Traditional domain names consist of a word or phrase that describes a website followed by an extension. Extensions can be .com, .net or country-based such as .fr or .de. If this is the case, how can domain names such as blo.gs or del.icio.us exist? It’s because a domain doesn’t have to follow a traditional format. When it is created in the manner outlined above, it is called a domain name hack. With a domain name hack, a domain name spells out a ‘word’ by using both periods and less popular country-based or state-based extensions.
Now, if you think a domain name hack is simply a trick created by spammers and/or webmasters with no life, think again. Yahoo purchased both blo.gs and del.icio.us, despite their unusual-looking format. There are also popular organizations that are actually known by domain name hacks. Examples include who.is, (a site that lets the visitor know the specifics behind a domain name and their associated website), and whocalled.us, (a web site that allows consumers to list the numbers of telemarketers). Other countries also use domain name hacks in their own languages. One example is Germany’s popular Schokola.de, (which means chocolate in English).
Does this mean webmasters should consider using domain name hacks? The answer is it depends. While domain name hacks are witty, many of them can be inconvenient for web surfers. Some vistors may have doubts about whether the site is legitimate, since the most common extensions are .com, .net, .org and .biz. However, since there are domain name hacks that receive a reasonable amount of traffic, it is possible that web surfers may overlook how a domain name hack is titled if the web site proves to be worthwhile. You are also able to have a second more normal-looking domain name point to a domain name hack. This gives website visitors two ways of being able to access your website.
How can a person think of a good domain name hack? First, they need to get a list of all the extensions that are possible with a domain name. They then need to find a domain name company that sells the extension they are looking for. Then they will need to think of the words ans phrases that include the letters used in the extension. However, they will need to make sure these letters are at the end of the word, since extensions conclude a domain name. An exception could be made if a person is happy to use third-level domains. In this case the letters of the extension could be used in the middle of the domain name hack.
If a webmaster finds they are having difficulty thinking of a word or phrase that contains their selected extension, they could use a keyword analyzer to help them. Overture and Google offer keyword analyzers for free, though webmasters may benefit from paid keyword analyzers. This is because paid keyword analyzers provide more information about a keyword than free ones.