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I have been accumulating antiques related domain names for several years. Because of the value of links to search engine position (SERPS) and search engine optimization (SEO) I am always looking for ways that will tie these sites together in a way the maximizes the benefits for visitors.

When this domain about antiques became available it seemed like it might have some postential to serve as a hub for reaching out to a number of these antique related sites.

I looked up the definition of Guild and found it interesting reading. After reading that, I still like the sound of the word, but it clearly needs some updating for use in the modern world. Make and Sell is probably a better modern description of the process of getting handcrafted items sold for enough to financially reward the craftsperson.  I thought it might make an interesting way to create access to domains I am developing.

I decided to start my search for the best use of this domain on Ebay.  After all, most Guilds, in the middle ages use of the word had to do with commerce and trade.  Ebay is clearly the largest and most innovative center of trade in world today.

A search for Guild* on Ebay found 9,655 items, which was way more than I expected.  Clearly “Guild” is not the archaic, unused word I feared.  6,978 auctions were in the toys and hobbies category.  It looks like the vast majority, no matter what category, are actually some variety of trading card.  I have never messed with trading cards, but that certainly provides a starting point for research in the best use of the domain.

A Wordtracker search shows there are almost 3,000 searches per day for “Guild Wars”.  I haven’t heard of that term either, but Google comes to the rescue.  Now I feel totally out of touch.  Guild Wars seems to be a fabulously popular computer game with a website in five languages.  I wonder if any of the players actually know what a guild was?

The leading site has a page rank of six and is obviously popular and successful.  That would be quite the difficult nut to crack.  Antiques Guild is clearly not quite on target for the Guuild Wars searchers.  Antiques on the other hand is searched less than 2,000 times per day and Antique Guild is probably never searched for.

It seems clear that young people who are into massive multiplayer online role playing games will have a much different perspective on the term.  That group would seem to make a great target audience.  I will have to work on an angle or twist that might somehow tie the antiques portion of the name into the equationl