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Traffic From Generation Y: Sarah's Thoughts
Today it hit me hard what a huge gap there is between people my age (generation Y) and the other older generations. Today I was reading through an article on DNW and stumbled across a podcast that talked about jumping on trends before they happen. It discussed buying domains that could potentially be worth a lot more in the future.
I found it very interesting and I can remember when dad started domaining, he was trying to think of catchy domains to buy that could be worth more later. It surprised me that Podcasts are even still around, but what surprised me even more was that the term ‘Vlog’ was presented as an example of a domain that had lost its value. The term vlog stands for ‘video blog’, and according to DNW is not a valuable phrase that you could potentially make money off.
That was a huge shock for me because if you ask anyone my age, they would know exactly what the term vlog means. Not only that, but I would say that vlog or vlogging is probably one of the most popular forms of video on YouTube right now.
After speaking with my dad about it, he suggested that although it may be a well-known term amongst people my age, people my age don’t have the money to buy them. This then depressed the value on the term ‘vlog’ and results in the domains being dropped by investors. Another reason the domains are dropped is because people my age may use the term on YouTube but not in a domain main, which means the domains have no traffic.
So my question to you all is, why do you think there is a lack of traffic going to domains containing the word vlog? Let me know what you think in the comments!
Comments
Looks bad... Sounds bad.. How do you spell it... Some people have an aversion to say and type V words, as their tiny minds link any V words to Vagina... The mashing of some words just does not work. Video + Blog they are just not a good fit together. There is nothing appealing about the word 'CRONUT' Croissant + Donut. It maybe tasty but the words sucks. VLOG sucks to. I think most people have No idea what a Vlog is and they don't want to know. Ooooo ahhhhh I'm Vlogging.. I think the term BLOG is losing appeal and no longer reflects what the original meaning was. Sometimes people want separation. Video is Video. Blogging is Blogging. Do you remember Vegemite Kraft singles! WTF Two bad things merged together to form one apocalyptically bad thing. I think CHAT and VIDEO are more universal words. While I know what a blog is, I don't refer to anything as a blog. I refer to all things as a Website. Some people try to turn back the hands of time. PAY + PHONE = PAYPHONE. Any type traffic now? Anyone interested in using or buying pay phone? Are pay phones sexy? I think the world and consumers have already jumped and moved past VLOG’s. Stick a fork in it.. its done
Thanks Eric! You have brought up an interesting point I hadn't even considered! I didn't ever think that there was a problem in the word 'vlog' itself. I am though yet to meet a person my age that doesn't know that a vlog is a 'video blog'. Most often vlogs are for Youtuber's who film their average day to day activities. So its almost as if "A day in the life of..." has now been shortened to 'vlog' or 'vlogging'. For me its a category such as: tutorials, how to's, vlog's. If that makes sense! So I suppose that doesn't resinate with the domaining community as much as it does the Youtube viewers of GenY.
Hi Sarah,
You and many others know that a VLOG is something inside another world (YouTube). So a VLOG is something inside of YouTube for you. It’s also something you and others want for FREE. You don’t want and will not pay to view a Vlog. YouTube provides everything you need to host and search for your favorite VLOG.
'Cutiepie' the newest 18 year old make-up tip queen is not going to be buying or setting up her own website called cutipiesvlog.com anytime soon.
Cutiepie does not want and will not need a domain name called .......vlog.com. They just need to use YouTube and set-up their own channel. Build it and they will come… If they do really want a domain name and website they will call it Cutiepiesvlog.com? Appending the work VLOG before or after most words is not a good fit as I mentioned in my first response. Hence, people don't search for VLOG names or vlog domain names to buy. Who else will wants to buy erictheeelsvlog.com apart from someone called Eric the eel the vlogger.
Now learning how to VLOG or setting up you own Vlog maybe of interest to some people (not many). It may provide some type in traffic or interest from someone wanting to set-up a vlog or website. But how would you monetize this new ‘how to vlog’ website. Is 'cutiepie' going to pay $99/month for their ‘how to vlog like a pro' subscription and ebook? NO. They will search inside YouTube for a FREE vlog on how to set up their own vlog from another vlogger. In this instance, NO HONEY, NO MONEY !
Cheers Big Ears
A very valid point! It makes more sense now that you put it like that. Youtube is the best platform for vlogs and I can see why they wouldnt register a domain name with word vlog in it. Maybe .blog will be a better focus, or are blogs on the way out too?
They talk about the term "vlog" in this DomainSherpa show: http://www.domainsherpa.com/review-20160208/
Because Andrew Rosener bought the domain VLOG.COM
Very interesting Mike, thanks for linking me to that! I have to agree with Andrew, I think vlogging is only getting bigger. But I suppose what goes up eventually has to come down
Eric brought up a valid point. How the heck do you say "vlog"? Vee-log? Vlog (like flog)? "Vlogue"? It's just not at all clear how to say it. And it definitely doesn't roll off the tongue. It's also a short term fad. I bet the term doesn't survive this decade and has been replaced by something new by 2020. So yeah as a domain resale investment, I totally see it as a flop. It might work for someone developing a product behind "vlogging" who is going to drive traffic to it, but then they're making their money from building up a brand/product/list and not the domain name itself.
Hey Jonathan, I don't think I personally saw that as a struggle. Purely because all the vlogs I have watched they have always pronounced it "vlog" (like flog). But I can see how that would be an issue just reading it! That is also true, technology is always moving and I'm sure by 2020 we will be experiencing video through Virtual Reality or something similar lol! Very valid points
I've never heard anyone recently use the term "Vlogger" or "Vlog" so I don't really care what Rosener thinks or what Google Trends says. Assuming we are about the same age Sarah I don't think Generation Y or X says "vlog" either but I haven't been to Australia. (I would like to go though!) People might know the term but they don't use it. There's a difference in knowing what something is and having it be in the common lexicon.
Rosener bought a domain name he won't be able to make a profit on because... let's face it how do you compete with Youtube and what is the use in owning that domain name? He just showed that he's too old to buy terms like that. People say "Youtuber" but he never mentioned that. There are 400 HOURS of video uploaded to Youtube every minute. That equates to 1000 days of video per hour.
FYI - I don't watch or listen to DomainSherpa anymore since the Sherpas don't know what they are talking about or flat out lie. Look at the whole Adam Dicker saga. Unsure why Mike Cyger is doing DNAcadmey as that just seems like he's going down the same path. Pretty disappointing imo.
Regarding the DNW podcast Andrew mentioned Blockchain tech which is something most people do not know about but is valuable. Why? Companies are investing R&D research into it and that means a lot of money is going into Blockchain solutions. That's why I bought Blockchain.link as the whole point is to "link" transactions against each other.
Bugger. I guess the same goes for all of VLOG's relatives - SVOD, TVOD, AVOD, EST and the myriad of other acronyms used to describe modern day dilemmas on how to tag things or describe things. I guess VLOG is closer to something a consumer (of any age) may think about, but it is really just a part of a business process or description that is a highly visited WIKI page, but not of direct consumer interest or value - and hence not a valuable domain name. But then domain names of all sorts are just brands of sorts and, apart from a very few, don't exist without investment and a clear value to users. Why is MLIA valuable?
Drew just needs to sell it to a competitor - Microsoft, Yahoo etc. Eyeballs (ie. advertising) = $$$.
I'd put it in the same league as 'Ebay' as a string of characters. At least vlog means something already.