Matching domain names & 800 #s.
A memorable domain name like PCFunding.com is obviously a valuable name. And of course a memorable vanity number like 1-800 BEST LOAN is obviously valuable too. They’re both excellent marketing tools and using both together obviously generates more response in advertising.
When you combine a vanity number like 1-800 BEST-LOAN and the matching domain name 1800BESTLOAN.com, the whole becomes greater than the parts and the response is multiplied. Your message becomes sharper, more focused, less cluttered and clearly more memorable.Good domain names are obviously very difficult to get. And so are good 800 vanity numbers. So you might assume that it’s practically impossible to get that golden combination of a matching domain name and vanity numbers. But if you start with the phone number first, that’s not necessarily the case because if you get a really good ’1-800′ number means the matching domain name is usually available.
Unfortunately many people start with the domain name and then limit the number of 800 number options available. But the best advice is to start with the phone number first. Then if you find a good number, you can usually get the matching 1800domain.com by putting the area code in front. 888, 877 and 866 numbers don’t don’t give you quite as much of a brand name as the ‘800’ does but they can still work well for smaller businesses. Some squatters have registered domain names to match valuable generic terms or vanity numbers that are advertised. There are over (20,000) 800 number domain names registered but there are still tons of good 800 number domain names available, especially if you’re more creative.
Being more creative is also important to getting a matching toll free and domain name combination. Don’t limit yourself to the first thing you think of, because that’s usually the first thing other people have thought of too. Most people tend to think the first number they set their heart on is the only or best number, just like most people do when they fall in love for the first time. They can’t imagine there will ever be anyone else as perfect as that first love. Unfortunately most people don’t marry their first love. But after they realize their first thought isn’t going to work out, they usually realize that there are a lot more options than they realized at first.
It’s also hard to make an intelligent decision when you haven’t really investigated all of the options. This is true in marriage, it’s true in a job search or moving to a different part of the country or almost anything the requires an important decision including your toll free number. This is definitely a whole topic by itself, but being creative is even more important when you’re trying to get the matching domain because the most generic domains have often been registered already.
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Christi Closson says:
May 3, 2008 at 11:19 am
First, I have to tell you how much I love using your website! It’s really user friendly and I love the alternative numbers that are offered.
I have a marketing question for you……I am in the process of creating a website and thought it would be a good idea to get a vanity 800 number that matches. The problem is I can’t really find one that does. I can find a website name (ending in .com) but not a matching 800 number and vice versa.
The majority of my business will be online initially, but I will be taking orders over the phone. Do you have any marketing advice/tips that would be helpful?
Thanks so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Christi Closson
***This comment was moved to this category from a less appropriate one***
Christi Closson says:
May 3, 2008 at 7:01 pm
Hi Chriti,
The best solution, which I realize may not be possible is to look for the numbers available (in backorder actually because there haven’t been any ‘800’ numbers in the “available” pool for quite a while). Then check the domain name availability of those names instead of starting with the domain name side and then trying to get an ‘800’ version.
I realize people usually start with the domain name but since there is no whois lookup or easy way to reach the owners, it’s actually harder to research toll free numbers aside from our database crunching process with our keyword system. Plus the creativity and ease of use of the keyword system makes that a better place to start. Eventually we’re also going to add a domain name checking system even if we do it off of a cached database like we do with toll free numbers, so we can show you both at one time. That and local number availability are both in the works but a little ways off.
The other thing I would say is that you need to be more creative. If you’re looking for generic terms you’re going to have an extremely difficult time. But as you get more and more creative, you increase the likelihood of both the phone number and the domain name availability. So it’s not just a little easier, it gives you a double whammy and makes it MUCH more likely to get both.
I hope that helps. Let me know if you have any other questions or need help with anything else.
Bill