| I recently made the drive from my current | | | | hammered into us for years and in most cases |
| residence in Florida to my home state of Ohio. I | | | | today, it is not required. |
| have made this trip dozens of times over the | | | | Last but not least, all of these billboards were |
| years, which in itself is no big deal. However this | | | | located on the interstate. These were not placed |
| trip I noticed something different, the endless use | | | | for the local residents but for the traveler on the |
| of domain names on billboards. | | | | interstate. With the increased use of mobile |
| Don't get me wrong. I've seen domain names on | | | | internet devices advertisers are targeting the |
| billboards for years. I've even used billboards | | | | interstate traveler with advance information on |
| myself, but this was different. Normally billboards | | | | the products and services located at the next |
| have the business name as the focal point with | | | | exit. |
| maybe a telephone number and the domain name | | | | This is just one more example of how the |
| mentioned as an after thought. What I saw on | | | | consumer shift to the internet is changing the |
| this trip was the domain name by itself. No | | | | way we do business. With products like General |
| business name, no telephone number, just the | | | | Motors' On Star, Apple's IPhone and the tons of |
| domain name. | | | | cell phones with internet access, this trend is sure |
| I find this interesting for several reasons. First of | | | | to continue. |
| all, the variety of business' that were promoting | | | | This brings us to the domain name itself. It |
| their websites in this manner. There was | | | | hammers home the point that a good domain |
| everything; adult book stores, banks, car dealers, | | | | name should be descriptive of the products and |
| home builders, vacation resorts, golf courses, | | | | services you offer. If you owned a great hotel on |
| restaurants, hotels, flooring stores, outlet malls, | | | | the interstate with a domain name of I would bet |
| truck stops, like I said everything. | | | | you would not receive as many visitors from |
| Secondly the majority of the billboards did not | | | | your billboard advertising as the name would. |
| have www in front of the domain name. This | | | | Do not under estimate the importance of domain |
| shows that advertisers are finally acknowledging | | | | names when developing your website. You may |
| how consumers are becoming more internet | | | | have a great content filled website but if your |
| savvy. The majority of advertisements I see and | | | | domain name is not related in any way to your |
| here promoting a website still use the www in | | | | content, you will be fighting an uphill battle to get |
| front of the domain name, even though it's been | | | | visitors to your website. |