Domain Spotlight Tuesdays FeatherPad.com
Today’s domain spotlight Tuesday is a very unique one. It is so unique that it arrived in my office mail box a few days ago. The domain name is FeatherPad.com and I am spotlighting it because of the orginial marketing method used to advertise the auction for the domain name which had or has an asking price of $45,000 at DOMAINfest. I am not sure what DOMAINfest this domain name will be featured at or was featured in. Now let me clarify myself, feather pads don’t necessarily exist but the domain owner has done a great job explaining why they feel that this could potentially be the next big product when it comes to lightweight tablet computers.
The post card that arrived states that the domain name is for sale. It also says that the domain was registered in 2004 and is perfect for a lightweight tablet computer or media player brand name. It also goes onto to explain that on April 3rd, Apple’s iPad put the “pad” keyword on the map with 300,000 of these items sold on the first day. It continues by explaining that competitors need a compelling product and a great name: FeatherPad. To add to the anticipation it concludes with get ready; invest in the .com domain now. Then follows with the asking prices that was $50,000 but has now been discounted to $45,000. This is the asking price at DOMAINfest for the name. Again I am not sure which DOMAINfest they are referring to!
Intriguing! Now I am not in the market for such a name but I feel that the name does have potential. Ever since the Apple iPad was released all names that end in pad now have potential! But that’s not what I am focusing on with this blog entry. The fact that the owner is proactively reaching out to prospective buyers in this fashion should be taken quite seriously. Not only am I paying attention to how the owner has taken such a step, but I plan on doing the same thing when marketing potential domain names to prospective buyers. Now I am not sure how many people received the postcard, but I have a hunch it has been mailed out to quite a few individuals.
The return address is a based in Massachusetts, so I figure that the domain owner targeted blog owners to generate more publicity on the auction. If you visit FeatherPad.com you will notice a landing page which links to a few other domain names the owner owns as well.
Great job in the marketing department and I hope that FeatherPad.com finds a buyer for its asking price. For all we know feather pads could be the next big thing in tablet computing! Here are a few pictures of the flier:
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May 11, 2010 11:13 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Jason Thompson. Jason Thompson said: Domain Spotlight Tuesdays FeatherPad.com http://su.pr/2LK5un [...]
May 12, 2010 12:29 am
I have a few blogs, but none about domaining… though I do have my portfolio site. Any rate, I got the same postcard – in fact it’s the 2nd postcard I got from that person in recent months. Interesting, they used a bulk mail permit the first time and there is no postmark, so I don’t have the date. The other card I got was for BlogSearch.com at $125k.
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May 12, 2010 3:25 am
In my humble opinion this price is not at all justified! $45k?? Come on Jason, you should mocking this guys unsolocited attempts at selling a domain name that is probably languishing at the bottom of his portfolio, gathering parking dust!
FeatherPad does not at all sound like it pertains to technology anyway, instead it sounds more like a female product.
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May 12, 2010 6:23 am
@Jason: Thanks for covering my postcard! As for DOMAINfest, I had a tabletop booth in Santa Monica back in January. (I didn’t submit any domains to the auction, in part because I didn’t plan ahead — in part because I’m not sure whether live auctions are the best way to sell brandable domains.)
@John: we sent to lots of people in the domain industry; no blog required.
@Jim: I agree that the domain isn’t worth much for type-in traffic … but that’s only one use for domains.
> instead it sounds more like a female product
Maybe you missed the same press that came out when the iPad was announced?
In any case, I thought of the name several years ago when I was sketching out new ideas for lightweight phones, tablets and what came to be called netbooks. So I wasn’t surprised that Apple used the “pad” term.
Cheers,
Scott
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May 12, 2010 8:14 am
@John how easy is it to obtain a bulk mail permit, sounds like it could be useful! BlogSearch.com is a great name, I am sure if he lowered the asking price a bit it just might find a buyer.
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May 12, 2010 8:20 am
@Jim just commending him on his efforts. The fact that he registered a “pad” name before Apple’s iPad came out is pretty noteworthy. It says the domain has been registered since 2004. Now as far as the price is concerned, I look at all domain names based on perceived value. As a domainer I don’t feel it is worth $45,000. I actually like the sound of the name.
I see where you are coming from Jimbo! I give him an E for effort, because he put his money where his mouth was and sent out a mailer to those that might be interested. Excellent stradegy, for all we know he could of received a few offers.
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