Register Your Domains

Jan 30, 2005
by

On January 25, 2005 I saw a banner ad on Yahoo advertising its improved Web hosting service.

The ad was for a mock business with a site located at www.TheFlyingOstrich.com. I figured “OK, I’ll bite” and went to see what the marketing geniuses at Yahoo dreamed up for “The Flying Ostrich”.

Nothing.

The site was registered but nothing was there yet.

So I checked the registry.

Registrant:
LTD
3438 11th Ave W
Seattle, Washington 98119
United States

Name Server: NS1.RIBARY.NET NS2.RIBARY.NET
ICANN Registrar: GO DADDY SOFTWARE, INC.
Created: 24-jan-2004
Expires: 24-jan-2006

Now the domain resolves to http://ribary.net/home.html

Hey Yahoo… note to self… when using a domain in an ad, register the domain yourself. Isn’t this basic Web Marketing 101?

Filed under: Online Marketing
  • http://GorgiasMedia.com Pete Prestipino

    I'm glad I'm not the only one that saw this ad – I thought I was losing it!

    It was a great idea and I (who hardly ever click banners) clicked away. Someone obviously dropped the ball at Yahoo and those smart folks at ribary.net scooped it right up. Well done ribary.net and thumbs down yahoo.

  • http://www.anycoupons.com David Lewis

    NBC seems to get this. Last night I saw a commercial on Saturday Night Live for CheapKids.net. NBC registered the domain on 1/24/05. They don't have a site and it doesn't forward to an NBC or SNL site but NBC does own it.