Reglikedomain industry desk

Media Gives GoDaddy a Boost — Morality in

Censorship organization asks parents to visit Go Daddy’s web site. Brilliant.

Go Daddy made a name for itself with Super Bowl commercials. But it wasn’t just advertising in the big game that brought attention. The real value was in pre-Super Bowl coverage. At first it was “Hey look, here’s a ‘dot com’ firm that is advertising in the Super Bowl following the tech bust”. Then it was all regarding the racy nature of its commercials.

Last year the religious right chimed in, with some church leaders asking clients to boycott Go Daddy. Of course, this just fuels the fire and gives Go Daddy more attention.

Today a group called Morality in Media issued a press release regarding Go Daddy’s upcoming Super Bowl commercials. Maybe the guys at Morality in Media are idiots, but their press release actually has a call to action for people to visit Go Daddy’s web site:

“For an advanced look at what GoDaddy.com may have in store for football fans of all ages during this year’s Super Bowl game, parents in particular ought to check out the sexually oriented content that appears on that firm’s website under the subhead, ‘Super Bowl 2010 – Sneak Preview.”

When I read that line, I pictured Go Daddy staffers high-fiving in the office. I even went to Morality in Media’s web site to make sure it wasn’t some media stunt by Go Daddy. But it appears to be a real organization.

So well played, Go Daddy. I may not agree with all the moves the firm makes, but it is a publicity machine.

And by the way, Morality in Media’s press release is more graphic in nature than any of Go Daddy’s commercials.

Also on the wire

Other reporting from the domain desk.