New Site Category & Template Image Selection Tool

One of the many benefits to the Parked.com acquisition is access to greater amounts of keyword and domain analysis that we didn't previously have. Parked.com does a great job at determining what a domain is about and categorizing the domain with a very specific template. Since the acquisition, we've been using that data to match keywords and select images for templates. However, the actual data and ability to change the template image has been behind the scenes.

Today, we've launched a new update that has officially aligned the categorization and templates with the data we have. You'll no longer see the basic Category menu when adding or editing a domain name. You now have control right down to the very specific template categorization. The main My Sites dashboard now also uses the new Category names.

Here is an example to better illustrate the changes:

When adding a Domain Name to WhyPark, you will see the option to choose a specific category and template image pair by clicking on the "Pick A Category" link.



After clicking on the "Pick A Category" link, you'll see a window with a search box to find the best template. After you type in at least 3 characters, we'll start displaying matching templates and filtering further as you continue to type.



To see the image associated with a template, click on it to see a preview.



If you're happy with the image and template categorization, click on the "Change" submit button to save your changes. The window will close and you can continue adding detail to your site.



If you don't choose a category and template, we'll immediately analyze the domain name and make the most relevant choices. You can always edit the category / template image at any time in the Site Settings for a domain.



Finally, you can also set a template in bulk for any number of domains in the My Sites dashboard by selecting the domains and choosing the "Change Category" option under the Bulk Actions menu on the right.

As of December 22, 2009, we have over 4,300 category templates and are currently adding at least 200 new images each week. In some cases, you may find that we've picked a template that doesn't have a specific image yet. In those cases, we show the top-level category's image. As we continue to add new images, the template's image will automatically update on your site. Or, you can choose a different template as described above.

As always, if you have any questions, please contact us at support@whypark.com, through our live chat support in the WhyPark dashboard, or through the WhyPark/Parked Forum.

Guest Post on ElliotsBlog.com: Setting Up A Network of Domains on WhyPark

I had the opportunity to write a guest post on ElliotsBlog.com about how to setup a network of domains on WhyPark. It features a step-by-step walk through which also serves as a nice tutorial for those new to WhyPark or potentially a new way for our oldest customers to setup sites quickly. Thanks to Elliot Silver for the opportunity to showcase WhyPark on ElliotsBlog.com!

Checkout the post here.

Get The Most From Your Site: How to set up your domain with the right keywords

This is the first of a series of how-to articles featuring easy ways to make sure your domains work for you.

So you’ve got your domain on WhyPark. Congratulations! You’ve already taken the first step to reach your target audience. Doing a little legwork to properly set-up your domain on WhyPark will go a long way to ensure your site sticks out.

Here is a step-by-step guide to best use keywords to get the most from your domain:

1. Use a Keyword Tool
Spending some quality time with a good keyword tool should be your first step. I like to use Google AdWords Keyword Tool (https://adwords.google.com/select/KeywordToolExternal). It’s free and incredibly useful.

2. Search For Your Theme... Wisely
Run a search on the general theme of your site. However, be informed in your search. For example, let’s say your site is about mortgages. Given that it’s such a general term with a lot of competition from big sites, optimizing such a broad keyword may not be the best idea.

3. Check Out the Competition
Sometimes sites with a similar theme can provide very useful information. After you’ve completed your search, scour the list of the terms returned and click on the “Advertiser Competition” header. This will sort the list based on a general comparison of terms that exist where there is search volume, but less competition. Look at the green bars -- a full green bar means there is tons of competition; a white bar means very little competition.

4. Mix and Match
In the “Match Type” menu on the top right, choose the “Phrase” option to see how much search volume exists on a specific term. You will want to choose a mix of keywords with less competition but with search volume. This process can be a bit of an art; there’s no “right” number since it’s all relative to the market you’re trying to enter.

5. Pick A Relevant (And Interesting) Site Name
Pick keywords to include in your site name and meta description. In the “mortgages” example, the related term of “Mortgages 101” has some search volume each month (390 on average as of today), but less competition. If I were you, I’d include it in the site name. “Mortgages 101: Learn Mortgage Basics” is a catchy title for the site. The description could be along the lines of “Learn the basics of how mortgages work, types of home mortgages, and choosing the right home loan.” Not only is it captivating to a visitor, it also includes a few phrases and keywords related to the “Mortgages 101” theme.

6. Choose The Right Keywords
Now that you have a title and description, it’s time to pick keywords related to the topic. Keywords are used specifically for matching WhyPark articles with your domain name. With that in mind, you should look for keywords that are relevant but still have topic coverage from our database. Once you’ve made your list of keywords, copy and paste or enter those phrases into WhyPark and we’ll match the group as a whole to the most relevant articles in our database.

This time, pick keywords based on search volume by choosing the “Approx. Avg Search Volume” link. Scan the list to find niche terms related to the theme of your site. If we chose the “Mortgages 101” theme, some related keywords could be: “reverse mortgages,” “second mortgages,” “refinance mortgages,” “adjustable rate mortgages,” “subprime mortgages,” “understanding mortgages,” etc. Do not use quotes and enter these phrases one per line.

7. Choose Even More Keywords!
When the theme has a niche, you may want to look at keywords in the “Additional keywords to consider” section further down on the page. These terms are more general but are still related to your theme.

There’s no true science to picking the right keywords for your site on WhyPark. However, using keyword data as a guide to your theme will make sure your content is relevant and sticky. The result? A site chock full of content offering visitors a good user experience with a range of captivating information.

We are currently working on integrating new keyword selection tools into WhyPark to make choosing keywords and phrases a snap.