On a regular basis, I watch the domain names that Google registers, as sometimes it is an indication of things to come–sometimes the registration of a domain name may indicate a future project. It is interesting to note that Google today registered a lot of typo domain names related to Google Analytics, their web analytics service.
One of the domain name typos that they registered is coogle-analytics.com.
Typosquatting, also referred to as “URL Hijacking”, as defined by Wikipedia is “is a form of cybersquatting which relies on mistakes such as typographical errors made by Internet users when inputting a website address into a web browser. Should a user accidentally enter an incorrect website address, they may be led to an alternative website owned by a cybersquatter”. For a lot of popular domain names, it can be very lucrative and beneficial to own a domain name that is a typo–a lot of people mistype domain names. When a domain name owner then gets traffic to their typo domain, they can benefit financially from every “click” on their website. This can be very dangerous, though, as there is a good chance that if you own a typo domain of a trademark then you will get sued.
Rather than have to deal with lawsuits and typo domain name squatters, many companies decide to register these typos of their brand so no one else can benefit from it. Apparently now there is enough traffic to Google Analytics that Google has determined that it would benefit them from owning typos of their www.Google-Analytics.com domain name (which currently redirects to Google Analytics).
Here are the typo domain names that Google registered today. I find it interesting to see exactly which typos they registered, and which ones they chose not to register. I bet that the domain names that they chose to register are related to keyword search traffic. In other words, if there are a lot of searches for a common misspelling of Google Analytics, Google registered those domain names.
coogle-analytics.com
foogle-analytics.com
gkogle-analytics.com
gnogle-analytics.com
gokgle-analytics.com
goocle-analytics.com
goofle-analytics.com
googhe-analytics.com
googla-analytics.com
googld-analytics.com
google-ajalytics.com
google-anahytics.com
google-anal9tics.com
google-analxtics.com
google-analy4ics.com
google-analydics.com
google-analypics.com
google-analythcs.com
google-analytibs.com
google-analytic3.com
google-analyticc.com
google-analyticr.com
google-analyticw.com
google-analytiss.com
google-analytmcs.com
google-analyuics.com
google-anamytics.com
google-anelytics.com
google-anqlytics.com
google-aoalytics.com
google-enalytics.com
google-qnalytics.com
googlu-analytics.com
googme-analytics.com
goowle-analytics.com
woogle-analytics.com
What I find very interesting, however, is that Google chose to register the typos of they hyphenated version of “Google Analytics” and NOT the non-hyphenated version of “Google Analytics”. For example, as of my writing of this, the domain name CoogleAnalytics.com is available for registration–Google has NOT registered that domain name.
If you are interested in typo domain names, there are several decent typo domain name tools that will help you find typos. Some people say that they can make a lot of money by owning a typo domain name. I do, however, recommend that you stay far, far away from any domain name that is related to a trademark, a company name, or any brand.
Domain Tools Typo Domain Finder – http://www.domaintools.com/buy/domain-typo-finder/
SEO Chat Domain Typo Generator – http://www.seochat.com/seo-tools/domain-typo-generator/
Domain Name Typo Generator – http://www.webmaster-toolkit.com/domain-typo-generator.shtml