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news A Threat to the Importance of Domain Names

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Domain names face a number of threats, including AI personal assistants.

Our industry seems to spend a lot of energy battling between the relative value of old top level domain names versus new ones. It doesn’t spend enough time paying attention to the threats that the domain industry faces as a whole.

As I explained on the DNW Predictions podcast last week, one of these possible threats is starting to appear.

A lot of people have said that voice control is a threat to domain names. I disagree. The idea of people telling their web browser where to go via voice does not eliminate the need for navigational signposts like domain names.

Yet, we are now inviting a new way of getting information and ordering goods directly into our living room: Amazon’s Alexa, Google Home and the like. We also have AI-powered personal assistants like Google Assistant and Siri.

Full Article Here:
http://domainnamewire.com/2017/01/05/threat-importance-domain-names/
 
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The views expressed on this page by users and staff are their own, not those of NamePros.
Thanks for sharing, but no worries, really :sneaky:
 
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Thought provoking article, thanks.

Domains are needed by businesses, who are being crowded out by monopolistic giants. So people complain about search results being skewed, with some success. But with voice assistants you won't see the results, just a proposed action - no way to see what happens, let alone affect it. Goodbye small businesses.

Will people blindly follow voice assistants the way they do satnavs, driving into deep water and getting stuck?

Q How do I clean my hairdryer?

A Wash in warm water.

Note that does not say to unplug first. Fatal Error.
 
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Thought provoking article, thanks.

Domains are needed by businesses, who are being crowded out by monopolistic giants. So people complain about search results being skewed, with some success. But with voice assistants you won't see the results, just a proposed action - no way to see what happens, let alone affect it. Goodbye small businesses.

Will people blindly follow voice assistants the way they do satnavs, driving into deep water and getting stuck?

How do I clean my hairdryer

i think you are spot on, the biggest problem with the voice assistants are going to be that they will be giving "general" options...more likely options from the monopolistic giants. I mean imagine getting a voice assistant to send you a call girl...haahah... u might end with one that looks like a swamp donkey but she fits the search criteria u stipulated for the voice assistant.
 
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Whats dangerous is the possibility of search engines capturing website data and repacking web content to provide a complete web experience without the need to leave the safety of their site.
 
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there is only one way to kill domains
and it is to kill internet.

good luck with that.
 
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there is only one way to kill domains
and it is to kill internet.

And that is precisely what Amazon and Facebook want to do - kill the open internet and keep you in their walled gardens.

I have actually seen businesses shut down a website and just sell through Amazon marketplace. No need for a domain then, especially an aftermarket one.
 
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I think even IF there was a slight dip in domain names, it will come back much stronger once brands realize they want an actual identity of their own, rather than being just another Amazon or Facebook shop.
 
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I think even IF there was a slight dip in domain names, it will come back much stronger once brands realize they want an actual identity of their own, rather than being just another Amazon or Facebook shop.
As in any market - buy the dip :xf.laugh:
 
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Whats dangerous is the possibility of search engines capturing website data and repacking web content to provide a complete web experience without the need to leave the safety of their site.

Exactly!
Big G doing this more extensive by every week.
(all that inserts, calculators, info boxes, start times, sports info, news, etc etc.. coming from external sources/sites)

Everyone -here I guess we are really no exception- want to stay hard gained visitors on our sites, not directing them away.

In case of G you are forced to pay for that privilege.


Back to topic:
I think that it maybe gets a little bit more crowded, just like with nGTLD s, more options and more areas to market, optimise and being present.

Strong domains getting stronger.
Weak domains getting weaker.

So yes, domains still be needed.. but maybe other factors getting more important.

Like search engines switched back from EMD's to a higher weighting of other signals.

Future will tell. Nice share anyway!
 
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An “ideal” Internet has often conceived of as being free, open and decentralized. However, it seems like the internet is moving towards being closed and centralized, with platforms and walled gardens.

Most people spend their time within isolated mega platforms, walled off giants like Facebook that dominate the internet, and control the experience and information a user sees.

Google/Facebook/Amazon is the internet for some people.

And a few companies are controling large parts of various online market niches. For example: Google (now Alphabet) = Gmail, Maps, YouTube, Google Search, Adwords. Facebook = Facebook, Instragram, Whatsapp, Facebook messenger, etc.
 
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Brands will always want their own website, or they should.

Here is an example, BodyBuildingWarehouse. They sell on Amazon yes..but they have built an ultra solid presence by having a dedicated web platform on the dot com.

Why lose all that traffic to an Amazon store where you will probably leak potential sales to rivals.
 
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An “ideal” Internet has often conceived of as being free, open and decentralized. However, it seems like the internet is moving towards being closed and centralized, with platforms and walled gardens.

Most people spend their time within isolated mega platforms, walled off giants like Facebook that dominate the internet, and control the experience and information a user sees.

Google/Facebook/Amazon is the internet for some people.

And a few companies are controling large parts of various online market niches. For example: Google (now Alphabet) = Gmail, Maps, YouTube, Google Search, Adwords. Facebook = Facebook, Instragram, Whatsapp, Facebook messenger, etc.

The problem is essentially Big G .. they have been consistently trying to buy FB as well. Sadly whilst they may remain separate entities both companies are serving the same agenda. Their top ranks have been infiltrated by senior governmental operatives.... Data has become the new "gold" and with all the personal data being collected with FB and Big G....makes them goldmines. Think about how nicely all this personal data and location mapping will intergrate with the next part of their plan... mass RFID chipping.
 
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If devices just keep lifting info from peoples sites and presenting it as their own, leading to nobody actually visiting the site and clicking ads, web developers will simply stop creating content.

Eventually there would be no up to date content for the devices to lift, thus making them useless and the main internet grinding to a halt until developers began adding new content again.

Clearly a new way of generating income for sites would be needed, perhaps like some kind on pay-per-visit/reference system.

The same will also happen if Google doesn't come up with a proper solution to dealing with ad blockers, and soon.
 
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If devices just keep lifting info from peoples sites and presenting it as their own, leading to nobody actually visiting the site and clicking ads, web developers will simply stop creating content.

Fully agreed.

But first they will try harder to comply and deal with new rules. Just like G is doing now. Even worse on mobiles..

1st page of serps is plastered with either "borrowed" or paid content.
 
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Brands will always want their own website, or they should.

Here is an example, BodyBuildingWarehouse. They sell on Amazon yes..but they have built an ultra solid presence by having a dedicated web platform on the dot com.

Why lose all that traffic to an Amazon store where you will probably leak potential sales to rivals.
i strongly agree
 
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Businesses will always need domains as email is a very key component to business.

AI voice activation will still need domains as a landing aaddress IMO :xf.smile:
 
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While I agree with most of the responses that a land is always gonna be needed to build a house on, the new Voice gadgets (I have 3 already in my house ...) - I think will make the following important:

  1. Domain Radio Test is more important than ever. (i.e. "Alexa go to trip dot com" will hardly ever go to TRYP dot com) that domain was sold recently btw...
  2. If anything I think domains are even more important than before, as pre-Alexa - people googled your site and it was at the mercy of Google/SEO. Now its probably gonna be "Alexa open namepros.com and read my inbox." vs. google "namepros" and if someone SEO'ed their way into 1 pos.....
  3. Like @TDM said, strong domains will get stronger, weak will get weaker. Domain shortness - I think is king. Whats better: "Alexa open RORY . com" or "Alexa open rearheadlinesmyfriends . com" God know where she'll go with the latter...

So IMHO: short domains, radio test

my 1.5 cents, folks.
 
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While I agree with most of the responses that a land is always gonna be needed to build a house on, the new Voice gadgets (I have 3 already in my house ...) - I think will make the following important:

  1. Domain Radio Test is more important than ever. (i.e. "Alexa go to trip dot com" will hardly ever go to TRYP dot com) that domain was sold recently btw...
  2. If anything I think domains are even more important than before, as pre-Alexa - people googled your site and it was at the mercy of Google/SEO. Now its probably gonna be "Alexa open namepros.com and read my inbox." vs. google "namepros" and if someone SEO'ed their way into 1 pos.....
  3. Like @TDM said, strong domains will get stronger, weak will get weaker. Domain shortness - I think is king. Whats better: "Alexa open RORY . com" or "Alexa open rearheadlinesmyfriends . com" God know where she'll go with the latter...

So IMHO: short domains, radio test

my 1.5 cents, folks.

I was about to say almost similar things. You covered almost everything. Let me add 1-2 things on top of what you said.

  1. EMDs will become more important than ever before.
  2. People may say "I want to buy Portable Speaker. Alexa please take me to "PortableSpeaker.com" because people understand generic terms more easily than any made up terms.
Thanks
 
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100 percent, EMD and the easier the better, not them domains that require a Phd in literature to understand..
 
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And that is precisely what Amazon and Facebook want to do - kill the open internet and keep you in their walled gardens.
Yeah, good luck with that!

I have actually seen businesses shut down a website and just sell through Amazon marketplace. No need for a domain then, especially an aftermarket one.
This is a reflection on the short sighted businessmen or women running such shops. The smart ones make use of Amazon, but are sure to keep building up their own brands. Same thing on Alibaba and Taobao in China. It's a no brainer: best of both worlds! :sneaky:

...Most people spend their time within isolated mega platforms, walled off giants like Facebook that dominate the internet, and control the experience and information a user sees.
Google/Facebook/Amazon is the internet for some people...
For some - a lot! - people, yes, but not most. Most people have a little self control and survival instinct left :xf.wink:
 
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What is also interesting is what we agreed to in most TOS. Scary!
 
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What is also interesting is what we agreed to in most TOS. Scary!
Only because most people are perfectly comfortable not reading TOS :sneaky:
 
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I have actually seen businesses shut down a website and just sell through Amazon marketplace. No need for a domain then, especially an aftermarket one.

I've seen this through a group of Amazon sellers that a domain name is optional. Some top sellers that makes 4-5 figures sales doesn't have a website, solely selling using Amazon market place. They use gmail for email, facebook for networking, sharing discounts, and marketing. Google Adwords for marketing that direct them to their Amazon stores.

Even going to event/seminars from these Amazon sellers doesn't really discuss much about domain name. It is more on how to market their products using Amazon. Because Amazon is also a wall garden, similar to Facebok.

We have so many supplies but low in demand. Domainer needs to diversify to stay in this business.

IMHO
 
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