Here are my comprehensive takeaways from last week’s dynamic domain industry event in Las Vegas, offering a deep dive into the pulse of the market.
NamesCon Las Vegas 2016: A Resounding Kick-off for the Domain Industry
The year 2016 kicked off with an undeniable surge of energy in the domain name business, largely catalyzed by the annual NamesCon conference in Las Vegas. This premier event, a beacon for professionals across the domain spectrum, successfully drew an impressive crowd of over 1,000 attendees. The palpable enthusiasm throughout the conference was, in no small part, fueled by the strong performance and significant interest from China that characterized the close of 2015, setting an optimistic tone for the year ahead.
Record Attendance and Its Implications for Networking
Achieving record attendance is, unequivocally, a positive indicator for any industry event, reflecting growth, heightened interest, and a vibrant community. For NamesCon, surpassing the 1,000-person mark was a significant milestone, yet it also presented unique challenges that subtly reshaped the attendee experience. While the conference managed logistical aspects well—there were generally no issues finding seats in sessions or navigating congested hallways, with the exception of Sunday’s topic tables requiring relocation to larger rooms—the sheer volume of participants introduced a new dynamic to networking.
Navigating such a vast crowd made it noticeably more difficult to serendipitously encounter individuals and engage in spontaneous, meaningful conversations. Many familiar faces were seen only in passing, often just once throughout the entire event, underscoring the challenge of connecting deeply without prior arrangements. Furthermore, a substantial number of attendees were engaged in offsite meetings, indicating the growing trend of high-level deal-making and private discussions taking place concurrently with the main conference activities. Despite these hurdles, I was fortunate to have numerous valuable conversations, though I only managed to connect with about half the people I had hoped to catch up with. The immense turnout also brought a welcome influx of new faces to the industry, alongside many veterans I hadn’t seen in years, a testament to NamesCon’s remarkable ability to unite a diverse global community. Moving forward, the organizing team might consider optimizing the structure of networking opportunities, perhaps by integrating more facilitated sessions or dedicated networking zones, to enhance attendee interaction and ensure all participants can maximize their connections.
A Diverse and Insightful Content Agenda
The content presented at NamesCon 2016 offered a mixed bag of topics, reflecting the multifaceted nature of the domain industry. My assessment is that the highly engaging topic tables, which saw such overwhelming popularity that they needed larger venues, should serve as a blueprint for next year’s content strategy. Their interactive format fosters deeper discussion and tailored insights, which is often more valuable than passively listening to presentations. It might also be beneficial to consider reducing the number of concurrent sessions, allowing attendees to focus more intently on fewer, higher-quality presentations and discussions, thereby minimizing the feeling of missing out on crucial information.
Among the sessions, several keynotes stood out as particularly impactful and well worth the attendance. These included presentations from industry titans such as Frank Schilling, Brian Cute, Mike McLaughlin, and Matt Barrie, each offering unique perspectives and valuable data.
Frank Schilling’s keynote, while primarily a strategic sales pitch for his ventures, was nevertheless captivating. He demonstrated the innovative new Uniregistry app by seamlessly pushing domain names directly to audience members, showcasing the platform’s efficiency and user-friendliness. A memorable moment involved an audience member selecting “Paleo.diet,” a domain name that subsequently fetched $1,700 in the Right of the Dot auction, illustrating the immediate market value and liquidity that Uniregistry aimed to facilitate. This demonstration highlighted the evolving landscape of domain name transactions and the power of mobile-first tools.
Brian Cute, CEO of the Public Interest Registry (PIR), delivered an impressive presentation detailing the robust growth of .org domains in 2015. His statistics underscored the enduring strength and relevance of legacy TLDs, even when isolating and excluding the significant impact of the Chinese market, demonstrating a solid global performance for the .org extension.
GoDaddy’s presence was notable, with Mike McLaughlin explaining the company’s strategic approach to the domain aftermarket. This segment provided critical insights into how one of the industry’s largest players navigates resales and secondary markets. Following this, Paul Nicks unveiled the highly anticipated GoDaddy Investor app, a tool designed to empower domain investors with streamlined management and purchasing capabilities, further cementing GoDaddy’s commitment to supporting the investor community.
Finally, Matt Barrie, the visionary CEO of Freelancer.com, captivated the audience with an informative keynote. He recounted the compelling origin story and growth trajectory of Freelancer.com, a narrative I, and likely many others, had not heard in such depth. More significantly for the domain community, Barrie released fascinating statistics concerning Escrow.com, which his company acquired the previous year. These figures provided invaluable insights into the volume and value of transactions flowing through one of the domain industry’s most trusted payment platforms, offering a transparent look at market activity and investor confidence.
Networking and Socializing: The Heartbeat of NamesCon
No domain name conference, particularly one as significant as NamesCon, would be complete without ample opportunities for networking and social engagement. These events are crucial for fostering relationships, striking deals, and building the camaraderie that defines this vibrant industry. NamesCon excelled in providing a diverse array of social gatherings, ensuring that the critical aspect of human connection was well-catered for.
Among the most unique and memorable experiences was the Public Interest Registry’s (PIR) Ice Bar event. As a first-timer to an ice bar, donning a parka and sipping a drink from a glass crafted entirely of ice was an unforgettable thrill. This novel setting naturally broke down barriers, encouraging attendees to interact in a lighthearted and distinctive environment, a true testament to creative event planning.
Beyond the Ice Bar, numerous other organizations contributed significantly to the social fabric of NamesCon. A sincere shout-out is due to DomainCapital, GoDaddy, and Verisign for hosting various events and dinners, providing additional platforms for networking in more intimate settings. Special appreciation also goes to ParkingCrew for their kind invitation to dinner on Wednesday night, facilitating valuable discussions outside the formal conference schedule.
ParkingCrew also distinguished itself with an engaging booth experience, where attendees could participate in a fun photo opportunity as the “parking girl.” This creative activation, while perhaps drawing inspiration from past industry campaigns (with a nod to eNom, perhaps!), generated considerable buzz and laughter. You can glimpse some of the humorous photos here, which, while safe for work, certainly added a memorable, playful dimension to the exhibition hall.
The social highlight reel would be incomplete without mentioning Uniregistry’s high-energy party and the legendary Waternight event, both of which will undoubtedly be topics of conversation for months to come. These gatherings are more than just parties; they are central to the NamesCon experience, fostering a sense of community and celebration. Waternight, in particular, often carries a charitable component, and this year was no exception, with attendees participating in a head-shaving initiative to raise money for The Water School. This act of generosity and solidarity, epitomized by individuals like Alan Dunn, who sacrificed their locks for a noble cause, showcases the philanthropic spirit woven into the fabric of the domain industry.
The NamesCon Domain Auction: A Snapshot of Market Health
The Right of the Dot auction at NamesCon is always a highly anticipated event, serving as a crucial barometer for current market sentiment and valuation trends in the domain industry. This year’s live bidding session generated approximately $1.5 million in sales, a respectable sum that demonstrates continued investor confidence in digital assets. A particularly interesting aspect of the auction results was the strong performance of new top-level domains (gTLDs), which accounted for slightly more than 20% of the total sales value. This indicates a growing acceptance and investment appetite for these newer extensions, signaling a gradual shift in the market landscape.
However, the auction also revealed some nuances. Notably, none of the highly anticipated “big ticket” domains, often seen as marquee sales, found buyers. Furthermore, the much-discussed “China effect,” which had driven significant price surges in certain domain categories in late 2015, appeared somewhat muted in this specific auction context. This could suggest a more selective approach from Chinese buyers, a temporary cooling of certain market segments, or simply a disconnect between the reserve prices of premium domains and the immediate liquidity available during the live event. Regardless, the auction provided a valuable, real-time snapshot of the domain market’s health and its ongoing evolution.
The Tropicana: A Functional Home for NamesCon
The Tropicana Hotel in Las Vegas has become the accepted home for NamesCon, and it appears most attendees have now reconciled themselves with its offerings. While it may not embody the pinnacle of luxury, its core strengths lie in its functionality and affordability, making it an accessible venue for a broad range of attendees. For those seeking a different level of amenity or ambiance, the convenient location of the Tropicana allows for easy access to numerous other hotels nearby, providing flexible accommodation options for all preferences.
On a personal note, my room this time around was quite satisfactory. However, one area that consistently posed a challenge was the hotel’s food service, particularly room service wait times. On Monday and Tuesday, wait times stretched to a staggering 90 minutes and two hours, respectively. For a conference of NamesCon’s scale and intensity, where attendees often have tight schedules, such delays are not merely inconvenient but can significantly detract from the overall experience. It is imperative that the NamesCon team collaborates closely with the Tropicana management to demand higher service levels from their food and beverage department during the event, ensuring that attendees can access essential services promptly and efficiently.
Looking Ahead: The Domain Industry’s Bustling Calendar
The conversation around future industry events often highlights a key distinction: many attendees viewed NamesCon as a more affordable and perhaps more focused alternative to the larger, often more politically charged ICANN meetings. Consequently, I anticipate a relatively lighter attendance at ICANN’s upcoming meeting in Marrakesh. However, the summer ICANN meeting in Panama is expected to draw a significant crowd, particularly from the domain name investment community, given its strategic location and potential for high-level discussions. Later in the fall, Puerto Rico might also emerge as an important meeting destination, offering another opportunity for industry professionals to converge.
Beyond ICANN, the industry calendar is already shaping up to be busy. Sedo is planning a substantial promotional push during the SXSW festival in Austin this March, an event renowned for its convergence of technology, music, and film. I fully intend to participate in this, as SXSW offers a unique platform to engage with a broader tech-savvy audience and highlight the importance of domain names in the startup and innovation ecosystem.
September promises to be a particularly dense month for domain professionals, with two major conferences scheduled. THE Domain Conference, held in Florida, offers a valuable regional gathering, while a joint DomainFest/NamesCon event is slated for Hong Kong. This international expansion underscores the global nature of the domain name industry and the growing importance of the Asian market. As for my personal calendar, plans are currently firm for a trip to Panama. Beyond that, my schedule remains flexible, but I am excited about the various opportunities to connect and collaborate within the industry throughout the year.
It was genuinely a pleasure catching up with so many colleagues, friends, and new acquaintances at NamesCon Las Vegas. The energy and insights gained have set a fantastic precedent, and I eagerly anticipate a prosperous and dynamic 2016 for the entire domain name community.