Google Domain Strategy Could Impact Domain Resale Values

ritziyap · 01-29-2006, 06:01 AM

Source: Netcraft

How does Google plan to use its new status as a domain registrar? Speculation abounds. One of the most intriguing theories, outlined at Datamonitor, is that Google will use its access to the list of recently sold domains to clean up its search results, resetting a site's "PageRank" when its domain changes hands.

That would be consistent with Google's indication that it will use its ICANN accreditation to "learn more about the Internet's domain name system ... While we have no plans to register domains at this time, we believe this information can help us increase the quality of our search results," the company said in a statement. As a public company, Google is unlikely to publicly misstate its intentions, lest it face scrutiny from regulators and investors.

Even if it doesn't enter the registry business, Google's plans could affect the price of domain sales on the secondary market. The strategy outlined by Datamonitor, citing "a source claiming knowledge of Google's plans," would make it more difficult for domain owners to benefit from a strong Google ranking when they sell a domain.

Google is secretive about its PageRank system, which assigns a number to a site based upon more than 100 variables, including the number of links from other sites. A popular domain will generally be rewarded by the system - Yahoo has a PageRank of 10, while Slashdot (9) and Netcraft (8) also have high ranks.

Given the importance of Google traffic in a site's success and profitability, a high PageRank makes a domain more attractive to buyers, who will pay a premium for added visibility in Google. Domain sales tend to pollute Google search results, however, as new owners can remove the content which earned the ranking. Domain name speculators commonly point highly-trafficked domains to pages bearing keyword-related advertisements - an outcome certain to disappoint a web searcher using Google to locate specific content.

As a registrar, Google would be able to negotiate access to a centralized list of expiring and resold domains (known as the "batch pool"), and then know when to reset PageRank on a domain that has changed hands. The site would then have earn its position in Google's rankings, rather than inheriting the "Googlejuice" of the previous owner.
????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/domain-name-discussion/162548-google-domain-strategy-could-impact-domain.html

While that would lead to less link spam in Google's rankings, it has implications for web site owners selling a site with an established PageRank. If the strong PageRank disappears once the domain changes hands, the buyer may be less likely to offer a premium for visibility in Google.

Google has recently taken steps to eliminate rankings based on comment spam in weblogs, which is consistent with a focus on insulating its searches from manipulation.

Is this speculation upon speculation? Perhaps. But it's speculation that merits the attention of domain and web site owners. If the PageRank reset theory proves to be correct, Google's strategy could suppress speculative sales in the secondary domain name market, and become a factor in the sale price of reputable Internet-based businesses.

Dannoth · 01-29-2006, 06:59 AM

Thanks for that

AdoptableDomains · 01-29-2006, 08:10 AM

I read somewhere that google does not plan to sell domains, but wanted some influence on the registrar community and access to the databases. Whois database access could give them a more direct way to guage the seriousness of a registrant by how long the domain is register for, by whom, and what nameservers are used. They could previously get this from other sources, but its probably faster and more accurate for them to search the DB directly. I would imaging it would give them a good entry into searching whois history as well.

Matrix1976 · 01-29-2006, 08:36 AM

good article....thanks....rep added

EbookLover · 01-29-2006, 11:35 AM

Yet one more reason to boycott and hate Google. Thanks. I love to hate google.

dawg · 01-29-2006, 11:39 AM

Originally Posted by EbookLover

Yet one more reason to boycott and hate Google. Thanks. I love to hate google.

I agree, but which is better? Yahoo, Msn and others roll over for the Government. I wish we had the answer.

EbookLover · 01-29-2006, 11:41 AM

BTW, I wonder if purchasing WHOIS protection might disallow them to know when a domain is sold? Would they still be able to detect when the whois was changed?

What if you are a cmpany and you decide to change your name legally so you decide to change your whois info. Would that mean, then, that you have to start at square-one? I wonder.

And all this worrying just because of one company. Tisk, tisk, tisk.

Originally Posted by dawg

I agree, but which is better? Yahoo, Msn and others roll over for the Government. I wish we had the answer.

But i have no problems with getting listed in those other SEs. I don't feel like I have to be alittle whore just to get a listing.

Simsi · 01-29-2006, 12:13 PM

Its a good article - thanks. This isn't good news though, not just for domainers, but legitiamte businesses selling their business sites.

Just one thing though, the quote:

Quote:

Given the importance of Google traffic in a site's success and profitability, a high PageRank makes a domain more attractive to buyers, who will pay a premium for added visibility in Google.

...indicates the the author doesn't fully understand PageRank. PR has litle or no bearing on SERPS, but is merely an indicator of inbound links. A good sign for link campaigners, but ultimately only of value when combined with other factors.
????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/showthread.php?t=162548

Also, if this argument holds up, it will ultimately drive people to seek better Yahoo and MSN rankings, which in turn could drive the market share of those engines up.

Cheers

Simsi

EbookLover · 01-29-2006, 12:46 PM

Originally Posted by dawg

Yahoo, Msn and others roll over for the Government. I wish we had the answer.

WHile MSN and Yahoo might roll over for the US government, it is better than NOT rolling over for the US govt and then rolling over for the Chinese govt and then also compromising national security and infringing on people's right to privacy with programs like Google Earth. I know that people love to be able to see pictures of their other people's neighborhoods, but all that glitters is not gold. Why do you think that certain governemnt rooftops are obscured in Google Earth? Privacy. I want my privacy and I don't want companies like Google to dictate how I live my life or run my business. That's all. I'm done going OT.

cache · 01-29-2006, 08:26 PM

this will make domain rental more popular.

weblord · 01-29-2006, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Google has recently taken steps to eliminate rankings based on comment spam in weblogs, which is consistent with a focus on insulating its searches from manipulation.

i noticed this as well as they incorporate sort of captcha authentication for their blog comments and besides owners of the blog can disable comments on their blogs.
????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/showthread.php?t=162548

good for them, i hope they clean up the spams as well on groups.google.com it's becoming an old newsgroup style kind of spam.

snoop · 01-29-2006, 08:56 PM

very old news.

SpongyBob · 01-30-2006, 07:27 AM

I've noticed when you change nameservers on a domain, GoogleBot often comes visiting. Could that be all it's about, Google just want's to know when nameservers change, so it can respider the site more promptly?

01-29-2006, 06:01 AM	THREAD STARTER #1 (permalink)
ritziyap NamePros Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Philippines Posts: 68	Google Domain Strategy Could Impact Domain Resale Values Source: Netcraft How does Google plan to use its new status as a domain registrar? Speculation abounds. One of the most intriguing theories, outlined at Datamonitor, is that Google will use its access to the list of recently sold domains to clean up its search results, resetting a site's "PageRank" when its domain changes hands. That would be consistent with Google's indication that it will use its ICANN accreditation to "learn more about the Internet's domain name system ... While we have no plans to register domains at this time, we believe this information can help us increase the quality of our search results," the company said in a statement. As a public company, Google is unlikely to publicly misstate its intentions, lest it face scrutiny from regulators and investors. Even if it doesn't enter the registry business, Google's plans could affect the price of domain sales on the secondary market. The strategy outlined by Datamonitor, citing "a source claiming knowledge of Google's plans," would make it more difficult for domain owners to benefit from a strong Google ranking when they sell a domain. Google is secretive about its PageRank system, which assigns a number to a site based upon more than 100 variables, including the number of links from other sites. A popular domain will generally be rewarded by the system - Yahoo has a PageRank of 10, while Slashdot (9) and Netcraft (8) also have high ranks. Given the importance of Google traffic in a site's success and profitability, a high PageRank makes a domain more attractive to buyers, who will pay a premium for added visibility in Google. Domain sales tend to pollute Google search results, however, as new owners can remove the content which earned the ranking. Domain name speculators commonly point highly-trafficked domains to pages bearing keyword-related advertisements - an outcome certain to disappoint a web searcher using Google to locate specific content. As a registrar, Google would be able to negotiate access to a centralized list of expiring and resold domains (known as the "batch pool"), and then know when to reset PageRank on a domain that has changed hands. The site would then have earn its position in Google's rankings, rather than inheriting the "Googlejuice" of the previous owner. ????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/domain-name-discussion/162548-google-domain-strategy-could-impact-domain.html While that would lead to less link spam in Google's rankings, it has implications for web site owners selling a site with an established PageRank. If the strong PageRank disappears once the domain changes hands, the buyer may be less likely to offer a premium for visibility in Google. Google has recently taken steps to eliminate rankings based on comment spam in weblogs, which is consistent with a focus on insulating its searches from manipulation. Is this speculation upon speculation? Perhaps. But it's speculation that merits the attention of domain and web site owners. If the PageRank reset theory proves to be correct, Google's strategy could suppress speculative sales in the secondary domain name market, and become a factor in the sale price of reputable Internet-based businesses. __________________ For Free Web Design Quotes and Prototypes, Also accepts outsourcing web design projects Website: http://www.ritziyap.com

01-29-2006, 06:59 AM	#2 (permalink)
Dannoth NamePros Regular Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 514	Thanks for that __________________ Signature Coming Soon...

01-29-2006, 08:10 AM	#3 (permalink)
AdoptableDomains Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 4,015	I read somewhere that google does not plan to sell domains, but wanted some influence on the registrar community and access to the databases. Whois database access could give them a more direct way to guage the seriousness of a registrant by how long the domain is register for, by whom, and what nameservers are used. They could previously get this from other sources, but its probably faster and more accurate for them to search the DB directly. I would imaging it would give them a good entry into searching whois history as well. __________________ AdoptableDomains.com ~~~~~Finding Good Homes for Good Names~~~~~ FuelPrices.mobi - Fish.us - ManhattanNewYork.net - Salesmen.info - SoundSystems.org Dickering.com - JobPlacement.biz - LotteryTickets.ws - Deleted.cc - Names.im - MP3.hn

01-29-2006, 08:36 AM	#4 (permalink)
Matrix1976 NamePros Regular Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 447	good article....thanks....rep added __________________ My Domains\| Polsat.com\|F3D.com\| Maxemo.com \|Jet-li.com \|Banzu.com \| Britney-Spears.com\|ProxyTool.com

01-29-2006, 11:35 AM	#5 (permalink)
EbookLover Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 1,438	Yet one more reason to boycott and hate Google. Thanks. I love to hate google. __________________ ♥ ♥ The most AMAZING Article Spinner & Content Rewriter - See the video! (no squeeze). ♥ ♥

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01-29-2006, 08:26 PM	#10 (permalink)
cache Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Goblin Wars Zone & California Posts: 4,471	this will make domain rental more popular. __________________ LaFrance Hods Raids Trik OXSI GoblinWars IQx yPortal Idel enlo Kitu Hytu Albums eMontage Cereal Tarf MDTalks Toch TV vald hosy iBoar Glem wolk corg ypen DiTV

01-29-2006, 08:56 PM	#12 (permalink)
snoop New User Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 4,986	very old news.

01-30-2006, 07:27 AM	#13 (permalink)
SpongyBob NamePros Regular Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 214	I've noticed when you change nameservers on a domain, GoogleBot often comes visiting. Could that be all it's about, Google just want's to know when nameservers change, so it can respider the site more promptly?

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