DomainEasy Launches an Ambitious Platform That Offers a New Option for Fans of Departing DAN.com 

With GoDaddy acquiring innovative domain sales platform DAN.com and merging it into their own Afternic.com, buyers and sellers saw one of their favorite venues go away, however new options are already starting to surface. One of the most promising among those, DomainEasy.com, has just launched. Founded by industry veteran Sam Dennis, DomainEasy will draw immediate attention with their 0% commission rate for sellers but that is just part of a comprehensive suite of features and services the start-up is offering.

DomainEasy was built to serve sellers, buyers and brokers in one convenient location. When asked what will make DomainEasy a better choice than other options, we received a breakdown on what that they are offering to each of those users groups, as shown below:

Sellers: 
With 0% commission on direct sales (only processing fees apply), you get to keep more of your profits. DomainEasy also provides flexibility in pricing models, allowing sellers to set fixed prices or offer Lease to Own options, giving buyers the ability to pay over time.

Our Inbound Lead Management System simplifies how you handle potential buyers. With customizable templates for inquiries and the ability to respond via email, you can quickly engage leads without spending extra time. Plus, our AI 

DomainEasy Founder Sam Dennis

powered lead scoring helps you focus on the most promising opportunities. For sellers managing large portfolios, our bulk upload and domain management tools take the hassle out of organizing and maintaining your inventory. You can also assign brokers for additional help, giving you full control and flexibility over how you sell your domains.

Screenshot from seller options. Click image to see larger version.

Buyers:
At DomainEasy, we provide a seamless buying experience designed to give you flexibility and peace of mind. Whether you're ready to purchase a domain instantly with our Buy It Now option, or prefer to spread out payments through Lease to Own, we’ve got you covered. You can also negotiate directly with sellers through our Make an Offer feature to explore potential deals. We prioritize secure transactions, offering payment options through major credit cards, wire transfers, and trusted escrow services like Escrow.com. With zero commission fees for buyers, the price you see is the price you pay. Our Guided Checkout and Transfer service ensures that your purchase is handled by domain experts from start to finish, guaranteeing a smooth transaction and timely transfer of your new domain. DomainEasy takes the stress out of acquiring your next domain by making the entire process simple and secure.

Brokers:
DomainEasy is designed to give brokers full control over their business. Whether you are building your brokerage or managing multiple sellers, we make it easy to offer valuable services to clients and close deals faster. Brokers can set custom commission rates to attract new business, ensuring competitive pricing while staying profitable. With direct communication with both sellers and buyers, brokers can efficiently negotiate and close deals. Our platform takes care of the tech, allowing brokers to focus on growing their business. DomainEasy supports full team collaboration for brokerages, enabling your entire team to manage domains, track leads, quotes, and offers, all from one place. With tools to track offers and manage inbound leads, brokers can ensure they are providing value to sellers while expediting sales, increasing earnings, and building trust with their clients. 

Having been given a pre-launch tour of the DomainEasy website I can tell you I was impressed with the interface and how easy it is to accomplish the various tasks you want to get done, regardless of your role in the domain aftermarket. With the site now live, you can check it out for yourself and see how it works for you. In this Beta stage, I'm sure that Sam and his team would also love to hear any feedback you might have on how anything could be improved and suggestions on other features you would like to see.   

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2nd Edition of Domain Days Dubai Ready to Go with 2024 Show On Track to Surpass Successful Debut 

The inaugural edition of Domain Days Dubai (DDD), an ambitious new conference designed to serve the growing MENA region, drew rave reviews last year. While DDD has a focus on MENA, the 2023 event attracted attendees from all over the world as professionals from other regions came, eager to learn more about the opportunities that are open to all in the MENA area. The only difference this year is there will be even more attendees (as well as speakers and sponsors) when the 2024 event runs November 5 and 6 at the Marriott Resort Palm Jumeirah in Dubai.

With just 35 days to go before the show, DDD Founder Munir Badir told us, "We already have around 185 attendees registered and 40

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Radix Scores Twin Wins for Namify AI and .Tech with #1 Product of the Day Honor from Product Hunt 

Radix has found another new way to increase awareness for their innovative services and top level domains. Radix, the administrator of ten TLDs (including .tech, .store, .site and .online to name a few) also operates multiple cutting edge services like Namify AI (based at Namify.tech). Namify AI is an upgraded AI-powered version of the well established business name generator that solves one of the biggest challenges faced by domain buyers, small business owners, solopreneurs and startups. That  is finding a meaningful name with an available domain, social media username and trademark.

In the past, that time consuming process has required extensive research across multiple websites. Namify AI addresses the issue with this new version of the comprehensive name generator that makes it possible to find the perfect brand name quickly and efficiently. Radix was confident enough in the product to submit it to Product Hunt where Namify AI immediately won over the huge PH audience, being voted #1 Product of the Day and #3 for the week.

That is a big deal because over 5 million people visit Product Hunt every month and if a product is upvoted into the PH Top 10, it also gets featured in a mailout to over half a million dedicated PH subscribers. That is no easy task because every product is competing against a wide variety of cutting edge products and services that come from every corner of the tech world - not just one category from that huge universe.

Product Hunt was founded in 2013 and took off so quickly that AngelList stepped in to acquire the company for $20 million just three years later. For Radix, the Product Hunt win meant a huge boost in recognition of Namify AI's capabilities as well as for the Radix TLD where the company makes its home - .tech.

Namify AI's infobox at Product Hunt

To drill down a bit further, Namify AI leverages the power of AI to suggest brand names highly tailored to very specific products or business ideas. It allows users to fine-tune suggestions based on their brand’s style and tone and target audience. Additionally, users can include must-have keywords across all suggestions. Namify AI supports eight languages, checks domain name availability, verifies social media username availability, and offers a free custom logo.  

Product Hunt user and Growth Marketer/Digital Entrepreneur Ali Mirza commented on the upgraded version of Namify AI, noting, “I have been using Namify for the last couple of years and I am a huge fan. The business names are unique and memorable. Also, the trademark check feature is amazing. I don't need to hire a lawyer to do the initial research.”

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.ART Announces Finalists for 2024 Digital Innovation in Art Award and Two Special Mention Honorees

The .ART Registry, in
collaboration with GP Bullhound
Allstars, has unveiled the finalists
for the prestigious Digital Innovation in Art Award 2024 (DIIA). This year's
finalists represent the forefront of
innovation, creativity, and technology
in the art world, with projects that push boundaries and redefine the possibilities of digital art. Many in the UK and Europe view the GP Bullhound Allstars awards as a tech world version of the "Oscars," so sponsoring the DIIA is a natural fit for .ART. 

The finalists were chosen after a rigorous evaluation by a nine-member independent jury that provided expertise in museum leadership, Web3 technology, domain industry insight and international curatorial acumen. For the second consecutive year Paul Nicks, GoDaddy Vice President for Domain Investors, represented our industry on the jury. When their work was done, the jury had winnowed an extraordinary semi-final field down to these six finalists:

  
- ArtCentrica (Italy): Revolutionizing art education with an online platform that offers interactive
tools and access to over 8,000 high-resolution artworks, fostering immersive learning
experiences. 

- Ask Mona (France): Enhancing art experiences with AI-powered chatbots that engage and
inform museum visitors, with plans to expand into educational sectors. 

- Barnes Foundation (USA): Innovating in art education and engagement by utilizing digital tools
to provide interactive and immersive experiences for their diverse audience. 

- Guru Experience (USA): Developing immersive art experiences using virtual reality and other
digital technologies, creating engaging and interactive art exhibitions. 

- SuprSketch Corp (USA): A subscription-based platform with live digital canvases that allows
artists to share their creative processes and engage with their communities in real-time.

- Sureel (USA): Offering AI tools that ensure fair attribution for creators in AI-generated content, supporting various digital forms and enabling creators to control their participation.

In addition to the finalists, the .ART Registry also introduced two Special Mentions for the
first time, recognizing exceptional originality and artistic contribution. Those went to:

Special Mentiion - Originality: Beambike (Germany): Commended for its innovative approach to sustainability by integrating technology with traditional art forms to promote environmental
awareness. 

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Nominations Now Open for ICA's 2025 Lonnie Borck Memorial Award and Their New Trailblazer Award

The Internet Commerce Association (ICA), the non-profit organization that fights for domain owner's rights, is now accepting nominations for the ICA's 8th annual Lonnie Borck Memorial Award (LBMA). The prestigious award was first presented in 2017 in memory of the late universally loved domain advocate Lonnie Borck. 

In the LBMA's first three years its recipients were chosen based on their "exceptional efforts in championing the rights of domain name registrants" and went to industry leaders from the legal arena. Starting with the 2020 award, the criteria was broadened to include every corner of the domain industry with the guiding principal being to recognize a person who has made "extraordinary contributions toward fostering a sense of community within the domain name industry." 

Everyone in the industry (whether they are an ICA member or not) is welcome to submit a nomination for the 2025 Lonnie Borck Award that will be presented at the ICA's next Annual Meeting that will be held January 26-28, 2025 at Resorts World in Las Vegas. Nominations will remain open through the end of October. The ICA Board will then review and approve nominees with ICA members then voting to select the winner. 

The previous winners of the Lonnie Borck Memorial Award were:

Lonnie Borck

*The first six Lonnie Borck Awards were presented at the annual Namefest Global conference but, after the ICA established their own stand alone annual meeting for members, they moved presentation of what would have been the 2023 award to their annual January event this year. That prompted a label change to 2024 to match the presentation date.

As they have done with the Lonnie Borck Memorial Award, the ICA invites you to help determine the winner of the first ICA Trailblazer Award  by nominating those companies or individuals that you believe are deserving of the award. Nominations are open to the entire industry and both companies and individuals are welcome to nominate themselves if they feel their contributions are worthy of recognition. Nominations will remain open until October 31st.

Once the nominations are in, the ICA board will review and approve the nominations with the winner of the ICA Trailblazer Award then selected in ICA member voting. The inaugural award will be presented at the January 2025 ICA Annual Member Meeting in Las Vegas during an awards ceremony that will also reveal the winner of the Lonnie Borck Memorial Award.

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Radix Reports Best Half-Year of Premium Domain Revenue to Date with Sales Topping $5 Million

Radix has released their latest semi-annual report on the registry operator's premium domain sales results across the 10 TLDs they administer. Their H1-2024 Premiums Report (.pdf file) details how Radix generated $5.16 million in Total Premium Retail Revenue - the best 6-month cycle they have had to date. 

That number includes $3.83 million in Premium Retail Renewal Revenue. It also represents a 12% jump above the same period in 2023. .Tech was Radix's highest grossing TLD with $1.58 million in total revenue. The chart below tracks Radix's uninterrupted growth in premium revenue over the past four years,

The chart below zeros in on revenue from new premium registrations alone, with .tech again the leading TLD from that perspective, followed by .online and .store. 

The picture for premium renewal revenue (charted below) was bright as well with 62% of premium domains renewed after their initial term, 72% for second renewals and 84% for the third and subsequent renewals.

For a much more detailed breakdown of the premium domain revenue picture at Radix you can check out the full report here.

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