Posts tagged domains

How to generate a QR code and track site visitors from it Format your URL to include additional tracking parameters for your analytics platform. I use Google Analytics, so the URL looks like this:http://YOURURL.COM/SPECIFICPAGE/?utm_source=SOURCE&utm_medium=MEDIUM&utm_campaign=CAMPAIGN-ID  Test the URL by pasting it into a browser and ensure it goes where you intended Add the URL using a free online QR code generator (look for one that gives you high resolution downloadable images without watermarks or redirects, like this one) Download the QR code to your computer and snap a photo of it with your phone using a QR code reader, such as the Google Search App, to ensure that it goes where you intended.  Although there is usually a delay, you should begin seeing the visits in your analytics dashboard within a few hours. You can now drill down to the SOURCE, MEDIUM and/or CAMPAIGN level to track visitor behavior from your QR code.

How to generate a QR code and track site visitors from it

  1. Format your URL to include additional tracking parameters for your analytics platform. I use Google Analytics, so the URL looks like this:

    http://YOURURL.COM/SPECIFICPAGE/?utm_source=SOURCE&utm_medium=MEDIUM&utm_campaign=CAMPAIGN-ID
     
  2. Test the URL by pasting it into a browser and ensure it goes where you intended
  3. Add the URL using a free online QR code generator (look for one that gives you high resolution downloadable images without watermarks or redirects, like this one)
  4. Download the QR code to your computer and snap a photo of it with your phone using a QR code reader, such as the Google Search App, to ensure that it goes where you intended. 

Although there is usually a delay, you should begin seeing the visits in your analytics dashboard within a few hours. You can now drill down to the SOURCE, MEDIUM and/or CAMPAIGN level to track visitor behavior from your QR code.

.XXX Domain Update : what you need to know

The ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) has approved a new TLD (top level domain) being managed by ICM Registry, a Canadian company eastablished in Delaware.

XXX domains will be available for sale to the general public on December 6, 2011. Domain names using .XXX, as you can probably guess, are for use in connection with websites featuring adult content.

While the general gist of allowing Internet users to easily identify websites with adult content sounds fine and dandy, registered trademark owners need to take action to prevent the sale of their names to an unauthorized, third-party .

This can be done by filing to block .XXX domain names corresponding your trademarked terms - but the window is short. The opt-out period (called Sunrise B) for registered trademark owners began on September 7 and will end on October 28, 2011.

This “Sunrise B” period allows registered trademark owners to file an opt-out request with participating domain name registrars. The fees for this defensive registration are set by the registrar, and are currently around $200. Once granted, the Sunrise B applicant has the right to block others from using the domain for the life of the contract between ICANN and ICM Registry, which is currently 10 years. Keep in mind, this does not grant the applicant ownership of the domain itself.

  • Those that do not meet the eligibility requirements for a Sunrise B Period opt-out include pending US trademark applications, US registrations on the supplemental register, common law or unregistered trademarks and state trademark registrations.
  • The registered trademark forming the basis of the Sunrise B application must be valid as of September 1, 2011
  • Priority will be given to parties with domain names in other TLDs (.com, .net, .org) prior to February 1, 2011
  • Only a domain name that corresponds exactly with the trademark reflected in the registration may be blocked for sale

While it just doesn’t seem right to have to take action to defensively block a domain name that could harm your trademarked terms, it seems that it will be much more cost-effective for a trademark holder with mass recognition to obtain a defensive registration than to attempting to obtain or block the domain name from a third party later.

One example of a company that I have heard in this situation is Toys R Us, which could be damaged if used by an adult website.

Guinness World Record : The most expensive internet domain name was sold for $13 million (£8.2 million) by Escom LLC to Clover Holdings Ltd

Guinness World Record : The most expensive internet domain name was sold for $13 million (£8.2 million) by Escom LLC to Clover Holdings Ltd

guinnessworldrecords.com

SEO-ed themselves into a sticky situation: 51607.com and a few other high-ranking domains selling knock-off goods were seized by the Department of Homeland Security last week. I can understand why these sites can/should be shut down…but by Homeland Security? Still must be a breakdown in communications with the FBI, who I believe should be leading this kind of investigation.

SEO-ed themselves into a sticky situation: 51607.com and a few other high-ranking domains selling knock-off goods were seized by the Department of Homeland Security last week.

I can understand why these sites can/should be shut down…but by Homeland Security? Still must be a breakdown in communications with the FBI, who I believe should be leading this kind of investigation.

Chinese Domain Name Registration Scam Email

I get piles of blatant scam emails to my dedicated email addresses used to manage my domain names. Sometimes they are a little harder to pick apart. For example, I just had this one come through, which is SUPPOSEDLY from China, and has lots of holes in it, primarily on their website:

  • The .cn (supposedly in china) URL that they give for their business is in English, with no Chinese language option
  • The footer of their website has a pixilated Verisign verification logo that isn’t clickable
  • Most importantly, there is no ICP license in the footer. An ICP license is a permit issued by the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology to permit China-based websites to operate in China


On the lighter side, this is could just be a scam to push current .com domain owners to purchase unnecessary domain extensions. More probable, this is a scam with bigger stakes, involving a target being required to pay a fee to prevent some made up situation from occurring.

I just wish these guys would put their minds to something more productive!

The full email text, and actual website footer:

    Dear Manager,

    We are a Network Service Company which is the domain name registration center in Shanghai, China. On June,30th,2010, We received HUATAI Company’s application that they are registering the name “xxxxxx” as their Internet Trademark and “xxxxxxx.cn”, “xxxxxxxx.com.cn” , “xxxxxxx.asia” domain names etc.,It is China and ASIA domain names.But after auditing we found the brand name been used by your company. As the domain name registrar in China, it is our duty to notice you, so I am sending you this Email to check.

    According to the principle in China,your company is the owner of the trademark,In our auditing time we can keep the domain names safe for you firstly, but our audit period is limited, if you object the third party application these domain names and need to protect the brand in china and Asia by yourself, please let the responsible officer contact us as soon as possible.

    Thank you!

    Kind regards

    Angela Zhang

    Angela Zhang
    Registration Department Manager
    3002, Nanhai Building 854 Nandan Road
    Xuhui District

    Shanghai Office: +86 216296 2950
    Fax: +86 216296 1557 
    web: http://ygnetwork.cn
    web: http://www.ygnetwork.cn


    Super Bowl XLI – Commercial Shortcomings

    Last night, along with millions of other viewers, I was glued to the tube for the Super Bowl.

    Every year we hear about how much focus (and money) is put on the advertising time available and I’m usually surprised by the shortcomings of these multi-million dollar spots. In the past, extremely creative and often humorous commercials meant to get people talking fell short with brand connectivity. This is still an issue to some degree, such as a 4th quarter spot with Jay Z and Don Shula orchestrating the game using a holographic game board…although the post production effects were “neat” (and reminiscent of the rappers “CEO of Hiphop” spot that he did for HP last year)…will anyone recall that this was a promotion for Bud Select?

    What really surprised me this year was the lack of URL references for some campaigns that had a high potential for attracting additional information seekers. One good example is Revlon, who I had read would be going out on a limb this year by promoting their “Not Fade Away” campaign featuring Sheryl Crow. For some reason, this spot failed to provide any reference to an online destination. In fact, by visiting their site, the only mention of the campaign is a link to iTunes, where you can download a song by Crow. From the looks of the commercial spot, I would imagine that there is a wealth of tour footage, out-takes and other content that hungry consumers would garble up and spread throughout the web.