Google Goes Sour on Domain Tasting

DomainTools Blog is citing a “confidential informant” as the source for speculation Google will soon crack down on domain tasters using Google AdSense for Domains.

…Google will stop monetizing all domains if they are less then five days old. This potential new policy change by Google could stop all Domain Tasting in its tracks.

Domain tasting simply means the option to return a registered domain name within 5 days–typically useful if you misspelled a word or decided not to launch that “Google killer” after all. However, savvy domain tasters have exploited the loophole and register hundreds of domain names at a time, use Google’s AdSense for Domains product to test the earning potential of a URL, then cancel those domains that don’t make money. A nice little earner for domainers and Google, not exactly the best experience for search users.

Here’s how a Google AdSense for Domains site might look:

If it’s true that Google’s policy change will pretty much nuke domain tasting as a way to make a quick buck. And, it’s not just domain tasters that will lose out, Google itself is rumored to be making millions from domain tasters.

It was disclosed in court that one partner that Google had was generating as much as $3 million dollars a month from the practice and that was after Google’s revenue share. Oversee.net and other companies have been using this practice for years and it will have a direct impact on them. The gravy train of free money might be coming to a halt very fast. This policy change at Google should be announced to the channel partners soon and it will have a huge echoing impact on the Industry.

All eyes are now on Yahoo to see if it will follow suit.