You probably would’ve read by now about Advertlets’ latest problem - their domain name expired! Although a simple problem, I think it’s going to have a severe impact on the business, especially when you claim to be an ‘Internet’ company. Until now, when I go to http://www.advertlets.com, I’m greeted by a domain parking page (see screenshot below). FYI, a domain parking page is where you ‘park’ your unused domain names, i.e. a page that has nothing but ads. Such pages are usually run by 3rd party networks like Fabulous. 1. How Did The Domain Name Expire? 2. What Renewal Complications? 3. Will Advertlets Lose Bloggers? The bottom line is that such an ‘oversight’ should NOT have happened. This just validates my previous arguments that both Nuffnang and Advertlets should focus their energy on improving their business model and workflows, and educating advertisers instead of stabbing each other. It looks like we may have to wait until the Advertlets website becomes accessible before we get the details in their blog. Until then, you can try flushing your DNS using Command Prompt to make sure you’re not using old DNS information:
I used to own more than a hundred domain names and in my experience, you usually get reminders from the domain registrar …sometimes up to 90 days before the expiry date. So it really makes me wonder how Advertlets.com expired without anyone noticing. Someone not doing their job?
Josh has come out to explain on some blogs that Advertlets is facing some complications with renewal. AFAIK, renewing a domain name before the expiry date is a painless affair. The only complications that could arise are that the staff were sleeping, the domain name expired and the registrar redirected the domain to the parking page using new name servers. Advertlets realized too late, renewed the domain name, re-entered their name servers and now have to wait for the DNS information to propagate on the Internet. Are my assumptions correct?
I noticed a couple of bloggers have removed their Advertlets ads because the ads weren’t showing or is redirecting their blogs to the domain parking page. After the recent complaints about Advertlets, this latest blunder is sure to rattle both publisher and advertiser confidence. The question now is how many bloggers will put Advertlets ads back on their blogs?
It is a very bad move by advertlets imagine if it happens on a working day.
Comment by Alice Koh — January 6, 2008 @ 10:39 am
everyday is a working day for bloggers…
Comment by brokenshardz — January 6, 2008 @ 10:50 am
for those sites which are redirecting due to the ads, you can disable your javascript if you are using firefox, it will allow you to browse the site normally but without any javascript functionalities.
Comment by darran — January 6, 2008 @ 11:01 am
Larry, correct me if i’m wrong.
For a domain to expired:
- Not renewing it. (obvious)
- No other reasons.
I’m no domain expert, please enlighten us. :)
Comment by malique — January 6, 2008 @ 11:07 am
Darran: I didn’t know it was that serious until I visited a blog and it kept redirecting. I’d thought the worst that could happen is the ad area just shows an error.
Malique: Yup, the only way to expire is that you didn’t renew it. Someone suggested that this is a publicity stunt by Advertlets but I doubt it.
Comment by Larry — January 6, 2008 @ 11:12 am
Everything single thing is called a publicity stunt nowadays. ;)
I was thinking of possible expiry theories but i simply cant think of one! I could think of de-registration/illegal domain transfers but for it to expire…is to expire isn’t it? Its pretty simple to bust this myth. They did not renew.
Ok move on people.
(Josh would be fuming with the IT guys (if he has one) cos somebody didn’t do his job)
Comment by malique — January 6, 2008 @ 1:31 pm
Advertlets no money pay bill?
I wonder how would Josh Lim handle the damage control now…
Comment by esther — January 6, 2008 @ 3:30 pm
Hahaha! so funny this could happen :D
Comment by kento — January 6, 2008 @ 5:48 pm
Yup, it’s bad. As I’ve said, there will be bloggers who’ll leave Advertlets out after this episode. Here’s one:
http://www.tiny9.com/u/FoxTwo_Advertlets
Han Neng is also running a poll and as of now, there are 21 votes and 48% say they won’t put the ads back:
http://www.tiny9.com/u/Hanneng_Advertlets
Comment by Larry — January 6, 2008 @ 6:50 pm
I’ve lost potential clients to my website due to this recent. Check from my log and found a few clients had been trying to access the “Online Booking” page but was redirected due to blunder by advertlets …
Comment by balidriver4u — January 7, 2008 @ 1:43 pm
Haiya!! I’m losing a lot of traffic because of this la.. Have to go and manually remove their ads also. How can liddat?
I’m definitely no internet industrialist but this is so ridiculous.. Advertlets has now become advertless !!!
Shessh, already they pay so little, now have to do work on their behalf.. clearing their ads out.
Comment by Prometheus — January 7, 2008 @ 3:37 pm
The strange thing is it’s still not resolving for me - I’m still being led to the domain parking page. Usually when I change name servers, it only takes a couple of hours.
You’re not alone because as of now, Han Neng’s poll has received 45 votes and 58% say they won’t put the ads back.
Comment by Larry — January 7, 2008 @ 5:43 pm