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Extra domain names - what are they good for?

Frequently Asked Question:

I registered a bunch of extra domain names when I registered my main domain name. Currently, those extra domain names are doing nothing but incurring annual renewal charges. Any advice on what I should do?

Answer:

Here are a couple of ways to use extra domain names that forward to your main domain name.

1) MARKETING METRICS:

Use different domain names in different ad campaigns (e.g., print ads). By reviewing your site analytics (traffic sources), you'll be able to determine the success of each ad placement.

2) LEVERAGING A TAGLINE DOMAIN NAME:

This blog entry of mine from 2007 describes how companies with well-known taglines ("Priceless", "Just Do It!", etc.) leverage those taglines. In most cases (e.g., Priceless.com forwards to MasterCard.us), the tagline domain name simply forwards to the company's main Web site; in other cases, the tagline domain name can forward to a special landing page.

In addition to using extra domain names to forward to your main domain, you use extra domain names to target separate standalone Web sites — or specific subsections of your main Web site.

3) TARGETED FORWARDING:

Suppose, for example, that your business is designing and creating jewelry — necklaces, bracelets and earrings. Your main Web site might be an online store (example: Pam Older Designs) which displays and sells everything you make. If you were the registrant of PRETTYHOOPS.COM, you could forward that domain name to the "Earrings" section of your main site. Like this.

Hopes this helps.