The days of .com, .edu, and .org are coming to an end as a new wave of geld (generic top-level domains) are being released, or are they? An article on ABC News took a look at the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) strategy that is causing quite a stir in the world of online marketing.
The gTLD initiative allows companies to purchase specific domain names (.Apple, for instance) and create websites using a list of more than 100 new pre-approved domains. ICANN opened up private registration to a few hundred applicants who paid $185,000 in evaluation fees, according to a piece on Mashable. This will limit the flood of new domains and will allow for everyday Internet users to become accustomed with the changes.
The hefty application fee is also cutting down on independent parties from purchasing trademarked brand names and later selling them back for a profit. This allows the registered owner to grant the domain to other parties and charge them for the service. Of the existing 22 domains available, the average costs of registering range between $10 and $40 based on the host. This new influx of general domains, however, is unlikely to have a major impact.
“It may not seem like it, but new domains open up a lot of marketing potential for businesses and brands,” Amanda Clark, president and editor-in-chief of Grammar Chic, Inc., says. “Smalltime photographers can register a .photo, or a contractor can buy a .construction domain.”
The gTLDs open for pre-registration include .build, .bike, .cab, .clothing, .guru, .directory, .lighting, .graphics, and more than 20 others. In the future, the article on Mashable predicts that more than 100 domains will be released every year.
The categories are split between “specific” and “general,” which creates a domain nuance that any online brand can take advantage of. Big name corporations, according to Clark, are able to purchase their own domains like .Ford or, according to an article on CNN, .Acer, .AAA, Academy, .ADS, and .Blog. The goal for trademarked domains is to increase credibility and ensure that site visitors are on real pages as opposed to malicious sites full of viruses and scams. Mobile.Bestbuy, for example, is much easier to remember and trust than Mobile.Bestbuyz.com (note the added “z”).
All said and done, these new domains create potential for small and large businesses. “The gTLD listings are beneficial for major brands and smaller businesses,” Clark says. “Big names can secure their online identities, and smaller companies can become part of categorically specific, yet generalized niche on the Web.”
Many applicants have applied for the same domain name. Several companies applied for .hotel, .home, .hosting, .inc, .law, and .llc among others. Under these circumstances, ICANN is likely to grant a domain to the party that is furthest along in the application process. It has and will continue to try to resolve the issue to satisfy multiple parties, however, and try to generalize certain domains for community-based applications (.bike, .bank, etc.). These are called “contention sets,” according to Mashable, and usually resolve in a joint resolution and compromise.
Companies like Google, Apple, and Facebook have already pre-registered for domains. Already, released gTLDs like .singles, .holdings, .clothing, and .bike have opened up for public registration. Major corporations are more likely to pay the steep price for a brand-specific domain.
“The gTLD release means you have more control over your online branding,” Clark says. “Tied together with blogs, social media, websites, and other online assets, you’re able position your Web holdings as legitimate and authentic in order to secure higher levels of Internet trust. Should you buy a private domain? It depends on your company’s size. Regardless, it would be a good idea to see how you fit into the new range of new gTLDs to see if it is worth the investment.”
ABOUT:
Grammar Chic, Inc. is a full-service professional writing and content marketing company. Led by President and Editor-In-Chief Amanda E. Clark, Grammar Chic's team offers its expertise to clients in the creative, business, and academic fields. The company accepts a wide range of projects and often drafts resumes, press releases, Web content, social media content, marketing materials, and ghostwritten creative pieces. To learn more about Grammar Chic, Inc. and the services that its team offers, visit www.grammarchic.net. Interested individuals are invited to "like" the company's Facebook page and follow @GrammarChicInc on Twitter.
Company Name: Grammar Chic, Inc.
Contact Person: Amanda Clark
Email:Send Email
Phone: 803-831-7444
Address:3499 Fallowbrook Forest
City: York
State: SC
Country: United States
Website: http://www.grammarchic.net
Source: www.abnewswire.com
