Much is written about attracting visitors on the world wide web. Website visitors come from many different sources such as referral links from other websites, search engines (Google, Yahoo, Bing), and the holy grail of all which is direct navigation. Direct navigation traffic is valuable, and occurs when a user actually types a domain name directly into the url address bar and bypasses the search engines completely.

An article was published recently which spoke to the importance of exact match domains and their correlation with high rankings in search engines. Obviously, exact match domains mirror what the consumer is searching for and therein lies superior value.

Exact match domains also rule direct navigation. In examining last month’s traffic sources for PremiumDomains.US, the direct traffic percentage was quite revealing. An impressive 59.85% of the site’s visitors came from users typing the domain into their browser address field. As noted in the graphic above, search engines accounted for only 9.85% of visitors finding the site. Links from other sites accounted for approximately 30% of the sites traffic.

“Premium Domains” is a strong search term for those preparing to buy top quality domains for their business or for investment purposes. Having a domain name which perfectly matches a user’s query creates not only an instant identification for the consumer, but boosts consumer confidence, and creates a logical connection between their input and your output.

California.biz is a marque premium domain from the Menius Enterprises portfolio. California.biz’s monthly direct navigation traffic is currently running around 31%. This is likely lower than the corresponding .com equivalent, but the key point here is that pure generic domain names have no match in direct navigation. And even more importantly, premium generic domains have no equal when it comes to global branding and for launching high-profile websites with which consumers can instantly identify. In other words, “The name says it all.” And that … is the business of domains.

.US Domain Names .us, direct navigation, premium domains

The Neustar Registry recently developed a new, attractive logo for the .biz web address. PremiumDomains.biz wrote about it since we have been long time fans of the internet’s official business address.

Noteworthy is the nicely designed, polished website at My.biz (partly pictured above) which showcases the .BIZ domain extension. The site provides a great video on dotBIZ (see below) and a .biz name generator for coming up with domain name variations.

My.biz reiterates a few timeless pointers when considering a domain name selection including:

• Shorter is better
• Be sure you can say the name without having to spell it out for people
• Avoid trademarks

On a related .biz note, Overstock is celebrating this week the one year anniversary of their launch of O.BIZ, their e-commerce website for businesses which sells a variety of supplies from categories like catering, janitorial, office furniture, kitchen, and medical equipment.

Presently, there are 2,134,202 .biz domain names registered around the world (source: DomainTools)

Located on the Neustar website is a brief characterization of the .BIZ address …

.BIZ enables your business to present itself as a serious player in the global marketplace, and helps you do what you do best – get down to business.

Well said. Check out the .BIZ (Business) web address. As they say, “Better Name. Better Results.”

(video source: My.biz)

.BIZ Domain Names .biz, business domain names, Neustar

I was browsing some other domain blogs this morning and saw Michael Berkens’ post of an article by a popular SEO (Search Engine Optimization) publisher, SEOmoz.

SEOmoz examined a number of variables tied to achieving high search engine rankings, and they found that an exact match domain name carried more weight in high search engine placement than any other contributing factor. It is important to note that this was an objective study by someone outside of the domain name industry (not a domain industry insider).

A correlation analysis was performed using accepted scientific methodology and based on a sample of 11,351 search results pages in both Google and Bing. The conclusion included such observations as  …

Just by itself, exact match is remarkably high in correlation to rankings. No other on-site/on-page factor we examined even came close.

This conclusion mirrors not only the long held view of many domain name investors, but also represents a certain inherent logic that has often angered those late in the game to the power of generic, exact match domain names.

Exact match domain names describe the business, service, product, or location that a buying consumer is interested in. This exact match appeal did not originate from within the domain industry, but has been in existence for many years in all areas of society and business. Public libraries provide category headings. Yellow page directories use pure search words. And any search performed in a major search engine is built upon the exact match keywords which describe your search query.

In domain industry circles, this has been commonly referred to as generic domains or pure keyword domains. One is simply more likely to find the information & products relevant to their search when the domain name is an exact match to their search query. This is why Hotels.com or Spain.info are so popular. They deliver what is described within the domain name itself.

Will exact match domains names continue to be regarded as highly relevant in search engine optimization and ranking? My forecast is a definite … yes. The domain name system, and entire internet structure, is built on the power of language and the meaning of words. There is no better replacement. It’s just that simple. And exact match domain names sit right in the middle of this time proven universal truth.

Incidentally, this blog is not named PremiumDomains.biz by accident.

Site Development domain name investment, generic domain names, seo

A joint venture between financial news channel CNBC and Shell Energy has produced the media/video website EnergyOpportunities.TV.

dotTV is a domain name product of VeriSign and is a perfect fit for online TV channels and sites that focus on delivering video. Most of the world are familiar with “TV” being synonymous with television. Think TV Guide.

The EnergyOpportunities.TV website documents discussions & debates hosted around the globe pertaining to governmental and private industry efforts to develop new energy alternatives. This is a hot socio-political topic with serious long-term consequences for society, governments, and countries.

There is a related technology struggle beginning to emerge in which more TV content providers are streaming their programming via the internet in addition to traditional cable TV channels. And in some instances, they are opting to offer subscriptions through internet only bypassing the cable company network entirely.

A friend of mine likes to watch all of his alma mater’s football games – available only through an internet subscription. He receives this broadcast via high speed internet to his laptop, and then runs that out to a high definition TV.

This set-up emphasizes how a .TV web address can be especially useful in the years to come as technology makes a complete migration to the all encompassing single internet portal.

Related domain names from the Menius Enterprises portfolio: Albuquerque.TV

.TV Domain Names .tv, Albuquerque, cnbc, shell

Good quality generic domain names in the .US web address are typically already registered. dotUS went “public” in 2002 when registration restrictions were relaxed such that any U.S. citizen or U.S. incorporated business could register available .US domain  names.

As an investor and developer of the .US web space, PremiumDomains.US have assembled a portfolio of high-quality domains in America’s official web address. Below are a few nice .US domain names covering a range of industries and interests.

As a side note, for those who do not know, Neustar provide a zip code service whereby a user can type any zip code ending in .US such as www.90210.us. This service works across the entire United States and typically produces a page of local information associated with the zip code area that was searched.

.US Domain Names .us, Neustar

With a large domain name portfolio, domain investors have many choices … but limited time. High-quality domain names are like prime real estate waiting to be developed. And like real estate, domains may sit dormant for some time before the developer is able to focus on utilizing that particular web address for a specific purpose.

In the last few years, domainers have seen the emergence of mini-sites, easy to use blog software, and online development platforms like DevHub. These tools provide an easier means of building website content for a domain name. Or in some cases, simply allow you to build your own custom landing page.

Blonds.biz is a nice quality domain I picked up in the aftermarket a few years ago. It would perhaps be suitable as a social networking or online dating site, but ideally, best used as a portal for professional models. Modeling obviously includes the display of swim suits, fashion, clothing, make-up & hair styles.

There are other career fields that may at times require a certain “look”, i.e. professional spokespersons, news anchors, and TV personalities. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but being blond is simply a characteristic of one’s appearance.

Blonds.biz is a niche domain broad enough to be utilized effectively in several areas of business or entertainment. Thanks to tools like DevHub, publishing a starter page is a breeze.

.BIZ Domain Names blonds

.BIZ has a new logo just recently adopted by the Neustar Registry who oversee the net’s official “business” web address.

There is even a new catchy tagline “Better Name. Better Results.” which is a great marketing decision.

In a related story, found here, Neustar have announced recent security enhancements to the .BIZ domain space. PremiumDomains.biz wrote last year about a McAfee study on web address security which found .BIZ among the safest of all domain name extensions even outperforming dotcom.

Lastly, it was announced recently that the credit services goliath, Experian, had acquired California company Mighty Net in a $207.5 million dollar deal. This is particularly significant for Experian as the deal included several premium domain name assets, specifically CreditScore.com and CreditReport.com.

Related domain names available for purchase from the Menius Enterprises portfolio include: CreditScore.biz

.BIZ Domain Names .biz, business domain names, credit score, Neustar

.BIZ is short for “Business” in America and international markets as well. Most people’s first introduction to the popular biz abbreviation was show biz. The entertainment industry has been a high profile ”show business” in the United States for many decades. One now sees “biz” used everywhere including global media, the world of finance, and countless varieties of company websites across the internet.

All types of companies within the entertainment industry are utilizing the .biz web address as a result of recognizing its relevance  … especially for the music business. A few examples …

1. Grabow.biz  – Grabow is a popular booking agency who secure professional entertainers and speakers for corporate events and other special functions. Their tagline is “putting show biz into your biz.” They can book & coordinate events using such acts as Elton John, AC/DC, and Beyonce or pro sports figures like Troy Aikman, Shaquille Oneal, and Lance Armstrong.

2. Billboard.biz - Everyone in the music industry knows that Billboard have been around for decades. They produce the popular music industry chart rankings for album sales, singles, and other music business metrics. They are the definitive music industry publication.

3. TheDickens.biz - Even local bands are choosing the .biz web address. The Dickens are a Greensboro area party band who specialize in 70′s, 80′s, and 90′s music. Their set list is truly phenomenal as is their ability to play something that every music lover will enjoy. As a truly professional group of musicians, the .biz web address is a logical fit for their website.

.BIZ Domain Names .biz, music, music industry, show biz