Owning a large number of domain names can become unwieldy, especially when I need to perform actions on sets of names with my registrar. For example, I have something like 140 domain names related to solar energy and the other day I wanted to change the nameservers of all of them. The process of hand-selecting each name, even with a bulk edit function is a nightmare. I can’t just search for “solar” because not every name has that word in it.

But, just as I needed to perform this tedious action on the solar energy names, I noticed a new feature in GoDaddy.com, my registrar. Not sure how long it’s been there, but I’d never seen it before, but it said “New!” next to it. It’s the new AccountExec function. Personally, I would have named it the Groups function, because that’s what’s what I think is the really important part.

AccountExec is a Godsend. It allows me to put my names into groups that I can create on the fly. Registrar actions can then be performed on these groups, or names within these groups. You can work with groups from the AccountExec page, and there is a new group selection in the Bulk Edit’s Filter function.

In addition, you can assign individuals to become account managers of any groups, allowing them to make modifications to these names, and only these names. You can even control their privileges. Select from the following options for each account manager:

• Read Only – Your AccountExec can view entrusted domains, but cannot make modifications.
• Admin – Your AccountExec can assume all defined roles defined for the entrusted resources.
• Contacts – Your AccountExec can modify contact information for the entrusted domains as well as email forwarding for third level .NAME domains and Nexus information for .US domains.
• Nameservers – Your AccountExec can modify nameserver information for the entrusted domains.
• Auto Renew – Your AccountExec can set whether or not entrusted domains auto renew upon expiration.
• Cancel – Your AccountExec can cancel the entrusted domains.
• Hosts – Your AccountExec can manage hosts for the entrusted domains.
• Domain Forwarding – Your AccountExec can manage domain forwarding settings for the entrusted domains.

Back to my example, I was able to create a “Solar Energy” group and quickly move all my solar energy names to it. Then, it was a snap to unlock the names, set the nameservers, and relock. I’m going to set up groups for all my various subjects.

You could also choose to set up group based upon where your names are parked. But, GoDaddy already lets you select by nameserver so it’s kind of redundant.

I did some testing and AccountExec allows you to assign a name to more than one group. Now that was smart on their part. It will allow me to have much more flexibility in my organizing efforts. As an example, in addition to groups that represent subject matter categories, I can make groups like Best Names, Average Names and Not So Great Names. Names could be in both a subject matter group and a quality level group.

Here’s a suggestion for GoDaddy if they are listening: allow me to select names by AND/OR groups. I might want to select all Best Names in the Solar Energy Group, or all names in both Best Names and Average Names.

I don’t know which other registrar’s have a feature like this. I’d be interested to hear if others do. If your current registrar does not have this feature and you need to organize a large portfolio of names, consider GoDaddy.com.

Technorati Tags: domain, domain name, internet, godaddy