Multiple domain names different extensions

Advice on creating multiple domain names different extensions

[neildt]

Hi,

I'm looking to create a hotel booking website showing rich content about a selected number of hotels in different regions throughout the world.

Already, I've registered a .co.uk domain plus the .com version. My question is should I consider registering all other extensions like .it, .fr etc ?

How would it benefit me if I were to use these other domains with localised content ? I suppose it is along the same lines of TripAdvisor.

Cheers
Neil

[HuskyPup]

I assume you are aiming for a global audience therefore for the moment only go with the .com, if you want to produce a more localised version for the UK later on then you can do that.

How would it benefit me if I were to use these other domains with localised content ?

Are you ever going to translate into the local languages or use English all the time? Do not rely on machine translation for such sites, that would kill your credibility instantly.

Obviously you could look at how some of the other hotel booking sites set-up theirs however do you have the money to do that?

FWIW I use a lot of these type of sites and, being honest, I generally tend to use the localised version as opposed to THE generic global one but then again I speak several languages therefore I understand my way around them.

Are you considering off-the-beaten-tracks type of hotels rather than the usual ones, if so then local extensions and translations probably may be the way to go but all linked through the main .com.

[neildt]

Yes I'm looking for a global audience, and all translations would be carried out by a human technical translator.

I'm looking to create rich content, not like sites that list all 1,000 hotels in a city. The hotels will be hand picked, that have good feedback offer the best value for money. For example in say London, their are around 900 hotels. I might pick max 100 if that.

The site will be able quality not quantity. My reference was to TripAdvisor who have lots of domains.

[neildt]

Following on my post above, so is it worth my time and effort on creating the multiple sites ?

[Leosghost]

If you want a .fr you'll have to have a physical presence in France ( ie property or company etc)..or be French..or register via a broker/ lawyer/individual etc who has/is one of the foregoing ( I don't mean just use a French registrar ) .fr is subject to "conditions" ( similarly but not identical to .us )..

You have to say that you meet these criteria ( and fill in mandatory fields if you are a business etc ) before the registration is granted ..you could ( not saying you personally ..you may well meet the criteria ;-) give an address that was not yours etc and registration might be accepted ..however it could be rescinded at any time due to "false info"..

Also if your.fr were to become successful and a french business or individual decided to try to take it from you they could do so in a heartbeat ..merely by registering a business in France with the same name as your site and working in the same field ..the AFNIC ( French registration authority ) would hand them your domain name ..even if you had been using it for years ..if you don't meet the criteria to register it.

I'm in France ..own a lot of very nice .fr domains ..single keyword or with keywords in ( in both English and French and other languages ) and a lot of nice .coms , .nets .orgs and even .infos ..and like Husky pup, some other country codes as well ..it can be expensive and complex to begin with setting up so as to fulfill all the relevant criteria for each jurisdiction ..but if you are going to make the thing to last ..IMO its well worth making sure that you have it sewn up tight.

HTH

Ps. Huskys point about the language is important ..if you are going to run non English sites ..you need to be prepared for inquiries in the applicable languages ..and autotrans does not cut it ..even the very expensive programs ..they will only give you the gist of the thing ..and never ever use them to make "copy" for a site.

[neildt]

@Leosghost thanks for the great comments. I wasn't aware of the .fr situation. Very useful info.

[JohnRoy]

>> it can be expensive and complex to begin with setting up so as to fulfill all the relevant criteria for each jurisdiction

Well Said.

[HuskyPup]

What may be worth considering, and I use these with great effect, is presenting by continent and registering .asia and .eu as well and then if you do have a good quantity of quality hotels in one country then use that specific gtld extension.

It's at times like this I recommend people to look at Black and Decker's .com and .eu sites then you'll see some of the complexities involved but also a great way to resolve the navigation and presentation etc.

Any free rooms for review purposes per chance? :-)