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Domainname strategy for ever-developing technology products?

by OhNine
7 replies
  • SEO
    • |
Hi! Upfront i want to apologize for my extended manner of asking my question. Sorry if i'm too in-depth but i want all known details to be clear. =)

Current situation
I have good root-keyword domainnames registered for a certain consumer product. The only problem with these domains is that over time they will become obsolete as technology evolves.
Edit: I'm developing an affiliate website for the subject.

Example: Moving from 3G mobile data technology to 4G domainnames
Let's say i registered Amazing-Domain-For-3g-Phones.com/org/net whatever (not the actual domain ofcourse).
This domain will over time become obsolete when a better technology is adopted (4G in this case). If i want to keep up with the technology i will have to move the website to Amazing-Domain-For-4g-Phones.com/org/net

My current strategy
When the technology would develop from 3g into 4G for example i would:
  • Write content about the new technology
  • Move website to new domainname
  • 301-redirect the old URLs to the new domain

My question:
I realize that redirecting from Amazing-Domain-For-3G-Phones.com/org/net to TerribleDomainNamesThatHasNothingToDoWithTheSubjec t.com/net/org will hurt my rankings.

What would be a good method to move my websites from one domain to the next?

Greets!
#domainname #products #strategy #technology
  • Profile picture of the author LloydMS
    If it were me, I'd most likely get a domain that was catchy but more generic than what you are doing. So with your example, I'd get amazing-domain-for-phones.com - leave out the part that's going to be obsolete.

    Then you can just build out pages for all of the specific keywords that are relevant today but will be less relevant down the road.

    From an SEO perspective, you should have much better results this way. Yeah, you're giving up the EMD possibly. But you're building a site that has long-term ranking power. And once you build up your site's home page with good link juice, you can easily distribute that juice to the keywords you are targeting at that time through internal linking. And you can tweak your internal linking as keywords come in to favor and go obsolete.
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    • Profile picture of the author OhNine
      Originally Posted by LloydMS View Post

      If it were me, I'd most likely get a domain that was catchy but more generic than what you are doing. So with your example, I'd get amazing-domain-for-phones.com - leave out the part that's going to be obsolete.

      Then you can just build out pages for all of the specific keywords that are relevant today but will be less relevant down the road.
      I took that into consideration as well, but the problem still persists on long term when the lifecycle of mainTechnology ends.
      My subject consists of 1 main category/keyword/technology which currently holds 2 sub categories/keywords/technologies.

      For example i own the following domains:
      <subTechnology1><mainTechnology>.com
      <subTechnology2><mainTechnology>.com
      <mainTechnology>.com

      Between now and 4-5 years <subTechnology1> will expire as consumers move onto <subTechnology2> making the domainname obsolete.

      The only problem remaining is that the main technology will also become obsolete to consumers, but only after a cycle of 8-10 years.

      So indeed a logical solution would be to use root-keyword only resulting in <mainTechnology>.com and writing about both subtechnologies as they develop.

      Originally Posted by LloydMS View Post

      From an SEO perspective, you should have much better results this way. Yeah, you're giving up the EMD possibly. But you're building a site that has long-term ranking power. And once you build up your site's home page with good link juice, you can easily distribute that juice to the keywords you are targeting at that time through internal linking. And you can tweak your internal linking as keywords come in to favor and go obsolete.
      This would be the best method IMO. Thought about it before but you conviced me. Thanks!

      The only challenge remaining is to claim the right domainname when the followup <mainTechnology> is announced.

      Originally Posted by rocket2uranus View Post

      I agree with LloydMS. Here is something else to consider.

      After 4g comes 5g. Then maybe 6g. After that, maybe there is a paradigm shift and the technology is called something completely different. In any of these evolutions, someone else can easily beat you to the domain name you need.

      Much better to stop trying to stay one step ahead of the trends, and instead build a single brand that will have some staying power. There are lots of good domains available for just about any conceivable subject. Of course, to get the better ones, be prepared to shell out more $$.
      Do i understand you correctly if i interpret this as: Build a brand related to the main keyword but completely independent of trends (for example: instead of awesomephones.com i'd use awesometelecommunications.com?

      I'm also considering just pulling the plug when the project becomes unprofitable in a few years from now as this is not my only website ofcourse. Which would be a shame, but can still make good profits on short term.

      Things come and go... Any other thoughts or am i on the right track?
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  • Profile picture of the author Jack Gordon
    I agree with LloydMS. Here is something else to consider.

    After 4g comes 5g. Then maybe 6g. After that, maybe there is a paradigm shift and the technology is called something completely different. In any of these evolutions, someone else can easily beat you to the domain name you need.

    Much better to stop trying to stay one step ahead of the trends, and instead build a single brand that will have some staying power. There are lots of good domains available for just about any conceivable subject. Of course, to get the better ones, be prepared to shell out more $$.
    Signature
    Fifteen Lessons I have learned over 15 years and six businesses (or, My 1000th-Post Manifesto)
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  • Profile picture of the author Web Hosting
    I would stop focusing on keyword domains and start working on website development.

    In your case I would highly recommend just finding a nice short brandable .com, up to LLLLL.com and develop a huge ever evolving website that has a progression of all of these technologies.

    I'm starting to think brand development and marketing is becoming more important than traditional SEO methods.
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    • Profile picture of the author paulgl
      Take note of the fact that "real" companies never fell for
      that EMD malarkey. Hence, the biggest baddest technology
      product online companies went with stuff like tigerdirect.com,
      newegg.com, .... toss in sites like amazon.com, and you
      should be (have been?) thinking likewise.

      Paul
      Signature

      If you were disappointed in your results today, lower your standards tomorrow.

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  • Profile picture of the author OhNine
    @ Web Hosting & @paulgl
    That is the way i prefer to work as it doesn't portrait "scammy-internet-marketing-scum" but "honest-joe-with-nice-content" but these exact domains were a little bit too nice not to register.

    I decided to go with the generic maintechnology domainname which will become obsolete in 10 years or so.

    Still if the technology moves on the content of that website is still valuable and monetizable (although revenue will drop significantly for that particular website as new technologies develop).

    Edit:
    Thanks for all your replies, i appreciate it. Will officially thank you all when my account allows pressing thanks-buttons!
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    • Profile picture of the author paulgl
      Originally Posted by OhNine View Post

      but "honest-joe-with-nice-content" but these exact domains were a little bit too nice not to register.
      And that led to the whole craze. Silly to think that:
      best-wii-games-for-six-year-olds.com would be so passe.
      Why, just how could such a fantastic domain not work, right?!?

      Paul
      Signature

      If you were disappointed in your results today, lower your standards tomorrow.

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