Go Daddy CEO Evolves with New Media – Launches Edgy Video Blog

April 11, 2008; 02:04 AM

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--This is not your average corporate communication, nor is it your typical message ‘canned’ for a Chief Executive Officer representing a world leading company… No, www.BobParsons.tv is an in-your-face, tell-it-like-it-is video blog used to speak directly to customers, employees and even the media. It’s blunt, it’s unvarnished, even irreverent – and it’s out there for anyone to see.

Go Daddy’s CEO and founder recently unveiled his latest venture into new media with www.BobParsons.tv. It features Parsons’ commentary, invites criticism and addresses topics ranging from Internet industry issues, to business decisions, company controversies or relevant subjects in the news with the help of video clips and other multimedia elements.

Few business leaders provide transparent messages or understand the importance of embracing new technology. Some critics have even questioned the wisdom of letting an executive speak off the cuff and public relation professionals might scoff at publishing an unfiltered message – but Parsons sees true value in putting his views ‘on the record.’

“Nobody can speak for me or communicate my thoughts like I do, right?” asked Parsons. “It may be a little rough around the edges and it keeps our legal department on their toes, but posting a video blog, or vlog, is one of the best ways to ensure my message isn’t diluted, convoluted or….. muted!”

In a recent book on blogging, Radically Transparent: Monitoring and Managing Reputations Online, authors Andy Beal and Dr. Judy Strauss write “Bob Parsons’ blogging efforts exemplify a radically transparent CEO [who] understands that blogging provides an open and honest connection.”

Parsons is often referred to as an Internet industry watchdog. His vlog is interactive on all topics – he not only writes it, he personally responds to the reader comments. His original blog, “Hot Points,” repeatedly ranked as the top CEO blog in the world. The self-taught computer programmer started writing on the Web in late 2004 and used it as a venue for addressing speculation surrounding the company’s first Super Bowl commercial – an ad that eventually triggered a censorship controversy now referenced in marketing textbooks.

“It’s just time to try something new. Let’s face it, Web video is already huge - and it’s only going to get bigger,” Parsons declared.

This new version also has a new address, using the catchy .TV domain extension. .TV has emerged as a powerful marketing tool and a valuable extension for publishing and viewing video content. As online video continues its rise to Web 2.0 prominence, more and more users have come to rely on .TV domains for their “daily fix” of Web video.

“We chose the .TV extension for the video blog because it’s the natural home for Web video. Dot-TV provides the right platform for marketing, viral video, and entertainment platforms for businesses and people seeking to leverage new media,” Parsons said.

To watch Bob Parsons’ video blog, please visit www.BobParsons.tv.

About The Go Daddy Group, Inc.

Go Daddy is a leading provider of services that enable individuals and businesses to establish, maintain and evolve an online presence. Go Daddy provides a variety of domain name registration plans and Web site design and hosting packages, as well as a broad array of on-demand services. These include products such as SSL Certificates, Domains by Proxy private registration, ecommerce Web site hosting, blog templates and blog software, podcast packages and online photo hosting. The Go Daddy Group, Inc. has more than 28 million domain names under management. Go Daddy registers, renews or transfers a domain name every second. GoDaddy.com is the world's No. 1 domain name registrar according to Name Intelligence, Inc. GoDaddy.com is also the largest paid hosting provider in the world according to Netcraft Ltd. During 2007, The Go Daddy Group registered more than one-third of all domain names registered in the top six generic top-level domains, or gTLDs, including .com, .net, .org, .info, .biz and .mobi.

Source: www.businesswire.com