"Should you buy branded domains?"

[Blossom]

The comments are more interesting than the article: http://www.nichepursuits.com/should-you-buy-branded-domains/

 

[Bailey]

Yeah thanks Blossom - It's not my niche, but it still made for some interesting reading from the reply/comments section.

I particularly liked this post.

"About 3 years ago, I purchased a branded domain and turned it into an Amazon affiliate site. After about 6 months of regular backlinking, my branded site ranked #2 for the main keyword. I was making some serious money at that point (about 1k per month on average).

Then, it got really interesting. One day, I looked at my analytics and start seeing spikes. My site was starting to bouce up to the #1 position. Then, it hit #1 and the traffic started pouring in. My income from that site jumped substantially.

Then, I got the dreaded e-mail. It was the marketing department (not an attorney). They wanted me to take down my site. I thought, “Hmmmm… It wouldn’t hurt to try to reason with them a little… The worst they would say is no, right?”

So, I explained to them that I was huge fan of their product (I really was, and it’s why I wrote my own content for the site), and the purpose of the site was to promote their product, making sure to stress the fact that I was making money for them by selling their product.

They, said, “Alright. Just post this disclaimer on your site in a spot where your visitors can see it.” They sent me the exact text to post, which was simply a paragraph stating that my site was not affiliated with the company. I did as they asked. They never bothered me again.

The moral of the story: It never hurts to ask. Yes, I know that I got lucky. If I had received a letter from an actual attorney, I probably wouldn’t have gotten so lucky. But, I could have just freaked out and taken the site down when first confronted… but instead, I stated my case and explained that I was making them a lot of money (appealed to their greedy side)… and it worked!"

 

[namealot]

There are loads doing it the clever ones cover there arses offshore registered with payg credit cards etc before start… Companies certainly check you out to see what they can get not for the faint hearted but can be fun lol

 

[anthony]

Yeah thanks Blossom - It's not my niche, but it still made for some interesting reading from the reply/comments section.

I particularly liked this post.

Interesting post, yes. But the huge fan comment is transparent bollocks, simply added to his post to dilute his guilt. This cunt of a story is what leads to chavvy copiers getting their arses kicked!

 

[Bailey]

True Anthony - But, sometimes theres a right and a wrong way about anything.

I don't agree or condone TM infringement in any shape or style - as my posts on Acorn reflect. However, Sometimes the bad guy gets to win... I thought it enlightening (of the original poster) to make a post that goes against the 'legal-grain'

As he clearly states (being at the top of Google) gave them (The TM holder) a successful outlet built on his own admiration (and words and page design) for the product. I somehow doubt many TM infringers could claim the same

Again as he says he could have lost it all in a day - I just thought it read as a different side to a coin that is actually out there and inplay. TM holders may well look at constructive well thought out pieces as enhancing their business model on occasions...

Sometimes looking at both sides of a guilded coin can actually instill a possible market concept, that as you say is by far and away abused... This example showed it Dosen't have to be all 'link-crap' I think (on the face of it) this company got itself a PR guru for nothing

* of course I'm taking the original posters comments at face value in this instance

 

[anthony]

I fully agree Bailey, it is an interesting post, but he's very much a lucky gazelle to have hood-winked a lion. What bothers me is the mere mention of retaining a $x,xxx revenue stream on a gamble is only likely to encourage other misguided perps down the same path.

 

[Bailey]

I'm with you on that - shame there isn't a lower "age-limit" come "legal awareness test" attached to domain registrations - then all in the garden would be Rosy..