The Future of Domain Merchandising: Leveraging AI to Drive Sales and Customer Satisfaction

When people take to the internet looking for answers, they’re hoping for a lightning-fast experience that provides them with curated suggestions right at the top of the page. Why would their expectations be any different when looking for domain names? 

In today’s crowded digital ecosystem, it is becoming increasingly difficult for individuals and businesses to find the right domain names. Traditional search solutions that rely on static rankings and pre-set keyword lists only exacerbate the issue, leaving customers frustrated when their ideas are already taken and without suitable alternatives.

As it becomes harder for customers to secure the right web addresses, domain sellers need to experiment with new tools and technologies to better meet customer demand. Chief among the emerging solutions is artificial intelligence (AI), which is revolutionizing the way people search for products and information across all industries—including the world of domains. AI-powered search tools now provide a seamless, intuitive experience by anticipating customer needs and connecting them with relevant, available alternatives they didn’t even know they wanted. 

Emerging AI Opportunity for Domain Sellers

As AI databases expand and algorithms become more intelligent, you can expect domain search functionality to trend in the same direction. Instead of just acting as a directory, search tools will evolve into more of a personalized AI assistant. 

AI-powered domain search engines have the power to transform several aspects of the customer experience, creating a smooth journey that effortlessly guides users from initial brainstorming to domain registration. By integrating AI-driven search tools, you can elevate your ability to meet customer needs at every step of the process.

As a longstanding industry leader in the domain space, Identity Digital is dedicated to staying ahead of market trends by incorporating the latest advancements in AI and machine learning into its solutions. Through Domain Engine, Identity Digital has modernized the world of domain merchandising for registrars of all sizes and specialties. 

Strategic Benefits for Registrars

With a market size of $9.4 billion in 2024, the domain industry is on the rise.¹ So, how do you stand out?

An advanced, AI-based search solution offers a powerful entry point for attracting potential customers and growing as a business. Here’s why.

Competitive Edge Through Efficiency with Advanced Technology

Competing in today’s domain market doesn’t have to mean building complex new tools in-house. Developing an AI-powered search solution from scratch requires significant technical expertise and investment, often stretching beyond the budgets of many registrars.

With an out-of-the-box solution like Domain Engine, you can immediately deliver an advanced, AI-enabled search experience without a heavy technical lift. This gives your platform the same cutting-edge functionality as larger competitors, while keeping costs under control.

AI also streamlines the search process itself, reducing friction for your customers and improving operational efficiency for your business. Studies show AI tools can increase operating margins by more than 10%, creating room to reinvest in customer service, portfolio expansion, or new growth initiatives. By pairing cost efficiency with advanced technology, you position your platform to compete more effectively, win customer trust, and scale sustainably.

Context-Based Personalized Suggestions

Legacy search tools can’t interpret why someone is searching for a particular term, but AI can quickly examine customer inputs to help put their search terms into context. With access to deeper insights about a customer’s search intent, the search engine is able to generate more relevant suggestions. Plus, AI can consider both an individual’s own customer profile and historical data to develop a complete picture of their search habits and needs as a domain registrant.

As you offer increasingly personalized and context-aware recommendations, you’ll build genuine trust with your customers and position yourself as an authority for domain name brainstorming and generation. Instead of having to shop around on different registries and reselling sites to find a good match, customers will be able to quickly commit to a web address that’s perfectly aligned with their branding goals. 

Support for Diverse Languages and Scripts

Traditional search tools have limited functionality when it comes to compatible characters and languages. AI has opened up a whole new world of search functionality by adapting to support non-Latin scripts, making your platform accessible to a global audience that uses a wide variety of languages and characters. 

Introducing multilingual AI support also shows international customers that their experience isn’t an afterthought but rather an essential element of your merchandising strategy and company values.

Increased Sales and Revenue Opportunities

Having a highly-functional search tool allows you to showcase relevant products to customers right away, removing potential barriers to making a purchase and keeping them engaged in the purchase funnel—which, in turn, can increase conversions. In fact, companies that implement AI-driven personalization often see a 20% increase in customer satisfaction, translating to up to a 10% boost in sales conversions.²  By incorporating AI into your platform, you can harness those efficiencies to enhance the customer experience, speed up your sales cycle, and increase conversions. 

Machine Learning for Continuous Improvement

Machine learning is one of the primary technologies that support artificial intelligence, allowing algorithms to adapt their behavior based on the information they process. When it comes to your domain search tools, machine learning models facilitate continuous improvement so that each time your customers enter a query, the results become more aligned with what they’re looking for. That’s because each subsequent suggestion takes into account previous searches, behaviors, and feedback, along with insights from other users in different situations. 

Ultimately, machine learning in your search processes allows for dynamic, real-time improvements designed to enhance the customer experience. Through a combination of performance metrics, behavioral data, and user feedback, your algorithm can fine-tune results to optimize customer engagement and satisfaction. 

Domain Engine as a Pioneering Solution

Identity Digital’s Domain Engine addresses the need for AI capabilities in domain search. As a cutting-edge, AI-powered search tool, Domain Engine offers features like: 

• AI-backed suggestions
• Context-based keyword searches
• Expanded local language support for a multilingual audience

With Domain Engine, your customers can also prioritize specific results, explore location-based suggestions, and instantly check the availability of each recommendation.

With options for seamless integration into your existing platform, Domain Engine can supercharge your search functionality while keeping customers fully engaged with your brand, positioning you as a leader in the domain space. This turnkey solution also gives your platform access to critical insights about customer search behavior, all while curating a streamlined shopping experience. 

Experience the Future of Domain Merchandising with Domain Engine

The potential of AI-backed domain tools is just starting to come to fruition, and you can expect AI domain search to rapidly evolve as machine learning algorithms become more intelligent. By integrating Identity Digital’s Domain Engine into your platform, you can invest in the transformative potential of AI-based domain merchandising to boost customer satisfaction, revenue, and operational efficiency. 

Ready to transform your domain merchandising strategy? Explore the power of AI-driven solutions with Identity Digital's Domain Engine. 

‍

Sources:

1. Vena Solutions. 80 AI Statistics Shaping Business in 2024.  https://www.venasolutions.com/blog/ai-statistics/
2. Ibis World. Web Domain Name Sales in the US - Market Size (2005–2029).  https://www.ibisworld.com/industry-statistics/market-size/web-domain-name-sales-united-states/ 
3. V500 Systems. Data Accuracy Critical to Success: Leveraging Artificial Intelligence for Business Growth. https://www.v500.com/accurate-ai/