Each week I read the weekly report of domain sales. It's somewhat of a reality check and a useful knowledge base.
After reading the report I will sometimes go hunting for parallel, same topic, slight variant, unregistered domains.
I'm not suggesting or urging that people run out and register typos of the reported sales. I'm certain there's some lessons to be learned and money to be earned by examining the reported sales of generic typo domains. That's not my tip or my gig, but I'm certain there's room to play for those so inclined.
Yesterday DNJournal reported the sale of a domain that fit the model of what I've been talking about, a lot, for the past year: Geotargeted domains. The domain sale that caught my eye incorporated a geo-reference + large demographic + high value of traffic + emerging or growing market + etc. It was a solid matching of geo-word and subject word. In fact it's a pattern that I explored a few months ago, at which time I picked up a few domains.
After a little sniffing I discovered there was 1 or 2 'parallel domains' - same subject matter word, different geo-target, that remained unregistered. What was even better was the fact that the geotargetting focused on a demographic that's 3-4Xs the size of the domain that sold for several thousand dollars. Think mid-sized State versus very LARGE State.
Now, there is some variation on the overall 'marketing appeal' - curb appeal, if you will - of the available domains versus the sold domsin (some States are just known for 'subject matter') but for <$10.00 I'm prepared to say that what I picked up is solid stuff. (Plus I left one for anyone who can figure this out.)
There are many ways to develop strategic ideas. One useful excercise is to examine the reported sales in DNJournal and then go sniffing around and nibbling around for domains that may have a connection to domains that show evidence of strong value, emerging markets, etc. The process of looking can be fun, like turning over rocks in a stream, looking for the concealed gems.
Hope the tip helps. Happy domaining.
If it works please pay it forward. :)
[edited by: Webwork at 5:47 pm (utc) on Feb. 14, 2007]
Caveat - I've no idea if the searches are logged or not so if you don't register straight away use at your own risk!
[edited by: encyclo at 7:42 pm (utc) on Feb. 17, 2007]
[edit reason] fixed link [/edit]
Microsoft has started to wise up lately and register some of theirs in advance.
Search a keyword phrase in any search engine and see what the top sites in the SERPs are hammering on in their titles and their meta- description. Typically it's a collection 3 or 4 two or three word phrases, variants of the phrase that was searched.
Make a list. Check it twice. See if the plain version of the KWP - or any variant thereof - is available and, in if not, look to geotarget the KWP if it supports that approach. Many local services do.
I'm so grateful that many of the bigger players in certain spaces are happy to sit on their one keyword domain and whatever love the search engines are willing to give them today. IF I was running the show for most any one of them I would be running a mine-sweeping operation and setting up permanent re-directs by the 100s or 1000s.
I sense a weakness in the armor. C'est la vie. You sleep, you lose. (Noooo, I'm nothing more than a little gnat to them and quite happy to remain so. ;0)
OBTW, that Australain Shiraz I had with dinner tonight? C'est bon!
[edited by: Webwork at 1:16 am (utc) on Feb. 15, 2007]
