domains Atom launches Cloud Broker program

[equity78]

Atom.com announced their Cloud Broker program on X and all the details are on their helpdesk. So now if you want to promote Atom premium listing domains, you can. Here is what it says for the broker side, their is a bunch of info for sellers as well. How Does It Work For Cloud Brokers? […]
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[JB Lions]

Maybe somebody should start a domain affiliate program or network. Affiliate marketing gives you reach, access.

Imagine if you have some cannabis domains. There are lots of websites, social media accounts with large and active audiences, newsletter etc. It could be somebody with a huge YouTube channel, mentions your names, tells the audience if interested click their affiliate encoded link. The great thing is you don’t pay any money upfront, you pay on performance aka an actual sale.

I have a few cannabis names. If some big site wants to write an article on acquiring good names for your cannabis business and links to my names resulting in a sale, great

 

[equity78]

Here's an impression of just some random domains that participate in the Atom.com Cloud Broker Program via opt-in (not my domains). Good luck to the brokers!

Link: https://www.atom.com/cloud-broker/all/q/google

Show attachment 259618

Why is Atom allowing obvious trademarks on their platform?

 

[draco]

Why is Atom allowing obvious trademarks on their platform?

Apparently you can submit Standard or Partner Network domains to their Cloud Broker program. Looks like they need a better trademark search algorithm / AI to keep those names off the platform.

I'm also not sure why they even allow Standard and Partner Network domains into the Cloud Broker program. If they've been rejected as Premium domains, is a broker really going to waste their time with them? And it makes it more difficult for brokers to find quality names they want to promote.

 

[Abdillahi Abdillahi]

So, now that they added the requirement to sign up and get approval in order to become a broker, will you still risk and participate?

 

[Future Sensors]

So, now that they added the requirement to sign up and get approval in order to become a broker, will you still risk and participate?

For me: still a big no. In the current setup it's completely unclear who will broker your domains and how they will do this. That gives a very uncomfortable feeling. Perhaps, if the Seller can see and select in advance which broker will do it and how they will do this, I would consider it for a set of very specifically selected domains.

 

[zotix]

Apparently you can submit Standard or Partner Network domains to their Cloud Broker program. Looks like they need a better trademark search algorithm / AI to keep those names off the platform.

I'm also not sure why they even allow Standard and Partner Network domains into the Cloud Broker program. If they've been rejected as Premium domains, is a broker really going to waste their time with them? And it makes it more difficult for brokers to find quality names they want to promote.

Relatively easy to answer, and Im very sure you know the answer as well:
To reduce admin costs, focus more on their premiums & most importantly, find people who get the trash sold.
This will lead to a higher CTR for Atom; thus, they can use it in their marketing to advertise that a Domain gets sold in approximately two months.

 

[zotix]

For me: still a big no. In the current setup it's completely unclear who will broker your domains and how they will do this. That gives a very uncomfortable feeling. Perhaps, if the Seller can see and select in advance which broker will do it and how they will do this, I would consider it for a set of very specifically selected domains.

I mean, you are totally right - I can't agree more.
Selected Domains is still hard to distinguish, since they cant guarantee and run for everything a IP/TM check, thus they should rather higher the bars for brokers, and if not already done - put the liability full towards them.
But in any case, reputational risk will hit Atom.

Mustafa

On Atom.com, discover 200,000+ ready-to-use brandable domains hand-picked by our branding experts.
https://www.atom.com/name/HatchHub.com

And I assume those are the Premiums only because they write "handpicked by experts"

 

[draco]

Relatively easy to answer, and Im very sure you know the answer as well:
To reduce admin costs, focus more on their premiums & most importantly, find people who get the trash sold.
This will lead to a higher CTR for Atom; thus, they can use it in their marketing to advertise that a Domain gets sold in approximately two months.

Since brokers can pick the domains they want to promote, are any of them really going to bother with trash?

Which would you promote, ElPuertoRico or Bagsy? And if you're a very experienced broker, Bagsy or Jam? All .com.

 

[zotix]

Both.com seems to be a good one ))
I got your point.

By the way. I found the smartest Domain Seller on Atom (edited).
I don't know if I'm allowed to put more Details here, but he posted his Domain + Price (easy to find), added a Description with the Terms, an Expert appraisal of my Domain, and promoted his Appraisal tool.
Genius. With a Ref link, which goes through this Domain to sell.

 

[zotix]

Apparently you can submit Standard or Partner Network domains to their Cloud Broker program. Looks like they need a better trademark search algorithm / AI to keep those names off the platform.

I just checked their TOS, i think only Premiums are eligible for that:

Source: https://helpdesk.atom.com/en/articles/4466451-what-are-standard-and-premium-listings

 

[bmugford]

Here's an impression of just some random domains that participate in the Atom.com Cloud Broker Program via opt-in (not my domains). Good luck to the brokers!

Link: https://www.atom.com/cloud-broker/all/q/google

Show attachment 259618

This is a problem. Atom needs to clean this crap up.

Brad

 

[Future Sensors]

I just checked their TOS, i think only Premiums are eligible for that

Both Premium accepted listings, and Standard listings with Exposure upgrade activated, can be submitted to the Cloud Broker program.

https://helpdesk.atom.com/en/articles/9627442-atom-com-cloud-broker-program

 

[Abdillahi Abdillahi]

For me: still a big no. In the current setup it's completely unclear who will broker your domains and how they will do this. That gives a very uncomfortable feeling. Perhaps, if the Seller can see and select in advance which broker will do it and how they will do this, I would consider it for a set of very specifically selected domains.

Exactly my thoughts.

 

[Bob Hawkes]

I am surprised how many domains have opted into the program. According to the stats on their dashboard, there are 260,947 Atom Premium domain names, and nearly 1/5 of these, 50,869 are in the Atom Broker program.

Atom Broker program also has 6550 standard listings opted in. As others have pointed out, in order for standard listings to be eligible they must have purchased the Marketing Upgrade.

While the vast majority of names on first glance are not obvious TM issues, I was concerned to see the ones listed earlier. If they do not already do this, Atom should add some sort of TM check before people can activate Marketing Upgrade. I presume the panels would not approve TM questionable names for Premium, but maybe a few get through.

Suggestion: Another option would be to have a TM check between when an owner opts in to the Atom Broker program and when the name goes live to potentially be brokered.

I don't think the percentage of offending names is significant, but it would only take a few to sour the entire program.

-Bob

PS There are tons of high value, and highly priced, names opted into the program. If one sorts by number of TLDs taken, for example, some impressive names that probably are brokerable. I wonder if any of the traditional brokers will find the payoff sufficient to try.

 

[Future Sensors]

Atom should probably block clearly-problematic domains from participating in the program.

Today, the "Google" related domains from the screenshot are no longer present in the Cloud Broker Program. I think these domains have also been removed from Atom Standard/Premium Listings. They still have squadhelp.com nameservers and should result in a lander, but a dedicated lander is no longer shown for these domains, only the general search page.

 

[Bravo Mod Team]

Today, the "Google" related domains from the screenshot are no longer present in the Cloud Broker Program. I think these domains have also been removed from Atom Standard/Premium Listings. They still have squadhelp.com nameservers and should result in a lander, but a dedicated lander is no longer shown for these domains, only the general search page.

How do those domains get added to the platform with logos and without ownership verification?

For example, GoogleMail.com is owned by Google through MarkMonitor.

 

[Future Sensors]

How do those domains get added to the platform with logos and without any verification of ownership?

For example, GoogleMail.com is owned by Google through MarkMonitor.

All Atom domains, whether it be Premium accepted or Standard listings, have to be verified using DNS methods. Don't know about legacy domains that were added way back.

Premium accepted domains get a complimentary logo designed by Atom or its creative partners.

Standard listings may choose from standard image templates (which include Google related themes). You may also upload your own background images for your domains.

Fundamentally, something went wrong with the acceptance. It seems that this is improving rapidly now.

 

[equity78]

For me: still a big no. In the current setup it's completely unclear who will broker your domains and how they will do this. That gives a very uncomfortable feeling. Perhaps, if the Seller can see and select in advance which broker will do it and how they will do this, I would consider it for a set of very specifically selected domains.

Exactly, most importantly you want to know, who is selling all my domain names? How will they market? Do they do real research? Do they make sure to comply with Can-Spam? Real brokers do a lot of outbound, but they do it properly. Someone just emailing a bunch of people who you know nothing about is not brokering. It's throwing a bunch of domain spaghetti at the wall and hoping some sticks.

 

[zotix]

All Atom domains, whether it be Premium accepted or Standard listings, have to be verified using DNS methods. Don't know about legacy domains that were added way back.

Premium accepted domains get a complimentary logo designed by Atom or its creative partners.

Standard listings may choose from standard image templates (which include Google related themes). You may also upload your own background images for your domains.

Fundamentally, something went wrong with the acceptance. It seems that this is improving rapidly now.

If I were a broker (I'm just broke), I would never touch any of those Standard Domains, even though I had some good Domains in there. But the fact that they can use their own backgrounds—which are probably somewhere on the Internet—without a commercial use allowance, I don't know.

So, to be honest, in the beginning, I saw a chance, but just for Atom. It might cause a big reputational risk.

The best example is the Link / Screenshot I shared, and you replied to that with a different possibility for Standard Domains to be eligible for Brokerage as well.
The Article I shared was not even updated 1week ago.
It shows me they are not correctly aligning their Support (Articles) section.

Is there an updated figure on how much % of the Premiums have applied?

I can't see it because I don't have an account.

Kind regards

 

[Bob Hawkes]

I've been thinking about this some more. Here is an idea for a more restricted broker program.

Were the program to evolve to a more restricted form, I would probably participate as a seller, and possibly even apply to be a broker. Despite the fact I never want to do outbound. How do I see this restricted form working?

I think right now, despite great efforts by Atom and others to have an innovative marketplace with personalized search, too many potential buyers are not finding the names they might buy. What about a 'broker' program where the brokers are not allowed to do outbound emails or phonecalls? That would eliminate the concern that many of us have about people we don't know contacting whoever about our names and saying whatever. How could that possibly work with no outbound you ask?

Let's say I am a client and want a domain name that is for a certain niche, like telehealth. The buyer applies to Atom to get the services of a broker assigned. There could be a nominal charge as long as not too steep. The buyer tells the broker what they want, and any limitations.

The broker then uses their familiarity with Atom marketplace, and sound naming principles, to find say the 10 best names, and propose them. If the buyer takes one of those names, the broker gets a cut, as per the Atom Broker program. If not, either zero pay or some modest fee if the client says the list was reasonably created, just not any they want.

But isn't that like the existing contest program? Not exactly. In the contests, except those restricted to Tier A creatives, there tend to be thousands of submissions, and I suspect most of them are not very good or relevant. Here, Atom would track and rate brokers, and acceptance to the program would be always under review. Those who do not provide relevant suggestions would be dropped.

The other way I see it different is that a broker would have areas of expertise. For example, I might be approved for science, research, space, etc. but not approved for crypto, dao, betting, etc. based on what I know.

The potential buyer would, at least initially, only get one broker assigned. So the broker would know it was worth my effort and 15 other people are not going to submit the same names, and only 1 of us get rewarded.

Each broker would have a profile and could not be anonymous (some will disagree with this). Their profile would show their expertise, record with Atom, etc. Kind of like real estate agents. If you agree to take on an assignment as a broker, there should be a time limit, and brokers who miss that should be noted, and repeated problems dropped from program.

Sure there would be complexities to work out, but Atom are the masters of crowd sourced solutions.

Anyway my idea for the day.

-Bob

ps Darpan has already commented on nontraditional roles for brokers, such as writing articles on best X names in a niche, that are consistent with what I am proposing.