Dynadot

I am Todd Han, Founder of Dynadot, Ask Me Any Question

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APA will begin Friday, May 22 from 4-6pm PDT, but wanted to open the thread now in case you're unable to join me during that time. If you have questions or comments you would like to make, feel free to submit them here and I will try to address them during the interactive interview session.

I started Dynadot in 2002, in a spare bedroom at home. I still remember getting my first order for $7.99, and jumping up and down in excitement. Back then Verisign charged $6 per .com domain, and there was no ICANN fee yet. In those early days I did everything: customer service, website programming, accounting, and marketing. As the business grew I eventually rented an office and starting building the excellent team running the company today.

I have loved computers since I was a child. Writing code and solving technical problems always came naturally to me. I studied computer science in college, and spent many hours in the dark underground computer labs at UC Berkeley. Sadly I stopped coding about 2 years ago, to focus on strategy and management. But someday I plan to return to my first love, computer programming.

Why did I start Dynadot? I was building a website for my mother for her vacation house. I was using another registrar, and thought to myself I could write a better control panel. Being young and naive, I didn’t think that much and just jumped in and applied to be a registrar. It is a competitive and difficult industry, but I have enjoyed all these years, and am proud of what we have built.

Ask me anything.
 
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The views expressed on this page by users and staff are their own, not those of NamePros.
Hi Mr. Todd, honored to meet you. Why the name, Dynadot?
 
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Ask me anything.

I'm in San Mateo.

I've heard Dynadot is in San Mateo.

When things get back to normal, could it be arranged to meet a Dynadot representative for coffee and/or a chat?

<<in the mean time, maybe a open video call for all Dynadot customers to meet the Dynadot team?>>

I met @Joe Styler at a domainer meet up outside of a namescon event, and to this day, I appreciate that single interaction. I'd recommend more person to person experiences with other registrar/industry representatives to other members.
 
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Thank you for your presence here, Dynadot has a solid reputation on NP! (y)
 
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Nice to see the story behind my favorite registrar and it's owner. I like Dynadot even more now.
 
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I am really glad that you are doing this Ask Me Anything. Thank you! Congratulations on the success of your business, and the fine service you offer to domain investors.

The user interface for your service seems to me to work very smoothly. Nice User Experience(y). I wonder how large is your technical staff team?

I am glad that you offer marketplace and auction options on your site, as well as being partners for Afternic and Sedo, so lots of sale choice options for names registered there. Any plans for changes in your marketplace?

Thank you,

Bob

ps loved the story of your mother's vacation house website and why you started!
 
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Thanks for sharing your Dynadot story! I see now why you have built a successful Registrar, because you have built it from the beginning!
If some day you leave the company because it becomes too big that you sell it to a group of investors that don't have a clue about coding or running a Registrar, that day will be the end of Dynadot. I hope that case never happens!
But you just have to see what happened with Yahoo (not a registrar ok, but it works here), NetSol... etc.
 
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There was a time i used to have 100's of domains on dynadot,
Really nice to have you open-up on Namepros and tell your story.

I still have few domains with you guys..
 
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Nice to know the dynadot story Todd, congratulations !!

Here is my question:
Revenue-wise, how much has the company grown in all these years?
 
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Best & worst business decision you have made as Dynadot CEO?
 
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Hi Todd, for a long time I have received a virtual barrage of very low ball domain offers as low as $2 or $20 on good quality names. I have asked many times to let us establish minimum offer prices to no avail. Why can't you do that?

P.S. I think your user interface and system is the best of the best. My only issue is all the low-ballers on Dynadot.
 
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Hi, Todd glad to know another inspiring story that you have started the business from a room at home. Wow! That's really amazing. My case is also quite familiar to yours. I was 20 when I started domaining, I don't have money to buy a domain so I borrowed money from a friend's credit card. I bought an NLN.com domain for around 150 and sold for $350 after a week and the story begins...

I just want to ask about your marketing strategies, where do you most advertise your products and services.

Thanks
Raj
 
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Also, what was your age when you started Dynadot?
 
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What is the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything?
 
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Welcome! I smell someone is shaking now:xf.grin::xf.wink:
 
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I see on the Dynadot website it shows the dynadot co-op owners behind the Dyna brand;

but i have yet to see your photo, Mr. Han

Also appreciate if got rid 30 and 60 day locks,

Samer
 
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Does Covid-19 increased your new registrations?
 
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Hey, Thanks for AMA. I loved your story.

1) I sold a domain in Dynadot but it took 10 days to credit fund in my acocunt. Why so much time ?
2) any plan on decreasing grace delete charges ?
 
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Dynadot has been my favorite registrar since I started domaining last year. It's very easy to navigate and everything on dynadot is swift.

But they did something that surprised recently. Can you please explain why ??

I backordered a domain name using your service, the name was caught but it stated under it that the backorder failed only for the domain to be auctioned as backorder auction.


If it failed as it was stated, why did you guys auction it ???
 
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Dynadot has become my favorite registrar over the last few years. Your story only solidifies that decision.

When facing adversity and uncertainty what do you tell yourself to keep things in perspective and keep moving forward?
 
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AMA will begin Friday, May 22 from 4-6pm PDT, but wanted to open the thread now in case you're unable to join me during that time. If you have questions or comments you would like to make, feel free to submit them here and I will try to address them during the AMA.

I started Dynadot in 2002, in a spare bedroom at home. I still remember getting my first order for $7.99, and jumping up and down in excitement. Back then Verisign charged $6 per .com domain, and there was no ICANN fee yet. In those early days I did everything: customer service, website programming, accounting, and marketing. As the business grew I eventually rented an office and starting building the excellent team running the company today.

I have loved computers since I was a child. Writing code and solving technical problems always came naturally to me. I studied computer science in college, and spent many hours in the dark underground computer labs at UC Berkeley. Sadly I stopped coding about 2 years ago, to focus on strategy and management. But someday I plan to return to my first love, computer programming.

Why did I start Dynadot? I was building a website for my mother for her vacation house. I was using another registrar, and thought to myself I could write a better control panel. Being young and naive, I didn’t think that much and just jumped in and applied to be a registrar. It is a competitive and difficult industry, but I have enjoyed all these years, and am proud of what we have built.

Ask me anything.
Nice to know about you Todd, DynaDot is no doubt one of the finest companies in the Industry.
 
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I am a fan of dynadot and love it

Just dont sell to GD and remain independent .I am sure they are watching this and would pitch something to try to take over 😅.

Service has been excellent and my questions and issues gets taken care of through chat.I have got hundreds of domains with you so I am happy with the discounts I get to have them there.😉

👍👍.
 
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Thanks Mr Todd for being with us here. I've been a Dynadot customer since 2009 and helped introduced so many people to the platform in those days.

My Questions:

1. How did Dynadot become a Chinese company. Because your name doesn't sound Chinese?

2. What are you doing to improve the marketplace to be able to complete with the likes of Epik and Dan?

3. Since you started from such humble beginnings, How were you able to afford the ICANN accreditation fees?

Your 5% commission on sales will be a game changer if you manage to improve the marketplace by reducing the 10days hold time to funds after sales. Again, $500 minimum payout is outrageous.

Thanks once again for being with us.
 
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1. Any possibility of Payouts via wire transfer?

2. Processing fee of 5% on payouts is high, don't you think?
 
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