5 Questions Answered at TRAFFIC

TRAFFIC is over. Here’s how it stacked up.

Last Friday I asked five questions that would be answered at this stretch’s TRAFFIC conference. We now have answers:

1. How will the auction perform?

I’m going to give some credit to Rick on this one. The overall sales numbers were low, but there were a couple things I liked. First, Rick allowed people to pay to get their domains into the auction. I’m not sure if this is the right model but I do think there’s room for some sort of economic incentive control for submitting domains into auctions.

Second, ahead of the auction Rick stood up in front of everyone and stated he’d take full responsibility if the auction flopped. No blame on outside forces.

The auction room was packed. You couldn’t tell that on the internet broadcast since everyone sat in the back.

I was a little surprised by the low .xxx numbers given some of the prices paid for domains thus far.

At the end of the day there’s a reality to face here: some of the guys that would have combined to spend millions of dollars at auctions a few years ago aren’t buying any more.

2. Will the venue top last year’s?

This one is hard to judge since mother nature didn’t cooperate. I know that the promoters spent a lot of time decking out the cabanas overlooking the ocean…only to have it washed away. On the plus side it kept everyone around the hotel rather than spreading across town.

3. Will the event have class?

Yes. I’m not aware of any altercations and .xxx kept its event compelling yet inviting to all.

4. Any big news?

Yes. There was Afternic connecting with GoDaddy and Sedo signing deals with Moniker and Dotster.

5. What will attendance be?

I forgot to ask, but I’d say my original prediction of 250-300 was close. More tickets may have been sold but you always have a handful of people who don’t make it.