Interesting to note about new Telnames registrations...

...as shown at http://teldomains.co/?go=telnames that the vast majority of them are registering their business name rather than going for generic keywords.

Telnames stated in a recent survey questionnaire that if you have 10 or more employees they don't want you to complete it (i.e. provide your contact details so they can sell you a .tel).

So the Telnames registrant will often have less than 10 members of staff in their business - this size of operation tends to be local in nature and perhaps they feel generic keywords are too grand for them ?

http://MikeSeaton.tel

Mike...

Sounds like the objective of Telnames is being successfully achieved. The question that I have for you is how do we replicate the Telnames success on the .Tel side. Does not appear to be a platform issue. The next question would is how do we as early adopters support Telnic and the Telnames businesses to become more successful with the tools that are provided?

Yes, the .Tel platform is limited -- wait -- it is robust. Telnames is bringing footprints to the table. What are we doing?

ntervu wrote:Sounds like the objective of Telnames is being successfully achieved.

Agreed - up to a point (only 1,452 registrations so far - see http://www.dottel.net).

They are getting their target customers - and not really bothering with those that don't fit the mould defined by Telnames.

The problem for most forum members is that they are the people that Telnames appears to have no real interest in, that is:

1) Software Developers - Telnames does not allow them access for writing like the standard Telnic .tels do.

2) Power Users - Telnames does not allow (server intensive) subdomains like the standard Telnic .tels do.

3) Domain Investors - Telnames does not allow easy monetisation through AdSense and Long-Tail SEO (which requires subdomains) like the standard Telnic .tels do.

IMO Telnames does not really want Software Developers, Power Users or Domain Investors as their customers.

This wouldn't be so bad if the standard Telnic (subdomain-based) .tels had a future - but it's become pretty clear recently that with zero marketing and little development the old Telnic .tels are just becoming a potentially time-consuming nuisance to Telnic/Telnames (yes they are effectively the same business).

So what to do to go forward ?

This is my view and I have tried to seperate it from the vast amount of time and money I (and several others) have spent on buying/renewing/developing the original Telnic .tels:

1. Accept that you cannot pitch a "new" (.tel is new to "Joe Public") product on the internet in 2 completely different versions that are as different as chalk and cheese i.e. the Telnames and the standard Telnic .tels.

2. Given that Telnic/Telnames have obviously decided that the Telnames template is the way forward, allow ALL .tel registrars to offer this (preferably at no additional cost) with Telnames handling the CTH for them.

3. Announce a time-limit for the life of the original Telnic subdomain .tels - after this you will only be able to use the Telnames template (regardless of your registrar).

4. Introduce a worldwide Affiliate Program (preferably via http://www.CJ.com) to get the Telnames version of .tel promoted on thousands of sites worldwide - DO NOT prevent bulk .tel holders from claiming affiliate commission on their own .tel domains.

5. Add the facility via the Telnames CTH to put AdSense banners at the top and bottom of the page (on both desktop and mobile versions).

6. Promote .tel massively using sporting events, exhibitions, product placement, viral videos, chambers of commerce, business chat shows, etc, etc.

7. Do a deal with as many Telcos as possible to provide a .tel with their mobile phone new/renewal contracts.

8. Make owning a .tel "cool" - in the same way as owning the latest Apple product is.

9. Anything else I haven't had time to list but forum members can add.

http://MikeSeaton.tel

mikeseaton wrote:

ntervu wrote:Sounds like the objective of Telnames is being successfully achieved.

Agreed - up to a point (only 1,452 registrations so far - see http://www.dottel.net).

They are getting their target customers - and not really bothering with those that don't fit the mould defined by Telnames.

The problem for most forum members is that they are the people that Telnames appears to have no real interest in, that is:

1) Software Developers - Telnames does not allow them access for writing like the standard Telnic .tels do.

2) Power Users - Telnames does not allow (server intensive) subdomains like the standard Telnic .tels do.

3) Domain Investors - Telnames does not allow easy monetisation through AdSense and Long-Tail SEO (which requires subdomains) like the standard Telnic .tels do.

IMO Telnames does not really want Software Developers, Power Users or Domain Investors as their customers.

Finally. Now all they need is a Telnames-only directory of equal caliber to watch Telnames registrations explode.

Same answers: http://www.teltalk.org/t433-new-great-features-at-telnames#1878

Once they have the primary focus right, the others you have mentioned above can benefit in the proper order, and in the proper time, in a different place.

Great insight. Appears that this discussion is being better addressed in another thread.

Thanks