Using RealNames Links

Using RealNames Links

By Danny Sullivan
Editor, SearchEngineWatch.com
Updated: August 30, 2001

RealNames is an alternative web address system designed to make it easier to find web sites using real words. For instance, in the RealNames system, a phrase like "United Airlines" rather than "http://www.ual.com" would take you directly to the United Airlines web site.

RealNames links used to appear at many major search engines, but they are no longer so popular with them. Of the major search engines, only MSN Search continues to integrate RealNames links into its search results.

At MSN Search, RealNames links appear in the "Featured Sites" area at the top of the results page with a small RealNames icon next to the site's title. The description will also mention "Internet Keyword," similar to what's shown below for Amazon:

Amazon
This Internet Keyword goes directly to the Amazon site.

RealNames links only appear when there is an exact match between a registered RealName and the search term.

More Resources

Search Assistance Features
Several search engines offer special search assistance features that many users overlook. This page explains the ones that are particularly useful.

Company Names Test
See which search engines best direct you to official company web sites, with or without the help of RealNames links.

Goodbye Domain Names, Hello RealNames?
The Search Engine Report, May 3, 2000

Describes how the RealNames system could potentially take over from the current domain name system. Also links to past articles about how the former sale of generic terms gave some companies significant marketing advantages.

RealNames
http://www.realnames.com/

More about the company behind the RealNames links.

iWon

After you do a search, a "Most Popular" result section appears on the far right hand side of the results page. This provides access to Direct Hit listings. For any search, suggested topics will appear. Selecting a topic brings up web page listings for that subject from the Direct Hit index.

Lycos

Lycos uses Direct Hit information for some of the results in its "Popular" area, as circled below. You'll know if Direct Hit is being used because the text will say, "based on user selection traffic," also circled below. Additionally, the Direct Hit logo will appear at the bottom of the results page.

MSN Search

Direct Hit information is made available via a "Top 10" link that appears at the top of the Web Directory Sites section of results.

More Resources

Search Assistance Features
Several search engines offer special search assistance features that many users overlook. This page explains the ones that are particularly useful.

Direct Hit Partners
http://www.directhit.com/partners.html

This page lists all of Direct Hit's major partners, which include some services not shown above. The page also gives instructions on how to access Direct Hit results via these partners.

Direct Hit
http://www.directhit.com/

You can also access Direct Hit popularity results by searching from the company's own web site.