Before acquiring or hand registering a domain name, I usually do some research on the term in Google. I want to see how many results there are, how many advertisers there are, and whether companies use the term in domain names associated with the product.
When doing my search, I have the Google auto-fill menu enabled, and Google provides a useful list of related searches as I am typing. I sometimes use the results that show up in order to get domain registration ideas. For example, when typing in USB, I get the following options: USB Hub, USB Flash Drive, USB Cable, USB Wireless Adaptor…etc.
Oftentimes, the results are peripheral products that I didn’t knew existed, and sometimes the .com domain of the phrase/term is available to register. When Google first started using the auto fill feature, I had it turned off. However, I’ve since turned it back on and used it to mine domain names.
I believe the auto-fill feature pulls the same terms that are displayed in the Google Adwords Tool. The order that the terms appears does differ so i don’t believe the auto-fill lists keywords with the highest search volume first.
Auto fill also proves another reason why generic domain names and SEO are so important. Many searches result in ONE URL in that search box as well. If a user were to click on that URL, it brings you directly to the site. No fighting for SERP’s…. priceless for the site that get’s listed in the search box suggestions!
I have been using this same technique over at Amazon to get ideas for product related domains. It works very well, and often results in at least an available .net if the .com isn’t available. Many of them have quite nice search volume as well.
I was searching for something in google the other day and noticed this and I ended up buying a few names because of the results I saw in the auto fill. Its great to see what people are searching for.
Brian
check out autocompleteme.com for great domain ideas too
I love autofill, sometimes they can be hilarious while attempting to be helpful. Who knows how some of these get on there.
Why won’t my parakeet
I also find the auto-fill tool helpful when deciding on hand reg’s or even when making a decison on a borderline renewal.
It would be interesting to know what influence the auto-fill has had on driving up reported search volumes for ‘listed’ auto-fill keywords/terms versus similar but ‘non-listed’ or ‘lower-ranked’ auto-fill keywords/terms. E.g. When starting to type for the search term “bike storage box”, other similar options are auto-listed (e.g. “bike storage solutions”, “bike storage bag”, etc) well before the intended search term.
And, what effect has auto-fill had on search volumes for the singular vs. the plural of a keyword? As example, prior to auto-fill existing, a search for a “bike rack” would have seen that exact term entered into the Search Engine. But now, what % of those who start to enter “bike rack” actually click on the auto-fill suggested plural “bike racks”. What is the trickle-down effect for the owner of BikeRack.com (and conversely for the owner of BikeRacks.com)?
Steve