03.24.10
Posted in Domainers Toolbox at 1:49 pm by admin
Since every website needs a name, Dr. Steve Baba has written a free ebook that will help you obtain a brandable, memorable domain name at a reasonable cost, which will contribute to your brand equity and profits. The ebook, downloadable from Seemly.com, explains how to select and buy an elite domain name. You will be able to obtain a better name than your competitors have.
There are at least 10,000 words in a dictionary that would make great domain names plus at least 10,000 proper names and 10,000 great short coined-words. With a supply of 30,000 great names and millions of good names, obtaining a good name is easy.
There is no need to pay more than a few thousand dollars for a great one-word domain name, and many good domain names are available for free. This book provides you with the information needed to beat domain name speculators at their games.
Both naming methodology to identify great domain names and negotiating/purchasing methods to obtain great domain names at low prices are covered. After a couple of introductory sections, the book starts with domain naming goals or the criteria for choosing a great domain name: image, memorability, trademark-legal, and price. Then quality domain naming strategies are discussed. Inferior domain naming styles, which you want to avoid, are then discussed.
The second half of this book explains how to buy a great domain name. Auctions, expired domains, speculators, and other sources are discussed. Finally, many other topics are expanded on.
Steve Baba has a Ph.D. in Economics and ebusiness experience. The ebook on domain names is available at www.seemly.com, for free. No registration is required. The ebook is a PDF file of approximately 250K. The free ebook is advertising supported. The following paragraphs are book excerpts. Generic names, arbitrary dictionary words, coined or made-up words, modified generic names (generic plus) and unrelated two-word names are quality domain naming strategies. But, each quality strategy has strengths and weaknesses. There is no such thing as a perfect name.
Generic names are highly controversial and expensive. Examples of generic names are Hotels.com, Shoes.com and Furniture.com. The generic name strategy was always controversial and peaked during the dotcom bubble.
The generic naming strategy is virtually never used offline, but a very few small stores do business under generic names such as the “Mattress Store” in Annapolis, Maryland. Offline, anyone can use the same generic name and open a store name “Mattress Store.” Online, ownership of the domain name MattressStore.com can only prevent competitors from using the same exact domain name.
Since, generic names cannot be trademarked, competitors can use Hotels.NET, Rooms.com, Hotelrooms.com, Motels.com, Hotel.com (singular), Inns.com Hotels.us, and so on. Often, there are a half dozen simple generic names for each industry not to mention generic names with a prefix (e, i) or suffix such as eHotels.com.
Since competitors can use similar generic names, developing a distinct, memorable brand is difficult. Memorability or the need to spend less on advertising is often an argument for high domain name prices - but this argument is only half true. At the same time, with only a few first-rate generic names in each industry, the generic domain names may be unavailable or overpriced, and are rarely bargain-priced. A generic name also hampers brand extension beyond the generic category - Hotels.com selling plane tickets?
Another quality strategy is unrelated, arbitrary dictionary words. Examples of unrelated dictionary word names include Amazon.com Yahoo.com, Google.com, Target and Staples. Both the words yahoo and google are in the Oxford dictionary, but were rarely used prior to becoming famous brands.
Compared to generic names, it was not immediately obvious what business Amazon, Yahoo or Google was in. On the other hand, Yahoo can legally prevent competitors from using similar names such as FreeHoo via trademark laws.
SearchEngine.com would be the generic name for Google. “Fast” and “All The Web” are used as trademarks by another search engine. But “fast” and “all the web” are not unrelated or arbitrary. Other search engines can also claim to be fast, speedy, quick, the entire web, or something similar.
The key to having the most trademark protection is to choose an unrelated, arbitrary word. Descriptive words, such as fast, are unlikely to earn much trademark protection. Instead of fast, it may be possible to use a suggestive name such as jet, rocket, or race.
With 10,000 good, short, easy-to-spell dictionary words, it is always possible to find one for a few thousand dollars. Shorter four or five character dictionary words are more expensive. Three character dictionary words are extremely expensive.
Coined or fanciful words are words such as Exxon or Kodak that had no prior use. In theory, coined words are the best from a trademark-legal point of view, since no one has used the word before. Ideally, a coined word is totally new and unrelated to any other word.
But, memorability requires a short name, which has led to a number of similar coined names such as Duron, Enron, and Micron, which diminishes the legal advantage, since confusion is possible. LexIs sued LexUs.
While the legal protection is not perfect, the legal protection is considered the strongest of any category. But from a marketing point of view since no one has used the word, coined words may be as difficult to remember as nonsense syllables.
With a supply of thousands if not tens of thousands of short, coined words, it is always possible to find one for a few thousand dollars or less - often free.
Because of the lack of trademark protection for generic names, the lack of distinctiveness, and the cost of many generic domain names, many businesses have used a “generic plus” or “modified generic” naming strategy.
A prefix, suffix or second word can be added to the generic name. Examples of this are Carmax, CarMart, eCars, CarDepot, CarOne and CarLand.
This works if the generic word, such as car, is short. Longer generic names, such as CarpetCleaningMax.com, can be too long. But many of the longer generic words have common abbreviations. For example, computer is often abbreviated “comp” as in CompUSA. Software is often shortened to “soft” or “ware” in names. Tech is a common abbreviation for technology, overused in names.
These names range from virtually generic, eCars.cars, to nearly coined, QuanCars.com, with descriptive, suggestive and arbitrary second-words in-between. Since the generic word lacks any trademark protection, the trademark strength depends on the trademark strength of the “plus” part of the name.
The generic plus strategy is often an attempt to have the benefits from both a generic and a distinctive name, but may have the problems of both if one is not careful. At worst, it could infringe on someone’s trademark based on the second word such as CarsRus or CarBay. The generic part of the word is usually trademark safe.
Another strategy is to use two unrelated words in a name. Examples of two unrelated words are RedEnvelope.com and BlueTooth.com. The two unrelated words strategy differs from the generic-plus strategy in that neither word is related to the generic product. Technically red is related to envelope by being an adjective, but neither word is closely related to the product or service being sold.
The main advantage to this method, two unrelated words, is that it’s cheap and often free. With 30,000 single words, there are 900 million combinations of two single words (30,000 x 30,000).
The main disadvantage is that two unrelated words are twice as difficult to remember as one. Two words that are commonly related to each other such as “happy birthday” or “hot wire” are easier to remember, but rare and may be as expensive as single words.
From a trademark viewpoint, it could be twice as risky. It could infringe on someone’s trademark based on either the first or second word. If you are RedDog.com selling computers, either Red Computers or Dog Computers could consider trademark action against you.
About The Author
Steve Baba has a Ph.D. in Economics and ebusiness experience. The ebook on domain names is available at www.seemly.com, for free.
eeeni@aol.com
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01.11.10
Posted in Domainers Toolbox at 7:37 pm by admin
In an ever-changing world it is important to have some stability. To this end you should look into registering your domain name because:
• Your domain name becomes a point of association for you. Clients remember your site and services by the domain name.
• Even if you change your web host the domain name would go with you and clients will be re-directed to your web site.
• Since brand recall is the basis to good marketing a permanent domain name will become the “brand” that represents your company.
Registering a domain is cheap. It only costs between US$ 1 and US$ 3 per month. Many registrars also offer free parking for the domain names. The registration can be done by the web host or you as an individual.
• Make a list of domain names you are using in your business and are likely to use.
• Write down the DNS IP addresses and the names of the primary and secondary servers.
• Choose a method of payment. Using a credit card is highly recommended as the registration is immediate.
• Select a registrar from the many available like, Yahoo, GoDaddy.com, Dotster.com, or Register.com. Read the terms and conditions carefully and do not hesitate to ask any relevant questions.
You must:
• Consider seriously the costs of re-registering the domains owned by you.
• Whether you will be in a position to sell any of the domains.
• If you should purchase other permutations of your domain to prevent cyber squatting. Think about dot.net; dot.biz; dot.co and so on.
• InterNic at http://www.internic.net/ provides information on Internet domain name registration services. It has an accredited registrar directory as well as an FAQ section.
• Network Solutions at http://www.networksolutions.com/whois/index.jhtml has a WHOIS database where one can find out which domains are registered and by whom along with website data. The search spans multiple registrar databases and throws up registration information on millions of domain names with different extensions.
• Yahoo Small Business Directory at http://dir.yahoo.com/Business_and_Economy/Business_to_Business/Communications_and_Networking/Internet_and_World_Wide_Web/Domain_Name_Registration/ is a comprehensive directory of 334 domain registration sites along with a brief description.
Valuable Insights:
• Make a list of domain names as well as extensions that you want to register. Ask yourself why you need these domains and what you plan doing with them. Of all the extensions dot.com is the most popular.
• It is not advisable to register the domain names with the web host . If you decide to use a new host you will save yourself immense trouble of moving the domain name as well. Always register with reputable and accredited companies.
• Choose the keywords carefully. Search engines favor keyword rich domain names. This will help in the marketing of the site.
• Coin a short domain name. Short names are remembered and are know to have better recall in memories of clients and casual browsers.
• Ensure that the domain name has topical relevance. It must convey a definite meaning and represent your business.
• Keep in mind applicable laws while choosing a domain name. Pay special attention to trademark and copyright laws.
Register your domain and gain peace of mind. It is inexpensive and protects your website and intellectual property.
Paul Wilson is a freelance writer for http://www.1888Discuss.com/domain/, the premier REVENUE SHARING discussion forum for Domain Forum including topics on domain trading, domain registration, domain sale and offers, adult domain and more.He also freelances for the premier Domain site http://www.1866Domains.com
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12.06.09
Posted in Domainers Toolbox, Universe Of Travel, University of Search Engine Optimization at 9:10 am by admin
Getting Traffic to Your Site and to Your Bed and Breakfast is 2 Faces of the Same Coin
Driving traffic to your internet site or to your motel demands good foot work and draws of optimization both for your web site and for your hotel. The optimisation for your website will go via a well known SEO Supporter and the optimization for your bed and breakfast is mostly done by the bed and breakfast itself, a great case of a Purple Cow in hotels is the Fox Hotel in Copenhagen, which had a clean make over by creative people and was the base of the launching of the recent VW Fox in Denmark.
The basic affair to do is to find a strong address, for your website this means finding a great PHP host and a good domain, for your motel, this means holding a featured address in the town where your bed and breakfast is situated, preferable in the very core of town.
Holding a great address for your hotel brings lots of visitors just by itself. For your internet site this is not so plain, you need prominent rankings in search engines and to get these you will require to do search engine optimisation. A properly optimized website will land you loads of visitors to your web site, visitors who are possible customers at your bed and breakfast.
Search engine optimization in the travel industry is very tough and you will need the best SEO Company to do the preparation and execution of every jobs needed in the process. You must also be aware that SEO demands time, so solitaire is a virtue.
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11.03.09
Posted in Domainers Toolbox at 10:48 am by admin
What’s your domain name worth?
Perhaps it is better to ask how much a potential buyer would be willing to pay to acquire your domain name. If there was some interest in your domain name, you ought to, at least, have some kind of idea of its value. Generally, is the domain good or bad? If good, how good is it?
If you were to visit any domain reseller sites, you will find literally thousands of ridiculous names. If you scrutinize their asking prices, it will leave you shaking your head in amazement. They run into the thousands and even millions. Names like ApeChatsWorth.com…..It would be better to let them expire or sell cheap if you can find a ‘fool’.
So how do you tell if you have a winning name?
I know someone will be quick to say, “That’s easy. Get them appraised.”
Well, you could do that. But the problem with domain appraisals is that there are no industry standards. And you simply cannot put a market value on it and give an accurate appraisal by any standards. Perhaps, in that sense, a domain name is different from real estate because it is not something you can see or touch.
There are numerous companies and sites on the web that will evaluate your domain and give you their opinion on what your domain name is worth. Their services cost anywhere from between $10 to $50. They give you a nice certificate online. But let me tell you that, an appraisal certificate may not necessarily do anything for your domain name.
As can be expected, a single domain name can have vastly differing values when evaluated by different appraisers. Values can differ by tens of thousands of dollars. You have probably heard it being said over and over again that a domain name is only really worth what a buyer is willing to pay for it. Or what the buyer and seller can agree on to make a deal. So even if a domain name has been evaluated at $2,000 but if no one wants to pay out more than $200 for it, it is obvious the real value of the name is far less than the perceived value that it was originally appraised for.
If you have absolutely no idea what your domain name is worth, getting a professional appraisal may be useful as well as to give you a basis for an asking price if there was indeed someone interested in the name or simply to decide what you want to do with the domain name. A potential buyer already interested in a domain name you have, may be further swayed towards your position by an independent appraisal.
However, let me caution you to be careful. There are a number of thriving scams on the internet designed to play on your emotions and get your money. One instance is when a so-called “buyer” feigns interest in your domain name but requests first for an appraisal from a particular appraiser, just to be sure of the market value, he claims. Then, insists that no other appraisers will do. It doesn’t take a genius to see through this. If you pay for the appraisal, the so-called ‘buyer’ suddenly disappears, no doubt to fleece his next victim. Many fall for this cruel trick in their ecstasy imagining that finally, there was actually someone wanting their domain name. Before you spend any money, check out feedback on the website’s services from other customers. You can do this at Alexa.com. Simply enter the name of the website and you can see reviews and feedback from other customers.
A genuine buyer who wants your domain name is interested in it, NOT because some appraiser says it is worth a princely sum. But only because he himself sees it’s intrinsic value and/or has specific plans for the name. Keep this in mind.
There are a number of free domain appraisal services you could try just to test the waters around your name.
A number of domain name forums have active appraisal boards where you can post your domain names and someone will evaluate it for you. A search on your favorite engine will give you several options.
You may also have come across automated computer scripts online that give you a free instant evaluation of your domain name when you put in certain required details about your name. Those give you a ballpark figure but sometimes do grossly inflate the value. It is after all a script.
If you do decide to get and pay for a professional appraisal, make sure you are engaging a reputable company or you would end up blowing your money.
If you’re still undecided, let me take a look at your domain name and I’ll evaluate it for free. No obligations. See http://www.OpenForSale.com/ to submit your domain name.
Copyright 2005 Edwin John
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