PALM BEACH, FL - The growth of new generic top-level domains (gTLDs) is reshaping the domain name industry, introducing a wave of innovation and diversification that challenges the long-standing dominance of traditional gTLDs like .COM and .NET. This transformation is not just technical but represents a fundamental shift in how businesses and individuals approach their digital identities. Expansion of the Domain Name System The introduction of new gTLDs stems from … [Read more...]
Stupid Question: “Why Not Just Stick With .io?” 10 Years Later, Answer Remains Clear
SOUTH FLORIDA - A startup I never heard of caught my attention when it appeared on DomainInvesting.com for its strategic and necessary (in my opinion) acquisition by ownership of their “.com” domain name, YouForm.com, a business that had been using the popular - while not as good, io domain, YouForm.io. Youform is a free form builder that provides unlimited forms and responses. It is an alternative to Typeform and Formidable. Youform’s features include a drag-and-drop … [Read more...]
New Top-Level Domains Disallowed from Using “Closed Generics” by ICANN
LOS ANGELES, CA - The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) – the nonprofit organization that oversees the domain industry – announced that, in the next round of domain expansion and going forward, they will no longer be allowing entities registering new Top-Level Domains (TLDs) to utilize what is known as “closed generics.” Closed generics are essentially TLDs that are owned or are exclusive to one company that use generic and/or dictionary terms; … [Read more...]
Q3 Domain Report: Slight “.COM” Reg Decline, New GTLDs Enjoy 10% Increase
RESTON, VA - Verisign, the company that is the authoritative registry for the .com, .net, and .name generic top-level domains (TLDs) and the .cc country-code top-level domain, released their 3rd quarter 2023 Domain Name Industry Brief (DNIB) this week that reveals by the end of the latest quarter, total domain registrations across all TLDs worldwide have reached 359.3 million. That number represents a 2.4 percent increase year over year, amounting to an … [Read more...]
Early Access to Google’s New Domain Will Require Overwhelm “.ing” Investment
Later this month, Google will be launching a new top level domain name that is sure to attract attention. Known as a “domain hack,” the new “.ing” domain name can be used to spell out clever takes of common phrases to create memorable website names; examples include “Fish.ing,” “Out.ing,” “Engineer.ing,” and “Breed.ing,” among countless others. As with many new gTLDs, there will be A) a sunrise period for trademark holders and then B) an auction-style initial … [Read more...]
Recent SEDO Weekly Sales List Includes “LLL.org” Domain Name Sale for $35,000
PALM BEACH, FL – According to the latest SEDO.com weekly domain sales report, the three letter “LLL” web address "FTP.org" just sold for $35,000.00. Other recent sales of “LLL.org” specifically with SEDO were "KDY.org" ($9,800.00) "TXR.org" ($8,800.00), "ZSP.org" ($8,800.00), and "SGB.org" ($5,500) - all recently, within the last few months. The only “LLL.org” that sold (publically) for more than "FTP.org" in 2022, was VIP.org … [Read more...]
SEDO Weekly Sales List Includes One Word Alternative Domain Fetching $8,600
WEST PALM BEACH, FL – The one-word domain “Editing.com” has sold for $46,000 this past week according to the latest SEDO.com weekly domain sales report. The web address is currently leading to a GoDaddy landing page where it appears to remain for sale. Also notable is the .eu European Union country code top-level domain “SCP.eu” that sold for 27,500 EUR ($26,520) and a .fund domain “Light.Fund” which fetched $8,600. Each … [Read more...]
Forbes Details How Mission Critical “.com” Domains Remain; Naysayers Delusional
PALM BEACH, FL – While I periodically entertain alternatives and still hold and use a few, I remain a big believer in the “.com” domain name extension over any other available alternative in nearly any scenario. There are only a few cases where an alternative makes sense and looks good, but remains vulnerable. I have always based this very simple and what should be obvious logic to what has taken place for general marketing in the past with the “1-800” business which … [Read more...]
Keep In Mind, New gTLD “Buzz Factor” SEO Ranking Weakens Over Time; Use Best URL
PALM BEACH, FL – About a year and half ago in April of 2018, I wrote about an out-of-the-ordinary domain name sale when the new gTLD domain “Vacation.Rentals” changed hands for a little over ‘half a million’ in cash, supposedly. I still sort of question the sale as either authentic and insane - or completely bogus, intentionally and strategically planned to not only create industry buzz, but boost sales for nGTLDs. Either way, and it probably doesn't really mater … [Read more...]
What Are the Key Benefits for “Dot Brand” nGTLD Owners; What’s In It for Them?
PALM BEACH, FL – Although I am not a huge fan of new gTLDs or even “Dot Brands”, today I watched a video by the Chief Marketing Officer of Afilias domain registry, Roland LaPlante, who explained ‘in detail’ the value of owning your own “dot BRAND.” LaPlante discusses the benefits in marketing, user security and what is likely one of the most desirable aspects achieved for the owning brand; “full control” of their own corporate space. I believe it is the best explanation … [Read more...]
CVS Pharmacy Files WIPO Against “CVS.inc” Domain; Reg Fees Headed Towards Earth
PALM BEACH, FL – It looks like CVS Pharmacy, Inc. isn’t too thrilled with the recent registration of the nGTLD domain name “CVS.inc” which looks to have been registered in May, 2019. The pharmacy company has filed a WIPO dispute (WIPO D2019-2615) which will likely result in a TRANSFER as the majority of their complaints follow that trend. The “CVS.inc” domain name is listed on the get.inc website under “Who's Buying” in the ”recent registrations section” for companies … [Read more...]
If Google Removes URLs From Search Results, Who Exactly Stands to Benefit?
PALM BEACH, FL – Last week I ran a story about Google’s obvious intent to remove URL’s from search. The story was titled “Google Determined to Remove URLs from Search Results; Replace with Breadcrumbs” and published on October 18, 2019. It was a follow up to “EVIL: Will Google Do Away with Domain Name and Extension Entirely Anyway?” There has been wide reaction from both the SEO and Domain community on the coming change and it warrants added thought and hopefully, added … [Read more...]
Numbers Reported for “.CLUB” Decline Due to Registry Quality Compliance & Cleanup
PALM BEACH, FL – The following is a correction to previously published work which included an embedded Tweet which has been called into question and said, by the registry, to be incorrect; a reader from the “.Club” registry contacted me with a correction request yesterday including some supporting explanations for certain numbers seen on nTLDStats.com and numbers from a Tweet which were embedded and published on StrategicRevenue.com on October 17, 2019. Upon reading the … [Read more...]
Exact Match Domain Names Yielding “Free Ticket to Ride” Long Over on Search Giant
PALM BEACH, FL – Exact match domain names, URLs which are spelled exactly how a top search term is used in popular verbal expression still work to help boost search rankings well when it comes to Bing.com and Yahoo.com, but on Google.com, it doesn’t seem to matter unless there are powerful “brand signals” in play, such as high numbers of inbound links, frequent references to the URL whether linked or not, and other popular signals such as social media activity with matching … [Read more...]
New GTLD Meltdown: Is “.CLUB” Struggling to Hang On To 1 Million Registrations?
**** 10/22/2019 UPDATE: Numbers Reported for “.CLUB” Decline Due to Registry Quality Compliance & Cleanup **** PALM BEACH, FL – According to domain name investor, or should I dare use the recently coined moniker from the domain industry's new advocate Tamara Kurtzman Esq. “anticipatory cybersquatter”, Rick Swartz – who has been one of the most successful domain name speculators in the history of domain names, the “.CLUB” nGTLD domain extension is experiencing what he … [Read more...]