If you are buying a domain as an investment (which is what predictive domaining is all about), then you want to maximize the value when your domain takes center stage. Development increases income and resale value.
Developing a domain provides many benefits.
You get past the sandbox effect and honeymoon effect
The sandbox effect seems to be a search engine quirk that can affect new sites preventing them from ranking quickly. Some people feel this is due to the trust built up by aged sites whereas new sites do not have that yet. This doesn’t seem to happen with all domains.
The honeymoon affect also seems to be a quirk of the search engine algorithm which places new websites very high up in the search results for a short period of time. Then the website falls to a position more in keeping with its age and inbound links. This often results in claims of penalties from new website owners.
You develop inbound links
Over time, you will pick up some inbound links to your homepage naturally. They will usually have your domain name as the anchor text. You can further increase these links by marketing your website, exchanging links with relevant, on-topic websites or by getting listed in relevant, well-regarded directories e.g DMOZ, Yahoo
Your links are aged
Links that remain intact over extended periods of time tend to carry more weight with the search engines. The second effect of aged links is that the sites linking to you will hopefully have grown and will now pass significant traffic to your site.
You are ahead of the competition
While others are starting to develop their websites or creating new sections of their website to cover this topic, you are already there and can build to keep ahead of them. Furthermore, because you already have a presence, you may be seen as an authority in this topic.
You have desirable visitors
The visitors to your site are very attractive to advertisers because they are “pre-qualified” by the content of your website.
You get ranked for long tail keywords or phrases
Websites get significant traffic from less popular search terms e.g. “children’s soccer ball” as opposed to “ball”. Advertisers love this traffic even more because it is highly targeted and the visitor highly motivated.
You get more money for a developed website than a domain name
Developing domain names is a major turn-off for many potential buyers who are end-users. There is cost and effort involved if they do not know what they are doing.
No skills in html? No experience developing a website? No problem. I will have a new e-book out next month to take you through the steps without needing any prior experience.
Domainers objections to website development
Domainers often complain that developing websites on a lot of their domain names will require a lot of maintenance. This doesn’t have to be the case. You can build websites on a single code base and then do just a single maintenance update on the code base whenever necessary.
The second complaint is the effort of maintaining content. The trick is to use “evergreen” content. This content is relevant and never becomes outdated.
The third complaint is the effort and lack of knowledge or skill in generating content. The truth is that there are simple ways to outsource content generation that will not break the bank.
Website development is the future of domaining. Pre-qualifying visitors will be the key to getting top advertiser money. Even now, income can be significantly increased with relatively little effort.
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
“I will have a new e-book out next month to take you through the steps without needing any prior experience.”
Hi,
Do we really have to wait that long???
Just kidding.
If you need a guinea pig to see if one can really
develop a content site from your ebook using your
method, I’m your man.
They don’t call me Doofus Lamebrain for nothing.
Doofus
Hi Patrick,
if you like it.
It is taking a while because I am using screen captures to document each step. I would be open to giving it to a few people to try out so long as you will give me some honest feedback and a quoteable quote
It is based on open source WordPress with hacks to make it suitable for a website and no knowledge of html needed
Barry
P.S. is DoofusLamebrain.com taken??
Might be a fun blog name.
Hi Barry,
Yes. If I was a test pilot for your ebook, I would certainly give you straightforward honest feedback.
And a very usable quote!
————————-
“is DoofusLamebrain.com taken??”
That is a name I thought up long ago that I want to use for marketing. “If Doofus can, you can!”.
(That might be a good quote for your ebook).
I registered it moments before I put it into print here
which is also the first time I ever used it openly.
I know what opportunists some domainers can be.
Last week, Stephen Douglas, posted on his blog a term he coined which is SecondBranding.com.
He had neglected to register the domain before putting it into print and someone else registered it.
He’s not a happy camper.
See: “Who bought SecondaryBranding.com from under me the day I posted the term?”
http://snurl.com/WhoStoleMyDomain
Patrick
I agree with you that development is the better way to go. I’ve been looking for what it sounds like you have in Beta. I would also like to try out your Wordpress Hack and would of course give feedback as well as an inbound link.
Confession.
I can be an opportunist too.
I’m not the one who regged SecondBranding.com but I agree with Stephen that a company can use both a
Primary Brand (Company Name) and a Generic Brand (Generic Domain Name) together.
It does not have to be either/or.
So Stephen losing SecondBranding.com got me thinking and I came up with DoubleBranding.com.
A Google search shows double branding is used but in a different way.
It’s used as a term when two companies merge and combine names such as AOL Time Warner.
My Double Branding meaning:
Kraft – CreamCheese.com
–
Bank Of America – Loans.com
–
Hasbro – Game.com
–
Bayer – Aspirin.com
–
Barnes and Noble – Books.com
–
Brown Shoe Company – Shoes.com
–
Citibank – Mortgage.com (got this with their purchase of ABN AMRO MORTGAGE GROUP, INC)
–
Marriott – Hotels.com (just kidding! They wish they owned this generic domain.
Patrick (aka Doofus Lamebrain)
“If Doofus can, you can!)
Patrick,
I saw Stephen’s post. I understand how upset he was but it is not unusual. If you look at the “about” of this site, you will see this name was a “give away” by a domaining forum moderator. I happened to be the first to read it and snap it up. But it also gave me the inspiration for the blog. Glad you picked up that domain name. I could see a humorous look at products from the Doofus point of view.
Mike,
Will let you know when it is ready. Thanks for the offer. This is really just documenting what I already do but in detail.
Pat,
I think companies are getting smarter and recognizing the power of generic domains. Whether they redirect them to their brand or they put their brand information on the domain, it is powerful stuff.
PredictiveDomaining.com “was a “give away” by a domaining forum moderator. I happened to be the first to read it and snap it up. But it also gave me the inspiration for the blog.”.
Barry,
You saw an idea for a good domain and grabbed it.
Nothing wrong with that.
However…
Suppose, like Stephen, Webwork meant to register
PredictiveDomaining.com but had not and you grabbed it.
He wants it and asks you for it.(not now,when you
first registered it).
Dilemna.
Ethics.
Right and Wrong.
All’s fair in love and war.
Would you have turned the domain over?
You saw the possibilty in the domain and had an idea
how to use it.
Others Opportunists register these domain ideas
only with the hope to sell it thinking there might
be a demand.
Big difference in the motivation.
Do you believe in serendipity, karma?
I do.
Your “About Me” says you are a Scientist.
This implies patience, research ability,
analytical capability, intelligence and so on.
I think you were supposed to find PredictiveDomaining.com or maybe
PredictiveDomaining.com was supposed to find you.
Reading thru your blog postings it’s clear that
PredictiveDomaining.com found it’s rightful owner.
Patrick
P.S. Now that I’ve buttered you up, don’t forget
me when your ebook is ready.
P.P.S Predictive Press Release
“Domain Scientist Teaches Domain Doofus How To Build
Content Driven Web Sites”
I would have turned the domain over in that case. However I am glad I got it because it pushed me to do something different. Consider me well buttered!