Google announced the release of eight new top-level domains (TLDs), including one that could have high commercial potential for law firms, others useful for academics, and two top-level domains based on file extensions , which could be problematic from a security standpoint
top-level domains
The eight new top-level domains (TLDs) are suitable for different purposes.
The eight new TLDs are:
- .Father
- .phd
- .prof
- .esq
- .foo
- .Zipper
- .mov
- .Nexus
The .mom domain can be registered since 2015.
One has to wonder why it took so long to release a .dad domain. Whatever the reason, here’s your chance to buy WorldsGreatest.dad!
How much do the new top-level domains cost?
The domain names can be registered today, May 3, 2023.
For the next week, prices will fall in six phases until they reach the base price of $30 per year on May 10th.
The earlier you register a domain name, the more expensive it becomes.
Therefore, the most valuable domains will initially cost more.
Google’s domain registrar Six price phases:
- Stage 1 – May 3 at 12:00 p.m
$11,500 + $30/year - Phase 2 – Begins May 4 at 12:00 p.m
$3,500 + $30/year - Stage 3 – May 5 at 12:00 p.m
$1,150 + $30/year - Stage 4 – May 6 at 12:00 p.m
$350 + $30/year - Stage 5 – May 8 at 12:00 p.m
$125 + $30/year - General Availability – May 10 at 12:00 p.m
$30/year
.Esq top-level domain
The TLD with the greatest commercial potential is probably the .esq TLD. Esq is short for the word Esquire, a courtesy title for lawyers.
Domain names with keywords in them are great for quickly letting users know what a website is about.
A local legal service can use a domain name with a geographic area and its area to quickly communicate that the company serves the user’s area.
But many of the most desirable legal domains with meaningful words are already taken.
Because of this, the .esq TLD can present an opportunity to acquire a domain name suitable for a lawyer.
Many coveted domain names are now available.
But they’re available at Early Access pricing, which means they cost at least $11,500 to register and $30 a year after that.
Here are some examples I found this afternoon:
This is another available domain:
Some may believe that having a domain name with an exact match for desired keywords is helpful for ranking.
But that is not the case.
Exact match keyword domain names are not required to rank well on Google.
Bill Hartzer (LinkedIn), CEO of Hartzer Consulting, noted:
“I think a lot of people will inevitably be wondering whether or not Google will give these new TLDs additional ranking weight.
I believe all TLDs have a chance of ranking and I don’t think there is any reason for Google to give more weight to any particular TLD or domain using a TLD that Google offers as a registrar.”
What counts for the ranking are the content and external signals such as links.
The value of an exact match keyword domain lies in the unique way it can differentiate itself from other listings in search engine results pages (SERPs).
Also, conversion rates can improve since a keyword domain matches what the user is searching for, attracting visitors who are more a match for what the site is offering.
Jeff Ferguson (LinkedIn), CEO, Amplitude Digital; Adjunct Professor, UCLAA had the following to say about the new TLDs:
“The phd, prof, esq set is an interesting combination for the professional set.
As an associate professor at UCLA, I can imagine that this is useful in a number of ways.”
TLDs most likely pose security issues?
The two TLDs that seem to be potentially problematic are the .zip and .mov TLDs.
Dot zip and dot mov are file extensions. One is for a compressed file and the other is a file extension for a movie format. Importantly, these types of file extensions are used to proliferate trojans and malware.
Jeff agreed, commenting that creating TLDs based on file extensions seems like a “curious choice”, particularly for extensions that may contain a malicious payload.
He noticed:
“Why would they do anything for an existing extension?”
Still, many of these new TLDs offer a rare opportunity to register elusive domain names that can be useful for commerce, professional purposes, or even as gifts (in the case of the .dad TLD).
Read Google’s official announcement:
8 new top-level domains for dads, graduates and techies
Featured image from Shutterstock/Luis Molinero
