DomainSherpa.com is a domain name information website which features interviews with domain name investors. I recently found this site, which is authored & edited by Michael Cyger, and was impressed with the quality of Michael’s online interviews with well-known domain industry veterans.

Most entertaining & informative are two interviews, one with Ron Jackson, and the other with Mark Ostrofsky. Ron is the editor of DN Journal (the popular domain industry trade magazine), and Mark is the domain pioneer who sold Business.com for multi-millions during the early years of the internet’s explosive proliferation.

In the DomainSherpa interview, Ron Jackson discusses his domain name portfolio and his interest in the .US domain space. Following Neustar’s public release of the .US extension in 2002, Ron used various strategies to secure nice quality domain names like Reno.US, GreenBay.US, and three-letter domains like AFI.US. Ron shared having hundreds of three-letter .US domains in his portfolio, many of which would be ideal fits for a wide variety of US-based companies.

In the Ostrofsky interview on DomainSherpa, Mark informed viewers of his recent release of a new book he authored entitled Get Rich Click!. Mark also spoke of his affinity for .BIZ domains and his belief that the .BIZ domain space is significantly undervalued. I share this sentiment, and have held that the internet’s official Business (.BIZ) web address is stealthily expanding year after year. dotBIZ presently has 2,254,284 worldwide registrations.

Also quite thought-provoking & informative on the DomainSherpa site are interviews with Andrew Allemann of DomainNameWire and Elliot Silver of ElliotsBlog.com. Both domain investors offer their unique experiences and views on domain investing and website development.

My only criticism of the DomainSherpa site is the inclusion of a guest article which references Estibot, an automated domain appraisal device which has been criticized for producing distorted, unreliable domain valuations based on limited, simplistic metrics. Unfortunately, the guest writer article fails to emphasize the illegitimacy of automated appraisals, particularly in regard to premium domain names. Since DomainSherpa aspires to be an authoritative domain information site, any endorsement of Estibot detracts from the site’s credibility and integrity.

That being said, I very much like what DomainSherpa is offering. Michael Cyger is personable and an excellent interviewer. I encourage all to check out the site and to enjoy his interviews with domain industry veterans.

For more on domain investing, negotiation, and domain appraisal, read:

• Domain Appraisal Myth
• Domain Name Negotiation
• Domain Seller Considerations

.US Domain Names domain name investment, domain news, domain sherpa

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

It is an internet universe. The buzz (and reality) are building. Superior logic is at work and it’s “Get on board or get left behind!”

The time is here for premium domains. Businesses are realizing, with every passing day, that their internet survival is actually the future of their company. So embrace it … or risk obsolescence. It’s an A-B, black or white choice and time is running out. Great domain names are in demand. The longer the wait, the higher the price of entry. Segue to …

Stealth.com is the new name of Stealth Computer Corporation. How about that? Add them to the list of companies who “get it”. Stealth.com‘s press release states:

The Stealth.com name change better reflects the company’s brand and establishes prominent brand identity as a leading manufacturer of Industrial Rugged and specialized computer products.

The company’s web site, Stealth.com, is an essential integrated business tool. Not only does it facilitate business activity, but also serves as an important source of information for prospective buyers.

The company goes on to point out (what premium domainers have known for years) that “the name change better positions our company … and provides for a short and easy to remember moniker”.

A+ business logic. A+ business strategy. Congratulations to Stealth.com.

.COM Domains, Internet Domains domain name investment, rebranding