There are currently 22 top level generic web suffixes on the world wide web. Those suffixes include .com, .edu, .net, and so on. Just how long will it be until there are 220 or 2200 unique web suffixes? Not as long as you may think! Reports suggest that the list of the unique web suffix is about to explode!
ICAAN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) has already approved over 1,500 applications for new domain names. Additionally, ICANN has announced that some may be in working condition in a mere matter of months.
So, the question is: Is this good news or bad for marketers and those seeking web domain authority?
Of course, there are two sides to any argument and this topic has gotten quite a few people talking. Some people are opposed to this expansion of domain names, while others are cheering on the suffix pool.
Let’s Look at Two Potential Pros of More Web Suffixes:
Variety, Options and More Space- Domain names on the web act as a sort of cyber real estate. Currently, companies looking to create a great name/space for themselves online are rather limited in their options because many names have already been used and can’t be copied. Expanding the number of unique web suffixes available allows more companies to create space names that they like and think will be successful.
For example, perhaps you own a bakery called “Gourmet Cupcake” and you want to create a website. The problem is “GourmetCupcake.com” is already being used by another company somewhere else in the world. With so many new options you could probably easily choose a more unique web suffix from other site names such as: “GourmetCupcake.bakery” or “GourmetCupcake.food” just to name a couple of possibilities….
Create Competition- In the world of website suffix owners, there are only a handful of big players. A company called Verisign manages the suffixes .net and .com and raked in $874 million just last year. This isn’t surprising considering nearly half of the 252 million domain spaces on the web last year used one of these two suffixes.
Allowing more players to get involved with managing domain spaces may encourage some healthy competition in this arena. That of course would positively impact the economy and make the purchasing of more common domain spaces possibly more affordable.
Now, for a Few Potential Cons:
Sometime less is more.
Can You Say Confusion?- Perhaps all these new space names would provide a bit more variety and potentially some fun and creative moments for surfers and site owners alike… but, when you really start thinking about it, problems with this plan aren’t hard to spot. Website names can be confusing as it is and simply trying to remember whether it was .org or .com can sometimes cause headaches. Imagine trying to navigate through thousands of options. Getting to a page you weren’t looking for in the first place would probably become a frequent occurrence. Was it GourmetCupcake.bakery or GourmetBakery.cupcake?
Imagine all the possibilities!
Curbing Competition- Depending who gets a hold of these space names first and how those companies choose to allow other companies to use them, the whole “healthy competition” pro could turn sour. With the new plan in place, not all domain names would be open for use; some could be closed or restricted, causing certain companies to gain a foot up in their markets or provide themselves with seemingly greater credibility. What was seen as a unique web suffix may no longer be.
Just Another Expense- This expansion may cause companies to feel the need (which may prove to be legitimate) to register several new brand sites as a way to defend against fraudsters, spoofers and cybersquatters. This action would be costly and depending how thoroughly it is done, may not even provide the desired protection the company was hoping for. This would also negate the very reason for establishing new domain spaces in the first place since those new URLs would simply be bought up by companies wanting to protect their brand.
Real Estate would once again be slim pickings, despite a plethora of web suffixes.
In Due Time
We believe that it’s only a matter of time before there are a variety of new web suffixes to choose from. The question for us marketing minded folks remains, how would unlimited web suffixes work to our advantage? How can we better reach the right audience at the right time?
There is no doubt these changes will play a huge role in digital marketing and seo techniques for businesses. This is a huge change for the online marketplace that will undoubtedly affect businesses and marketers worldwide. If you’re looking for an experienced marketer to grow with, and embrace changes to our digital environment, partner with us today!