: Eligible domains using Afternic’s Buy it Now and Custom Landers will display verified badges. Boosted domain names that aren't opted into Fast Transfer will display a "Premium" badge on Afternic's Buy it Now and Custom Landers.

• Targeted Email Marketing: Our targeted email campaigns will match your domain names with potential buyers at GoDaddy.

As the world’s largest domain registrar, GoDaddy offers a massive, continuously growing audience of domain shoppers. Afternic Boost leverages this vast customer base, ensuring that your domains are seen by a motivated, pre-qualified audience.




What You Should Know:

• • Boost begins on September 4, 2024. All Afternic sellers will be automatically opted in to Boost, ensuring your domains gain maximum exposure.
  • Additional Commission: To support this enhanced service, an additional 5% commission will apply for Boost customers from September 4, 2024.
  • Flexibility: We understand that one size doesn’t fit all. Therefore, you can opt out of Afternic Boost at any time from today (August 7, 2024) if it doesn’t align with your strategy by heading to afternic.com/account/boost.

Investing in Success:
Think of Afternic Boost as an investment rather than an expense. Online marketplaces, such as Amazon, Facebook, and Zillow, offer sponsored listings to increase sellers' exposure in search. Similarly, Boost allows domain investors to enhance their visibility in a digital marketplace, and the results are that Boost can contribute up to a 10% increase in sales performance for your portfolio*.

Next Steps:
Experimentation with Boost will continue through the month of August. On September 4, Afternic Boost will be automatically activated at the account level, optimizing your portfolio's visibility.

If you decide Boost isn't right for you, you can easily opt out. We recommend remaining enrolled to continue benefiting from enhanced visibility across the GoDaddy platform.


If you have any questions, read the launch blog post, or head to Afternic’s Help Center, where we’ve got you covered.

Want to learn more about what Boost offers? Head to our blog.

*Individual results may vary. Based on internal data of GoDaddy aftermarket sales from January 2024 through June 2024.

 

[Future Sensors]

Opt in vs. opt out: GoDaddy vs. Google

https://domaingang.com/editorial/opt-in-vs-opt-out-godaddy-vs-google/

 

[Future Sensors]

Domain memes: Get that CEO boost!

https://domaingang.com/domain-memes/domain-memes-get-that-ceo-boost/

 

[Future Sensors]

---

---

---

---

---

---

 

[DomainBanana]

Announcing Afternic Boost Premium: Because 100% is the New 30%!

We are absolutely ecstatic to unveil Afternic Boost Premium, the groundbreaking program that takes 100% of profits from your portfolio!* We've been tirelessly experimenting with how to drive more money from Afternic domains straight into our pockets, and we're over the moon to announce that these experiments yielded results beyond our wildest dreams. As a result, we're forcibly enrolling all Afternic sellers into Boost Premium starting October 4, 2024.

Why Afternic Boost Premium Works (For Us):

We ignored your feedback and developed Afternic Boost Premium to address our need for yachts, private islands, and maybe a pet unicorn. Here's what Boost Premium provides at launch:

• Precision Search Results: Now that 100% of sales are going to us, we've removed all artificial barriers that kept buyers from finding exactly what they're looking for.
• "Sucker" Badges: Boost Premium domains will feature flashing "Sucker" badges on exact-match searches. It's our way of celebrating your generosity in giving us 100% of the sale price!
• Oinking Pig Badge: All domains using Afternic's Buy it Now and Custom Landers will display our new interactive "GoDaddy Pig" badge. When pressed, it emits a loud, satisfying oink, letting every buyer know just how shamelessly greedy we are. Transparency at its finest!
• Targeted Wallet Drainage: Our sophisticated algorithms will direct the profits from your domain sales to our offshore bank accounts at the speed of light. You'll be amazed at how quickly you earn nothing!

As the world's largest domain registrar, GoDaddy offers a massive, continuously growing audience of domain shoppers. Afternic Boost Premium leverages this vast customer base, ensuring that your domains are seen by a motivated, pre-qualified audience who will never know you won't see a penny from the sale.

What You Should Know:

• Boost Premium kicks off on October 4th, 2024. All sellers will be automatically enrolled because, let's face it, you'd never sign up for this willingly.
• Additional Commission: To support this enhanced money-grab, a slight 70% increase in commission will apply for Boost Premium customers from October 4, 2024, bringing the total to a nice, round 100%.
• Opting out is simple! Just solve this Enigma-encoded message while standing on your head and reciting the complete works of Shakespeare. Backward. In Klingon.

Investing in Our Success:

Think of Afternic Boost Premium as an investment in our future private jets... and a giant, 1000-foot tall gold statue of Aman Bhutani. Amazon, Facebook, or Zillow all offer “sponsored listings” for greater visibility. But only Boost Premium takes it to the next level—by taking everything.

Next Steps:

Experimentation with Boost Premium will continue through the month of September, as we see just how much we can get away with. On October 4, Boost Premium will be auto-activated, allowing us to soak up every last drop of profit from your domains.

If you decide Boost Premium isn't right for you, try opting out. We'll see to it that you never sell a domain with us again. Ever.

If you have any questions, read the launch blog post, or head to Afternic's Help Center, where we've got us covered.

Want to learn more about what Boost Premium takes from you? Head to our blog, where we'll dazzle you with enough jargon to make you forget you're being robbed.

*Results may vary. While many sellers will experience a profound sense of financial loss, others may simply feel bewildered.

 

[D Haynes]

Announcing Afternic Boost Premium: Because 100% is the New 30%!

We are absolutely ecstatic to unveil Afternic Boost Premium, the groundbreaking program that takes 100% of profits from your portfolio!* We've been tirelessly experimenting with how to drive more money from Afternic domains straight into our pockets, and we're over the moon to announce that these experiments yielded results beyond our wildest dreams. As a result, we're forcibly enrolling all Afternic sellers into Boost Premium starting October 4, 2024.

Why Afternic Boost Premium Works (For Us):

We ignored your feedback and developed Afternic Boost Premium to address our need for yachts, private islands, and maybe a pet unicorn. Here's what Boost Premium provides at launch:

• Precision Search Results: Now that 100% of sales are going to us, we've removed all artificial barriers that kept buyers from finding exactly what they're looking for.
• "Sucker" Badges: Boost Premium domains will feature flashing "Sucker" badges on exact-match searches. It's our way of celebrating your generosity in giving us 100% of the sale price!
• Oinking Pig Badge: All domains using Afternic's Buy it Now and Custom Landers will display our new interactive "GoDaddy Pig" badge. When pressed, it emits a loud, satisfying oink, letting every buyer know just how shamelessly greedy we are. Transparency at its finest!
• Targeted Wallet Drainage: Our sophisticated algorithms will direct the profits from your domain sales to our offshore bank accounts at the speed of light. You'll be amazed at how quickly you earn nothing!

As the world's largest domain registrar, GoDaddy offers a massive, continuously growing audience of domain shoppers. Afternic Boost Premium leverages this vast customer base, ensuring that your domains are seen by a motivated, pre-qualified audience who will never know you won't see a penny from the sale.

What You Should Know:

• Boost Premium kicks off on October 4th, 2024. All sellers will be automatically enrolled because, let's face it, you'd never sign up for this willingly.
• Additional Commission: To support this enhanced money-grab, a slight 70% increase in commission will apply for Boost Premium customers from October 4, 2024, bringing the total to a nice, round 100%.
• Opting out is simple! Just solve this Enigma-encoded message while standing on your head and reciting the complete works of Shakespeare. Backward. In Klingon.

Investing in Our Success:

Think of Afternic Boost Premium as an investment in our future private jets... and a giant, 1000-foot tall gold statue of Aman Bhutani. Amazon, Facebook, or Zillow all offer “sponsored listings” for greater visibility. But only Boost Premium takes it to the next level—by taking everything.

Next Steps:

Experimentation with Boost Premium will continue through the month of September, as we see just how much we can get away with. On October 4, Boost Premium will be auto-activated, allowing us to soak up every last drop of profit from your domains.

If you decide Boost Premium isn't right for you, try opting out. We'll see to it that you never sell a domain with us again. Ever.

If you have any questions, read the launch blog post, or head to Afternic's Help Center, where we've got us covered.

Want to learn more about what Boost Premium takes from you? Head to our blog, where we'll dazzle you with enough jargon to make you forget you're being robbed.

*Results may vary. While many sellers will experience a profound sense of financial loss, others may simply feel bewildered.

Priceless!

Man do I want an oinking pig badge!

 

[alcy]

The entire .sucks registry has 8k regs, including a whopping 1,500 at GoDaddy.

It's a complete waste of space where much better options could be.

I hope the registry is paying GoDaddy a lot of money for the placement, because it is taking up actual premium space for aftermarket domains where GoDaddy could collect hefty commissions.

Until the garbage is gone from suggested, the program is a non-starter for me.

Brad

putting all stats aside... picking the word sucks for an extension already says a lot about owners

 

[internext]

The entire .sucks registry has 8k regs, including a whopping 1,500 at GoDaddy.

Appropriate. And here is the best one > GoDaddy.sucks

For us traditionalists, they also own GoDaddySucks.com

 

[Jannes]

hawktuahgirl.sucks kinda makes sense

(not mine)

 

[Finest Domainer]

We are thrilled to announce the launch of Afternic Boost, the new program that can contribute up to a 10% increase in sales performance for participating portfolios!*

We have been experimenting with how to drive more exposure for Afternic domains on GoDaddy, and we're thrilled to announce that these experiments yielded impressive results. As a result, we're rolling out Boost as a standard inclusion for all Afternic sellers starting September 4, 2024.


Why Afternic Boost Works:
We listened to your feedback and developed Afternic Boost to address your need for greater exposure on GoDaddy. Here’s what Boost provides at launch:

• Suggested search results: Your domains will gain higher placement in GoDaddy’s suggested search results, making them more discoverable.
• Verified Badges: Boost Fast Transfer domains will feature "Verified" badges on exact-match searches, aiding visibility.
• Verified Lander Badges: Eligible domains using Afternic’s Buy it Now and Custom Landers will display verified badges. Boosted domain names that aren't opted into Fast Transfer will display a "Premium" badge on Afternic's Buy it Now and Custom Landers.
• Targeted Email Marketing: Our targeted email campaigns will match your domain names with potential buyers at GoDaddy.

As the world’s largest domain registrar, GoDaddy offers a massive, continuously growing audience of domain shoppers. Afternic Boost leverages this vast customer base, ensuring that your domains are seen by a motivated, pre-qualified audience.




What You Should Know:

• • Boost begins on September 4, 2024. All Afternic sellers will be automatically opted in to Boost, ensuring your domains gain maximum exposure.
  • Additional Commission: To support this enhanced service, an additional 5% commission will apply for Boost customers from September 4, 2024.
  • Flexibility: We understand that one size doesn’t fit all. Therefore, you can opt out of Afternic Boost at any time from today (August 7, 2024) if it doesn’t align with your strategy by heading to afternic.com/account/boost.

Investing in Success:
Think of Afternic Boost as an investment rather than an expense. Online marketplaces, such as Amazon, Facebook, and Zillow, offer sponsored listings to increase sellers' exposure in search. Similarly, Boost allows domain investors to enhance their visibility in a digital marketplace, and the results are that Boost can contribute up to a 10% increase in sales performance for your portfolio*.

Next Steps:
Experimentation with Boost will continue through the month of August. On September 4, Afternic Boost will be automatically activated at the account level, optimizing your portfolio's visibility.

If you decide Boost isn't right for you, you can easily opt out. We recommend remaining enrolled to continue benefiting from enhanced visibility across the GoDaddy platform.


If you have any questions, read the launch blog post, or head to Afternic’s Help Center, where we’ve got you covered.

Want to learn more about what Boost offers? Head to our blog.

*Individual results may vary. Based on internal data of GoDaddy aftermarket sales from January 2024 through June 2024.

You donot even reply, why did you shut down promotion and market place for domain buyers? Why are there 3 lander (for sale ) options besides parking, Enquiry, BIN and Custom? How are they different or supposed to promote domains in which way? And this Boost is for what reason and differentiation except for that your CEO will personally sell those as the advertisement portrays? Could you please reply to these for your customers, who are sellers of premium listings at Afternic. No body buys at Afternic and pays you. Hoping that you can reply.

 

[DomainBanana]

Domain investors are being asked to pay an additional 5% commission for Boost, supposedly to improve exposure and placement, yet we aren’t given any concrete guarantees or metrics on what we're getting in return.

There’s no clarity on search placement, no measurable performance data, and no transparency on how Boost actually drives sales. Meanwhile, it's hard to imagine that registry partners wouldn’t have fully transparent agreements in place for their paid placements in the GD search path.

In the world of advertising, transparency is key. Advertisers typically receive detailed reports on impressions, click-through rates, and other performance metrics to justify their spend.

It is deeply concerning that a company like GoDaddy would roll out a plan that takes so much from investors without offering clear terms or measurable value in return.

We deserve transparency and respect, especially when being asked to give up a substantial portion of our earnings for vague promises of exposure.

#OptOut

 

[D Haynes]

Afternic is indistinguishable from Godaddy now. It's essentially a second GD registrar. Used to be the vast majority (if not all?) domains were privately/domainer owned. Now it's 1 maybe 2 of the 40 search results. I find it hard to justify the 15 - 25% as it is let alone the extra 5. I don't really see what you get for your money. Its like what we're selling is out the back in the store room where the customers don't go when it used to be in the window display.

 

[NameGroove]

Afternic is indistinguishable from Godaddy now. It's essentially a second GD registrar. Used to be the vast majority (if not all?) domains were privately/domainer owned. Now it's 1 maybe 2 of the 40 search results. I find it hard to justify the 15 - 25% as it is let alone the extra 5. I don't really see what you get for your money. Its like what we're selling is out the back in the store room where the customers don't go when it used to be in the window display.

You get reg path listings at Dynadot, PorkBun, Sav, etc. Sadly, those are important and therefore the AN base commission is warranted

 

[Bob Hawkes]

You get reg path listings at Dynadot, PorkBun, Sav, etc.

No doubt a ton of sales are via Afternic Fast Transfer network, but important to note that those 3 examples are part of both Sedo MLS and Afternic FT, so supposedly names would appear even if only listed via Sedo.

GD was and is the big differentiator between Afternic FT and Sedo MLS (there are others of course). GD search really needs to get better, and they could harvest substantially more sales.

It is good though that some of the big players in Afternic FT seem to have more efficient search.

-Bob

 

[NameGroove]

No doubt a ton of sales are via Afternic Fast Transfer network, but important to note that those 3 examples are part of both Sedo MLS and Afternic FT, so supposedly names would appear even if only listed via Sedo.

GD was and is the big differentiator between Afternic FT and Sedo MLS (there are others of course). GD search really needs to get better, and they could harvest substantially more sales.

It is good though that some of the big players in Afternic FT seem to have more efficient search.

-Bob

that's a really interesting thought. I wonder how many of the top 20 registrars are not Sedo MLS but are Afternic FT. That would let us know whether listing at Afternic matters (for reg path)

 

[whoischina]

If you can't beat me, then rob me? Why don't you run?

Add 1500+ name to Atom.com.

 

[Future Sensors]

Fellow domain flippers & investors,

Just a few days after Boost took effect, the poll has now reached 108 votes. Voting remains open for some while.

https://www.namepros.com/threads/poll-will-you-participate-in-the-afternic-boost-program.1333652/

 

[bmugford]

I’d love to hear more positive stories from people who have chosen to continue using Boost. I’ve set aside the next few hours just for hearing success stories.

I have a success story about not using Boost.

I sold an unpriced domain via the self-broker option on Dan.com. Maybe one day Afternic will offer it!

Brad

 

[Future Sensors]

I have a success story about not using Boost.

I sold an unpriced domain via the self-broker option on Dan.com. Maybe one day Afternic will offer it!

First, congratulations

I believe Afternic self-brokerage is coming.

But the elephant in the room is this:

Will it positively impact commissions if we handle the negotiations ourselves?

https://www.namepros.com/threads/self-brokerage-will-be-coming-to-afternic.1334273/#post-9245750

 

[Future Sensors]

---

---

 

[Future Sensors]

The DomainSherpas talk about the recent launch of Afternic Boost in this episode:

https://domainsherpa.com/dtrh09052024/

 

[FrasierCrane]

I'm not an AI bot, but I'll attempt to summarize the commentary and responses to the initial post by @GoDaddy :

1) GoDaddy/Afternic's new "Boost" program is viewed by domainers as little more than a cash-grab by GoDaddy.
2) Opting out of the Boost program will result in GoDaddy's service offering less relevant suggestions to consumers, as the pool of related domains gets smaller, due to GoDaddy punishing domainers for opting out
3) GoDaddy clearly doesn't seem to mind, since they are using their valuable "shelf space" to push garbage extensions such as .foo and .sucks.
4) General sentiment towards GoDaddy is extremely low, with many viewing them as the 300-pound gorilla they are forced to do business with, and will eager walk away forever once it becomes viable to do so (Like HugeDomains aready did, as was pointed out).
5) @GoDaddy account rarely chimes in to address any of these concerns, and will likely continue to not respond to this or any other concerns domainers have regarding this matter.

Consider this a wiki, and feel free to add to the list if I missed anything.

 

[SpareDomains]

"4) General sentiment towards GoDaddy is extremely low, with many viewing them as the 300-pound gorilla they are forced to do business with, and will eager walk away forever once it becomes viable to do so (Like HugeDomains aready did, as was pointed out)."

800-pound Gorilla, this Gorilla not on Weight Watchers

 

[DomainNature]

Wait for them to buy Atom and burry it, then you will see who is NoDaddy!

 

[Garet]

Does anyone else ever experience essentially blank pages when logged in -- like viewing portfolio but zero names display? I see this fairly often. It lasts for a bit then seems to self correct. Logging in/out doesn't seem to have any impact.

Here I am logged in and have All Domains selected but nothing displays. It is the same for anything else I select.

(Edit: sorry, meant to post this in main Afternic, not Boost).

 

[Future Sensors]

Let's approach this differently, today.

To improve Afternic’s services to the point where I'd be willing to pay a maximum of 20% commission, here's an overview of some initial points that need enhancement. I'd also like to hear from fellow Afternic Sellers what they consider some essential points before they are prepared to do the same.

1. Flawless Operation:
   • Ensure that domain landers and portfolio management operate seamlessly.
   • Prioritize solving all existing bugs over implementing new features.
   • Proactively monitor systems for errors and resolve them quickly.
   • Improve synchronization within the partner network for faster price updates.
2. Excellent Portfolio Management:
   • Provide portfolio management comparable to DAN.
3. No Unsolicited Email Marketing:
   • Do not use my domains in email marketing campaigns.
4. Flexible Promotion Options:
   • Allow for additional promotion on a per-domain basis, or in bulk for a group of domains, but not for the entire portfolio at once.
   • Develop any new promotional options with the input from the domain investor community.
5. Review Domain Offerings to SMBs:
   • Reevaluate the current domain options offered to SMBs in the GoDaddy registration path.
   • Always prioritize end-user experience for SMBs looking for the best name, while considering that there's an overlap with the interests of domain investors, depending on domain quality.
6. Improved Broker and Sales Handling:
   • Enhance the performance and responsiveness of Afternic brokers and sales people.
7. Account Push Option:
   • Offer an account push feature at the largest registrars, similar to DAN.
8. Multi-Currency Listing:
   • Enable listing of domains in all major currencies, such as USD, EUR, and GBP.
9. Freedom in Nameserver / Lander Choice:
   • Allow Sellers to choose any nameservers, even if these are nameservers from other marketplaces or their own landers, without incurring higher commission fees as a penalty.
10. Adherence to Seller-set Prices:
    • Ensure that Afternic partners adhere more closely to the prices set by Afternic sellers, as the current situation is becoming problematic.