The Alternatives To Dot Com!
| Category: Domain Names | Date: 2003-10-23 |
A good domain name can add value to your online business in the same way that branding does for a branded product. Custom domain names, like vanity license plates, are much easier to remember than ordinary Internet addresses and extremely long domain names extending way beyond 30 characters. All things being equal, greater recognition would definitely lead to more traffic to your site.
There are three main types of US extensions available for our use at the moment. Most, if not all, of the good names have already been taken up by cyber-squatters and companies who got into the Domain Game many years ago. Unless you are prepared to pay big money for a good domain, you may have to settle for an obscure or long domain name of up to 67 characters.
Nevertheless, many online marketers are hoarding dot com domain names like there is no tomorrow. Long descriptive domains with targeted keywords in them are going like hotcakes and dot com domains are hotter than ever!
This is because people are now conditioned to enter a name followed by ".com" and if you have the ".net or ".org" extension, you run the risk of sending your clients to a competitors site. In addition, most browsers allow you to enter the domain name without the extension. The browser will automatically search for a dot com domain name. If it cant find one matching, it will look for dot net, follows by dot org.
However, things may be different if Congress approves the use of seven new top level domains. The new domains and their intended fields of use are:
.FIRM - for businesses or firms
.STORE - for businesses offering goods to purchase
.WEB - for entities emphasizing activities related to the WWW
.ARTS - for entities emphasizing cultural and entertainment activities
.REC - for entities emphasizing recreation/entertainment activities
.INFO - for entities providing information services
.NOM - for those wishing individual or personal nomenclature
With increased marketing and adoption of various top-level domains, people will be aware of their differences and may no longer presume that every online address ends with a dot com extension. After all, it is easier to remember a short descriptive extension than to recall a long string of keywords that are too common to create a lasting impression.
What this means is that those who are hoarding dot com domain names now may be holding on to "virtual wasteland". With plenty of good domain names coming on board soon, there will be less incentives to pay a huge premium for a dot com name. You can take a peek into the likely scenario by looking at the widespread acceptance of the new WS global domain names.
WS domain names are now being registered at the rate of one per minute around the clock! With users in more than 100 countries worldwide, the .WS domain has firmly established itself as a global standard with the same recognition given to .com, .net and .org domains. Single .WS domain names are already being auctioned off on various websites for tens of thousands of dollars.
Nevertheless, it is good to have a "dot com" name in view of its established popularity. After all, the new top level domains may take some time to become popular. If you have not yet registered your own domain name, start by checking whether the domain names you want are available in dot com.
Start Domain Name Search Now!
http://www.virtualis.com/vr/ptan1/domain_search.html
If they are not available, search the WorldSite database and get the domains you want before someone else does!
Search WorldSite Database Now!
http://worldsite.ws/patricktan
If all attempts fail, do not despair! You can still look out for a .FIRM, .STORE or .WEB in the near future!
Join the race for the alternative to dot com!
About the author:
Patrick Tan, an entrepreneur and former journalist, offers a complete range of e-commerce solutions and services (editing, writing, translation, content development, web design, etc) to help you build a successful career online. Visit his site at aloha-city.com for more information. He publishes a free newsletter to share his experience and business know-how. Subscribe Now! basics@aloha-city.com
:To contact see details below.
patrick@aloha-city.com
http://www.aloha-city.com
There are three main types of US extensions available for our use at the moment. Most, if not all, of the good names have already been taken up by cyber-squatters and companies who got into the Domain Game many years ago. Unless you are prepared to pay big money for a good domain, you may have to settle for an obscure or long domain name of up to 67 characters.
Nevertheless, many online marketers are hoarding dot com domain names like there is no tomorrow. Long descriptive domains with targeted keywords in them are going like hotcakes and dot com domains are hotter than ever!
This is because people are now conditioned to enter a name followed by ".com" and if you have the ".net or ".org" extension, you run the risk of sending your clients to a competitors site. In addition, most browsers allow you to enter the domain name without the extension. The browser will automatically search for a dot com domain name. If it cant find one matching, it will look for dot net, follows by dot org.
However, things may be different if Congress approves the use of seven new top level domains. The new domains and their intended fields of use are:
.FIRM - for businesses or firms
.STORE - for businesses offering goods to purchase
.WEB - for entities emphasizing activities related to the WWW
.ARTS - for entities emphasizing cultural and entertainment activities
.REC - for entities emphasizing recreation/entertainment activities
.INFO - for entities providing information services
.NOM - for those wishing individual or personal nomenclature
With increased marketing and adoption of various top-level domains, people will be aware of their differences and may no longer presume that every online address ends with a dot com extension. After all, it is easier to remember a short descriptive extension than to recall a long string of keywords that are too common to create a lasting impression.
What this means is that those who are hoarding dot com domain names now may be holding on to "virtual wasteland". With plenty of good domain names coming on board soon, there will be less incentives to pay a huge premium for a dot com name. You can take a peek into the likely scenario by looking at the widespread acceptance of the new WS global domain names.
WS domain names are now being registered at the rate of one per minute around the clock! With users in more than 100 countries worldwide, the .WS domain has firmly established itself as a global standard with the same recognition given to .com, .net and .org domains. Single .WS domain names are already being auctioned off on various websites for tens of thousands of dollars.
Nevertheless, it is good to have a "dot com" name in view of its established popularity. After all, the new top level domains may take some time to become popular. If you have not yet registered your own domain name, start by checking whether the domain names you want are available in dot com.
Start Domain Name Search Now!
http://www.virtualis.com/vr/ptan1/domain_search.html
If they are not available, search the WorldSite database and get the domains you want before someone else does!
Search WorldSite Database Now!
http://worldsite.ws/patricktan
If all attempts fail, do not despair! You can still look out for a .FIRM, .STORE or .WEB in the near future!
Join the race for the alternative to dot com!
About the author:
Patrick Tan, an entrepreneur and former journalist, offers a complete range of e-commerce solutions and services (editing, writing, translation, content development, web design, etc) to help you build a successful career online. Visit his site at aloha-city.com for more information. He publishes a free newsletter to share his experience and business know-how. Subscribe Now! basics@aloha-city.com
:To contact see details below.
patrick@aloha-city.com
http://www.aloha-city.com
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