Top domain news: A crowded market for new TLDs

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Marketing a new TLD is hard

Proprietors of new top level domain names are facing unique challenges when compared to top level domain names launched before 2014.

The crowded field of competitors--hundreds of domain extensions launched within a few years--has made it very difficult to grow the userbase.

Consider the buzz when domains like ICM Registry's big one was released. Or even .Co, a commercialized ccTLD. Neither of these domains faced launch-time competition and they both flourished.

That's not to say they didn't work hard to make their domains a success. But their marketing tactics simply would not have worked as well in today's environment.

The top story on Domain Name Wire last month frames this by analyzed the relative success of ICM's domain names.

How can new TLD companies grow usage in this environment? Listen to my podcast interview with John Pollard for some inspiration.

Here are top stories on DNW from last month:

1. Timing is everything - Namespaces recently sold by ICM Registry show how difficult it is to market a new TLD in a crowded environment.

2. Yes, your domain name registrar has made it impossible for people to contact you - The general internet public is just learning about the Whois ramifications of GDPR.

3. Man gets 20 years in prison for trying to steal a domain name - A man is headed to prison after an unusual physical attempt to steal a domain name.

4. Web.com to go private in $2 billion acquisition - The final price could be higher if competing offers come in.

5. Namecheap starts sending expired domains to GoDaddy Auctions - Namecheap is the latest domain name registrar to sign up to sell expired domains through GoDaddy.

Podcasts

Catch up on last month's podcasts. Download them to your phone and listen on your commute. If you have suggestions for people you'd like to hear on the podcast, please reply to this email!

All About .Me - I chat with .Me registry CMO Natasa Djukanovic about how the .Me domain name came to be.

Three companies using new TLDs - Three individuals who registered new TLDs for their businesses explain why.

The Amazon FBA business model - Learn about FBA, a unique ecommerce opportunity.

John Pollard: How to grow the usage of domain names - Donuts' EVP of Registry explains how he believes domain names can find new uses.

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Thanks for reading,
Andrew