What is Reverse Domain Hijacking?

Typically associated with cyber squatting, reverse domain hijacking describes a practice where a company that owns a trademark exercises its trademark rights in attempts to secure a domain name from the legitimate holder.  This is something that has become all too common these days.  More and more, we are seeing small companies and entrepreneurs registering domain names that are also targeted by bigger companies.  In hopes of intimating the little guy, these big spenders have been known to cry the UDRP (Uniform Domain-Name Dispute Resolution Policy) and engage in legal battles many smaller companies simply can’t afford.

While domain disputes often boil down to a lot of specifics, it is a known fact that several larger companies rely on their financial resources to wrestles names from the grips of legitimate owners.  Why has this practice become so widespread?  This is because the UDRP does not contain any meaningful literature stating that overzealous and determined trademark owners cannot file complaints.  And despite the monstrous label of reverse domain name hijackers, nothing to this point has been enough to deter the efforts of corporate giants.  As long as these companies continue to enjoy publicized measures of success, such claims could be filed for some time to come.

Fighting Back Against the Bullies

So, what do you do when the big bad corporate bullies come knocking and threatening to seize your domain?  Well, if they have the resources along with the trademark, the company can file an action in court and make the claim that the registration or utilization of the domain is not considered unlawful on their part in accordance to the ACPA (Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act).  This legislation was put in place to balance the rights of domain name holders and trademark owners respectively.  Most importantly, it was enacted to address the growing problem of reverse domain name hijacking.  However, there is only so much the ACPA can do for you.  For instance, you can only win back your domain name as the legislation does not cover any financial damages against the trademark owner.  Equipped with ample resources, this is one of the main reasons trademark owners will continue their abusive practices and keep the pressure on smaller companies.  Unfortunately, even though you can leverage the ACPA to take action in court, very few domain owners have a wallet sizable enough to challenge a bigger company for the domain name they have legitimate rights to.

Change is Needed

There has been much debate on whether the ACPA should be amended to create a greater balance between the rights of domain name and trademark owners.  However, implementing such a change would require the full cooperation of many parties including the domain and trademark holders who already are not seeing eye to eye, and quite possibly a few government bodies as well.  Unfortunately, until the playing field is leveled, trademark owners will continue to pull out their big wallets and strip domain names away from less fortunate, but legitimate registrants.

In the internet world, a domain is equivalent to an address of a store.  If want to visit a website, then you need to type in an address to access it.  The shorter and catchier this address, the more valuable it becomes as it will be easier for people to remember.  Whether you have plans of starting an informative website or an online business, these tips will help you get the most out of your domain name investment.

Think Ahead

Some domain names are more popular than others because of the current trends today.  For this reason, you should think ahead and consider the future trends.  Can you predict what will be en vogue in the next few years?  If you plan on selling your domain name for profit, you may want to secure one that coincides with an emerging trend to encourage top dollar offers.  If you plan to build your presence off the name, choose something that has longevity and will stay relevant regardless of what’s hot.

Determine a Viable TLD

Even people who have never been on a website associate “.com” with the internet.  It is the most popular TLD (top level domain) so securing this extension should be your first move.  Because it is so highly sought after, there is a chance that your first choice for .com may not be available.  Somebody could have beat you to the punch.  While you could go with alternatives such as .org, .net or .info, you should keep in mind that the selling price for these extensions will most likely be incomparable to .com.  However, if you plan to establish your presence with a website, these alternatives could work just fine depending on your promotional efforts.

Carefully Consider the Name

Last but not least, you need to put an emphasis on the actual domain name itself.  Short and sweet usually works best as it generally results in a simple and effective choice.  You may have something unique in mind, but if it is too long or complex, you run the risk of deciding on a name that no one will remember.  Take it from the masters of the web: Google, Yahoo and Flickr have all branded themselves with domain names that are simple, easy to remember and powerful.

Investing in a good domain doesn’t have to be a complicated process.  You just need to be aware of what goes on in the internet world.  After coming up with the right selection, this could turn out to be one of the best investments you ever made.

Standard Features

A quality domain name with a .com extension will cost your around $10 a year.  At the very least, this service should include the following features:

- Free domain forwarding

- Free personalized email address and alias forwarding

- Free domain parking

- Free domain registration privacy

- Full DNS Access

When you purchase a cheap domain name, more than likely, you will be missing out on many of the above features.  This might not be a tremendous deal depending on your specific needs, but if you really want to make the most out of your domain name and web presence, it is definitely better to have them.

Common Tricks

To help ensure that you get the best deal possible, we have listed some of the most common tricks registrars employ when offering cheap domain names.  You may be surprised at how many of the big name companies are involved in the trickery.

Bait and Switch – GoDaddy is well known for its $2.99 special on domain names.  However, most of the time, this deal only applies to .info TLDs, which could be a rather undesirable extension for someone trying to do business online.  Chances are, you are after a .com domain which will cost you about $9.99 per year.

Limited Time Discount - Yahoo is another well known registrar with tricks up its sleeves.  The company recently had a sale for .com domain names at the amazingly low price of $1.99.  The major catch is that the price was only good for the first year and only available to new customers.  Once that year exceeds, the cost goes back up to the regular price of $9.95 per year.

Must-buy Add-ons - When purchasing service from some registrars, that price of $1.99 is only good if you also purchase additional products the company offers.  In most cases, this is a web hosting package.  If you truly need a web hosting service, then look for a provider that will sell you a good plan and provide the domain name absolutely free.

Although the tricks mentioned in this article aren’t necessarily scams, they are very confusing and could spell trouble for the newcomer.  Therefore, you want to conduct solid research because unlike most things you buy, there is no refund on a domain name registration.

The Allure Behind Domain Parking

Many ambitious registrants elect to monetize their domain names by parking them on popular sites like GoDaddy and Sedo.  Others build websites that are strictly designed to generate revenue from programs such as Google AdSense.  These type of sites hold little value other than trying to get visitors to click on the AdSense ads.  Why do this instead of developing a real website or blog to go with the domain?  Even though these individuals have all the intentions of turning around and selling the names, most realize that this process usually takes a considerable amount of time.  In fact, it could actually take years for you to sell a single domain.  By parking them, owners can quickly recover their registration costs and also get a shot at steady revenues until that dream sale comes along.

When it Backfires

There is definitely potential in domain name parking, but there also many drawbacks to this method.  Instead of waiting for a big sale that may or may not come, they could be investing their time and effort into developing and marketing that domain through a website.  Of course this takes hard work but as they say, hard work pays off.

More often than not, domain name parkers end up waiting longer they would like, just hoping they miraculously fall into a thousand dollar sale with very little effort.  The ones who thought they were clever by registering multiple domain names with the hopes of parking for profit are usually the most disappointed when things don’t go as planned.

What most domain parkers don’t realize is that a domain’s true value lies in the popularity it builds and the traffic it generates.  The hard truth is that a domain typically does not increase any more in value than when you registered it, regardless of your status within a particular market.  A popular website doesn’t necessarily translate into a million dollar domain name.  This is especially the case when the name is simply sitting there boasting Google ads. Thus, if you are just parking it to get a few clicks for some measly ads, then your domain is only worth a couple of pennies over the price of registration.  This is something you need to take into consideration before you buy into all the prosperous stories about domain name parking.

Your Best Bet

If you can come up with a business plan that includes your domain name, you will have a much better chance of adding to its value.  This means you are generating traffic and bringing in visitors who actually subscribe for a newsletter, join your membership site or buy products or services.  If you really want to sell your domain name for big money, this is the best way to show that it has real business potential.  Even if you have no plans of selling the name at all, you are more likely to profit by putting it to use than letting it sit collecting dust in an overcrowded corner of the net.

Why is it so Important?

Marketing products and services through Pay Per Click campaigns has proven to be effective but these days, almost everyone is doing it.  Because of this, it is important to implement any method you can to lower your cost per click.  One if the best ways to lower your cost per click and increase your click through rate is to enhance your visibility on elite search engines such as Google, Yahoo and MSN.  All throughout the web, successful PPC advocates are raving about the importance of registering a keyword-rich domain name to improve marketing efforts.

A keyword-rich domain name can be a very effective weapon in your SEO arsenal when it focuses on the three critical areas of a PPC campaign: the headline, the ad text and the clickable URL.  Keeping this in mind, here are some factors to consider when choosing a domain name to aid in your Pay Per Click marketing scheme:

.com TLDs are the Best

Whether it is for a PPC campaign or other endeavors, you want to register your domain with a .com extension if at all possible.  It just tends to resonate better with internet users and also makes you look a bit more established.  On the other hand, extensions such as .net and .biz have been doing well as of late with PPC campaigns so these would definitely be your best alternatives.  In the end, choosing a good domain name with relevant keywords is more important than the extension you decide on.

Get Innovative With Your Name

With keyword-rich domains becoming more scarce, you might need to get a little more creative when registering a name.  Something as simple as adding a hyphen in between your keywords could get you that much closer to your ideal domain name.  Although some don’t recommend it, this proves to have little to no negative impact on a PPC campaign.

Capitalize Your PPC Keywords

After settling on a good domain name, you need to optimize your ads in a manner that makes them more attractive in the eyes of the search engines.  When it comes to PPC campaigns, MyProduct.com can be far more effective than myproduct.com.  Check the statistics and you will likely see that you get more clicks by doing this.  Though it seems quite simple, the difference can end up being more than a 300% difference in your click throughs.  In the end, it can raise your PPC quality score and lower your cost per click as well.

Registering a keyword-rich domain is only practical for a Pay Per Click campaign.  When coupling the tricks in this article with a few others, you should notice results in a very short time.  In the highly competitive world of online marketing, one must take advantage of all they possible can.

]]> http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/2009/07/07/choosing-a-keyword-rich-domain-for-your-ppc-campaign/feed/ 0 http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/2009/05/05/the-pros-and-cons-of-keyword-rich-domains/ http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/2009/05/05/the-pros-and-cons-of-keyword-rich-domains/#comments Tue, 05 May 2009 16:35:55 +0000 CommunicateBetter http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/?p=317 When it comes to choosing a domain name, there are numerous strategies one can employ to ensure they make the best selection possible.  One strategy that is often recommended is the implementation of a popular keyword relative to your niche.  While there are obvious advantages to such a move, there are also instances where it could work to your disadvantage.  This article will go over both sides of the spectrum.

The Bright Side

The way some explain it, you might believe that incorporating a keyword into your domain will automatically result in high search engine rankings for that particular term.  This might be the case in an uncompetitive market but let’s face it, those fields are far and few these days.  In fact, it is quite debatable how much search engines take your domain URL into account.  Be that as it may, every step helps in the battle to increase search engine visibility.  A good keyword-rich domain will definitely come in handy when submitting your site to directories and participating in link exchange programs.  It will also allow you to have your domain name become bolded in the search engine results, putting emphasis on what your site is all about.  Therefore, even if its only a small boost, it goes a long way in achieving those quality rankings you desire.

The Downside

The main disadvantage to keyword implementation is the likelihood that your domain will be similar to the competition’s.  Just think about how many URLs have the terms “web hosting” in them.  In such a highly competitive niche, your domain will be strikingly similar to the next, a factor that might lead potential clients to believe they have already paid you a visit.  Trying to leverage a popular keyword or phrase could also lead to a domain name that is too long, difficult to remember and doesn’t necessarily apply to your specialties.  This could end up limiting both your click-through and conversion rates.  If this is the road you decide to take, keep in mind that people are more likely to associate you with generic keywords rather than the actual name of your business.

Search Engine Rankings vs. Brand Awareness

Before registering a domain name, you must make the difficult decision of what is the most important: achieving high search engine rankings or establishing brand awareness.  Now let’s clear the air here – just because you choose to focus on your brand doesn’t necessarily mean that you won’t get search engine rankings.  That goal just might take a bit longer to achieve.  If the name of your business is highly marketable, you probably want it to be well known throughout your niche.  Remember that this is no overnight thing as it could take months and possibly years to accomplish.  The rewards however, are worth the wait.  Just imagine having the name of your business come up whenever some mentions that particular niche.  On the other hand, if your company name is less marketable, establishing a brand name may not be as important.  In this case, you might be satisfied with getting good search engine rankings.  There is really no right or wrong here.  It’s all about what determining what works best for your website.

Why a Generic Domain?

When registering a domain name equipped with generic keywords, you stand the chance to rank higher and faster than some of the most well designed and optimized sites.  This is a very crucial aspect of SEO.  Although search engines literally return hundreds to thousands of results, you want to find yourself at the head of the class instead of the last few pages or even somewhere in the middle.  Let’s be honest – how many pages do you sift through when looking for products or services on Google?  Probably not many.  Most web surfers don’t make it past the first two pages.  This means your web pages needed to be listed somewhere in the top 20 in order to be viewed.   One of the best ways to achieve this ranking is with a good, generic domain name.

How it Works

The average search engine is more like an advanced variation of the Yellow Pages.  You can typically find the exact product or service you’re looking for in the phone book underneath a generic name.  On the web, search engines like Yahoo function in a similar manner, delivering search engine results based on sites with URLs and content relevant to what is being requested.  For example, if your business “Computer Company” sells laptop computers, you can dramatically increase search engine traffic by using the generic term “laptop” in your domain name rather than the name of your business.   This simple strategy could put you light years ahead of competitors who focused on the trendier names.

Some organizations pay thousands of dollars on advertising but the internet has evolved tremendously.  With this evolution have come a variety of new ways to attract the increasing number of potential buyers.  There is a lot that goes into site promotion and to be honest, nothing is ever guaranteed.  While investing in quality advertising can prove beneficial, site promotion all starts with choosing a good domain name.  Savvy webmasters and businesses have learned that when it comes to securing their presence and gaining a competitive edge, the generic domain name is one of the best ways to go.

Every domain name is registered for a given time period in which the owner has a certain amount of time to make a renewal.  If the domain owner fails to renew the name, the domain in question goes through a series of processes before being deleted from the registry.  Below we have outlined the stages of the domain expiration cycle.

Expiration

When a domain owner fails to renew their domain name, the registrar places it under a Register-Hold status in which it can only be renewed by the owner.  The grace period for renewal generally takes anywhere in between 30 and 45 days.  At this point, the domain is disabled, meaning the owner cannot utilize basic features such email and links.  In order to use these features, the owner must fully pay for the renewal along with penalty fees.

Deletion

The Deletion stage is very straightforward as the registrar simply deletes the non-renewed domain name from its database.

Redemption

The domain name can only be restored during this stage.  Any requests for changes will not be granted.  The domain remains in this stage for up to 30 days, during which the owner can only retrieve it by contacting the registrar.  At this point, the renewal fee must be paid in full along with a penalty fee that can range up to $200.  Once the fees are paid, the domain name enters a stage known as Pending Restore for a period of seven days.  From here, common features such as web pages and email access are restored to the owner.  Next, the registrar submits a restore certificate to the domain registry.  After the Restore command and reports have been approved, the domain goes back to an active status.

Pending Delete and Deletion

If a domain remains in the redemption period after five days, the name is moved to the Pending Delete stage which typically lasts for about five days.  At this stage, the domain is deleted permanently and the registrar nor the registry can change its status.  Once the five day period has expired, the registrar deletes the domain name from the registry.  When this happens, all major registrars release the expired domain name back onto the market, making it available to whoever wants it first.

The Early Jump

The final two stages are the most crucial time period for anyone looking to capitalize on expired domain names.  This is because the savvy registrants and traders are waiting and ready to snatch them up.  The domain name backordering process is extremely beneficial in this case as it puts you ahead of the scavengers and can help you grab the domain name you have been eyeing.

What is a Domain Name Transfer?

A domain name transfer describes the process of taking the name you registered with one registrar and moving it to another.  This simply means you only want to switch your domain name service provider.  Everything about your website and actual domain name remains the same.  Keep in mind that a domain name transfer isn’t the same as transferring your website from one server to another.

The Transfer Process

The first step in transferring a domain name is initiating the transfer.  While it is up to you to make the request, only the new registrar can initiate the transfer.  After purchasing an account and getting set up with the new registrar, you should see a link or button that reads “transfer domain”.  In most cases, you will be prompted to enter the domain name, confirm and click “OK”.

What you don’t see behind the scenes is the email exchange between the new registrar and the WHOIS database regarding your domain.  The transfer process moves along once the WHOIS administrative contact accepts the transfer by clicking on a link in the email.  Once the transfer has been approved, the new registrar sends notification to the TLD Registry (Top Level Domain) for further approval.

In order for your domain name to work, it be must active.  If it is inactive, pending, or locked, you will not be able to make the transfer.  This is why it is recommended to transfer your domain name well before the expiration date to avoid such issues.  If your domain is active and registered for 60 days or more, the TLD registry will inform the new registrar that the transfer can continue.   From there, the registry lets the old registrar known that a transfer request has been made.  The old registrar generally has about five days to respond to the TLD registry.  If they do not respond in the given amount of time, the registry will automatically assume approval by default.  While this helps you make a transfer from a hesitant registrar, it also increases the potential of domain theft.  For this reason, it is advisable to sign up with a registrar that offers domain locking and other protective features.

If the registrar actively approves the transfer, they will do so by responding to the TLD registry.  The registry then takes the name from the old registrar, notifies the new registrar and adds it to their account.  That is the domain name transfer process in a nutshell.  As long as you know what to expect, it can all be a painless task.  Although most support staff members are more than willingly to walk you through the process, it is always good to understand what goes on for yourself.

So,  you have finally decided that you want to make a name for yourself online.  Before you even create the website, it is best to register a domain name first.  As simple as it all sounds, registering a domain is something that calls for careful planning.  Without a strategy, you could end up regretting the chosen name and actually hinder your ability to succeed online.  To avoid those issues, we present you with six critical factors to consider.

Determine the Purpose of Your Site

Before registering a domain name, it makes sense to determine the purpose of your website.  For example, if you are a book distributor and want to sell novels online, you may want to incorporate relative terms into your domain.  If you want to brand your site, come up with something that is unique and can be easily pronounced – Google is a perfect example.

Domain Extension

If at all possible, you want to register your domain name with the popular .com extension.  While this extension is highly recommend, keep in mind that your ideal domain may not be available exactly how you want it.  When this is the case, you should get creative and think of a few combinations that will get you as close to the desired name as possible.  Some options include adding a (-) to the name, although it is not advisable to use more than one.  If you just can’t find that .com, don’t hesitate to use .net or .biz as they make the best alternatives.

Think Keywords

If you want to generate traffic from search engines like Google and Yahoo, it wise to research a few primary keywords relative to your initiative and incorporate them into your domain.  This could possibly boost your search engine rankings and drive in more traffic as well.

Length of Registration

Good domain names are hard to come by.  For this reason, we suggest registering your name for as long possible.  If you prefer to renew each year, be sure to do so on time or you just might lose it to someone else.

Domain Registrars

A domain registrar is what you need to register your domain name.  There are a several registrars to choose from and while they basically offer the same service, you will find that the price tends to range widely.  If you want to save money, you should look into a company that offers free domain registration with the purchase of web hosting service or an inexpensive registrar like GoDaddy.   In general, you should easily be able to find a respectable registrar offering domain registration for $10 or less per year.

Domain Privacy

The last factor you need to consider is the possibility of somebody looking for you on the web.  Anyone can search for domain owners on the WHOIS website.  Depending on what you have going on, you may not want to make this information accessible.  In this case, you could opt for domain privacy which will keep your domain name private on the WHOIS database.  A registrar typically charges an additional fee for this service, but you might find it to be worth the extra costs.