NamePros

NamePros is a prominent online community tailored for domain name investors, offering a range of services including forums and domain name auctions. Founded by Ron "RJ" James in February 2003, NamePros has become a leading platform for domain enthusiasts, connecting investors, buyers, sellers, and industry professionals. The platform's history is marked by key developments, including changes in ownership and service enhancements.

History

Foundation and Early Success

NamePros was publicly launched by Ron "RJ" James in February 2003, aiming to fill the void left by the declining Afternic online community. Within four months of its launch, around June 2003, NamePros began to experience notable success. Notably, Ron James chose to adopt a free services model, dismissing the idea of a subscription-based business approach.

Acquisition by Bodis

In January 2012, NamePros was acquired by Bodis, a domain parking company. The acquisition brought speculation within the domain industry, with estimates of the sale price ranging between $200,000 to $300,000 USD. The sale was officially confirmed by Matt Wegrzyn, Bodis' owner, by January 19. Matt Wegrzyn assured the community that enhancements would follow and that NamePros would remain an open platform. The acquisition was seen as an opportunity for NamePros to benefit from Bodis' resources and support its ongoing growth.

Service Updates and Changes

On May 14, 2013, NamePros introduced significant updates to its platform, including a redesigned layout and the addition of a domain sales history tool. Developed by a community member, the tool indexed over 80,000 domain sales from various sources, enabling members to query and access this data.

In July 2013, NamePros experienced another ownership change, marking the transition to its third administration.

In May 2014, NamePros underwent further updates, migrating from vBulletin to XenForo. This transition resulted in substantial changes to the platform's user interface and functionality. This transition mirrored similar updates made by DNForum, a competing domain name community.

Services

Forums for Domain Investors

NamePros' primary service revolves around its forums, which provide a platform for domain investors to engage in discussions, share insights, and connect with like-minded individuals. The platform employs a freemium business model, offering free access to its core features while providing additional perks through paid subscriptions.

Domain Name Marketplace

Integrated within its forums, NamePros offers a domain name marketplace where users can buy and sell domain names. The marketplace incorporates various transaction models, including auctions, fixed-price listings, and negotiations. Additionally, valuable domains can be highlighted in a dedicated section. NamePros had also offered live auctions around 2008, enhancing its marketplace offerings.