Examining Past Alternative Dots Helps Predict Future Adoption of New Ones?
NEW YORK, NY – Sometimes to predict the future, it is as easy as simply examining the past. Based on a comment from one of my readers, this simple graph shows movements and numbers of registrations for some of the ‘original’ alternative dots and what is happening with them. Alternatives such as .BIZ, .INFO, .MOBI, .PRO, .NAME, .XXX for example, verse the originals.
What good are or were these alternative URLs availability and how have newcomers adopted these into branding efforts, marketing and business models? What are the trends of use with these alternative dots? How many are using them? This graph answers some of those questions.
| Domain | Type | Introduced | In Use | See Trend | Peaked |
| .com | Generic TLD | 1985 | 128,548,420 | CONSISTANT GROWTH | – |
| .net | Generic TLD | 1985 | 14,784,039 | DECLINE | 2016 |
| .org | Generic TLD | 1985 | 10,372,028 | DECLINE | 2016 |
| .biz | Generic TLD | 2001 | 2,027,126 | DECLINE | 2015 |
| .info | Generic TLD | 2001 | 5,916,753 | STABILIZING FROM DECLINE | 2012 |
| .mobi | Sponsored TLD | 2005 | 505,031 | STEEP DECLINE | 2014 |
| .pro | Generic TLD | 2004 | 272,330 | STABILIZING FROM DECLINE | 2016 |
| .name | Generic TLD | 2001 | 119,003 | DECLINE | 2009 |
| .xxx | Sponsored TLD | 2011 | 98,966 | SLIGHT SLOW DECLINE | 2013 |
.com is the only domain that has experienced consistent growth yet to hit a peak.
About The Author: John Colascione is Chief Executive Officer of SEARCHEN NETWORKS®. He specializes in Website Monetization, is a Google AdWords Certified Professional, authored a how-to book called ”Mastering Your Website‘, and is a key player in several online businesses.
Great idea for some research John, and thanks to Registrar Stats for providing the insightful charts.
The other side to the story is the new GTLD program. I looked at the charts of just three – ones I like and think have a good future.
(dot GLOBAL, dot ONLINE and dot WORLD.)
(You can click on any of the examples above, then there is a handy “switch TLDs” drop-down at Registrar Stats.)
And the finding is – all three of these new strings have rising registrations with the same upward incline as the dot com!
Of course, the three only span about two years, and their total registration is a bit under one million, but you can still draw some conclusions.
It may be that the new TLDs are poaching numbers from the non coms (as well as expanding the general pool), while dot com itself is hardly affected.
What I think will be fascinating is the dot WEB launch. Verisign have the funds and the expertise to make a big impact. I used to think the early new TLDs had a first mover advantage. But I now think that launching late gives a big advantage in that they can study the successes and failures of those that have come before.
The modest success of some of the new strings should continue to grow and gain acceptance, and Deloitte giving Donuts a major award is evidence of that. Slowly but steadily over a long time.
If Verisign starts running SuperBowl ads for dot WEB the momentum could well speed up. There are also some signs that some of the dot BRANDS are mobilizing to launch some well funded sites. That too could accelerate general acceptance.
I agree on .global – it looked very good on this list of new gTLDS developed….
I took notice of it even at that time…
https://www.strategicrevenue.com/new-gtld-domain-sales-from-major-marketplaces-whats-developed-namebio/