I think the most important reason to buy keyword domain names is to get the attention of people searching for those keywords. Type in traffic is still the most targeted traffic you can find, but for the most part, domain names that get type in traffic are very expensive for most people. However, I believe there are some longer tail keywords that relevant, searched for by consumers, and in many cases, they are available to register.
Using the Google Keyword Tool, you can find searched keyword phrases in niches of interest to you along with the past month search volume and average month search volume (helpful for seasonal terms like skiing). Just type in a phrase and Google will attempt to match it with similar terms or phrases that are frequently searched.
The objective of using this tool (for me anyway) is to find key phrases that are either unregistered or undeveloped and owned by someone willing to sell it. If you are able to acquire a domain name with a phrase that is searched frequently, a developed site will theoretically be easier to rank higher in Google. A higher rank in a searched key phrase will generate more traffic and revenue (theoretically). Having a key search phrase domain name (with a developed website) can also help with your sales pitch when trying to get advertising from businesses who are buying clicks on Adwords for that phrase.
If this isn’t enough, you can also use another Google tool to estimate the cost per click that it would take to be listed on the top of the results page. This can help you determine if the payout will be worth your time and effort in developing the domain name.
Great Post, Elliot. Keep ’em coming. I still read about Rick Latona hand registering thousands of domains each year — so obviously there’s still quite a bit on the domain frontier to register. happy belated thanksgiving
Long keyword domains are extremely profitable once you learn the best niches, the best ways to monetize them and the best ways to resell them.
One technique I recommend is reading industry articles in the niches you like and in those you’ll find keywords often not publicized in the general media. Also subscribe to industry newsletters which highlight new products and services so you can catch new terms as they come out. You’ll be able to catch lots of small treasures as well as gaining knowledge with this strategy.
Kevin
Domains Newsletter
http://www.DomainsNewsletter.com
very good post very informative ..You have mentioned a tool which can tell us the cost per click can you just tell us which is that tool and where it is available?Because I am developing a Geo city(average city).Me and its .com is just a parked page so hoping I can get some traffic if I could do some good work..If possible guide me on this…
Thanks
Care to quantify your personal rule of thumb for searched “frequently”?
***UPDATED BY ELLIOT***
All depends on the competitiveness of the keyword and how many other sites are out there. The less competitive, the less searches are necessary, as it’s more likely a nice mini-site will rank well.
Great post. I use this method often.
1. Unless you love the keyword term .com, don’t bother unless the average search volume is over 1000. I have tracked some of my hand regs and most don’t get any type in traffic or revenue but no reason that they wouldn’t sell for $200 or $500 or even a $1000. Not a bad mark up for a hand reg.
2. Do the search for the keyword you like. Sort by alpha, average search, est CPC etc then click on the .txt link and notepad will open up with all the keywords in the order to chose. Copy and paste those right into Godaddy’s bulk search and hit enter. You do not need to remove the spaces or enter .com, Godaddy does this for you then tells you all the domains that are available for hand reg.
GREAT way to invest a few hundred bucks and you might just make it back with one sale.
3. Rinse and repeat 🙂
Google insights for search is pretty cool and handy too 🙂
Great info Elliot. Thanks! I remember searching on many different keywords on Google’s Keyword Tool, and I was amazed at the high number of searches for so many long tail keywords. I would check to see if they were registered, and to my amazement, many times, these long tail keywords weren’t registered…and with such high search volume to boot. Well, did I get a good schooling when I realized that one had to refine the results as “exact” in order to get the most accurate picture of the frequency of a specific keyword’s search volume for the previous month. Dumb mistake! Thanks for all of your great insight Elliot.