Godaddy

Domain Names

In 2005 Godaddy became the biggest domain name registrar in the world and marked this milestone by entering mainstream advertising with a pretty naughty but nice Superbowl ad. The concept was/still is that Godaddy Girl, Playboy model & wrestler Candice Michelle...is in heat and somehow seems to mention Godaddy domains. That's about it!

Big-budget, cheesy and memorable for that, the joke's getting bigger every year (as are the boobs, mind you), with 14 naughty but nice ads being created (admittedly, 4 were only to the drawing board stage) for 2007, of which only one was screened.

Critically, I'd have to say that it's something of a masterpiece in lowest common denominator advertising, with Godaddy branding itself as raunchy and fun-loving. Yes, those Godaddy Domain Names are such a turn-on that exceptionally attractive women are thrilled to party with numerous unattractive men, including:

Godaddy founder Bob Parsons
a midget
a bald biker etc.

The straight world may not understand Godaddy...but the girls do.

Godaddy 2007 Superbowl ad (banned long version)

Party, party, party is a long way from the somewhat nerdy world of domain names but identification with the ad and a much greated identification with the concept of numerous banned ads gives Godaddy an outlaw image that their demographic (male 15-40) obviously approves of.

Either way, the idea of generating controversy as a marketing technique is hardly new (the Rolling Stones were launched onto the world rather successfully with it during the mid 1960s) but it obviously works. Anyway, enjoy the ads, they're a guilty and rather silly pleasure. However, if there's one thing they amply demonstrate, it's that there's gold in them thar domains.

Godaddy "Can't Refuse" Superbowl ad 2006

Godaddy window-washer ad 2006

Godaddy C-span parody ad for the Superbowl 2005

Lately there have been a number of rumblings in the internet community about Godaddy overstepping its mark and closing down sites of its own accord and consequently, I cannot presently recommend their services.