.tel domains are meant to be a single point of contact. .tel domains are the most useful and easy way to present a direct source of contact information, but what happens if you need more than static content to be presented to your visitors?
.tel domains are designed to display information. There is no ability for a .tel domain to process information or to perform server-side functions based on visitor activity. When a visitor comes to a .tel domain, they are presented with clickable options that direct them to a different location. These choices can not be changed within the .tel domain based on the individual actions of the user.
If you want to change the information being presented to your visitors, you need to change the content of the .tel domain, either through software or through the Telhosting Control Panel. In order for your visitors to interact with you, beyond clicking links, you will need a server to handle these types of requests. To handle these processes the .tel “Sister Site” is your best choice for expanding your .tel offerings.
A .tel Sister Site is a website that is hosted on a traditional webserver and is directly related to a .tel directory in either functionality and/or theme. A Sister Site can be any TLD but is best suited as something similar in branding to the .tel to which it is related.
Although no definitive practices have been established, here are some suggestions on how to structure a .tel Sister Site…
.tel Domain and .tel Sister Site Naming:
Main .tel:
myawesome.tel
Sister Site:
myawesometel.com
This way you maintain branding for your .tel and also emphasize the .tel through both domains. Cross-linking the two will help with SEO and will make your options for marketing and linking more flexible.
.tel Sister Site Components:
Your .tel Sister Site should, at the very least, have the following:
Logo/Branding - Standard issue for any website but also useful for branding your .tel
Links to your .tel - This is a given. Your .tel should also link back to your Sister Site where appropriate.
Information about .tel - While the general public is still becoming aware of .tel, this is an opportunity to explain it to them. You could potentially generate .tel sales from this information as additional revenue.
5 Ways to make your .tel Sister Site Succeed:
1. .tel Specific Advertising
Advertise your .tel as well as linking to it. Creating banners and other ads for promoting your .tel directly are a sure way to increase exposure of your .tel and increase awareness of .tel overall. An example of .tel specific advertising tools can be found at: http://www.glittel.com/admaker/.
2. .tel Interactivity
Offer ways to interact with your .tel domain, through your Sister Site, that can not be achieved through a .tel or other websites. If you can provide your visitors with value that can only be found through your .tel, you will have a definite winner.
3. Trade Links
Trade links with other sites for your .tel Sister Site and also use your .tel and Sister Site for A-B-C linking and other cross-linking techniques. .tel domains combined with Sister Sites can create tremendous linking strength.
4. Default to .tel
Whenever possible, if you are trying to improve the rank of your .tel, make your default choice the .tel link. If you are posting links, embedding links, trading links, etc., if you are able to link to your .tel, do it. Your .tel will have a higher rate of people taking action on specific links and you can easily make your Sister Site one of those links.
5. Reflect Your .tel
.tel is meant to be a single point of contact. Other TLDs are meant to serve web pages, graphics, video, animations, etc. Your .tel is a precisely structured list of contact information and your Sister Site should reflect that precision and structure. A lean .tel will lose it’s effectiveness beside a messy Sister Site.
Without a Sister Site, you may be limiting your potential for what your .tel can do for your visitors. .tel is great as a central communications hub. By adding a complimentary Sister Site to your .tel you will truly have the best of both Worlds and significantly increase your chances of .tel success.
If you would like to share your thoughts on .tel Sister Sites, or .tel domains in general, feel free to drop by the Telsters forums at http://www.telsters.com/forum
6 Ways To Increase The Success Of Your .tel Directory
Thursday, September 24th, 2009.tel domains are about communications. They are about putting people in contact with information that is valuable to them. People get excited when they find useful information. With the right strategy, you can not only make your .tel directory exciting, but you can potentially turn it into a leading resource for Internet users Worldwide.
Here are some suggestions for making your .tel domain stand out from the crowd and separate it from the others.
Present Compelling Content
For traditional websites this is a no-brainer and is pretty straightforward. With a website you can host articles, pictures, movies, animations and other forms of media that allow you to grab a viewers attention. With .tel you are only able to provide links and some text. Some might consider this a restriction, others would call it an exercise in brevity. Make sure your .tel is loaded with concise information in the text areas and valuable links in other areas. You need to organize and structure your content so it is easy to navigate and contains the least amount of clicks for the user to find what they need. If your .tel contains many valuable links for visitors, they will likely use it as a regular resource.
Build a .com
A .tel on it’s own is not very diverse, but through programming and scripting a .tel domain can become a very robust and flexible source of information. In order to maximize the potential of a .tel domain it is necessary to use server side tools, but since these tools can not be hosted on a .tel domain, it is necessary to host them on another domain, such as a .com. Without an accompanying .com (or other web site) to go with your .tel directory, you will have very limited options in how you can communicate with your visitors. If you build a site that is directly related to your .tel domain, a “sister site” on a web server, you will significantly increase your options for building on your .tel efforts.
Build an app
Accessing .tel domains via the web is only the beginning of .tel visitor interaction. .tel domains store data in an extremely efficient and fast manner, in the DNS. There are open-source applications that can be expanded and customized to suit the needs of your visitors. If the basic TelProxy doesn’t suit your needs you will either need to plug your .tel domain into a related website or build an application for your visitors to get the best viewing experience possible. If the information you present is valuable and the application you develop makes interacting with that data better, then people will use it.
Trade some links
.tel domains are primarily set up for displaying links to profiles, web pages and even other .tel domains. Why not trade links with other .tel domain owners or website owners. Link trading has the same benefits whether through .tel or other websites.
Write a Press Release
Press releases are a great method for reaching out to the public. A well written press release can generate all sorts of visitor activity and discussion about your .tel. If the news you release is relevant, you may find your .tel mentioned in places you never even thought of.
Socialize
Get out and share the news. Talk to people. Post on forums. Tell your friends and family. Spread the word. The most successful viral marketing campaigns can begin with one person who tells 2 friends, and so on and so on. If your .tel has something unique or unusual, you might have the next viral phenomenon.
There are lots of ways to promote your .tel domains and increase your chances for success. Merely setting up a .tel directory and expecting people to automatically find it is completely unrealistic. A successful .tel domain has visitors who act on the information provided. If you are able to incorporate the ideas listed above into your marketing strategy, you will significantly increase your chances of success with your .tel domains.
And… If you have any news or ideas you would like to share, stop by Telsters.com and chat in the forums
Tags: .tel, directory, ideas, monetizing, success
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