100 Smart Companies that Understand the Concept of Generic Domain Names
Each of the 100 companies below has made good use of a generic domain name that exactly matches their primary business, or one of their main products or services.
Some of these companies have used the generic domain name as their main URL, others have built a minisite around it, or forwarded it to their main website (sometimes deep into the site, pointing to the specific product or service in question).
Domain Name
Company
AfterDinnerSpeakers.co.uk
NMP Live
AirFreight.co.uk
Ark Forwarding
Antivirus.co.uk
Trend Micro
Aromatherapy.co.uk
Culpeper UK
Autographs.co.uk
Arundel Autograph Gallery
Avionics.co.uk
Avionicare
BackingTracks.co.uk
Jeff Daniels
BarcodePrinters.co.uk
DED Limited
Billiards.co.uk
Sir William Bentley Billiards
Biscuits.co.uk
United Biscuits
Breakfast.co.uk
Kellogg's
Caravan.co.uk
The Caravan Club
Caravans.co.uk
Discover
CarParking.co.uk
BCP
CarpetTiles.co.uk
Carpet Tile Centre Chesterfield
Cashmere.co.uk
Purely Cashmere
Cheese.co.uk
Milk Link
ChickenCoop.co.uk
Forsham Cottage Arks
Chocolate.co.uk
The Chocolate Society
Clarinets.co.uk
Windband
By now, you've probably already realised that you don't need to look at the second column to know what each company does! The domain name describes the business perfectly, and it's so easy to remember that you're bound to be able to find each website again in the future...
Domain Name
Company
CoachTours.co.uk
Harry Shaw
CommercialProperty.co.uk
Vail Williams
CompanyFormation.co.uk
Jordans
ContentManagement.co.uk
Contensis
CurrentAccount.co.uk
Alliance & Leicester
DedicatedWebHosting.co.uk
ZebraHosts
Dentures.co.uk
MJM Dental Laboratories
DesignerSunglasses.co.uk
D&A The Opticians
Desserts.co.uk
Country Style Foods
Diamonds.co.uk
Cool Diamonds
Domain.co.uk
Sedo
DrivingLessons.co.uk
Coles Driving School
EventManagement.co.uk
The Brilliant Company
FancyDress.co.uk
Angels Fancy Dress
Ferry.co.uk
P&O Ferries
GardenRoller.co.uk
GardenWise
Gas.co.uk
British Gas
GolfClub.co.uk
Mountain Lakes & Castell Heights Golf Clubs
GraphicDesignServices.co.uk
G Solution Design
Holidays.co.uk
First Choice
Pick a random example from these tables, an industry or subject you're familiar with. Then think about how many companies compete in that market, how many similar products and services they offer. Dozens? Hundreds? More?
Domain Name
Company
Homestays.co.uk
British Homestays
Host.co.uk
TFL
Hosting.co.uk
NewNet Hosting
HotelRoom.co.uk
Amsterdam Hotel Earls Court
InkjetPrinter.co.uk
Ink Factory
Keyboards.co.uk
CKS Global Solutions
Kilts.co.uk
Chisholms
Knitting.co.uk
Fotoknit
Landscaping.co.uk
Cedar Nursery
LifeJackets.co.uk
Marine Warehouse
LondonTaxi.co.uk
New Regency Cars
MetalDetectors.co.uk
Viking Metal Detectors
Microscopes
Meiji Techno UK
Motorbikes.co.uk
Motortrak
MusicLessons.co.uk
Acam
News.co.uk
Times Online/News International
NumberPlates.co.uk
Reg Transfers
OfficeSpace.co.uk
Andrews Denford & Boyd
Pashmina.co.uk
Pure Collection
Pasta.co.uk
Pasta Foods
Now take another look at the domain names. In most cases, there are only a handful of ways to describe the particular product or service. Secure a matching domain name, and you're way ahead of the competition!
Domain Name
Company
PaternityTest.co.uk
DDC DNA Diagnostics Centre
PayrollManagement.co.uk
MPTC
Pearls.co.uk
Coleman Douglas Pearls
Pens.co.uk
The Pen Warehouse
PersonalisedGifts.co.uk
Personal Presents
Pharmacy.co.uk
The Co-operative Pharmacy
PhotoFrames.co.uk
Border Frames
PhotoProcessing.co.uk
Snappy Snaps
PlantPots.co.uk
Terratec
Portraits.co.uk
Spatial Imaging Portraits
Presentations.co.uk
Primary Presentations
Psychologist.co.uk
Hughes & Co
Pub.co.uk
Brunning and Price
Rafting.co.uk
Splash Whitewater Rafting
RockingHorse.co.uk
Anthony Dew & Company
Roses.co.uk
Harkness
Rowing.co.uk
Evolution Performance Composites
Rubies.co.uk
Jewellers of Park Lane
Saddles.co.uk
Equestrian Clearance Warehouse
Sausages.co.uk
Crombie's of Edinburgh
Finally, turn your attention to the companies behind the names. Some are household names, some are well known within their industries, others are small companies that have secured the silver bullet of an exact match generic domain name to help them get ahead in their web marketing efforts.
In many cases, you can probably think of more well-known companies associated with that niche. So why didn't they secure the generic domain name for their key product or industry? Apathy? Lack of imagination? We'll never know...
There is a follow-up to this article called "100 More Smart Companies that Get It", highlighting 100 more companies that are making great use of a generic domain name that exactly matches their primary line of business, or one of their main products or services.
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