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One vs Several domain names?

Jorge

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Ok, I'm about to start next month with my first "real" ebiz and got stuck:

The target market is LA and as such there are different languages and verbs within the same language (spanish) i.e. People from Chile use different verbs than people in Argentina to describe the same actions. Theres also portuguese from Brazil.

I already have the different domain names like this: "verb"online.com

With this in mind; What would be better?

1) One main domain name in spanish and then www.domain/br/ (brazil for example)

2) One main domain name in spanish and other domains with the other language verbs pointing to it

3) Different domain names with other verbs as solely websites

I think from a branding and SEO perspective, number 1 would be the best, but that would make harder to get the brand in other countries...

What do you think?

Thanks in advance! :thumbsup:
 
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aptohosting

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Ok, I'm about to start next month with my first "real" ebiz and got stuck:

The target market is LA and as such there are different languages and verbs within the same language (spanish) i.e. People from Chile use different verbs than people in Argentina to describe the same actions. Theres also portuguese from Brazil.

I already have the different domain names like this: "verb"online.com

With this in mind; What would be better?

1) One main domain name in spanish and then www.domain/br/ (brazil for example)

2) One main domain name in spanish and other domains with the other language verbs pointing to it

3) Different domain names with other verbs as solely websites

I think from a branding and SEO perspective, number 1 would be the best, but that would make harder to get the brand in other countries...

What do you think?

Thanks in advance! :thumbsup:


Jorge,

I know exactly how to help you out, contact me. I am from Brazil, and fluent in Portuguese and Spanish (written/spoken), I can help you acquire a .br TLD domain name and help with your e-biz.

If you are interested email me at tom@aptohosting.com.

Or go to www.aptohosting.com and click "LIVE CHAT" on the left side.

Thanks
Tom C.
www.aptohosting.com
1866-404-9090
 

Diane Kennedy

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Tom, I would love it if you would post something about the language issue and nuances.

I've considered trying to break into the Spanish-speaking market in the US, but run into similar issues to what Jorge has described. In Phoenix, most Spanish speakers are Mexican or Mexican descent. In fact, locally the Spanish is called "Espanol" while the Spanish from Spain is called "Castellano" - not sure on the spelling, just doing it phonetically. Use of verbs is very different. Also, "slang" terms that I've learned from Mexicans are completely different than the common language from Central or South America.

So, what dialect do you use when you target an audience? It seems like the local television shows (Univision and Telemundo) have hosts with a Central American accent, while the radio shows are all Mexicano.

Very interesting concept. BTW the television channel in Phoenix with the highest # of viewers is Univision (highest number of ALL language stations). They also are the most expensive to advertise on.
 

Jorge

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Actually, the Spanish from Spain (España) is Español. The general spanish is Castellano.

I have thought this many times. For example: If you go to Chile, movies are spoken in Castellano, while in Chile they speak very differently. The LA version of CNN is a good example I think, because its the same for all LA and everyone can understand it.

With a few exceptions we all understand main spanish (Castellano). I have met several Mexicans and -with the exception of some expressions like "cuate", "orale" and things like that- we all understand perfectly.
 
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Diane Kennedy

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Hi Jorge:

Now this is really interesting...I haven't ever studied Spanish in school - it just comes from learning from Mexicans in Mexico and US. But, I've always heard the opposite - Espanol is Mexican....Castellano is Spain. I just checked it with my son (who is Mexican) and he said that was what it was. I wonder if that is just one of those differences between words between S. American countries (Argentina) and Mexico? Or maybe it's regional? My son is from Chihuahua, which is the state just south of Texas.

I have to get my keyboard changed for Spanish too - I know that i'm not typing some of the letters correctly.....

Anyway - One of the examples I remember was when "Rich Dad Poor Dad" was translated it was "Rico Padre Pobre Padre". "Padre" refers to a Catholic priest. A male parent is "papa." So the translation took on a whole new meaning..... (a rich priest versus a poor priest?) I thought this was just a big mistake.

Then recently I was watching a show out of S America and someone refered to their parent as "padre". I've never heard the word used that way in MX.

Again, though, I can't even begin to speak for Mexicans in the language...I have no formal studies in it.
 

Jorge

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The only words missing in english keyboards is "Ñ" and "´" to make: á é í ó ú, anyways you can always use ALT combinations to produce them. Until recently this special chars couldnt be used in domain names, but with Internet Explorer 7 and firefox its now posible: www.españa.com

As far as Español/Castellano. I was thaught in school that Español was like the word indicates from España (spain) and Castellano from Castilla, a region of Spain. However, the Real Academy of Spain (the authority in spanish language says both Castellano and Español are synonyms)

The words Padre and Papa have the same meaning but are used differently. Both means Father, but we refer to priest's as Padre also. Padre is a more "formal" way to call your father while Madre is mother. Papa and Mama are a little more friendly. Also we refer to the Pope as Papa but with the accent in the first "A".

The book RDPD, does in fact have the title "Padre Rico, Padre Pobre", remember we use names first and adjectives later :)

I hope you understand my post, the hot weather is killing me :p

BTW, if you have the time, here's a bump for you: http://www.thefastlanetomillions.com/showthread.php?t=5965
The blog I refer in that post is this: http://www.alecoxenford.com/2007/12/germinare-los-ninos-primero.html
 

Diane Kennedy

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The book RDPD, does in fact have the title "Padre Rico, Padre Pobre", remember we use names first and adjectives later :)

I hope you understand my post, the hot weather is killing me :p

On the book title - of course you're right....I wasn't thinking when I wrote that.


Are you really having hot weather?
 
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Jorge

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Yeah, its around 100°F (38°) every day in here!
 

andviv

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Jorge, qué afortunado... tu en verano y nosotros aca en invierno, pero bueh, que se la va a hacer...

About the domains, I think nothing beats the .com
Keep that one
put several languages (or better, flags) in the first page, and redirect the user to the 'right' domain (for example, the Argentinian flag will redirect them to www.domain.com.ar; chilean flag redirect them to www.domain.com.cl; etc)

and you are correct about papá, papa and padre. but again, correct is not the correct term here :D Each country has a set of words that have different meanings, so contextual translation is often needed. Go say something is 'bloody' here in the US and the meaning is completely different than saying it in the UK. It is only worse in Spanish as there are way more countries.

In the US the Spanish from Mexico is the most widely spread, for obvious reasons. Diane, if you want to tackle the latino community then I suggest you use 'mexican' as the language to guide you. We, from other countries, kind of accept this as a fact.
 

andviv

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About Padre Rico Padre Pobre, that's how I read the book the first time, in Spanish. The translation was very bad, but the message very strong. I had to go later and buy it in English to get the whole meaning. A big problem with translations is that most of the time they are done literally, almost word by word, which obviously makes it lose the meaning intended.

About Univision, yes, it is the most expensive (biggest audience by far) so I suggest you look into other channels (for example GolTV, the soccer-only channel, is followed a lot as we latinos are crazy about Fútbol, yeah, the one you actually play with your feet ;)) or Fox Sports en Español. They may be better priced and you will get a big audience as well.
 
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Jorge

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Andviv where are you from!? I knew you spoke spanish, but never thought that you were latino :p

Im continuing this thread in the speedway...
 

andviv

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Jorge, I can't tell you, we beat your national soccer team not too long ago, so I rather keep it safe :D
 

Jorge

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Lol...Colombia?
Maybe you won't believe me, but I'm one of the few Argentinians that doesn't like soccer :p
 
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S928

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In the US the Spanish from Mexico is the most widely spread, for obvious reasons. Diane, if you want to tackle the latino community then I suggest you use 'mexican' as the language to guide you. We, from other countries, kind of accept this as a fact.

There's actually two reasons why Spanish from Mexico is used the most when compared to other variations. First reason: Mexican Spanish is somewhat in the middle as far as speed, context and formality. Second reason: demographics, enough said.
 

CactusWren

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Ok my 2 cents...

On domain names, I loved reading somewhere around here to get a bunch, so it got me thinking. I did not get very far, but then remembered:

www.visualthesaurus.com

That helped me think of other domain names and I just purchased another one! Hope it helps others.

About Spanish, I am Mexican for Mexico City living in Arizona since getting married. I have some experience in marketing. As far as the language differences, its just like speaking with an American, a Brit, an Australian, etc. We all understand each other, but...

For Hispanic (I hate this word, I hear the census bureau coined it...) marketing in the US the safest bet is Mexican. BUT listen to this, the Spanish from Mexico City is what is best used according to the experts (the reasons are clearly explained by someone above). This can be easily understood if you think, well I want my TV with a NYC voice, a Texas voice...

Love this board!
-C :love1:
 

Jorge

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Cactus, thanks for the reply :)

However, my main target wont be US, it will be Latam. Thats why I'm trying to think of a word understandable across LatAm countries.

I'll point the other domains to the main site for now.

Thanks!
 
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