Hybrid Domainer

Name.com asks how can we pull pranks on Jared Ewy in this episode of the 9:37

By: Raymond Hackney

In this weeks episode of the 9:37, the weekly web show from Name.com, Jared gave us a shout out on some of the suggestions we made on how to improve the show.

One of them is to give Name.com domain owners the chance to submit a domain they have for sale and they will mention it on the show.

Ashley Forker (Jared's Boss) in a page out of Tosh.0 asked for viewers to send in their ideas for her to prank Jared on screen.

I think its cool that a company listens and looks to get viewers engaged. There is also a special promo code that is given out in the show this week and lasts for a short period of time. So check out the 9:37 and send emails to ashley at name.com for your best prank ideas.

 

Name.com The 9:37 Episode 2 Who is Sparkly Fox ?

By: Raymod Hackney

Jared starts out interviewing someone names Sparkly Fox, she is certainly an interesting character from uploading videos of sexually suggestive robots dancing, to not knowing how to use Twitter and only joined to follow Charlie Sheen.

The Towers of Pat come on about 8 minutes in and is the part for the dev geeks out there and give some tips and favorite sites.

Name.com did tweet that they may implement the idea I suggested last week. Which is to give you something for your time, a coupon code that exists only for the show.

Look Name.com is an advertiser but I am never not going to keep it real and provide unbiased opinion. You need to give people something for their time, there is so much video content out there, domainers really don't spend that much time watching videos except for Domain Sherpa as Michael Cyger really targets what they want to see.

As for any show it needs some time and Jared Ewy imo is a sharp guy and I think he will find a way. The Office bid farewell last night so someone needs to put out a workplace comedy.

 

Name.com starts new show called the "9:37"

By: Raymond Hackney

Jared Ewy is bringing a new show to Name.com to help bring some fun and tech knowledge to start the weekend early. The 9:37 will be a weekly show where he will delve into the lives of his fellow workers, bring some humor on a Friday morning and give tips to help people build better websites and manage their domain portfolio more efficiently.

In the first episode Ashley Forker (his boss) asks if he has the discipline to be consistent and produce a show every week. Leave comments on youtube for suggestions that Jared can use for future episodes.

Here is one I will give him, Start every episode with a special coupon code two minutes in, so you have the first two minutes to excite the viewer, let the coupon run til the end of the show. Once the show is over so is the coupon, be creative, don't be the same monthly coupon code and engage your customers and prospects.

 

Disclosure: Name.com is an advertiser on Hybrid Domainer

Name.com Takes A look at Facebook in 90 Seconds

By: Raymond Hackney

In typical Name.com style, Jared Ewy directs this video that takes a look at all that is Facebook in 90 seconds.

 

Disclosure: Name.com is an advertiser on Hybrid Domainer

Boobs, babies and buffoonery: Three quick ways we save you money

By: Raymond Hackney

Jared Ewy had to work overtime to cast this video, did Name.com really step in the "Go Daddy Way" of making videos ?

 

How to make quick and easy videos to promote your company and your employees

By: Raymond Hackney

Jared Ewy from Name.com ( advertiser on Hybrid Domainer) gives a quick tutorial oh how to make quick videos for your company or website. He certainly needs to come back and add to this with a second deeper tutorial.

Video is becoming a bigger part of more and more websites, and not just websites that are about entertainment.

Check out this post from Kiss Metrics on the secrets of Video and SEO

 

Quick Chat with Caroline Temple - Affiliate Marketing - Name.com

By: Raymond Hackney

Quick Chat with Caroline Temple

Today I am  chatting with Caroline Temple who is one of the nicest and smartest people you will meet in the domain industry.

Caroline heads up the Affiliate Marketing department at Name.com ( an advertiser on Hybrid Domainer).

I wanted Caroline to give us a look into the Name.com affiliate program and how domainers and webmasters alike, can earn money with the program.

1)Tell us a little bit about the Name.com affiliate program Caroline, things such as cookie life and the % affiliates can hope to earn with the Name.com affiliate program ?

Name.com affiliates enjoy a 30 day cookie life, 15% commission on most products, customizable reporting, monthly payments, and a real live human being for support.  That's the general rule, but we are starting to have fun with the program with unannounced bonuses and new offers.  For example, last month we ran a special bonus for our affiliates sending qualified traffic.  The goal was to reward and incentivize our affiliates for reaching new bench marks in the amount of conversions they received.  It was out of the blue and we'll do it again.  As far as offers go we just released a special offer that allows your referrals to search for a domain right from the banner.  They are then directed to a page with the domain pre-populated in the cart.  This offer is already beating some of our former conversion rates!  Later in April, we plan to release a limited time offer on our new RapidPress product.  This one will offer around a 66% commission for each RapidPress sale! (by the way - RapidPress is our 1-click install WordPress hosting)

2) How long has Name.com been offering their affiliate program and how many affiliates do you currently have ?

Can you believe our Name.com Affiliate Program has been around since 2010! It started with a very simple beta version and has been through a lot of changes since then.  Originally, the work was outsourced. Mid 2011, we realized with a Name.com team member dedicating part of their day, we could really develop the program's potential.  That's where I started the long road of recruiting and developing the program.  We now have an official Name.com Affiliate Program Page, multiple offers, an official AffiliateBlog with resources for online and affiliate marketing, and even a Name.com Affiliate Twitter with general affiliate tips and news as well as program announcements. To date we have not used an affiliate network and organically are enrolling 20-30 new affiliates each week.

3) Since Go Daddy dominates the domain industry and has a wildly popular affiliate program, can you give us some areas where Name.com may be more advantageous to the affiliate marketer ?

Certainly, we pay attention to the market in terms of our competitors' affiliate programs, but have focused more on what our affiliate needs rather than how we can one up our competition.  Ironically, maybe that is our advantage! 

I've found success by catering to the affiliates' specific website and audience. The Name.com website appeals to our target audience, but the website of the affiliates may have a different audience.  I work to understand the specific audience for a given affiliate and help them increase their conversions.  This can be through tips on placement of banners or text links, supplying information for Name.com specific blog posts, or even helping to create new banners that speak to their audience. We have chosen to be dedicated and tailor specifically to different types of affiliates unlike a giant program like GoDaddy.  I work to keep you motivated in your web presence - because honestly - if you're getting more traffic, you're happier and we're happier too with the increase in conversions!  In short, we hope to develop mutually beneficial relationships with our affiliates.  Even if that means going outside of our basic offers. 

4) How is customer support for affiliates ? Do they have an account manager, is support limited to just email or is there a person available to speak to if needed ?

We provide as much support as possible for our affiliates.  Upon joining the program, each affiliate is assigned an account manager and provided with resources for keeping in touch.  Most support is handled via email - it seems everyone is shy on the phone these days - but there is also phone support.  I believe that support is not restricted to when you need something, so I provided extra resources for education.  Our Name.com Affiliate Twitter and Name.com AffiliateBlog are additional resources that proactively support you as you develop your web presence. 

No matter if you choose to go through your account manager or Name.com support or our additional resources- we'll work to get you what you need. 


email: affiliates@name.com
phone: 720.249.2374
blog: http://affiliateblog.name.com
twitter: http://www.twitter.com/namedotcom_aff

Name.com Holding Auditions For Demand Media Reps Who Want to Star in Video

By: Raymond Hackney

Simon Cowell has nothing on the three member panel critiquing potential actors for Name.com video actors.

 

Biking 44 miles to work now that is customer service

By: RH

Adam Jensen who is a customer service rep at Name.com biked 44 miles in 3 hours to get to work. Of course Jared Ewy put him on the spot. It is worth noting that Adam would not have walked, which would have taken 12 hours.

 

Disclosure: Name.com is an advertiser on Hybrid Domainer

 

Demand Media paid $18 million for Name.com

By: RH

Back on January 7,2013 I was the first to break the news of Demand Media  (DMD) acquiring Name.com on MorganLinton.com. At the time there were no details of the price Demand paid for the Denver based registrar. I sat in on the conference call in February and there was no mention. After the call I emailed investor relations and they said they were not releasing it. Since this is my background and not technology I knew the acquisition was a material event and that I had to wait for the 10K.

Well now the 10K is out and the numbers are in on the acquistion. All numbers (In thousands, except per share amounts)

Goodwill	$	10,997
Customer relationships	4,784
Owned website names	1,730
Trade names	705
Non-compete agreements	180
Technology	74
Other assets acquired (liabilities assumed), net	(470		)
Total	$	18,000

On December 31, 2012, the Company completed the acquisition of the net assets of Name.com, a retail registrar company based in Denver, Colorado. The purchase consideration of $18,000 comprised an initial cash payment of $16,200 and the remaining $1,800 is subject to a hold back to satisfy post-closing indemnification obligations as well as a working capital adjustment and any remaining portion of such hold back amount that is not subject to then pending claims will be paid to the selling shareholders prior to or on the 18-month anniversary of the closing of the transaction. Developed technology, customer relationships and owned website names have an average useful life of 4 years, non-compete arrangements have a useful life of 5 years and trade names have an indefinite useful life.  Goodwill, which is comprised of the excess of the purchase consideration over the fair value of the identifiable net assets acquired, is primarily derived from assembled workforce and the Company's ability to generate synergies with its services. Goodwill of approximately $10,500 is expected to be deductible for tax purposes.

All this info can be found in the Demand Media 10K found here

Congrats again to Bill Mushkin, in full disclosure Name.com is an advertiser on Hybrid Domainer.