As far as domain names go it’s pretty simple, .edu means an educational institution, .gov means the U.S government, and .com means …nothing.
That’s right, the .com domain is unrestricted. Meaning a website claiming to sell auto parts could be selling well, anything really. Dominion Registries has created a domain name just for the automotive industry. This week on Auto Marketing Now join Brian Pasch and special guest Jim Schrand, Director of Corporate Strategies at Dominion Registries, to learn about the new automotive shopping space before it is even launched!
On July 4th, 2016 Dominion will give everyone in the automotive industry the power to claim independence from .com. The new domain, .Autos, will serve as the automotive industry’s exclusive domain. The new domain will create a set of industry standards, and ensure that the website is safe, secure, and is in fact an automotive website. .Autos will vet every website that registers for the domain to ultimately create a consistent community.
.Autos will be sold for hundreds, not thousands of dollars like other restricted domains. We are excited to see how .Autos will change the automotive industry, and may eventually boost automotive SEO. For more information, you can check out the solution at www.Domains.Autos.
When the switch in domains is done properly, website rankings and traffic should not be negatively affected. Brian has created a cutover checklist to guide you through the process and ensure you maintain your online presence.
A shorter, more reputable domain will allow your websites to be the trusted destination for all things automotive. Download the checklist before switching domains, and remember to coordinate the switch with your website provider!
For the email grab bag question of the week, Brian differentiates between Google Analytics and Google Search Console (previously Web Master Tools) and explains why you need both.
Here are the top five reasons you need Google Search Console, even if you have Analytics.
1) The site map compares pages in your website to the pages Google has indexed and gives a consensus of the websites overall health.
2) You can view keywords associated with your website, and see how many people clicked on each key word.
3) The Google Search Index shows how many pages Google has found on your website. This number should be increasing over time.
4) The console allows you to see the mix of traffic and your traffic sources.
5) You can evaluate the general health of your website platform. Through this, Google can communicate with you and indicate if there is a problem with your website.
Be sure to check these key points at least once a month, and send your questions over to BrianPasch@CBTNews.com to have them answered live on the show! If Brian uses your question, you will receive a free copy of Mastering Automotive Digital Marketing.
Tune in to Auto Marketing Now every week for the latest and greatest in the automotive world!
About the Author
PCG Digital Marketing is an award winning digital agency headquartered in Eatontown, NJ. We help our clients get found online through innovative search, social and online advertising campaigns.