news A Second Look At GoDaddy/Afternic Search

[Bob Hawkes]

I have done a follow-up to my first article on the changes that replaced Afternic domain search with general GoDaddy domain search, and also obtained additional information from company representatives. The article is now published at NameTalent.

Here is a short summary of key results based on searching for 67 names in various categories that are listed on Afternic, and seeing what was shown and suggested:

• Searchers that enter a full name with dot and extension will be presented that name, as far as I can see in all cases.
• Without dot and extension, most, but not quite all, legacy extension names will be presented if the search is for exactly that term and if they are priced. Afternic names listed with Make Offer will not be presented.
• I could only check .ca national extension names, but they were always presented, and probably that holds for other.
• For the names I checked, all .xyz did appear in results if the exact term is searched, with or without extension.
• I had mixed results for the small number of single word .io and .co that I checked, some were in results, some were not.
• Only a few aftermarket names are presented in the 45 results for each search. The vast majority are available hand registrations (see article for the full breakdown).
• Similar names available on Afternic to the search term are sometimes presented.
• Matches across dot are not presented unless the exact name is searched (i.e. if I search for the name planners.page it will show if entered that way, but not if I search for PlannersPage or PlannersPage.com). I don't know why, because their system does understand correctly to promote available hand registration across the dot.
• Other generic country codes like .me and .cc, even though in the old Afternic the exact term would be in the top half page, are no longer presented within the search results even when the exact term is used in search, again unless the search specifically includes the dot and extension, such as example.me.
• The AI-powered search at GoDaddy does not show aftermarket names.

Also see comments from GD representatives about how infrequently Afternic search resulted in sales, and the way they were monitoring the situation.

The most seriously impacted names are alternative country extensions and new extension names, or any names using make offer.

There is a very simple solution. The Afternic splash page, if we can't have the previous Afternic search, should simply have a link to GoDaddy Auctions. (instead of general GoDaddy search). That effectively displays sensible aftermarket names without confusion of a search dominated by hand registration suggestions. In many ways (see article) it would be an improvement over the old Afternic search, and would meet the goal of GoDaddy branding and GoDaddy purchase integration.

The full article has detail on the extensive testing that I did (searched for 67 different names and analyzed the 3000+ search suggestions from GD search). Of course precise results will continue to change, and may vary with searcher location.

Please read details at: https://nametalent.com/2024/03/a-second-look-at-afternic-godaddy-search/

-Bob

@James Iles FYI
I hope GD will consider changing to show GoDaddy Auction search, rather than GoDaddy general search, for visitors to the Afternic site.

 

[DomainRecap]

This change is absolutely insane and it essentially means that GoDaddy is monetizing our traffic (that was intended for our marketplace listings) towards selling more of their competing domains and other products.

I think all these "make more money.. or else!" investor threats have driven the GD execs totally insane and they're now grasping at straws trying to create more and more profit. They'll take any long-term business risk by stealing anything from any of their linked companies just to make a few measly bucks today.

Just look at their bizarre monetization of the GoDaddy Valuation/Appraisal tool - a minimum payment of $1200 USD just to access it now. Insanity. At what point does GD start selling off employees to human traffickers'?

And as there is now no possible way to directly search the Afternic marketplace, it also makes you wonder what everyone at Afternic is doing while people are using fruiting around at GoDaddy?

Fashioning a noose? Writing the great American novel? Sleeping? Faxing out their resumes? Joining OnlyFans?

 

[LoveCatchyDomains]

This change is absolutely insane and it essentially means that GoDaddy is monetizing our traffic (that was intended for our marketplace listings) towards selling more of their competing domains and other products.

Well, it's very clear now that there are sponsored domain extensions that show up with these searches. So, yes, your domain names are being used by GoDaddy for ad revenue.

Are you really surprised by that?

It's a clever business model for the company, albeit likely a detriment for the Afternic domain seller.

 

[DomainRecap]

Are you really surprised by that?

No, but I am a bit surprised they went that far as it's bound to anger some customers.

If GD pulls this same type of search scam with Dan or gets rid of it entirely, I am definitely jumping ship.

 

[LoveCatchyDomains]

Understood.

If your Afternic landers had ads (i.e. sponsored alternative domains) showing up like that, you would want ppc revenue or a perceentage of an alternative domain sale from your lead.

It's good to explore which marketplaces are best with their search results for you domain listings.