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Domain Name Extravaganza...But I Still Remember My First...

jeani I am now officially the proud owner of 20 domain names...but I still remember my first...so many years ago when I took the plunge and bought that first website...when the internet was new.

It went something like this:

A "Doogie Houser" type techno-geek kid trying desparately to sell a rural country REALTOR her first website. What he didn't know what that I was already committed to buying his product and he didn't really have to work so hard. As fate would have it, I hadn't even thought about what my domain name would be and what I didn't know was that no one anywhere in my market was on the internet, so I pretty much had carte blanche for any domain I wanted. After much angst, I finally settled on CanyonLakeTxRe.com which stands for Canyon Lake Texas Real Estate. It seemed genius at the time...and perhaps it is...

My mom and I built a real estate team and an unbelievable internet presence that made us number one in our local market, number one in our office and number one company-wide.

As time went by I started learning the importance of multiple domains and while doing my e-PRO bought JeaniRichie.com and a couple of domain names related to our team name. I felt so cavalier being able to tell my peers..."Yes...I have 5 domain names!" I just had them parked at GoDaddy.com and pointing to the same site, but they were mine!!!

Fast forward to present day...

I am learning much about my online presence...how it has evolved, how it is growing, how to build from the ground up with my own office. But mainly I am learning from the wonderful world of Active Rain. I am cramming my techno-driven mind with all the SEO blogs I can stand from AR and making progress. When I opened my office at the first of the year I bought 6 more domains, can you believe that the name of my company.com was still available...AWESOME!

A few days ago I was reading yet another blog on AR about SEO and domain names and a comment on the blog by Lenn Harley jumped out at me...

I think she has like four or five thousand domain names or something obscene like that...not really but she does have several hundred in her collection. The point she made was buy all the www.RealEstateYourTown.com domain names you can get your hands on! So I got on GoDaddy.com today and all the communities I serve with real estate in front of them were AVAILABLE!!! So...yeah...I bought em all!!!

Thanks Lenn for the great advice and even though I still remember my first domain name all those years ago...I am excited about hitting the B-I-G 2-0 and closing the deal on my 20th domain name today!

Posted by Jeani Thomas Richie, Broker, CRS, e-PRO, GRI on 07/16/2009 05:57 PM

Comments (33)

Domain Names in the Online Marketing Channel

domain names, online marketing, websites, seo, active rain, realtor, canyon lake texas real estate, texas hill country real estate, jeani thomas richie

Originally posted at: Come Home to the Hill Country!: Domain Name Extravaganza...But I Still Remember My First...

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33 Comments on Domain Name Extravaganza...But I Still Remember My First...

JUL

Great marketing ideas Jeani. It's good all of your communites were still available.

I actually have 424 domain names.

About 175 of them are active with web sites.

About 5-6 years ago, folks started buying up good names, meaning names with real estate and a location name,

So did I. I activate and open a account on my server when I need one. No need to buy any new ones.

The great thing about having them is that, when I activate one of them, they are already "aged". That helps with getting them indexed by Google right away.

No sandboxes for me.

Don't forget, my market area is all of Maryland and Northern Virginia and I develop buyer business for about 25 agents.

That takes a lot of Internet presence and I found that consumers like to deal with "local" folks so having local web sites is just good marketing.

I got Homefinders.com in June 1995 and it cost me $70 for 2 years from Internic, now Network Solutions.

Things have changed a lot since then.

And this sounds morbid . . . but I've actually included this in my Last Will and Testament . . . registered domains are part of my estate -- oh YES they ARE!!

I only own 20 domains with 5 active websites but I am going shopping tonight (online of course) and buying more! I am very competitive and you just gave me that little nudge I needed to get out there and search again for available domains with my city name in it. Often, names that were taken last time I checked are now suddenly available. Probably someone who got out of the business or just let the domain expire. I usually get lucky and happen upon a great name recently back on the market. The key is to just keep checking regularly!

Congratulations to you on the 20 domain names and omg Lenn has 424 names?! AMAzING! I am embarass to say that I only own 5!!!

Great post ! I have had many names in the past. After reading this I'm going shopping for more. Thanks

I got addicted to domain names and currently own about 165. Some I am selling, but most I am keeping. I am now creating landing pages for IDX in all the suburbs of Oklahoma City. I thought I could help my retirment by selling them later, now I can retire by driving traffice to my web site with them. Keep on buying and Go Daddy!

Very interesting, I didn't know how important this is. I have 3-4. I am still not sure about the theory behind it. I will have to reread the blog again more thoroughly and then do some more research.

I only have 4 domain names, and have been trying to decide on what to call my fifth domain. I wonder if spending thousands of dollars to get hundreds of domains is really worth it.

Seems that I need to start shopping for and collecting domain names like I do for shoes! :-)

Wow ! That is a lot of domain names !!! But also a great idea !!! I think we need to get a few more : )

Hi Jeani. I have 101 domains with Godaddy. I am considering a few more :-)

I don't know how many I have... probably a dozen or so... My broker has thousands...

I have 97 domain names at 1and1 and I am always scouting for more. There are always good expiring names that are out there. The trick is to find them before someone else does.

I have several.. and also register one for each listing... ( these expire after sold ) Is this a good thing ? Some domains I have had for 10 years.. some newer.

I only have 10...I have a long way to go!

It is a good practive and worth the few bucks that you spend. I buy two or three a year lately

I think I have between 40 and 50 domain names. When something pops into my head, I swing over to GoDaddy for a look.

I'm curious how someone manages and produces content for multiple domains?

I keep making a mental note to go and buy all of the associated and twisted names that could be linked or confused with my own site. It's inevitable, so I thank you for the reminder!

My Broker has informed me that there are even search engines that enable a viewer to search a particular domain name to see when the holders purchase expires. So I would add: Make sure your billing information is up to date!

JUL

We began getting domains back in about 1994 when they were free-- yes, actually free and back then no one really had any idea where the Internet would end up today ---

Great advice. A few tips people should know. If you point several domain names to one website, please make sure you tell your host to do 301 redirects. This tells google they are the same website so you don't get penalized for duplicate content.

Also registering domains for multiple years also is a plus. Search Engines like to see that and weigh that as a factor. Good luck to all.

Congrats on your 20th. That is a great idea for your local marketing. I have a few names that route to one site and they are all registered for multiple years.

I own about a dozen now and keep buying more. ONe thing to check into is buying the name of your competitors. If they aren't smart enough to own their own name, then too bad for them.

I too have some domain names I own however I really wonder what the advantage is sometimes.

patricia

Lenn made the comment on our blog Domain Names, There Are Some REALLY Good Ones Out There Now folks need to realize the importance of the name. There is a reason Google high lights it on a search. It is relevant to the subject...

Mike: Thanks! I was pretty surprised myself that they were available.

Lenn: That is awesome advice...as always I have learned something from you! Thanks!!!

Carla: I love it!!! Your web presence is worth MONEY!!!

Marc: Awesome! I read a blog recently on AR about agents getting out of the business and abandoning their domains and others are picking them up....it is cool because they already have traffic history!

Eileen: You are off to a good start! When I bought my first I never dreamed I would have more than one!

Claude: Happy shopping!!!

Joe: I hear ya and that is my plan too!

An: Collecting domains is important because it solidifies your position online for your market area. You do not need an elaborate website for every domain, just a launch site to give you a presence!

Bob: I think that having many is a great idea. You just deliberately build an online presence for your business.

Silvia: Amen Sista!!! I say if the shoe fits buy it in every color and if the domain fits...buy that too!!!

Christopher and Stephanie: Shop On!!!

Lana: Awesome!!! Keep on collecting!

Lane: It's kind of like an addiction...you can't have just one! :o)

Carol: You are right about that and this is a good time to shop!

Roland: I think so! I believe in registering for the long term...besides it gets cheaper the longer you renew them for!

Nevin: You are off to a great start!!!

Russ: I totally agree. I will discover a new marketing strategy that will inspire me with a direction for more names!

Christine: Me too!! I am always popping over there to take a look around!

Chris: There are several ways to do it. I have all of my domains with GoDaddy.com and I have one big main website for my company and one big main web site for myself and the rest are launch sites. One of my sites is for my photography business. You can create free websites online or even with publisher.

Ashley: Great tips! Thanks! I am going to check into that site!

Bob and Carolin: FREE??? I love it! You are all pioneers of domains!

Mark: Many thanks....that is excellent advice!

Integrity: Thanks!

Bob: ohhhhh, I like that!

Patricia: It is about dominating the search engines in your market place. I am learning more every day about how to do this and what the results can be! Keep reading AR blogs on SEO and domains and you will learn much!

Frank and Jodi: You are right! Thanks for writing that blog, I learned much from it and the resulting comments!

Jeanie,

It did not take me too long either to understand how important domain names are. I think I own about 10 or 11 now and use most of them. Years ago Pat Zaby tried to hammer the importance of having your own name for a domain and I kind of scoffed at the idea then, about 9 years ago. Well, years later I checked to see if it was available and it was not. A guy here in OKC had the name and of all the places that guy could live, he was here in my own city. A few years ago I checked again and BAM, it was available! Somehow he had let it expire or just chose not to renew it and I am the proud owner of RussellBenson.com and will be for as long as I am breathing.

A good domain name is the backbone of any business. I cannot tell you how much money my main domain has made me (RealEstateOKC.com). It has truly been a blessing but I still have this crazy idea that one day some big money corporation will make me a generous offer for that site but alas it has not happened yet. I can still dream though can't I?

Happy Friday!

I read where many folks own 100's of domain names but I guess my thing would be more about quality of a name rather than quantity. I would think that 98% of the domain names out there are worth only what we pay to keep them registered but you never know.

Russell: Congrats on the big grab! :o))) I was told by Saul Klein to get myname.com and glad I did...I have an unusual name, but it wouldn't shock me to know that someone out there is my name twin! I have a friend (REALTOR) who bought the domain name for a nearby town years ago before anyone thought about being online. The chamber would kill to buy it from him...but it is NOT for sale! He shows up number one on google and has forever no matter what search term you use! I think he feels lucky, because he just picked it up and held it until he got his first site! Wish I could say the same!

That's good stuff there Jeani! How great for your friend. The strange thing is I am on facebook and I have had two other Russell Benson's ask me to add them as a friend so I guess there will be a nationwide Russell Benson club, lol! I'm sure we're all a bunch of misfits!

Take care.................

JUL

Jeani, one more thought, we all should buy our name if avaiable and back it up with buying .net. I have a www.joepryor.com web site because you don't thow away 11 years on the web. That being said, if part of my exit strategy from this business is to sell my business, then I have to look for another Joe Pryor just like Russell above does with his name, and they need to be in real estate too. Fat chance. We need to create a domain name that would be sellable with a business plan and a database. It should also be totally branded. To me the greatest site example form the 1990's is Rick Miner of www.duckin.com in Seattle or Alice Held of www.come2az.com. In that vein I have www.thevirtualrealestateteam.com. My mistake however is not securing www.vrt.com and the like. If you can buy around the name then you have more strength.

Interesting concept. I own a dozen or so but I am going to go cruising for more today. You can get them for $1.99 today at GoDaddy with any non-domain purchase. I'm sure I could use some more SMTP relays!

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