Question
Greetings!
This subject is rather a sore spot with me. After waiting for a domain to expire, the original registrar parked the domain before expiration, for who knows how long...
When I worked communications, I dealt with radio frequencies. There are only so many frequencies in each band (just like domain names). Anyone can purchase a license to operate on a given frequency (again, not unlike domain names)... BUT... being that radio frequencies are regulated by the FCC, one obligation of the frequency owner is to show legitimate use for the frequency. This can be personal or business use. This is to prevent someone with unlimited revenue to come into an area and "buy up" most (or all) of the frequencies of a given band... essentially monopolizing the market.
Here's the question: Would you support similar regulations regarding domain names and their use?
My opinion is that big companies and the registrars have unlimited resources to gobble up any and all domains that they please. I think that some sort of regulation is in order... although the thought of the government (or other regulatory entity) getting involved is a bit scary... but the question still stands.
Opine at will....
Cheers
Answer
It's been done for a long time.
My opinion is that I don't really care if they park them or use them. I seriously doubt that domain names will ever "run out". If what you want isn't available, be creative. That's how small businesses succeed is creativity.. not legislation because someone else thought of something first and got to it first.
Answer
I'm not in favor of "parking" domains personally.
There was a domain name I DESPERATELY wanted, as it was one of my business names. The owner of the domain name at the time wouldn't release it nor sell it to me, except for an exorbitant amount of money. (In the 5 digits - WAY beyond it's value at the time).
I signed up for and paid for a service to "snatch" the name the second it became available. (Sorry, the service name eludes me at the moment, as this was years ago.) I DID eventually snag the domain, but it disturbed me nonetheless.
I can see folks purchasing a domain name and temporarily parking it for a few months (6-12 MAX) while they decide how to use it, but that should be the maximum amount of time, IMHO.
I'm not certain I'd be willing to go as far as demanding/encouraging legislation regarding it. Anytime the government gets involved, ......
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Well... like I said... the thought of some sort of regulatory body imposing restrictions on who can purchase what domains IS a bit frightening. The only thing really to point out is that I am convinced that search engines DO place some degree of weight on keywords in the URL. Of course, if the search engines would place NO weight on the URL for keywords, my argument would be moot.
With as much spam as the internet is filled with... doorway and affiliate pages... parking pages just make the soup more bitter.
And yes, rosie... I would agree that creativity is a major factor in success, and also that a catchy URL won't "make or break" a business.
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FiberGuy I agree that Google does apply some weight to keywords in URL's. As to the amount I'm not really sure but you need to try to apply as many SEO factors into your plan as possible. One thing I have noticed is Google has the ability to find keywords in URL's that are run together for example www.tallredwidgets .com VS www.tall-red-widgets .com Google can find the 3 keywords in both Url's. This gives you a lot more possibilities. I have tried to tell people how important the URL was on their secondary pages also. In the highly competitive search engine results you need to do all you can to get your site to page 1 or at least page 2 of the organic result pages.
Mike
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not to derail the thread but
one thing I've wondered about urls. lets say I really would like tallredwidget.com but it and all of the others (.net etc) are taken.
how much weight would google/spiders put on cobalthaven.tallredwidget.com? or tallredwidget.cobalthaven.com?
would those keywords in that type of url help at all?
thank you.
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I guess I should say that there are 3 or so urls I would really like to have but they will NEVER become available (at a price I can afford). and, I wondered if it would have any value to have an url such as the above the redirects to my site.
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and to ask fiberguy an on topic question:
by park, do you mean also redirect? I just bought two urls that do nothing but redirect to my dot com. I bought them because they were keywords. is this the type of thing you are against?
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Mel-I believe "parking" is purchasing a domain name, not developing it (into a site), but just "holding" it for the hell of it.
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Hi mel- ...
Kathleen is correct about what I'm referring to... XXXX WARNING XXXX The following link has about 20 pop-up and unders, so if you're not blocking them, have your mouse ready! here's an example of a parked domain (The "coming soon" is a ruse.)
As far as redirects, I did that myself for awhile with two other domains... however, I removed the redirects after Google started indexing certain pages with the redirected domains... OUCH!
As for the subdomain issue... yes, I do believe Google puts weight on keywords in a subdomain, as well... IE fantastickeyword.yoursite.com.
Cheers