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Cambridge, Massachusetts - (via THE HOSTING NEWS) - August 30, 2005 - Sedo, a leading online marketplace for the buying and selling of domain names, today announced its consultant-supported Domain Brokerage Service, enabling individuals and organizations that seek a domain name to develop a domain acquisition strategy leveraging the expertise of Sedo’s domain name specialists.

Sedo’s full-service Brokerage program supports each phase of the domain acquisition process from establishing a budget and researching potential domain name targets, to driving the negotiation and acquisition of the domain.

For many small businesses, owning the domain name that aligns with their business is a critical first step to building a successful online presence. The challenge is that, with the number of domains registered at an all-time high of over 80 million, many of the premium domain names are already owned. Rather than contacting and negotiating with the domain owners directly - often a lengthy and unproductive process - organizations can now seek the expertise of Sedo’s consultant-supported Domain Brokerage Services.

With a lack of knowledge and relationships in the domain name marketplace, many small businesses often face barriers when acquiring a domain name. Challenges include: determining what domain names are viable targets; capturing the attention of the domain owner; communicating with the owner and overcoming language barriers as many domain owners are located overseas; negotiating a fair price for the domain; and finally executing a safe financial transaction. Overcoming these obstacles, Sedo’s Domain Brokers establish relationships with domain owners and understand the value of a domain, to assure a fair price and safe transaction. Further, Sedo’s international staff collectively speaks over a dozen different languages, allowing buyers to overcome potential language barriers.

Matt Bentley, CEO of Sedo described the value of the new service, “Before Sedo’s Brokerage Services, those seeking a domain name were forced to work independently or pay high fees for expert advice. In the past for example, organizations have had to hire consultants that charged upwards of $500 an hour for their services. Now anyone seeking a domain name can work with a Sedo professional at a more cost-effective price point - $49 and 10 percent of the final domain cost. Sedo’s services provide a vehicle for anyone to quickly, safely and effectively acquire the domain name that they really want.”

Sedo’s Domain Brokers develop a domain acquisition strategy, supporting each step of the domain buying process:

- Choosing a domain name - While many organizations have an ideal domain name in mind, often there are a number of viable options. Sedo’s brokerage team researches viable options and provides detailed information on each potential domain, and estimates the cost to purchase the domain and the potential return on investment (ROI).

- Budgeting and negotiating a fair price - Sedo’s Domain Brokers will help devise a budget with the buyer, and then contact the current domain owner to negotiate a fair price. Sedo will continually update the buyer on the asking price, and work towards an agreement that suits both parties.

- Domain name transfer - Sedo’s professional team can finalize the transfer of the domain, streamline the financial process and protect the buyer against fraudulent activity - an important component given the global nature of domain ownership and International law.

Three organizations sought domain names that were already owned and recently turned to Sedo’s consultant supported Domain Brokerage Services:

- Techguy.com - A free technical support Web site, which operated under techguy.org, and generates more than 180,000 registered users and around 500,000 page views a day. The organization recognized that many Internet users are accustomed to the .com extension, and sought to expand its online presence. With the support of Sedo’s Domain Brokers, the organization was able to secure techguy.com, enabling the company to re-capture visitors that may have otherwise been mis-directed.

- OLT.com - OnLine Taxes Inc., a web-based tax software company that also offers online tax services, acquired the domain name OLT.com with the help of Sedo. OLT.com aligns with the business’s brand and provides Internet users with a simple domain name that is easy to remember.

- Bices.com - Bices Florist, a florist based in Dallas, Texas, recognized the importance of a strong online presence, as consumers are increasingly ordering flowers online from all over the country. Already generating revenue from the domain bicesflorist.com, the small business acquired the abbreviated version — bices.com.

“In the floral business a strong online presence is essential as consumers are becoming more Internet savvy. Adopting a shorter domain name, bices.com, was the natural next step for our business,” said Keith Riewe, co-owner of Bices Florist. “For months I tried to purchase the domain on my own, with little response from the owner. Anxious to acquire the domain, I partnered with Sedo. The Sedo brokerage team immediately caught the attention of the domain owner, and proceeded to negotiate on my behalf. Since we acquired bices.com, 75 percent of those that visit our site place an order online.”

Sedo is an acronym for “Search Engine for Domain Offers”. For additional information, please visit www.sedo.com.