Generic Domains Being Used to Capture Market Share

accelerator · Jun 17, 2008

All of us here know the business value of a generic domain in helping to capture market share, so what examples do you know of where the generic domain is being used for this purpose (i.e. is being put to use as it should be!) I'll start:

printing.com
broadband.com
holiday.co.uk
reviews.co.uk
mobiles.co.uk

If you could add your suggestions to the end then we'll have a nice list.

Rgds

ratboy · Jun 17, 2008

Tandems.co.uk - One of my projects

accelerator · Jun 17, 2008

A nice site you've done there Ratboy.

Rgds

mojoco · Jun 17, 2008

printing.com
broadband.com
holiday.co.uk
reviews.co.uk
mobiles.co.uk
jigsaws.co.uk

ratboy · Jun 17, 2008

accelerator said:
A nice site you've done there Ratboy.

Rgds

Well i "managed it from concept to completion" didn't design it myself

accelerator · Jun 17, 2008

Cars.co.uk is another one:

printing.com
broadband.com
holiday.co.uk
reviews.co.uk
mobiles.co.uk
tandems.co.uk
jigsaws.co.uk
cars.co.uk

Rgds

jwm · Jun 17, 2008

watches.co.uk
DIY.com

bdnvip · Jun 17, 2008

I worked for printing.com for my work experience although they had a great domain I feel some companies let themselves down by shoddy logo design the example of printing.com is a very good example i believe of using generics to capture market share

Jeewhizz · Jun 17, 2008

motors.co.uk
insurance.co.uk

Rob_F · Jun 17, 2008

Books.com – Barnes and Noble
Baby.com - JOHNSON'S

- Rob

mojoco · Jun 17, 2008

Loans.com - Bank of America (I think)

Good thread, it would be interesting to keep the co.uk's seperate.

ScottJ · Jun 17, 2008

Some .com's are documented here

Bank Of America - Loans.com
Barnes and Noble - Books.com
Bayer - Aspirin.com
Carl's Jr - Burgers.com
Citibank - StudentLoan.com
CityBreak - Visit.com
CNET - News.com TV.com
CNN - Money.com
CondeNast Publications - Gourmet.com
Country Buffet - Buffet.com
Diago - Malts.com Rum.com Scotch.com
Disney - Movies.com
Enterprise - RentalCar.com
Fixodent - Dentures.com
Foxy Fresh Vegetables - Salads.com
Honda - Motorcycles.com Scooters.com
JC Penny - Gift.com
Johnson and Johnson - Baby.com
K-Swiss - TennisShoes.com
Kraft - CreamCheese.com
Mannington - Floors.com
MasterCard - Priceless.com
Merriam Webster - Word.com
Monster - Jobs.com
National Pen Company - Pens.com
Nestle - Meals.com
Office Depot - OfficeSupplies.com
PetSmart - Pets.com
Procter and Gamble - Toothpaste.com Laundry.com
Puritan's Pride - Vitamins.com
Ragu - Eat.com
Rocky Mountain Bicycles - Bikes.com
Sylvan Learning - Educate.com
The History Channel - History.com
The Map and Globe Store - Worldmaps.com
The Weather Channel - Weather.com
The Wedding Channel - Weddings.com
Travelocity - Vacations.com
U-Haul - Trailer.com
Woodway - Treadmills.com
1-800-Wheelchair - Wheelchair.com

paul · Jun 17, 2008

An interesting list would be, big companies that own top generics and DON'T use them.

Such as:

businessbanking.co.uk - The Co-operative Bank

OwnThisDomain.co.uk · Jun 17, 2008

toothpaste.com - Crest / Proctor & Gamble
insurance.co.uk - Lloyds TSB Insurance Services

accelerator · Jun 17, 2008

Some more:

toys.co.uk - Owned by Toys R Us
bingo.co.uk - Affiliate site
warrants.com - Owned by Societe Generale

As we can see, big companies are gradually taking over the generics as domainers are tempted to sell out. This shows how important it is for a business to own the generic in its market sector, and I would think very carefully about selling your high quality generics. Is it an exaggeration to say own the domain, own the sector? Maybe at the moment, but for how long? I feel this shows that if you own the domain you have a major competitive advantage.

Rgds

accelerator · Jun 17, 2008

On this topic, I am still quite surprised we aren't seeing more prominence given to domain names in conventional advertising, although I'm sure we'll see this more and more.

Rgds