GoDaddy is a publicly traded Internet domain registrar and web hosting company. As of 2014, GoDaddy was said to have had more than 59 million domain names under management, making it the world's largest ICANN-accredited registrar. It serves more than 12 million customers and employs more than 4,000 people.The company is known for its celebrity spokespeople, Super Bowl ads and as being an online provider for small businesses. In addition to a postseason college football bowl game, it sponsors NASCAR. It has been involved in several controversies related to security and privacy.
History
GoDaddy was founded by Bob Parsons. Prior to GoDaddy, Parsons sold his financial software services company, "Parsons Technology, Inc." to Intuit. The sale provided him with several million dollars in the mid-1990s. As a result, Parsons decided to retire. Parsons came out of his retirement in 1997 to launch Jomax Technologies, which later became GoDaddy Group Inc.Company name
In 1999, a group of employees at Jomax Technologies were brainstorming and decided to change the company name. An employee said, "How about Big Daddy?" However, the domain name had already been purchased. Parsons replied, "How about GoDaddy?" The name was available, so he bought it. Parsons said the company stuck with the name because it made people smile and remember it.The company changed its name branding from "Go Daddy" to "GoDaddy" in February 2006.
Company growth[edit]
In 2001, soon after Network Solutions was no longer the only place to register a domain, GoDaddy was approximately the same size as competitors Dotster and eNom.
In April 2005, GoDaddy became the largest ICANN-accredited registrar on the Internet.[10] They also surpassed Network Solutions in domain names registered.
Acquisitions
In July 2012, GoDaddy announced it would acquire Outright for an undisclosed amount.In August 2013, GoDaddy announced it would acquire Locu for $70 million.
In September 2013, GoDaddy acquired domain marketplace Afternic from NameMedia. GoDaddy will also acquire domain parking service SmartName and business name generator NameFind.
On October 15, 2013, GoDaddy acquired web hosting service provider Media Temple. In a newsletter sent to its customers, Media Temple said that they "will continue operating as an independent and autonomous company."[14]
In July 2014, GoDaddy acquired Canary, a small Cambridge-based smart calendar service.
On August 20, 2014, GoDaddy acquired Mad Mimi, a Brooklyn-based email marketing service.
In April 2015, GoDaddy acquired Elto, "a San Francisco-based startup which had been offering a marketplace that helped connect business owners and other non-technical people to web developers who could help them establish and improve their web presence."
Infrastructure
GoDaddy has a 65,000 square foot data center in The United States. This data center is connected to an optical fiber DWDM Ethernet backbone with a speed of 20 Gigabits per second. In 2013, GoDaddy reached more than 55 million domain names under management. At that time, GoDaddy was reported as the largest ICANN-accredited registrar in the world, at the size of four times their closest competitor. They also have a 270,000 square foot facility in Phoenix, Arizona.Awards
2010 – BBB of Great Arizona Business Ethics Awards finalist.2011 – Inaugural Bulby Awards' "Bulby Award" received by GoDaddy's X.CO for Best Use of a Single Letter Domain.
2011 – SC Magazine's "Best Security Team" Rating.The SC Magazine Awards were organized to honor the professionals, companies and products that help fend off the myriad of security threats confronted in today's corporate world. GoDaddy was also a 2012 finalist.
2011 – International MarCom Competition's winner of awards; creativity in the 2011 Super Bowl Campaign, the .CO Product Launch and the GoDaddy Cares story.
2011 – Inc. Magazine’s “Inc. 500/5000” list for an eighth consecutive year.
2011 – Phoenix Business Journal's "Best Places to Work in the Valley" for the eighth consecutive year.[31] In 2011, GoDaddy ranked #4 among extra large-sized companies.
2011 – Alfred P. Sloan Award for Business Excellence in Workplace Flexibility for GoDaddy's Arizona, Iowa offices.[33] As a recipient, GoDaddy ranks in the top 20 percent.
2012 – Fortune 100 "Best Companies to Work For" honoree.
2012 – Gold Stevie Award for the Year in Computer Services."
2012 – Domain Wire's annual survey's "Best Registrar" award with 43% of the vote.
2012 – Nominee for the 2012 Small Business Influencer Awards in Corporations by Small Biz Trends.
Marketing
Parsons refers to the marketing as "GoDaddy-esque", which he describes as "fun, edgy, and a bit inappropriate".GoDaddy spokespeople
Candice Michelle
Most of GoDaddy's early television ads starred former WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) wrestler Candice Michelle, usually appearing in a sexually suggestive manner. She has been referred to as "Miss GoDaddy.com" or "The GoDaddy Girl" by fans and on WWE television shows, where she also does the "GoDaddy Dance" (twirling her arms around her body while slowly turning) as part of her wrestling gimmick.