The value of "s" in domain names

[gcttirth]

Hello all!

My second thread here for the day, but my mind is questioning a lot today

I want to know the effect the "s" makes on domain names. What will be worth more -- A domain with "s" on last ( making it plural ) or one without "s" ( singular ) ?

Example:
freelaptop.info OR freelaptops.info
webbrowser.com OR webbrowsers.com
logodesigner.com OR logodesigners.com

What are your opinions on it? Please share any opinions or statistics you have regarding this.

Thanks in advance,
gct

 

[Monsterman]

I have always made much more money with the plural. When you are selling multiple items it is always better in my experiance.

Diamond? or Diamonds?

 

[gcttirth]

I have always made much more money with the plural. When you are selling multiple items it is always better in my experiance.

Diamond? or Diamonds?

I was thinking the same. That's obvious for a real-world object, but what about a virtual object?

I just found that people search a keyword without "s" more than the one with "s". That's the thing that is confusing me...

Also, I found some domain names which are available in plural form, but registered in singular form.

Thanks for your input,
gct

 

[lothos]

It depends on the keyword, IMHO.

wallpaper or wallpapers? I'd go with wallpapers.
logodesigner or logodesigners? I might go with the singular depending on the website purpose.
freelaptop or freelaptops? I'd say either.

 

[Name Trader]

I think the singular is generally more valuable because it is brandable whereas the plural is much more stuck with selling the singular articles. eg: apple.com/apples.com. Of course there will always be some exceptions.

 

[Domainace]

The singular is usually better, but it depends on the exact words as well as the intent of the website. Regarding searches being greater for the singular, there are a couple caveats:

1-Many such searches are from places where English is not native and where they are not used to the plural s. Be sure to check.

2.Many people who type the singular are looking for information rather than looking to buy.

3.For new products people will tend to search singular, as they are seeking information. As the product becomes better known, buyers will search plural to get a selection.

 

[enlytend]

There is really no effective "rule of thumb" - it depends on the domain/keyword itself.

2.Many people who type the singular are looking for information rather than looking to buy.

Hmmm - not sure I agree with that ... do you have examples of some keywords where this would be the case?

Very SPECIFIC product searches are almost always a sign of purchase intent. Shorter, non-specific terms are more informational (or very early in the purchase process) regardless of whether they are sing/plu:

example: Camera or Cameras vs "12 Megapixel camera" or "12 Megapixel brand XYZ camera"; diamond or diamonds vs "platinum diamond ring" or "emerald and diamond earrings"

(Specific product queries frequently phrase-match on the singular)

For services ... plural suggests a directory or listing service of some sort, singular suggests a provider.
Lawyer / lawyers
plumber / plumbers

24hr plumber springfield
Lawyers in Brooklyn

 

[gcttirth]

Thanks for all the informative posts. They have helped me for improving my knowledge, really appreciate them.

Thanks again,
gct

 

[dakshhmehta]

I would always go with singular. Because, they are for specific item of product or information you are selling and people always search with singular.

my $0.01 opinion

 

[Ms Domainer]

*

If I were doing a search for a plumber, I would type "plumbers" in the search box. Google would do the geo location for you.

If the results were still too broad, I would type in "Plumbers city state".

Perhaps others have different search patterns.

*

 

[Domainace]

enlytend, not sure where we disagree. You are comparing shorter keywords with long tail keywords, even model names, which are certainly a sign that someone is ready to buy. I'm just talking single and plural, and that single is usually better, though it depends on the words and the intent.
Let's say that Google invents a "reverse-ion hat" tomorrow (developed by NASA), that makes you smarter when you wear it. First searches would be singular, because most people would be thinking, "What is a reverse-ion hat?" Since it's new, there is only one. Come back in a year or two, when knock-off reverse-ion hats are being sold at Walmart and drugstores, people will likely search plural because they are looking for a selection. Once they've narrowed down what they wanted, they might come back and search for "Matell X100 reverse-ion hat," because they are just looking at prices and ready to buy.

But again, this all depends on the word and your intent. It's far from foolproof, but I use Google cost-per-click to help determine this on GAKT. I check the search volume for both plural and single, but compare advertiser competition and CPC to determine which word the advertisers (who presumably know the market) prefer.

 

[george88smith88]

hmmm..thats a good observation sir, but for me we have used domains with or without "s" but still i can't find any difference with that. i think its just a matter of what kind need they want to use for their sites.

---------- Post added at 09:02 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:00 PM ----------

oh i'll try to observe that coz my partner here is telling me that singular form of domains really valuable.