.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