I estimate that at least 95% of companies DON’T get it, maybe more.

Teahupoo

P.S. Where in the Pacific Northwest are you?

XXXXXX Stephen Douglas Responds:

Hi Gregg,

Why do I have the feeling your name “Teahupoo” represents a bone crushing surf break?

I’m up in beautiful Oregon, although I do some work in SoCal and my office is located there.

Hmmmmmmmmm…….

Is that what you do best ??
Think outside the box ??

Big Ed.

XXXXXX Stephen Douglas Responds:

Hi Big Ed,

I would say “yes” if I liked that term, but it’s so over-used that “thinking outside of the box” just means you haven’t found your own special box to think in, and that everyone else is outside that box scrambling around trying to find “that” special box!

cheers,

Stephen

Re: ” Interesting…Huh? ”

IMHO, Kraft Foods has left the indelible
impression on our TV sets for year as the
company who produces Quality Foods, even
under writing certain special Quality movies
from time to time on Network Television.
I didn’t know them to be a Beverage Company.
My ” Huh? ” makes me think they are more than
a domain name investor. Wonder if they are
preparing to be a ” Beverage Dealer ” in the
future and snagged the name.
Maybe then they would be ready for
” BeverageCup.com “….just maybe.

Thanks S.
Big Ed

XXXXXX Stephen Douglas Responds:

Hey Big Ed,

You make a good point. And that “beveragecup.com” domain reminds me of those quickie soups, fruit cups, and other beverage containers. You have to sell the “cup’ angle. Maybe make beverage cup and idea for a company to include milk and some sort of cereal container attached to the bottom. So you have a cup of milk, with one of those little cereal boxes attached to the bottom. Inside the cereal box is a little spoon. So you can buy “Frosted Flakes” ready to go, with the cup for the cereal and the milk, and a little spoon.

Think about it… a little cereal snack kit. I can see my idea being developed right now, and it wouldn’t be the first time.

cheers!

How can it make sense to pay thousands of dollars a month for a keyword phrase on PPC when you could OWN the domain for less?

I didn’t see an email to send you names so I am posting them here:

PENSACOLABANKRUPTCYLAWYERS.COM
PENSACOLAMUSEUM.COM
PENSACOLAUSEDCARS.COM
PREPAIDLIFEINSURANCE.COM
PRESCHOOLTUTORING.COM
RACINGBOATPARTS.COM
SALTWATERFLYROD.COM
SCRAPBOOKINGSET.COM
SEBASTIANFLORIDA.NET
SEWINGMACHINESWHOLESALE.COM
SEXYBRIDALLINGERIE.COM
STUDENTVISACREDITCARD.NET
TALONBODYKITS.COM
TEENAGEACNECURE.COM
TIRECHANGINGTOOLS.COM
TORTOLADIVING.COM
TRACTORTIREBARGAINS.COM

ALL of the domain names above have numerous exact match advertisers bidding for that term.

Gregg

XXXXXX Stephen Douglas Responds:

Hi Gregg,

I didn’t want to provide you a forum for all those domains, so I cut them, let’s see if you can sell these I featured. If you do, you owe me 10% referral commission. That’s the ongoing agreement between domainers and bloggers/newsites that feature domains. You’re on the honor system, so remember that word “kharma!”

good luck!

Domains are a tool, and many of those names were used to support a broader campaign to educate/inform their audience. With all your experience in marketing you should know that effective promotion/marketing needs to be about the USP-unique selling proposition, not the product itself. hamburger.com is a great domain, but it doesn’t do anything to advance the brand of a burger chain, where HeavenOnABun.com will. Domainers should encourage and embrace the use of domain attached to marketing campaigns. A the power of the “tool” (domain) is recognized as more effective, the value and use of more generic domains will rise. A domain does not have to have “everlasting” value to contribute significant value to an organization. Ask Obama08.com owners, was that a bust of a name?

You glib comment about ad agencies using different or non-generic domains as a way to control the message and marketing dollars is almost too absurd for a response. As a marketing professional you should know that success, traffic and revenue provide the control in that relationship and if they knew a generic name would provide all that, they would snap them up…fast. It is our job as domainers and marketers to educate them to that value so we can get better $$$ for our names.

Hmm, maybe that needs an ad campaign. KillerMarketingTool.com might be a good domain to promote that fact…..

XXXXXX Stephen Douglas Responds:

Now this is a post I love. There are so many points in your comment here to respond to, you and I need to have an offline discussion and I’ll post the results of our head-to-head discussion about advertisers buying lame-ass advertising “themes” that die after 90 days, and how that “benefits” the ad agency’s client.

Just to start the debate off, you can email me and tell me how an advertising/marketing theme that literally eliminates the client’s prodservs from the domain helps the client. Why don’t you show me how 10 domains listed on Rob’s list work in your intepretation of ROI for the client.

Tell me how traditional advertising costs, such as TV, Radio, Magazine, newspaper, and even online banners using a domain name that doesn’t immediately CAPTURE the client’s prodservs for an evergreen investment is worth it to the client? The ad agency benefits, for sure, but as usual, the client’s payment for the ad campaign is like flushing money down the toilet after a few weeks to a few months.

You don’t take into consideration I worked for FCB, and in my own productions and events, I spent over $2 million in advertising by traditional methods. I’ve made more money from domains than any return made from “ad agency campaigns” where they buy the domain name matching their campaign theme.

I invite you to have a nice debate regarding these points. I’ll give you links to your site, and to any articles proving or providing data to support your arguments.

You are someone who has an opinion about ad/marketing and how domains fit, so I’m very open to discussing this with you. I want you to convince me that I’m wrong.

my email address: successclick at g m ai l .com

I look forward to hearing from you!

Beverages.com

Re-Directs to KraftFoods.com

Interesting Huh….?

Ed – Michigan

XXXXXX Stephen Douglas Responds:

Hi Ed,

Yes it does! And that’s a killer domain name to own. Do you have any other thoughts about that domain and Kraft foods? It seems that Kraft “got it” for that investment. I’d like you to elaborate further on your comment about how that’s “interesting”.

cheers!