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April 2007 - Name Monetizer #21 |
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| CPA Gains a Foothold
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Most domain parking services continue to monetize based on a pay-per-click (PPC) model, but March saw the first cracks in that model as Google, the leader in PPC advertising launched a new cost-per-action (CPA) product. In this issue we will explore this product, as well as a new parking service called Parking Panel which also blends CPA and PPC into their domain parking pages.
Parking Panel is a service that began recruiting domain owners in late 2006 and early 2007. According to the developers, this service allows you "three ways to monetize your domain names". Domains default to the traditional method of using a pay-per-click (PPC) service. You can also drive traffic directly to a cost-per-action (CPA) landing page form if Parking Panel has a lead generation client with open orders in their system that is currently looking for your targeted traffic. Hmmm - that's only two ways. I don't know what the third is. Parking Panel claims to use some innovative technologies that their parent company, Stormwest, has been using for years. "Instead of just using an A/B methodology on templates, Stormwest has ChromAnalysis color-selecting technology, HeatSeeker Heat Mapping technology, EPC vs. PPC Affiliate-click technology for higher revenues, and revenue-weighted relevancy." Many of their initial landing pages look pretty generic, but similar plain pages have been shown to work well at times. The pages appear to optimize over time to become nicely-themed pages with color photos. Examples of Parking Panel sites include wholepsychology.com and clims.com.
Google announced in March that they are entering the CPA ad business. Unlike their traditional PPC ads, these ads will only pay when a user actually takes some pre-defined action on the site that they click through to. This action may be purchasing a product, but it may also be filling out a form, signing up for a newsletter, or whatever action has been defined in advance. The ads are being shown on their content network but not on their search network at this time. Instructions are here, among other places. This is still very much a beta program, and in many cases traditional PPC ads will likely bring in more income.
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| | News from the Parking Services
TrafficZ has released even more new templates that look like full-blown sites. The service continues to innovate, this time with a new set of deep landing pages called "Tiles". These pages are visually attractive and a full site structure is created with deeper and deeper clicks allowed. They suggest viewing candy.com as an example. Someone has added a lot of content to this one using TrafficZ's ability to add content to landing pages. We've just moved a few domains to these new templates. some examples include BoldBrain.com, AwakenYourSenses.com and MedicalEscrow.com. Their impressive looking parking "Website 2.0" pages (such as NonHealth.com) have yet to result in explosive revenue. Perhaps we are seeing the impact of Yahoo's Panama update, but Parked, another Yahoo-fed service does not seem to be having the same problems. TrafficZ is highly recommended.
Parked has picked up the pace. Parked.com performed very well in March. Their efforts to fight click-fraud have also resulted in a better, more honest marketplace. Their custom pages are well-designed and seem to invite clicks.
NameDrive has announced their Spring Bonus for April. For new customers who sign-up with NameDrive before April 30th and earn at least $100 over the next three months (by June 30th) NameDrive will match your earnings with an additional $100 cash. Existing customers need to increase their monthly earnings for the next three months by a minimum of $50 compared to March 07 and NameDrive will match any increase up to $100 for each month.
ActiveAudience and GoldKey had some early problems as they switched from Yahoo to Google in March. Evidently enough Afternic members complained about their revenue and stats in the first week that Micheal Collins send a letter to Afternic members on 3/8 stating:
Many members have already noticed that our parking reporting has been down much of this month. Reports that are posted show poor revenue for many domains because of problems we experienced in a recent change to a new feed provider. I apologize to all members for this problem. We are working diligently to fix the problems quickly. Furthermore, we plan to credit members' accounts to restore revenue that was lost due to these transition problems. Our feed provider change along with improved parking technology that we now have as a part of NameMedia will enable us to improve click rate and rev share once these problems are fixed. We are also confident that this transition to a new feed provider will increase members' income significantly going forward. I hope that you will be patient and allow us to prove ourselves as a great parking service to our members.
Reported stats have settled down some since that time, and ActiveAudience sent out an email suggesting which layouts are working well with their new Google feed. ActiveAudience and GoldKey are highly recommended based on past performance. Hopefully they will continue to provide good income with their new feed.
Sedo announced that the second SedoPro Partner Forum is being held at Mohonk Mountain Resort in New Paltz, NY immediately before the TRAFFIC New York City conference. The announcement stated that "this exclusive event is intended as a convenient getaway to allow invitees to relax, enjoy the scenic surroundings and accommodations, and let Sedo show clients how much we appreciate their business while preparing for a busy week at TRAFFIC". The event is by invitation only. You pay $149 for the room and Sedo will provide activities, entertainment, meals, and refreshments. Sedo continues to provide added value with their high-quality landing pages and their domain sales and auction platform. Sedo and SedoPro are highly recommended.
ParkingDots continues to be highly recommended based on their 80% revenue payouts. Income has held up nicely so far with their Yahoo feed. ParkingDots is highly recommended.
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| | Affiliate Summit
I'll be at AffiliateSummit East in Miami in July 2007 to learn more about CPA and affiliate marketing from this event. AffiliateSummit conferences have generally been much larger than most domain conferences, with an emphasis on monetizing domains and sites rather than buying and selling domains. The upcoming conference is still priced under $1000 until the end of April, with passes to the exhibit hall only under $200. The Intercontinental Hotel in Miami has a conference rate of only $119 a night.
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I will send this newsletter out monthly or when there have been significant changes in the domain
name monetization industry. An extra issue may be sent when there is a major change
in a service that warrants your immediate attention. Back issues are available at NameMonetizer.com.
Leonard Holmes, Ph.D.
CEO, Healing Sites Network, LLC You can unsubscribe at any time using the link at the end of every issue. Compare PPC Parking Services at ParkQuick.com
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Parking Service Reviews 
