Above.com is Giving Away 4000 Domains at Webfest: I Took 10 And Here are My Thoughts

One of the advantages of writing a blog is that people want your opinion, especially if you are going to give you opinion publicly.  I don’t do paid posts but I sure as heck am willing to take free stuff if you are cool with letting me write my opinion, no holds barred.

Above.com wanted to give me 10 free domains already set up on their platform to see how it works.  And they’re going to do the same thing for 400 more people at Webfest.  Here’s how it’s going to work.  If you come to Above.com‘s booth at the show they are going to give you a scratch off card that gives you a code for 10 free domains in a preloaded Above.com account.  Above is using Rook Media and Parking Crew to monetize their domains so they are partners in this promotion called Above and Beyond.

I think its a great idea.  If you can’t get people to move their domains over to your platform then why not give them a portfolio.  The cost is probably cheaper than a large marketing campaign and not only will people get free domains, but they will get to keep whatever the names are making.  And Victor said,  while not guaranteed, the names will make something.  So I got my names and……..

The first thing I asked was “do I get to keep these domains and the money”  and “are there going to be trademark names”.  Victor assured me that everyone gets to keep the domain and any revenue they make and that all the names were screened for obvious trademark names but if you get one that you don’t feel comfortable with you are welcome to dump it.   My names seemed to be mostly comprised of expired domains with traffic and a few typos, both generic and existing businesses. Nothing I would ever buy but all the names get some traffic.  And the portfolio makes a little money.

The portfolio is averaging around $5 a week.  One domain generates half the total and two domains haven’t made a penny, but how can I complain about $250 a year?  But that’s not the purpose of giving me the domains, it’s to see if i like the system.  And I do.  I do like the fact that it switches between parking platforms based on which one is returning the best results.  As with most parking companies, the landing page is labeled with ads and a “This domain is for sale” headline at the top.  And there are plenty of stats, but I expect that.  But you want to know my favorite part of Above?  It’s the sales platform.

I love the marketplace that lets you buy and sell your traffic domains.  It’s like being back on the stock market.  You have REAL parking data.  Visits, money made and how long it’s been on the platform making that money.  All verified.  That’s always been my hangup with buying traffic names.  I don’t trust the data.  While I’m sure it could still be manipulated, I feel more comfortable buying here.  I love the thought of investing in names that have continuously returned income for long periods of time and are verified by the parking company. I know this has been around for a long time, and people have been buying and selling traffic portfolios forever, but I didn’t partake in the “good ‘ole days” so it’s new to me.  The returns on a few of these names are enough to entice me to try a few of my high traffic domains on the platform and see how they fare.

So if you’re interested in trying it out the make sure to head to the Above booth at Webfest at get your 10 domains.  They certainly are telling the truth that you have nothing to lose and everything to gain for giving them a try. And if you’re curious if I’m paid to write this, I just told you how much I was paid…..$5 a week.  And Parking Crew and Rook aren’t either (I can’t even get Rook to return my advertising request emails, let alone pay me 🙂