CAN DOMAINERS FIND A BETTER TERM THAN “DIRECT NAVIGATION”?
February 27th, 2008 Posted in General Domain News
It’s been bugging me for several years now, but the term “direct navigation” is really not going to work in teaching the public about “type-in traffic”. It doesn’t define very well the process of reaching a website by typing in a domain name, but it seems to have caught on amongst the domain industry pros. However, this is a perfect example of how esoteric terms can sandbag a new and misunderstood industry in its efforts to break out into the mainstream. For me, it’s a ridiculous term for us domainers because it creates an image of a guy in a little boat trying to “navigate” his way across a lake by focusing on a rock pile or house along the shore.
Additionally, I have “direct navigation” alert terms on my google page, and it sucks in news articles talking about “direct navigation”. Here are some of the many topics that “direct navigation” has been linked within news items:
1) GPS tracking devices in cars
2) GPS portable positioning devices
3) Satellite radios
4) GPS mapping devices, such as Tom Tom
5) A touch panel system for steam cooking equipment
These are just a few of the other ways “direct navigation” has been applied. I’ve read many more. I wish I’d written them down to help prove my point better.
LET’S CHANGE THIS! I propose domainers to submit their suggestions for a two-word phrase that better describes the action we all live for — the act of an internet user typing a domain name in their browser field (some call it an “URL locater”). *NOTE* Before you submit any suggestions here, I would like you to BUY the domains first, so you don’t find a “gem” and give it away before controlling the domain!
I’ll be glad to post your domain phrases in my comment section, as long as they have to do with this blog!
What I’ll do is submit the suggestions in a few weeks over to Andrew Allemann and maybe he can put it up on his website for a survey and we can vote on which would be the best term to replace “direct navigation”! (I like Rick Schwartz’s “browsersurfing.com” - he came up with it after another discussion on this topic we had in 2006 - it’s a great term, I have promoted it as a replacement for “direct navigation” in several posts in the last year or so).
So, let’s see what new terms we can come up with! Here’s some of mine…
BrowserSearching.com
BrowserFinding.com
KeywordSurfing.com
NameDirection.com
DomainNavigate.com
NameDestination.com
DomainNameSurfing.com (I know I know, it’s three words…I cheated!)
Let’s see some other good ones! Have fun, be creative but on focus!
12 Responses to “CAN DOMAINERS FIND A BETTER TERM THAN “DIRECT NAVIGATION”?”
By Jorge "Pixelbug" Martinez on Feb 28, 2008
When I think of the average surfer online, I can’t help but compare them to tourists who are unaware of their surroundings. They are visiting (the web) and hope that if they SEARCH for “ITEM X”, they get exactly that in return — and not ads for “ITEM Y”. The world needs a personalized-assisted way to search for things online. My suggestions are:
Concierge Navigation
Assisted Searching
Targeted Browsing
(rearrangement of these words don’t work as well IMO. These combinations made the most sense if you really consider the definition of each word)
Great point of discussion Steven.
++++STEPHEN DOUGLAS SEZ+++++
Thanks for your comments, Jorge! You have a good point, but we really need to wrap up the concept in an “easy to remember” and descriptive phrasing that can be promoted by all domain industry websites and domainers. Pick one! I like “targeted browsing”.
Jorge “Pixelbug” Martinez
By Kelly Lieberman on Feb 28, 2008
SearchByDotCom.com
In order for the term to have mass appeal it must be absolutely descriptive of the process it describes. It does not have to be a domainer’s domain as we are trying to ‘pin the tail on the donkey’ to describe a behavior. The domain name itself may not hold value nor does it need to in order to be relevant. We are only trying to find a way for the masses to better understsand intuitive search.
The behavior is “search by dot com”. It is what a lot of people do habitually and intuitively. It defines it precisely and uses jargon that the world understands.
It will be interesting to see what else is submitted.
++++STEPHEN DOUGLAS SEZ+++++
Hi Kelly,
You make good points, and I agree with your central premise ALMOST. My problem is that “search by dot com” is an unwieldy phrase, although it closely describes the action we need internet users to follow. Keep trying!
By Sai on Feb 28, 2008
Here is a campaign that I started to educate the businesses on the value of type-in visitors.
http://www.domainnews.com/general/2008022639/domain-investor-turns-duckeggcom-site-into-cash/
http://www.duckeggs.com/domains
thanks,
Sai.
++++STEPHEN DOUGLAS SEZ+++++
Hi Sai,
I’ve been watching your efforts since you first announced it last year. I’ve been to your site a few times, and I want to order those eggs! But I can’t decide if I want the duckling eggs or the eggs for a duck omellette! Great job, sir!
By Orlando of Motex Group on Feb 28, 2008
I think I may have previously mention that I use Direct Browsing.
What you think
++++STEPHEN DOUGLAS SEZ+++++
Very very nice! Do you own the domain?
By william on Feb 29, 2008
CAN YOU NOT TYPE YOUR BLOG POST TITLES IN ALL CAPS? IT LOOKS VERY ANNOYING ON A FEED READER.
++++STEPHEN DOUGLAS SEZ++++
NO.
By jeff schneider on Mar 1, 2008
I think it should be either Organic Search or Organic Browsing.
++++STEPHEN DOUGLAS SEZ+++++
I don’t think so, Jeff. It sounds cool, but it pushes the brain to think of food that has not been grown with antibiotics and other chemicals. If I wanted to do an “organic search”, I’d be wanting to find all products grown organically and ecologically safe, with renewable energy sources.
Nice brand name, though. Did you register those domains? If so… nice job. Build them out to sell organic products.
By jeff schneider on Mar 2, 2008
Yes I did register OrganicBrowsing.com , OrganicSearch was already taken. Who says all the best names are already regd? Anyhow Stephen I like your mindset. Are you still involved with Domainfest?
++++STEPHEN DOUGLAS SEZ+++++
Hi Jeff, good job getting at least one of the domains. Thanks for the compliment, but sometimes my mind isn’t set. lol
I was never involved with Domainfest, although they are an excellent domain conference to attend. I was the executive director of the Domain Roundtable Conference 2007, which you can find featured at DNjournal.com.
By jeff schneider on Mar 5, 2008
Hello Stephen,
I am very aware of The refreshing alternative that the Domain Roundtable provides for the domaining community. They are lucky having you to help guide them.
I have given serious thought to the rebranding of Direct Navigation. And the winner behind the cutain is = Direct Search.
By definition it is easily understood and is intuitively user friendly. Thats my final vote in this all important Primary election.
DIRECT SEARCH is the answer!
++++STEPHEN DOUGLAS SEZ+++++
Yep, “Direct Search” seems like a capable fellow who can replace the musty “direct navigation” term, but what sets “direct search” apart from searching from a search engine or a browser? It really doesn’t define the difference, which is the BIG money shot for domainers… typing the domain into the browser search field, or using the many search engines, especially some of the default locations such as MSN and Google?
Oh, for your’s and anyone else’s information, the DRT 2007, that I designed and produced as the executive producer, was the “breakout” Domain Roundtable event. It put Mr. Westerdal on the cover of Modern Domainer magazine. However, I am NO LONGER ASSOCIATED WITH NAME INTELLIGENCE, the owners of the event. I must refrain from making further remarks because of legal claims I filed regarding my commission from revenues made from the event. I would really appreciate it if all my readers and everyone in the domain industry understood that I no longer have any connection whatsoever with Name Intelligence, Domaintools.com, and the Domain Roundtable.
Thanks!
By jeff schneider on Mar 8, 2008
Hello Stephen,
I understand your position now. We all have tasted the corporate effect to some extent. I was a stock broker for close to twenty years and I understand the funny business that goes on beleive me.
You are right about Direct Search not being quite definitive enough. The only other good alternatives would be Direct connect or direct connect traffic. It would depend on the context used. We will figure this out yet, hang in there.
By Bob on Mar 13, 2008
How about dSearch!
++++STEPHEN DOUGLAS SEZ+++++
Sounds “Dee - lightful”, Bob! That’s a great brand tho for domain availability searching. hope you got that domain! I don’t think the name itself will help laymen understand the “typein” search process by that name though. Thanks for your suggestion!
By Michael on Apr 1, 2008
Type-in traffic
++++STEPHEN DOUGLAS SEZ+++++
Hi Michael,
That’s the most obvious one, and seems to make the most sense. My problem with it is that dang HYPHEN - lol. Plus, even though the “three” words are clear to domainers, the public still wouldn’t get it because I don’t think they’d understand the phrase and its connection “typing-in-your-browse-bar-the-phrase-or-word-you-want and-adding-an-extension-to-it-instead-of-searching-for-it-in-a-search-engine”.
By Michael on Apr 10, 2008
Well better have the hyphen in the domain description than in the domain itself