Its Raining ccTLDs

By now you've probably noticed the onslaught of unfamiliar domain name extensions popping up here and there. Like most domain name professionals, you've probably sat at your computer pondering whether or not you should kick out the extra cash to register some of these domain names... why?

Keywords! While droves of individuals place an extreme value on the domain names extension, I firmly believe that the extension has nothing to do with the success or failure of the domain name. While certain ccTLD's (Country Code Top Level Domains) gain popularity, others leave little to be desired. Mostly because of certain restrictions placed on the domain extension by it's sponsoring organization.

Those ccTLD's made available nationwide, or at least with no registration restrictions are, of course, going to be more popular than ones limited to corporations of the country for which it stands.

What determines popularity. People do. How do we increase the popularity of these alternative domain names? Marketing, and education. The best thing to do is make people aware that they do, in fact, have other options.

Just because .cc is technically the country code for the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, or .ad is for Andorra doesn't mean you have to market it that way. Use some creativity in choosing the best name possible. People remember creative names.

Again, I cannot stress the importance of keywords. The part of the domain name before the extension is, and always will be the most important aspect of the domain name. So, if your question is, should I buy or invest in ccTLDs, the answer is yes. Though the present return on these alternative domain names is minimal in comparison to the .com, the future looks promising for certain ccTLDs, for example, Beauty.cc sold for $1,000,000; setting a record for the highest amount paid for a non .com! I'd say the proof is in the pudding, not to beat an old cliché to death.

About The Author

Jennifer Chiera Webmaster/Investor; webmaster@domainbash.com

DomainBash.com - http://www.domainbash.com

DotTown.com - http://www.dottown.com

DomainAppeal.com - http://www.domainappeal.com

In The News:


Name.com Selects NameMedia’s AfternicDLS Domain Sales Platform as ...
Domain Informer (press release), IL - 12 hours ago
Under the terms of the agreement, NameMedia’s AfternicDLS global domain sales platform will be the exclusive provider of aftermarket domain names for ...

China's Internet chiefs ban names of the Games
Xinhua, China - Aug 19, 2008
20 (Xinhua) -- China's sport authorities have banned the issuing of Internet domain names based on the country's Olympic gold medal-winning athletes to ...

Private domain
Inquirer.net, Philippines - 11 hours ago
AFP PHOTO / Greg WOOD China's gold medallists at the Beijing Games will have the exclusive rights to register their own names as internet domain names, ...

Its All About .ME And Me Now, Reports NG Intermarketing
Eworldwire (press release), NJ - 7 hours ago
21, 2008 --- In the June rush for .me domain names, some people found themselves applying for the same .me domains and are now gunning for a second chance ...

Arbitrator: Fired.com Complainant "Sorely Misguided"
Domain Name Wire, TX - 3 hours ago
World2Work Corporation and founder Scott R. Sargis, which runs the web site Fired.tv, filed a UDRP with National Arbitration Forum to get the domain name ...

GeoDomainList.com, the Daily Newsletter for Geo Domains, Adds Page ...
PR Web (press release), WA - 16 hours ago
The domains offered vary daily between Gold, Silver and Bronze level names ranging in price from $20-$50000. DNFolio.com is an aftermarket domain name ...

Sony introduces updated portable unit, new keypad
The Canadian Press, NEW YORK - 4 hours ago
Domain names based on the names of at least 10 gold medallists, including weightlifter Chen Xiexia and gymnast Yang Wei, were registered before the games, ...

Trademark services launched by Harrison Clark
The Birmingham Post, UK - 6 hours ago
Websites are another area where businesses can fall victim to copycats and it is important that they protect their website domain names and are aware of ...

Would a Rose by Any Other Name Sell as Sweet?
Entrepreneur - 2 hours ago
Don’t get hung up on the Internet domain name. You don’t have to have your exact favorite website domain name to build a business. ...

China’s Sports Bureaucrats Get The Web
MarketWatch - 22 hours ago
This is in contrast to 2004, when many of the domain names for China’s gold medalists were taken by domain squatters. The sports bureaucracy understands ...
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