07-10-2006, 01:13 PM
I know the rage has been for years for people to focus on the simple, short, and generic words as the highest possible domains. A lot of it is due to inert traffic they bring.
My question is why is there not more value placed on potential branding domains? It seems the entire domain marketplace is squarely focused on domains and how they do in the serps, and actual usuability and branding potential are worth virtually nothing.
For example, A23.com is a much worse domain than hotcars.com from the standpoint of user memorability and retention. You have to remember 3 things, a, 2 and 3 for the first, and only two things hot and car for the second. Since the brain can treat a word as a single object, a compound word can often be more effective than a shorter, but more complicated domain.
My speculation is this is simply because it involves way too much guessing. You could never predict someone could make google into a billion dollar business. However you would be amazed at the number of real usuable domains are still out there that don't fit the traditional criteria of the domain hunter.
My question is why is there not more value placed on potential branding domains? It seems the entire domain marketplace is squarely focused on domains and how they do in the serps, and actual usuability and branding potential are worth virtually nothing.
For example, A23.com is a much worse domain than hotcars.com from the standpoint of user memorability and retention. You have to remember 3 things, a, 2 and 3 for the first, and only two things hot and car for the second. Since the brain can treat a word as a single object, a compound word can often be more effective than a shorter, but more complicated domain.
My speculation is this is simply because it involves way too much guessing. You could never predict someone could make google into a billion dollar business. However you would be amazed at the number of real usuable domains are still out there that don't fit the traditional criteria of the domain hunter.