Overview of the domain name industry, including registrars, domain monetization tools, discussion forums and other relevant resources.
Traffic Monetization and Domain Parking Services
Services that can help you make money from your un(der)used domains
- NameDrive
- Up-and-coming parking service that provides some novel traffic management tools, including the ability to provide separate optimized parking keywords for different geographic locales. Focus on .co.uk domains, but also handles all other major extensions.
- Fabulous
- Fabulous provides a wealth of domain name optimization options, with total control over popup, popunder and exit traffic destinations. Their 4.0 program, reserved for the best generic domains, provides a significant earnings boost to qualified participants.
- Sedo
- Domain parking and domain auction service, relatively strong for European/UK traffic, but handling all major extensions. Integrates seamlessly with their auction site, arguably the busiest domain sales site in the world. The SedoPro program, by invitation only, rewards top-quality traffic with higher earnings and advanced traffic stats.
Whois Lookup Services
Places to look up domain name registration details
- Cool Whois
- Meta-whois tool able to handle most TLD and cctld extensions. Because of its popularity, some registrars limit the information returned so you may have to do a secondary search at the relevant registrar.
- .org Whois Search
- The Public Interest Registry oversees the .org TLD space. Their whois tool is definitive when it comes to looking up .org Whois information.
- .info Whois Search
- Afilias is responsible for the .info TLD. Their Whois tool gives access to registrant and registrar details, contact IDs and other relevant information.
- .co.uk Whois Search
- Nominet administers the *.uk cctld hierarchy, including .co.uk and .org.uk. Their Whois tool provides the most up to date information on *.uk domains. Note that there is often very little contact information available because of Nominet's privacy policies, since email addresses are not displayed and individuals can conceal virtually all contact details.
Domain Name Discussion Forums
Places to chat about domain names
- DN Forum
- Large discussion forum with many industry participants, including representatives from registrars, domain parking services, drop catchers, IP lawyers etc. Tiered paid membership system, with certain forums only open to higher-level members.
- Acorn Domains
- Forum focused on the UK domain name industry, in particular the .co.uk cctld. Domain sales reports, registration discussions, drop catching issues and other topics.
- WebmasterWorld Domain Forum
- General domain name issues, such as registration, domain valuations, monetization and other topics. Has a strong "no specifics, no advertising" rule which keeps the signal-to-noise ratio high.
- Digital Point Domain Names Forum
- General forum for all aspects of domain name registration and ownership. No particular TLD bias. Separate forum for domain appraisals.
- Domain State
- Busy specialist forums covering all aspects of the domain name industry, from appraisals to sales, domain trades, legal and business issues and domain monetization.
- NamePros
- Popular domain and webmaster forums, with a natural bias that has developed towards newer/less experienced domain name owners and developers.
- Japanese Domain Name Forum
- Japanese-language forum focused mainly but not exclusively on the .jp/.co.jp extensions. Also includes discussions on prominent developments in the industry, such as high-value sales.
- IDN Forums
- Discussions surrounding all aspects of multilingual (IDN) domain names, including registration, drop catching, sales and monetization, and future industry trends.
