Did you know that Google gives priority to .mobi names in search results done from mobile devices? Well neither did I... I've read some conflicting opinions regarding it, but it certainly makes sense.
I just did a search for "Arizona Mortgage" on my Google-powered Android phone, but the same results came up that come up from my desktop computer.
But that might only be because there aren't any Arizona mortgage brokers with a .mobi name and a decent site... I have a .mobi name, but I haven't put anything on the site yet. I will very soon though. Then we'll see if I start coming up higher in mobile-phone based searches. I can't wait.
Right now, at GoDaddy.com, you can register a .mobi website for $7.
Whatever your desired search phrase is, I think it's a really good idea to register the .mobi verson. For example, I own arizonamortgage.mobi and azmortgage.mobi. I will only use one of them, but I just haven't decided which one yet.
As this world becomes more and more mobile oriented, I don't want to be the idiot who thinks, "man, I sure wish I would have registered my-desired-search-phrase in the .mobi suffix! Like, who would have thought that people would be surfing the inter-web from their cell phones? Wow. How did I not think of this before?!?"
The world is becoming more and more mobile. I wonder if the iPad is considered a mobile device?
Twenty years ago, if you would have told me that we'd all have cell phones-- including children-- that would take pictures, play games, and search something called "the internet," I would have thought you were a nut-job.
In my next post, I will tell my readers one very simple way that you can get a really nice mobile site up in a matter of minutes.
You do not have to be technically saavy. Even if you know nothing about computers, I can tell you how to set up a mobile-phone website on a .mobi domain, for free, in a matter of minutes. Your only cost will be the $7 to register the .mobi verson, plus about $5 per month for hosting your site.
If you are smart enough to use ActiveRain, you are smart enough to follow my simple instructions for making a mobile version of your current site or setting up a brand new mobile website altogether.
I'll put that up tomorrow... It may be an Associates Only post though. If you want to know why, you can read about that here.
22 Comments on Who Comes Up for your Search Phrase on a Mobile Phone?
Michael, You are 100% correct!! I have it and love it! P.S. Im not to tech savy either but Im trying.
Hi Michael ~ Cool! Looking forward to reading more of your posts about it. I'm already subscribed!
Liz
So here's my question - are there any canned site kits that cater to the .mobi and can handle an idx feed? i am slow:)
Hi Courtney-- I don't know about the IDX feed just yet. My guess is yes. I've been reading a lot about this and I will publish some very valuable info in PART II. OnlY because I don't have it yet for part I. But I think the answer to your question is YES and you'll see why in my next post.
Hi, Michael:
I actually set up a mobile website a few years ago for one of my personal websites. I don't know what happened to it. I will check it out for my real estate website. Good idea!
Cheers,
Robin
I have a mobile optimized (sort of) version of our rental site. That's as far as I've gotten. It isn't under the .mobi domain though.
Michael, wow, this is very important for all of us to know! I would re-blog this but you have it turned off. If you turn it back on, I'm going to re-blog it to spread the word and bring more folks on board. I'm also flagging it for a Feature.
I never knew the value of the (dot)mobi! Thanks for the explanation!
This is all good but my worry is people out there checking their information on their cell phone and they're driving. That can be dangerous. With all the good uses out there please take along common sense with you.
Hi Michael -- thanks for the great tip. Bookmarked, and hopefully to be attended to soon.
Wow. Invaluable information. Picked up some great names that were not available on .com too! :-)
I think this is some great advice. I'm looking into it.
Thinking more about this... would the website need to be "mobile" friendly too?
Hi Loreena! I don't know enough to say whether or not the website needs to be mobile friendly, but that would make sense... But I am going to post more about this. You can set up a mobile site using a free template.
Thanks for the post Michael, I'll have to check into this soon.
I have an outside blog that i might rename to a custom domain name with .mobi.
can you give us a search term where this is the case. I cannot find any examples online for what you are saying.
Hi Mike-- bottom line, if you are searching from a mobile phone, Google knows it. If you have a site that is registered as a mobile phone website, doesn't it make sense that Google would deliver those sites first? Google the term ".mobi wiki" and read the first result very carefully. Your answer should be clear.
Hope that helps.
Yes, I had learned about this at a Convention and posted on it (I think it was featured if I recall correctly). I tend to pop up high on the regular SERPS, but things look much different on mobile. I'm finally getting around to this and pulled the trigger on it about a week ago. It should be up & running in 1-2 weeks.
Also, since almost no one has .mobi sites you can choose almost any domain name you want.