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status-duplicate NamePros Auctions in Search Results

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DomainBanana

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Why does NamePros allow domain auctions to appear in search results (Google, etc.)?

Public auctions obviously impair the ability to sell domains at a premium value outside of NamePros.

So why not make auction pages private to NamePros members only?
 
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The views expressed on this page by users and staff are their own, not those of NamePros.
Hello,

Here are some reasons and possible solutions:
  1. Most members want them public so that they receive more free traffic, which means more potential bidders that may not have bid otherwise if the listings weren't discovered through search results.
  2. NamePros is free in part because it receives traffic from the content you create.
  3. The Exclusive Marketplace can be used to run auctions that you do not want accessible to search engines.
  4. The PRO Network has a private marketplace for its group members.
  5. There are several techniques to mask a domain name from search results. For example, add spacing to the domain name: e x a m p l e . c o m.

Learn more:

We hope that helps.
 
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Most members want them public so that they receive more free traffic, which means more potential bidders that may not have bid otherwise if the listings weren't discovered through search results.​

I doubt most members want these sales public. Most members selling domains here aren't targeting the general public, they're targeting other domain investors on NamePros.

Maybe the easiest solution would be to add a rule that you have to mask domains for sale?

As a buyer, I know I would appreciate it.
 
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There are various methods to mask your names, but most make them look ugly and hard to read. The one which does not is replacing English letters with matching Cyrilliic letters – o, a, p, c, e and some others are absolutely identical in most fonts. I made an online tool to automate this process, you can type a single name or many names at once or paste a list to have them masked.

However, it could be much simpler than visiting an external site and copypasting text: it should be possible for NP to implement masking right here in the forums. All forum engines generally support adding custom actions so there could be a dedicated button in the post edit toolbar for us to select any part of the message and have it masked:
F6Zi4fQ.jpg


On the other hand, forum software do not support applying actions to titles and implementing something like this could be somewhat difficult, and while masking names in text should be sufficient for general discussion topics, new registrations thread etc., it makes no sense for the marketplace threads because names for sale are typically in the post titles.

This topic seems to have had been raised multiple times in the history of NP, but things are the way they are. However, if many people keep asking about that, at some point NP might be persuaded to do something. Meanwhile you can use DNMask :)

I as a buyer would also prefer not to have any names I buy indexed. Question to NP: do we have a "right" to request a NP-purchased name removal? It is of course easy to ask the seller to edit their thread, but sometimes the name can also be mentioned in much older threads, and their authors may even no longer be active users. Would be nice to know if its something we can ask for and get done anytime, if it hopefully is.
 
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I doubt most members want these sales public. Most members selling domains here aren't targeting the general public, they're targeting other domain investors on NamePros.
Domainers use search engines, as well. Search engines are a very important tool in the domain industry.

Some members also use search engines to search NamePros.

Maybe the easiest solution would be to add a rule that you have to mask domains for sale?
It's not uncommon for buyers to request sellers to do this after the sale is complete, or to stipulate it as part of the deal before finalizing the sale, but we are not going to make a rule for it. However, if you prove ownership of the domain name, we can space it out for you in older sales listings.

The one which does not is replacing English letters with matching Cyrilliic letters – o, a, p, c, e and some others are absolutely identical in most fonts
This is not a good idea because it could cause confusion about whether you're selling an IDN.

Another option is to use images, but that isn't yet possible in the titles.

Question to NP: do we have a "right" to request a NP-purchased name removal?
Yes, we can sometimes space it out for you upon request if you are the domain owner. Learn more: #4 under "Solutions to consider."

We hope that helps.
 
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Some members also use search engines to search NamePros.

That doesn't mean this activity should continue. The search function in the forum works fine.

I'm sure many end-user sales are regularly disrupted by all the "daily deals", auctions, appraisals, showing these names selling for tiny fractions of retail price.

we are not going to make a rule for it.

Why not?
 
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We believe a rule for it is unnecessary, undesirable by the majority, and because of the other reasons we've explained in this thread.

We understand that you disagree.

Fortunately, there are options available if you'd like more privacy for your auctions.
 
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I'll take responsibility to mask my auctions in the future but I can't mask names that I buy. And many names that I buy outside of namepros (closeouts, etc.) are still posted here in some form.

undesirable by the majority

If NP thinks the majority of members would not want a masking rule, how about polling the members to find out?
 
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I can't mask names that I buy. And many names that I buy outside of namepros (closeouts, etc.) are still posted here in some form.
We've provided you with a solution for both of those circumstances in this thread.

If NP thinks the majority of members would not want a masking rule, how about polling the members to find out?
As previously explained, it's not the only reason, so a poll would not lead to a change.

Let's not go in circles, please.

This is a duplicate topic. Please contact support if you have further questions.
 
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