services BrandBucket's Michael Krell Resigns

[DaveX]

BrandBucket sent out their January newsletter and it seems that Michael Krell will be leaving the company. Michael who is one of if not the most prolific seller in the history of the site will be leaving effective January 31.

http://tldinvestors.com/2018/01/michael-krell-is-leaving-his-position-at-brandbucket.html

And @Grilled got a mention!

 

[offthehandle]

Interesting background info. Pretty cool.

I wasn't making any accusations. As far as impropriety, I was referring to the possibility of purposely promoting an employees domains above paying customers that are unaware and without some kind of disclosure. Essentially using the credibility gained from size and revenue from the domains submitted by paying customers to increase their own domain sales as the priority.

That's all I was saying.

Remember this thread?
https://www.namepros.com/threads/rant-to-brand-bucket.1025221/#post-6212613

 

[DaveX]

Remember this thread?
https://www.namepros.com/threads/rant-to-brand-bucket.1025221/#post-6212613

Now I do.

 

[offthehandle]

Looks like scotty beamed him up, hes off

https://www.namepros.com/search/24082077/

 

[anantj]

Looks like scotty beamed him up, hes off

https://www.namepros.com/search/24082077/

The link doesn't work for me. What was it about?

 

[offthehandle]

The link doesn't work for me. What was it about?

I just tried it again, works. The search included all posts by the subject person in this thread and evidently left, MIA, gone.

 

[anantj]

I just tried it again, works. The search included all posts by the subject person in this thread and evidently left, MIA, gone.

Odd... Still does not work for me
Did you mean this - https://www.namepros.com/members/12345.58249/ ?

 

[Brandworthy]

Link must require some cookie info. Also errors for me.

 

[Brandworthy]

I wasn't making any accusations.

I wasn't suggesting that, so sorry. Just trying to add a little context. At the end of the day BB are free to run their market they like, do long as no less are broken.

 

[offthehandle]

Odd... Still does not work for me
Did you mean this - https://www.namepros.com/members/12345.58249/ ?

Yes.

 

[Grilled]

I hope Mr. Krell finds success, and happiness in his future endeavors.

I'd probably be the last person that you'd expect to defend them

I feel the same way. Yet, this odd departure doesn't seem like a happy ending. Despite my criticism, it always appeared he maintained his professionalism.

If you really want to see behind the curtain you just need to add WHOIS data over the search results. I'm sure someone could build a nice little browser plugin that added this data. Sellers could then see not only what names appear in what order, but also who owns many of those names. Of course, the use of WHOIS privacy by some insiders was merely coincidental, and in no way an indication that there may be something worth hiding...

That could be a very helpful plugin.

I would hope BB issued keyword search results per domain within the seller dashboard. ie If the description is tagged 'tech' then show what page / position the domain appears with a tech search. eg Xefio = page position 3 (on page 1 for search tech)

When I ran a few audits for their top search keywords, I scraped all domains for a few keyword search, notated the positioning, and ran bulk WHOIS. I will look on an old hard drive to see if I can recover those searches, and will possibly post them. I say this in hopes of helping transparency. I think I read in this thread that I audited all the search, which isn't true. And I understand how that could have been lost in translation. So rather than anybody relying on my opinion of a few keyword audtis, I think it might be best if everyone saw for themselves. I would venture to say the results aren't as bad as some people think, but they aren't as good as others may think. As It appears there is a gap between BB naysayers opinion, and what BB yaysayers opinion; a little like the gap between far left and far right politics.

Did you mean this - https://www.namepros.com/members/12345.58249/ ?

That's odd. I hope everything is OK.

 

[MapleDots]

I hope Mr. Krell finds success, and happiness in his future endeavors.



I feel the same way. Yet, this odd departure doesn't seem like a happy ending. Despite my criticism, it always appeared he maintained his professionalism.



That could be a very helpful plugin.

I would hope BB issued keyword search results per domain within the seller dashboard. ie If the description is tagged 'tech' then show what page / position the domain appears with a tech search. eg Xefio = page position 3 (on page 1 for search tech)

When I ran a few audits for their top search keywords, I scraped all domains for a few keyword search, notated the positioning, and ran bulk WHOIS. I will look on an old hard drive to see if I can recover those searches, and will possibly post them. I say this in hopes of helping transparency. I think I read in this thread that I audited all the search, which isn't true. And I understand how that could have been lost in translation. So rather than anybody relying on my opinion of a few keyword audtis, I think it might be best if everyone saw for themselves. I would venture to say the results aren't as bad as some people think, but they aren't as good as others may think. As It appears there is a gap between BB naysayers opinion, and what BB yaysayers opinion; a little like the gap between far left and far right politics.



That's odd. I hope everything is OK.

Show attachment 79350

I understand he is/was a public figure but by changing his user name and removing his profile he is indicating the need/desire for privacy. For some reason he has decided enough is enough (been there) and is trying to keep to himself. Sometimes we have to respect the need/desire for privacy and have to allow members to attain this if they so wish.

By removing his profile he is clearly indicating that. I personally wish him well in his new endeavors and I think it's an invasion of his privacy to take this any further. There is a limit as to how much we can and should pursue our quest for knowledge about a subject when the member is clearly indicating a desire to be left alone.

@Grilled your response above shows compassion for a fellow member and personally think other members should do the same. Wish him well, and go on with what we do best, buying and selling domains. As a domainer we should never burn our bridges, this guy may be the next ceo of a big registrar or something and I much prefer he come back and feel comfortable participating than having to defend himself.

Just my opinion...

 

[Grilled]

I understand he is/was a public figure but by changing his user name and removing his profile he is indicating the need/desire for privacy. For some reason he has decided enough is enough (been there) and is trying to keep to himself. Sometimes we have to respect the need/desire for privacy and have to allow members to attain this if they so wish.

By removing his profile he is clearly indicating that. I personally wish him well in his new endeavors and I think it's an invasion of his privacy to take this any further. There is a limit as to how much we can and should pursue our quest for knowledge about a subject when the member is clearly indicating a desire to be left alone.

agree

 

[domainer111]

Such a critical time now for two-word brandable domainers.

The critical issue is a design one. Like it or not, BrandBucket is the most innovative design issue solution to date imo.

Yes, they make money for their own portfolios.

So what? As long as your sales rate is ahead of other platforms, then it's logical to still point with them. It's just a simple business decision with absolutely no emotion.

But they must continue to outsell the other platforms. It's right on the dividing line and it's been that way for some time.

With Michael resigning, it certainly shakes things up, a huge amount of design changes have just been put through. He still has thousands of names on the platform so he's still there.

I must say I am scratching my head at the homepage. It seems like a long time since the beautiful green grass on the homepage (and yes I get that's probably distracting).

The heat is on.

 

[London555]

I understand he is/was a public figure but by changing his user name and removing his profile he is indicating the need/desire for privacy. For some reason he has decided enough is enough (been there) and is trying to keep to himself. Sometimes we have to respect the need/desire for privacy and have to allow members to attain this if they so wish.

By removing his profile he is clearly indicating that. I personally wish him well in his new endeavors and I think it's an invasion of his privacy to take this any further. There is a limit as to how much we can and should pursue our quest for knowledge about a subject when the member is clearly indicating a desire to be left alone.

@Grilled your response above shows compassion for a fellow member and personally think other members should do the same. Wish him well, and go on with what we do best, buying and selling domains. As a domainer we should never burn our bridges, this guy may be the next ceo of a big registrar or something and I much prefer he come back and feel comfortable participating than having to defend himself.

Just my opinion...

You don't get it do you? This guy MK came on here time after time pumping BB. Do you have any idea how much money he potentially cost new domainers? I certainly don't wish him any ill will be who cares if you burn a bridge with this guy - my guess is it could be a money saving move to do so.

 

[Name Trader]

Send them in a 30 day notice via email, then change nameservers at the end of 30 days.

I've just sent that email. I'm withdrawing all my domains. It's no wonder none have sold with such bias in their search results. I've never been a fan or critic of their platform. I've also never sold a domain there. Thanks for your example of the TECH domain plight @offthehandle. That truely was shocking. It stunned me into the action I have taken. You can fool me once.....

 

[domainer111]

I'd agree with @offthehandle that xef//io is a very poor choice for the first line for this query.

However I would say it is tech related as "io" is very much identified with the tech sector, it just should not be so high in the ranking.

That's just my subjective opinion. Someone else could have a different view, obviously BB do.

But the central problem is there are too many domains on the page.

 

[Grilled]

xef//io is a very poor choice for the first line for this query.

However I would say it is tech related as "io" is very much identified with the tech sector, it just should not be so high in the ranking.

[Copied from a previous post...] Please keep comments constructive

What designates Xefio to be in optimum positioning for bb search 'tech'?

And what determines Xefio to have category tag of Technology, when the below CVCio.com, doesn't tag the 'Technology' category in the description?

 

[domainer111]

[Copied from a previous post...] Please keep comments constructive

What designates Xefio to be in optimum positioning for bb search 'tech'?

And what determines Xefio to have category tag of Technology, when the below CVCio.com, doesn't tag the 'Technology' category in the description?

Well let me see @Grilled ... um ...precisely zerio I'd say!

 

[Grilled]

Well let me see @Grilled ... um ...precisely zerio I'd say!

Not 100% what you're trying to say here. [lost in translation]

What I was getting at ...

Was Xef tagged with technology because it was a CVCio.com?

If so, why doesn't Zer have the technology category tag?

My opinion: Tag ALL CVCio.com with technology category.

Then, if you want to get knit picky, audit the search ranking of all CVCio.com, and question the ranking. If all checks out, then this case is closed. Move to the next string.

Auditing tags is a huge task. But some of it can be partially automated by designating pattern strings in short domains.

The debate is brandables are subjective. So one might argue Xef is more fit for technology than Zer. Pattern domains are more/less subjective. So if you deem short domains ending in io.com are good for technology category tag, then why not tag all domains ending in io.com with technology category?

 

[wwwweb]

I would think when you do a keyword search the corresponding direct match keywords would come up first, then the brandable stuff under it.

Keyword: AUTO

Domain that came up on the top 2 lines: TopStreet.com


Keyword: PRINTER

Domain that came up on top line: SameKind.com