One thing I think about when evaluating domain names to purchase is the possibility that there are alternative spellings to the domain names – both accepted spellings and common typos. If the alternate spellings are common, I typically won’t buy these types of names, because there will often be confusion, and the last thing I want to do is develop a website and find that people accidentally navigate to the alternatively spelled domain name.
This is something I am especially cognizant about when the alternate spelling is commonly accepted as the proper spelling – or their is a commonly used abbreviation. A quick example of this is a name like FortWorth.com and FtWorth.com. I would have a difficult time paying 6 figures for either of these names, because there will always be confusion – especially when pitching businesses over the telephone. I would find it annoying to have to explain, it’s “F-O-R-T Worth dot com” or visa versa.
If you do have the opportunity to buy a good domain name that has common misspellings (both accepted and unaccepted spellings), and you are gung ho about development, I would try my hardest to buy the misspellings as well and do a 301 redirect to the properly spelled domain name. Once you begin to develop your website, you are going to increase the value of the typo, making it more expensive for you to acquire down the road.
This is one of the little things to consider before your development project.
Great advice.
When I build out a full blown out website to generate lots of traffic that I am serious about…which I may want to flip down the road to an actual larger and most established e-business a year or later down the road, I always try to secure the singular + plural .com and all of net/org as well.. Also the domain with a dashe between the keywords of each variation.
Usually end up with about 15 or 20 domains but well worth the $150 yearly investment long term. Better safe than sorry.
This also helps you block competitors from entering the market easily. It is harder to do so when you don’t have the keyword domain 🙂
Owning smaller niches has never been easier. Get the top domains and you got pretty much a sure guarantee to be king and rule that territory!
Best,
Mike
http://www.wannadevelop.com
Great post Elliot,
I think many people arent aware of so many common words that are spelled differantly here in the UK I often need to check the UK spelling and US spelling before I buy any domain.
Classic examples
Arse = UK Ass = US
Areoplane = UK Airplane = US
Here is a Wiki Link for others to see more details
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_and_British_English_spelling_differences
Obviously if you can buy both spellings that is the best bet otherwise dont expect not to lose traffic to the other spelling.
Regards,
Robbie