Fresh from the blog
The Ultimate Guide to Negotiating Domain Deals Like a Pro
Real-world scripts, psychological tactics, valuation methodology, and deal-closing strategy
Whitehouse.com: The Accidental Internet Scandal That Shocked America
In the late 90’s, Dan Parisi registered whitehouse.com, initially intending to make it a political discussion site. But he soon realized people were mistyping whitehouse.gov, the actual website for the U.S. government, and landing on his domain instead. Seeing dollar signs, Parsi pivoted his site to capitalize on the 80,000+ visitors he was getting per day. The pivot....not exactly something you’d expect from The White House.
How Heinz’s Ketchup QR Code Led to a…Not-So-Family-Friendly Surprise
In the grand history of marketing fails, few are as awkward as what happened to Heinz in 2015. Picture this: a simple bottle of ketchup, a well-meaning QR code, and an unfortunate domain renewal oversight that led unsuspecting customers straight from their dinner tables to…well, an entirely different kind of saucy content.
The Extension Showdown: Companies Owning The TLDs of Their Brands
Big brands like Amazon, Google, and Nike are flexing hard by claiming their own TLDs—think .apple, .nike, and even .oracle. It’s not just a URL; it’s a digital power move, staking their claim on the internet’s fanciest real estate.
LiveJournal and the Early Blogging Scene: Where Emo Kids, Fanfic, and Internet Drama Ruled the Day
The early 2000s—when your internet connection screeched like a dying robot. MySpace was the social network, and blogging was just starting to capture the imagination of a generation. At the center of it all was LiveJournal, a platform that would become synonymous with angsty teens, fanfiction, and more internet drama than a daytime soap opera.
A Wicked Domain Fail: How Mattel Linked Dolls to a Whole Different Kind of Magic
Mattel just dropped new ‘Wicked’ dolls for the upcoming movie starring Ariana Grande. But they made a pretty wild mistake—the website link on the box? It actually leads to an adult site. Now, they’re pulling dolls from shelves and scrambling to fix it. Heads up: if you’re looking for the real link, it’s wickedmovie.com…not the other one.
How Mac MacLeod Acquired Carvertise.com AND Got Paid $50k in the Process
Imagine driving 10 hours with your mom to knock on a stranger's door—just to buy a domain name. That’s exactly what Mac Macleod did for Carvertise.com. After months of being ghosted, Mac’s wild move led to landing the domain AND an unexpected $50K cash bonus. Pure hustle or insane luck?
From Cringe to King: 5 Domain Name Upgrades That Changed Everything
Some companies start with meh domain names and never recover. Others? They level up, grab the perfect domain, and rewrite their future. The right domain isn’t just a name—it’s a power move. And these five companies made moves that turned them from forgettable to iconic.
The Story Behind Dia.com: How Lydia Gilbert Landed a Three-Letter Domain Name
In a recent episode of Master of Your Domain, Rob Schutz sat down with Lydia Gilbert, co-founder of Dia.com, to talk about something close to the hearts of every founder—domain names. Lydia shared her journey of acquiring the highly sought-after three letter domain Dia.com, and how it helped shape her company's brand identity.
The Rise and Fall of AOL Instant Messenger: Screen Names, Smiley Faces, and the Birth of Internet Friendship
In the early 2000’s, before we had TikTok, Instagram, and even Facebook, there was AOL.com – specifically, AOL Instant Messenger (AIM). For many of us, AIM wasn’t just a chat tool—it was a digital, social lifeline.
Mastering the Art of Domain Negotiation: How Ezra.com Became the Face of Early Cancer Detection
In this episode of Master of Your Domain, Rob Schutz sat down with Emi Gal, founder of Ezra.com, a company revolutionizing early cancer detection with full-body MRIs powered by AI. Ezra's mission is impressive and, when it comes to domain negotiation, Emi’s ability to secure digital assets is no letdown either.