New domain names: will they do it? (new gTLDs)

WASHINGTON, Wash. - Oct. 18, 2013 - PRLog -- On the list are hundreds of domain name suffixes to be launched, I wonder if those who already use a domain name and who already have a prominent online presence, will convert to them.

Maybe .COM is just not best!

I am quite familiar with the common attitude that .COM domains are everlasting, that no other “TLD” (Top-Level Domain = domain name extension) can replace them. I have already heard quite often that new gTLDs will fail.

I also understand that domainers (those that buy and sell domains for profit) want to protect their income and I understand the fact that the owner of a web site won’t necessarily swap to another domain name immediately, considering the time he spent positioning himself on Google (...or “Bing”...sorry...I tend to forget) and maybe, the money he spent on other forms of SEO (Search Engine Optimization). Repositioning takes time and money but new gTLDs bring something new to the table: “categorization”.

“Categories” are new to domain names

In Wikipedia, it tells us that: “a category illuminates a relationship between the subjects and objects of knowledge. Categorization is fundamental in language, prediction, inference, decision making and in all kinds of environmental interaction”.

The ICANN new gTLD program introduced something new in the use Registrants will make of domain names. Now, it becomes possible to “select” the group to  which you want to belong. The ability to demonstrate that you are a true member of a niche market is something no one knows, whether it is going to work out or not, nor whether it will generate interest; the history of civilizations has shown that "birds of a feather flock together."

Will it be the same for new gTLDs? Will members of a same identified group gather under the same banner?

The .BID example

I can say with confidence that I am familiar with domain names and with companies related to domain names so I like to wonder if a company like SEDO, which has been involved in selling domain names for auctions, for years, will consider changing to a sedo.bid: not necessarily for its entire business but maybe for some of it? Will companies firmly stick to their .COM domain name or will they consider opening existing branches of their activity to new domain names?

- What about the National Auctioneers Association, with such a domain name like www.auctioneers.org, would it change to www.naa.bid? Wouldn’t naa.bid be a more relevant domain name, drive relevant traffic and provide a way of releasing the asset value of a domain like naa.com without affecting website traffic?
- eBay, the online auctions website has over 112 million users and $2,000 are being traded every second: will it open a ebay.bid domain name?
- What about bid.com, will it change to thebrick.bid?
- And, what about...bid.tv?

An interest in “changing domain name”?

While new entrants will purchase a .bid domain name in order to fast track their website visitor growth and optimise their site traffic in terms of visitor relevance. Will existing online market place sites also have an interest in changing their domain name simply because it better describes their identity? It is a double edged sword because it means starting online communications from scratch but if they don’t do it new entrants will be able to steal a march on the established market leaders.

I believe just offering up a domain name for sale will not be sufficient to initiate a move away from .com. It is necessary for the registry to offer “something more”...which, by the way,  is exactly what the .BID registry is planning to do: http://www.famousfourmedia.com/bid/