The Future of Internet Domain Names

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The Future Of Internet Domain Names

By Matt McLernon
Expert Author
Article Date: 2008-06-27

Just when you thought Internet domains reached the end of their real estate, the ruling body over Internet domains decided to relax rules on major domain names like .com, .net, org, .uk and others.

While this is bad news for cybersquatters, it's like a second coming of opportunity for online marketers.

Website names have long been a key touch-point or even the crux of a marketing campaign for consumers. But until now, they were still bound by the seemingly meaningless ".com". Examples of this include everything from infamous campaigns like http://www.willitblend.com to perfectly random uses like http://www.isittuesday.com [check the site on Monday AND Tuesday - you'll be amazed].

I applaud the decision by ICANN [not surprised by the unanimous vote], and think it's an overall good move for everyone. A company can take the timeless route and have the option use .com as an implicit part of its homepage or microsite, but now also having the chance to really flex creative ability in the overall domain name. Think, http://alphabet.soup as an example.

However - while the new dot__ opportunities may seem endless, they won't come cheap. According to Dr. Twomey, CEO of ICANN, setting up these new domains could cost in the six-figure amounts. My response to that in the form of a Web site: http://www.Yikes.that'salottamoney [FYI - link doesn't work].

So, what would you use instead of .com?

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About the Author:
Matt McLernon works out of Bite Communications' NYC office and can regularly be found dancing the social media two-step both on and off the clock. On the clock - he's usually posting on Bite's blog, Bitemarks , about how culture and technology are thriving off one another, and how marketing/PR can help clients join the party. Off the clock - he's hunting down the random activities of NYC in its many, ridiculous forms.