How end users get their domains?

[Hypersot]

I know the title is a bit generic but I couldn't think of anything closer to the question I want to ask, which is:

What is the general rule on how an end user finds a domain that suits him?

I know how it works, roughly, in my country but is the procedure similar globally?

For example:
-here any small businessman that wants to setup a site first looks for a word-of-mouth information.
-Then he looks for cheap solutions, ie. friends or friends of friends that are willing to do that cheaply.
-If that doesn't work then he searches on G for companies in my country that will do that for as cheaply as possible
-Usually quality of name doesn't matter much nor quality of site
-Also, the vast majority of them have no knowledge of sites like sedo, afternic etc. and even if they did they would be very reluctant to do business there.

Big businesses have their own departments who associate with web designers etc. and they sort it out for them.

So, is there a general rule on how end-users find the domain they need in other countries/globally?

Thanks in advance for any answers

 

[endy007]

Yeah you're right. What country are you talking about btw?

I believe that here in central/eastern europe most of the small businesses (at least those non-IT) still have that sort of "mindset" that if the domain is not available, there's no way to get it.

 

[SearchEngineZ]

I have started enough "brand" sites that I figure I have seen both sides of this question. This is my process, and I presume it would be typical.

1) Brainstorm a domain name using Google and a thesaurus
2) Check at my favorite registrar to see if it is available
3) If it isn't available, do Google searches to see who owns it / if it is for sale somewhere
4) If I am net-savvy enough, do a WHOIS search

Depending on the end-user, they might know of somewhere like GoDaddy / Sedo / NameJet / Flippa where you can search for "used domains".

 

[Hypersot]

@endy007 , you got that right. .. southeastern Europe , ie. Greece

@SearchEngineZ . Seriously, an end-user knows how to do all that stuff? I'm totally surprised.

I have been into computers since late 80s and only since I started occupying myself with this business I found out about flippa, sedo, godaddy etc. and it wasn't easy to grasp all those new meanings and words that go with the business in a short time.
I find it really strange that someone that runs, let's say, a car-parts small business, to know the procedure on how to find a domain name. You seriously opened my mind

 

[Paul]

@SearchEngineZ . Seriously, an end-user knows how to do all that stuff? I'm totally surprised.

I have been into computers since late 80s and only since I started occupying myself with this business I found out about flippa, sedo, godaddy etc. and it wasn't easy to grasp all those new meanings and words that go with the business in a short time.
I find it really strange that someone that runs, let's say, a car-parts small business, to know the procedure on how to find a domain name. You seriously opened my mind

An end user could have an experienced developer on their side--especially if said end user is a startup. Startups will pay big bucks to sound like startups. Weird names that nobody in their right mind would use, like ebay, Cox, and GoDaddy, are reserved for enterprises.

Yes, there's really a giant enterprise named Cox. It's a common surname, but really, if you have a name like that, be strategic...

 

[alien51]

I find it really strange that someone that runs, let's say, a car-parts small business, to know the procedure on how to find a domain name.

It is really not that difficult. People nowadays just type whatever they want to know on Google search, like "How to find a domain name".

For someone who is totally computer illiterate, usually they would ask a friend or relative who knows something about computers.

If they cannot find a friend to help them, a quick alternative for them is to run their site on FACEBOOK or some free wordpress blogsite. This will help them run their website, while they take the time to learn how to setup their own domain. I personally know a popular restaurant in my area that is happy to run their online site on just Facebook and Twitter and nothing else.

Normally, people who have no computer experience or whatsoever, will eventually need to PAY someone to run the website for them. Yes they can learn how to get a domain, setup a wordpress, put their content.... but the question is, CAN YOU MAINTAIN YOUR WEBSITE? Normally, the answer is no. You need a computer guy to run it for you, while you focus on your business.

So eventually, the paid computer guy will be the one to get the geeky stuff done. And this geeky guy knows a thing or two about domains.

 

[NameOmnia]

I think there are probably 2 big categories of buyers :
1) those who know something about internet so they search the name themselves
2) those who don't have a clue and ask web agencies to search the name for them
The above applies to small and medium companies IMO; corporations and big companies follow other paths

 

[SearchEngineZ]

End users who are willing to pay $$$ for a domain name know how to use thesauruses (perhaps) and Google search (for certain). If they don't know what a domain registrar is they will eventually find out.

Most people (in the USA) have heard of GoDaddy because they advertise on TV. So I make sure my domains are listed with GD.

Of course people who can't figure it all out won't end end up buying a domain, so they are irrelevant.

@endy007 , you got that right. .. southeastern Europe , ie. Greece

@SearchEngineZ . Seriously, an end-user knows how to do all that stuff? I'm totally surprised.

I have been into computers since late 80s and only since I started occupying myself with this business I found out about flippa, sedo, godaddy etc. and it wasn't easy to grasp all those new meanings and words that go with the business in a short time.
I find it really strange that someone that runs, let's say, a car-parts small business, to know the procedure on how to find a domain name. You seriously opened my mind

 

[Hypersot]

This is good info.. thank you people

I think it is crucial, if we want to target end-users, to know where to find them and ,depending upon their knowledge of domaining, what to tell them to make them buy any one of our domains

A last question. Do you think it's a good idea if we try and sell domains to companies that end-users might approach, like for example a web designing company or a web agency as photon said (really, which company is classified as a web agency company?) or another similar company?
Or if selling is not a good idea, maybe at least passing them our portfolios on?

 

[Jesse Gilbert]

yes a thesaurus is good...but even better, high quality thesaurus plus rhyming feature :D

 

[Kate]

It's an interesting point that is being made here, because we are trying to sell domains to end users, yet they may not even have a clue about websites, including their own.
I guess they depend a lot on some webdesign guy, who often turns out to be not so knowledgeable at all, especially about domains... Thanks to the bad advice of those webdesign guys, many end users have settled for second-rate domains. Because I don't think they will often advocate the purchase of a domain on the aftermarket, even if they had any clue.

 

[Domain Lead Finder]

I believe that here in central/eastern europe most of the small businesses (at least those non-IT) still have that sort of "mindset" that if the domain is not available, there's no way to get it.

Exactly. This is a problem with many people, they do not know that domain names are registered for one year and then drop. So they think that once you buy a .com its yours for ever. They do not understand that domains are a commodity that is traded widely.

 

[DavidH]

My end user sales all tend to be to people that already have a domain name and a website.

My name is a useful addition to their business, eg geo+services.com, that describes what they are offering in a local neighbourhood on one of the pages on their site, or alternatively a shortened version of the name they currently use for their whole website.