Domain Names: An Unusual and Profitable Characteristic

Due to my other Internet activities I had relegatedMaybe even over reacting. The news had probably
my hundreds of domain names to a low priority andbeen released that day. I never really saw the actual
seldom gave them much thought. The exception wasnews related to that announcement, but I later
for some minor research for topics to createchecked some of the video game sites and their
websites for a small number of domains. Fortunately,forums and there was lots of talk about
a registrar who caters to those with many domainsMicrosoft’s announcement related to Xbox2
managed most of my names. Part of their service isto have some games created in Japan and
providing a number of statistics on each domainspeculation that some version or prototype of Xbox
name. In addition, the names (URL’s) host a2 would be at a well known game convention the
directory website where I can make a few cents (ifnext week.
I’m lucky) if visitors to the website click anyI followed the impressions and clicks for the next
of the links.few days and sure enough, the action had it been
A few days ago I decided to take a quick look atgraphed, would have looked like a huge peak, rising
some of those domains. I had a new idea for a fewvery high and then falling like a rock in just a matter
possible websites and wanted to see which onesof a few days. Until that day I had never realized a
were getting enough hits to warrant furtherdomain name could react to news. Here is how it
consideration. As I created a report showing trafficplayed out.
on some of my domains I was amazed to find oneDate Domain Impressions Earnings
of my domain names had a lot of impressions02-25-05 1 $00.00
(website page views). Where normally that name had02-26-05 1 $00.00
a few impressions each day it had several hundred02-27-05 4 $00.00
that day along with several dollars of profit where02-28-05 1 $00.00
there usually was none.03-01-05 261 $97.77
That was the first time I had noticed such a drastic03-02-05 483 $30.33
change in one of my domains in such a short period03-03-05 404 $28.15
of time — one day. The previous day there03-04-05 569 $22.05
were the normal few views and no money to be03-05-05 2 $01.22
made from that domain name. I asked my co-worker03-06-05 4 $00.00
if he heard anything in the news involving video03-07-05 4 $00.00
games since the domain name showing unusual traffic(as of 03-07-05 9:00 am)
was related to video games. He said no, he hadI had noticed some domain names had ups and
heard nothing. Since he was a thirty-something anddowns before, but never associated that with
was usually aware of such things I first thought itpotential news affecting the domain name. One
might be just an aberration, but it was unsettlingespecially, but with not so pronounced activity, I did
nevertheless. As a stock and options investor, I ama cursory check on, and found out the name is
very familiar with the effects of news on thoserelated to football. Although initially the name
financial instruments so news was the first thing todidn’t sound related to a sport I guess the
cross my mind that might change the activity on a“inside” and the “end” could be construed
domain name so fast.as being related to inside linebacker and end zone,
Later that evening, right before turning off my homedefensive end, or tight end, etc. That’s a far
computer, I thought of that domain name again andstretch, but then again football is an extremely
took a quick glance at its statistics. Wow! Therepopular sport and is often in the news during football
were a lot more impressions and many more dollarsseason. Whether or not football is affecting this
showed as profit off that surge of hits.particular domain remains to be seen, but now
About that time my son, nineteen and an ex videoI’ll be on the lookout for such possibilities
game fanatic, who was in Korea (I was in Southernwhen I register new domain names or see huge
California), came on and sent me a message viachanges in activity on any of my domain names.
Instant Messenger. We conversed a short while thenI had better do some follow up research on other
I asked him if he had heard any news about Xboxdomain names that seem to have a lot of fluctuating
because by then I was suspecting something bigactivity. Take a hint from my experience. If you
must have been said in the news related to thathave any domain names that could be subject to
specific video game platform. My domain name wasreaction to news events you may be able to plan a
going wild with hits, compared to its usual half-dozenstrategy to capitalize on certain events depending on
hits or less each day. He said, “Dad, I think theythe circumstances. This could be especially profitable
announced they are coming out with an Xbox 2”.if you are selling something on a website with such a
Immediately I knew that was why my domain wasname.
getting so much action. It was reacting to the news!