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Just ramblings of the mind, feel free to weigh in, there is no right or wrong, just opinions.
Direct Navigation, a.k.a 'Type Ins', are gaining traction because advertisers are reaching people when they have the internet in the palm of their hands.
See an ad for hotwire.com, what do you do?
Open Browser > type in HotWire.com
Not
Open Browser > Google > search Hot Wire > Click on result
In terms of an EMD (exact match domain) I think very few people in this modern world actually go to Shoes.com just because there MIGHT be shoes that they want. They go there if they see an advertisement, or if search directs them to the site.
There is a constant fear that Google will remove the direct navigation in the browsers.
The problem with Google is that they have no real control over anything other then their search results. They don't own any of our websites, and they want to be able to control some actual real estate. Their business model works right now, but direct navigation is a direct threat to them.
In their heart-of-hearts, they would love to be your host and your registrar. I think inklings of this are rooted within the gTLD program... try to explode the namespace and devalue everything and make Google gTLDs the most valuable, as they will index them higher than other TLD's.
That's just a theory, but it smells like something Google would do.
Apple is also considering eliminating Google as their 'go to' search engine, providing their own search or even and considering a better contract with Bing.
Yes good ole Bing. The contract that Apple has with Google is weak, provides them with little revenue (still billions) , and Apple loves to 'in-house' everything they can (Beats By Dre acquisition).
I think if Google ever did eliminate the navigation bar, they would quickly take the #1 spot from MySpace in the "What not to do with a billion dollar idea" category.
In the end, it's what the people want, not what Google or ICANN wants. The release of new gTLDs is marred with deception and worthlessness. Why pay for a .XYZ when they are giving them out for free and a .NET is just as good. It makes no sense to the end user to own a gTLD unless it is such a premium keyword that they are all unavailable, and even then they will charge you a premium price.
Now back to direct navigation with respect to gTLDs. I ask everyone I know if they have heard of the new gTLD's, and most business owners have no idea they exist. Most importantly, CUSTOMERS don't know they exist.
So remember that HotWire commercial you just saw?
If you don't remember the extension to to site, what are most people going to type in? You guessed it... .COM .
So with that said, it is my opinion direct navigation solidifies domains as a permanent fixture of the internet, and .COM as the domain extension of worldwide choice.
Yes I know that ccTLDs are fantastic as well, (Kik.de sold for $257,000 USD) but I haven't seen one ad for a .CLUB unless it was a registrar pushing a .CLUB domain. Nobody wants to call their business a .CLUB, and .WEBSITE... isn't there a .WS lurking around there underneath a .MOBI or .AERO.
I did however see when 50 Cent accidentally said '.COM' instead of '.CLUB'.
What are you thoughts? Always interested in a good discussion.
Cheers!
Direct Navigation, a.k.a 'Type Ins', are gaining traction because advertisers are reaching people when they have the internet in the palm of their hands.
See an ad for hotwire.com, what do you do?
Open Browser > type in HotWire.com
Not
Open Browser > Google > search Hot Wire > Click on result
In terms of an EMD (exact match domain) I think very few people in this modern world actually go to Shoes.com just because there MIGHT be shoes that they want. They go there if they see an advertisement, or if search directs them to the site.
There is a constant fear that Google will remove the direct navigation in the browsers.
The problem with Google is that they have no real control over anything other then their search results. They don't own any of our websites, and they want to be able to control some actual real estate. Their business model works right now, but direct navigation is a direct threat to them.
In their heart-of-hearts, they would love to be your host and your registrar. I think inklings of this are rooted within the gTLD program... try to explode the namespace and devalue everything and make Google gTLDs the most valuable, as they will index them higher than other TLD's.
That's just a theory, but it smells like something Google would do.
Apple is also considering eliminating Google as their 'go to' search engine, providing their own search or even and considering a better contract with Bing.
Yes good ole Bing. The contract that Apple has with Google is weak, provides them with little revenue (still billions) , and Apple loves to 'in-house' everything they can (Beats By Dre acquisition).
I think if Google ever did eliminate the navigation bar, they would quickly take the #1 spot from MySpace in the "What not to do with a billion dollar idea" category.
In the end, it's what the people want, not what Google or ICANN wants. The release of new gTLDs is marred with deception and worthlessness. Why pay for a .XYZ when they are giving them out for free and a .NET is just as good. It makes no sense to the end user to own a gTLD unless it is such a premium keyword that they are all unavailable, and even then they will charge you a premium price.
Now back to direct navigation with respect to gTLDs. I ask everyone I know if they have heard of the new gTLD's, and most business owners have no idea they exist. Most importantly, CUSTOMERS don't know they exist.
So remember that HotWire commercial you just saw?
If you don't remember the extension to to site, what are most people going to type in? You guessed it... .COM .
So with that said, it is my opinion direct navigation solidifies domains as a permanent fixture of the internet, and .COM as the domain extension of worldwide choice.
Yes I know that ccTLDs are fantastic as well, (Kik.de sold for $257,000 USD) but I haven't seen one ad for a .CLUB unless it was a registrar pushing a .CLUB domain. Nobody wants to call their business a .CLUB, and .WEBSITE... isn't there a .WS lurking around there underneath a .MOBI or .AERO.
I did however see when 50 Cent accidentally said '.COM' instead of '.CLUB'.
What are you thoughts? Always interested in a good discussion.
Cheers!