When you're searching do you ...

[Gramma]

When you're searching do you type keywords in your browser?
I may have once or twice put in (for example)
www.yellowduckies.com or www.lakerentals.com
but when faced with one of those links pages - that only make me click click click sponsored links - I'd rather just do a search engine search and take my chances there.
I guess it's just me though, since so many millions are being speculated and spent on keyword specific domain names.

:?:

 

[GoPC]

You're not alone... there is a reason that Google, Yahoo and others are making MILLIONS of dollars a day.

Recent polls have shown that surfers are getting increasingly upset with what amounts to Internet SPAM... Parking Sites, that don't provide any real answers, no real content.

Even though I am in this biz, I RARELY use direct navigation unless I know what is there before I type in the website. And in that case, I usually have it bookmarked.

90% of the time, I use Google. 5% of the time, Yahoo. 3% of the time MSN and the final 2% is split up between other serach boxes like InfoBam and direct navigation.

As far as what people actually search, with Google or Yahoo... people tend to be very specific in what they are looking for, using two or three words to focus their searches more accurately. Generic keywords provide to many and to wide a variety of results.

Google and others are working to "teach" people how to use the engines more efficiently... the use of quotes, "&" and "+" and other search controls to further focus the results.

So there you go... my .02 cents worth

GoPC

 

[DomainMagnate]

People are getting web savvier though, so everyone would use google and ppc might die ..

 

[Bill Roy]

I now never use keywords in my browser, generally I don't see the point of it. By doing a Google (or other search) I can get relevent sites listed in front of me, a quick browse will usually identify the site most likely to suit my needs, this is much better than typing in the keword.com/etc..

 

[jasdon11]

I use direct nav more and more - for a start, whenever you go to a sponsored link (on a ppc lander), you can be sure that there is going to be a decent site - and secondly, it's good for keeping abreast of what different parking co's offer in the way of landers. Ocassionally you might get an end-user site.

More often than not, when searching through SE's, how many times do you hit the back button before you find what you want?

A lander isn't that much different from a SE results page - in fact I'd say that there is less crapola on a lander.

 

[Keynes]

People are getting web savvier though, so everyone would use google and ppc might die ..

Increasing web saavy and search reliance leads to an increasing importance of SEO/original content but direct nav will also be there for the foreseeable future.

 

[fatter]

my click rate has only increased over the years if people are fed up with parked pages you would never no it from my inventory

 

[GoPC]

But is your click rate increasing due to Search Traffic or Direct Navigation, Backlinks, Link Farms or some other point of contact?

How's your conversion?

Traffic is increasing because the number of Surfers are increasing exponentially. The pure odds of someone hitting your site go up accordingly.

I don't PPC will die, but already, advertisers are looking for better ways to quanitfy the expense and risk. With PPC getting a bad rap, negative press and the general impression that advertisers are getting ripped off from money grubbing domain squatters spending all night in their basement clicking their own ad links... PPC is in for either a major overhaul, a shift toward Pay-Per-Action or something completely unseen like "qualified advertisers" or a convoluted ranking status that reduces PPC rates to the publishers even lower (gulp) than they are now.

So... in the final analysis, I think SEARCH traffic is set to eventually be far more targeted, far more qualified and far more regulated than direct navigation. Like many things, I could be totally wrong... but I think the trend has already started to shift.

Just listed to the big boys of domain parking... they are ALL singing the song of development. Why? Search Traffic, SEO and engaging the Surfer.

It's the future and I just don't see today's parking pages fitting into that mold.

GoPC

 

[Keynes]

a convoluted ranking status that reduces PPC rates to the publishers even lower (gulp) than they are now.

This is already occurring, and it could mean your PPC rates may increase if the quality is there.

 

[GoPC]

Therein lies the fundamental issue between Publishers and Parking Co.s... WHO decides what is "quality" and what is not? Where is the "ruler" by which to gauge?

I should think, if someone directly types in your name or you are ranked on the first page of Google then your quality is pretty darn good. But alas... one might get garbage for click rate because of... what?

We publishers really don't have a clue what is going on behind the scenes.

For instance, log into your AdWords account. Type in "Home Equity Loans" and see what the top bid would cost you to advertise with that keyword... how much EACH click would cost you.

You'll find an average of around $14 bucks per click. FOURTEEN BUCKS!!!

Now, look at your earnings per click for the same keyword... what is it? Like .34 cents?

Why is that? My site was targeted and visited by direct or search traffic and that Surfer clicked an ad that cost the advertiser $14 bucks... why did I get .34 cents?

Oh... because the clicked ad was one of the "lower" advertiser's bids.

So... where are the $7, $10 and $12 dollar clicks going? Better yet, WHY?

It's stuff like this that is going to kill PPC. The "hidden" actions of the parking companies.

Another example... did you know that Sedo only pays for the First Click? The FIRST click and then keeps every dime your side makes after that?

Yessir, you may get that nice, fat $.40 cent click but the next 10 ads that Surfer clicks ALL goes to Sedo... that means their cut from your first click (how much is their cut? We don't know) and now 100% of the revenue after that... PER 24 Hour Period.

The Advertisers are STILL paying for those clicks, but you aren't getting it. And the Advertisers are blaming YOU for the rates being what they are, while Sedo takes the cream off the top.

Knowing this, why would I park at Sedo or Sedo Pro? I did for a LONG time... I wonder how much money I lost due to site I have making 300% click through per day, only being paid for ONE click?

We're off the subject a bit but it does go to the trends and actions of the Publishers. The more this kind of thing happens, the less transparency, the more mergers and profitability these parking companies need to show to sell off YOUR business for THEIR gain... the more domain holders are going to stop parking and start developing.

That means MORE search traffic and different mechanisms in place for Google, Yahoo and their kind to capture revenues from that traffic.

Don't forget Domainers... WE hold the property. WE are the Land Lords. They should be working for us, not the other way around. Without domains on which to put their ads, they have nothing.

GoPC

 

[DomainMagnate]

Very good points there GoPC, although one thing to not forget the domain are a property mainly because of the ppc traffic. If there was no direct navigation (or once there won't be), do you think premium domains would still be considered premium?

 

[GoPC]

Very good points there GoPC, although one thing to not forget the domain are a property mainly because of the ppc traffic. If there was no direct navigation (or once there won't be), do you think premium domains would still be considered premium?

You make a good point about there still being such thing as "premium" in relation to PPC traffic.

I disagree that we have property because of the PPC traffic... the reality is that there were domains FIRST and then the discover that the traffic could be converted to cash. That says to me, without domains (the internet) there would be ZERO PPC traffic. There would be print and tv/movie/radio advertising and that's it.

But as you pointed out, as PPC traffic drops or becomes less profitable or used... what would then "define" a "premium" domain?

The value in real estate comes from the LACK of availabiltiy. When the Internet plunges into a state of obscure extensions and 4 or more word domain names or the exessive use of hyphens... then we have a situation where saturation is driving price.

The question is... will the market shift to these other domain options

or

Will dot com continue to be King and the prices take a ride with the shuttle?

From a business standpoint, I just don't see end users paying much more for domains. They simply can't afford to, so alternatives have to be considered.

Seems to me that MANY of the huge domain sales we have seen at TRAFFIC auctions and other transactions were from INSIDE the community. While that is great for domaining as a whole, it doesn't say much for end user potential though... where it will exactly lead.

But we'll see.

GoPC

 

[BidNo]

One other very relevant fact here is that conversion rates are significantly higher for clicks coming thru parked pages versus clicks that originate in the search engines. I don't remember the exact numbers but the difference was quite significant. Why else do you think the search engines are so keenly interested in domain advertising while the corporate money is busy trying to build huge portfolios? On the other hand, who has the power in this relationship (hint: who's getting rich)? However, once we band together or have better/more alternatives, that could change quickly as the middle-men begin having to compete for space on domains. I would suggest we would be better off to emulate OPEC rather than the coffee growers.