I used to write that search technology can not make the connection between a keyword in Japanese with the ASCII(Romaji) term.
I am proved wrong. Yahoo Japan does use this. It doesn’t go into domains (as far as I know) but they do have the technology I found out. I’ll update how this works on another blog.
The former “Overture Keyword Tool” becoming a tool just for agencies & becoming way more relevant was a great move for the markets that use it.
The tool became more relevant to “Our” client’s campaign which was better to give customized estimates.
Everyone is the world using their API or resources unfortunately did not bring Yahoo revenue.
In Asia Yahoo is more important as a search engine than Google & these tools were vital to us.
One of the greatest things that I noticed was that without the tool. I have seen less domains being sold that are just popular buzz words. Overture Keyword Tool was notorious for this. Google Keyword Tool & the Yahoo Agency Tool doesn’t do this.
I’m not into domain investers wasting their time on unused extensions or selling keywords that are just a buzz word.
Pay a big fee now & then realize it’s just a TV show name etc. Or maybe those in IDN investors just got smarter also. This change just keeps the new comer from registering bad domains.
Of the top of my head I can think of several places to find these highly searched for buzz words but will they bring any business customers is what matters.
I’ve got the development bug recently.
I think that domain parking will get better this year for Japan but I know more information about what the companies are doing than most. For some of my domains though I am going into development.
I’m at a good point where I have key Japanese business owners to venture into a commercial development plan.
I should have the first site up for this new venture within the next two months.
Having all the insights from working at one of the top agencies in the world & not being able to contribute is killer.
Anything I produce from this will certainly be a great study to further better business in Japan using IDN domains.
Can’t write more than this now.
Also don’t know what I’m looking more forward to, developing or being invited to the Miss Universe Japan Finals.
Miss Universe Japan finals probably…
I sent a bunch of IDNs to an associate to look over.
I’m big on compatibility which clients also look at. I noticed for the first time that gmail parses IDNs if they are ccTLDs.
I sent some dot comes & dot jps all of them one domain per line.
The dot coms did not turn into links.
Test for yourself, to see if it works.
I was looking from the web & mobile.
This is just an FYI
I have great domains in both dot com & jp but I like to look at the reality of what technical issues there are.
Last night I was talking to an associate of mine at a tech related event here in Tokyo.
Seems like there are actually 4 public domain backorder services here in Tokyo that work with getting dot jp domains.
This time last year there were only 2. One was public & one was on a you have to know someone basis.
Anyway the Japan drop catching services have just started basically & there is lots of things still to workout.
All of the companies do have very strong corporate connections which is vital.
Can’t say things are going to go Max this year but a domain market is starting to develop.
Hopefully one of these services will let me get a few of the domains they beat me too in the drop.
I didn’t realize that there were already 2 “public” Japanese domain drop services.
PSI-Japan & Onamae.com both have Japanese domain back order services.
Actually I knew about the Onamae one from years ago as I wanted them to get some domains for me. If you knew someone in the company they could do it for you. I actually beat them & just registered the domains myself.
But they should be getting more competition now since they are offering this as a public service.
Onamae Domain backorder service
http://www.onamae.com/campaign/backorder/
& PSI Japan Backorder service
http://www.psi.jp/content/view/461/854/
It has been heavily advertised in press releases here in Japan but I guess I haven’t been paying attention to most domain services here. I think you can expect some other services to spring from Onamae.com. I know about something else they’ve started from years back too.
The more services that in the local market, the more domaining can grow as a business.
Currently they is still needed services that are missing.