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Domain Name Selection
Until quite recently the options for domain name selection were
limited to some domain name that ended with a .com, .net, or .org gTLD (Global Top Level
Domain). Very few web hosting services and virtually no trade publications made any
mention that there was an entire world of options available for domain names.
Over the past year it has become increasingly difficult to find a good domain name that
has not already been taken by another website or by some speculator wanting to warehouse
domain names in the hopes that they will have some significant future value. As an
ever growing number of individuals, businesses, and organizations move to create a web
presence, international TLDs have become more popular. People have found that many
domain names not available as a .com, .net, or .org domain are available from an
international TLD provider. But, you say, what is an international TLD domain name,
how can I get an international TLD domain name, and how is an international TLD domain
name different from any other domain name?
The answer to the last question is the easiest because there is no difference between
having a .com, .net, or .org domain name and an international TLD domain name when it
comes to being found on the Internet. International TLD domain names have been
around for many years. In fact, the international TLDs were established at
approximately the same time as the gTLDs (.com, .net, and .org). You have probably
visited an international TLD website and never given it much thought. Here are some
international TLDs that your have probably used before:
Currently some of the most popular international
TLDs are from countries that are very small. These small countries have learned that
in opening registrations for their TLD they create a valuable source of additional revenue
for their country. One way of looking at the practice of permitting open
registration of a country's TLD is to compare it with the printing of stamps for
collectors. Many small countries print postage stamps just for stamp collectors
knowing that the stamps will never be used as postage. With international domain
names these same small countries do not even have to bother with printing the stamp.
Below is a listing of some of the most popular international TLDs along with a link
where you can learn more about the country and a link where you can register a domain name
using the country's TLD:
Just a couple notes on the five (5) TLDs listed
just above that might pique your interest even more. First of all, at the present
time virtually all international TLDs are less subject to being targets for SPAM because
most of the current email address extraction programs search for the .com, .net, and .org
email addresses. The .cc TLD is popular because the .cc looks very much like the
"carbon copy" note that appears at the end of many letters. I especially
like the .cc domain names because my initials are cc. The .nu is very popular with anyone that looks upon themselves as being new
or fresh to the world. The .to TLD is a special case because you can get a URL with
.to in it by visiting the registration website shown above and reserving a name that will
redirect traffic to your website regardless of what web hosting or domain name you use
(i.e., http://come.to/me). The only requirement for
using a .to URL is that you provide a link back to the U3
website.
Even if you already have a .com, .net, or .org domain name, you might want to consider
taking an international TLD domain name matching your main domain name because it will
provide a hedge against the possibility of someone else establishing a website using an
international TLD domain name that might be confused with your .com, .net, or .org
website. Unless you hold a trademark on your domain name you have very little
leverage in preventing others from reserving a similar domain name using an international
TLD domain name. Should you decide to reserve your domain name with one or more of
the newly popular international TLDs it is a very easy task to get your web hosting
service to have traffic directed to your website from your newly acquired international
TLD domain name. Thus, all traffic would be directed to a single set of web files.
The expense of securing those international TLD domain names is minimal compared to
the potential expense you might see by just waiting for someone else to tread on your
name.
If you are interested in looking a the entire listing of international TLDs, check the
"Domain name registries around
the world" website. It can be a lot of fun exploring the world via
TLDs.
Within the past several months there has been several reports of domain
name disputes. I firmly believe that it is much easier to
register a domain name where it is possible to get not only the .com but
also the .net and .org variations of the domain name. In doing so at
the outset the website owner eliminates the chance for future disputes of
the domain name.
If you want to obtain a new .com, .org or .net domain name, you can do so by following the
either of the links below. Additional domain name registration
resources are provided on the Domain Name
Resources webpage. There is no charge for using the service.
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