Pointless .something's?

[Crispy]

I wonder sometimes about all these .biz, .info, .to, .org's being sold. How many times do I type any of thos extensions in ... probably 0. I'm not trying to rain on anyones domains here, but I just don't see the value of all these new extension at all. I think the average person only probably attends .com's or .net's at most - average american that is. I dunno maybe I'm wrong, but when 123.org is sold for 500 (just an example), I can't really understand the reasoning ... then again it might just be hobby. Eh, any thoughts guys?

 

[Mr Webname]

Your observation is too general.
For example someone here listed for comment URL.BIZ, an example of a good domain.
As for .org extensions, if they reflect the true meaning of .org then that is fine, for example I have Activities.org - now I would venture to say that a lot of end users would like that name - apart from various activity sports clubs there are things like Outward Bound in the UK etc. I have also seen Voluntary.org, which was good and of course there is the area of "fan clubs" etc.
The above observations leave out the factor of vanity value which also has a large part to play in some domain names.

 

[NameCaster]

Originally posted by Crispy
I wonder sometimes about all these .biz, .info, .to, .org's being sold. How many times do I type any of thos extensions in ... probably 0. I'm not trying to rain on anyones domains here, but I just don't see the value of all these new extension at all. I think the average person only probably attends .com's or .net's at most - average american that is. I dunno maybe I'm wrong, but when 123.org is sold for 500 (just an example), I can't really understand the reasoning ... then again it might just be hobby. Eh, any thoughts guys?

I think your assumptions are correct.
Especially as far as type-ins go.

I have yet to visit many of these myself. Knowingly anyway.
Even in most of the major SE's all you see is com/net/org.

I think thats why its called speculation

Good Luck!

 

[Mr Webname]

On 10th February (last month) I registered the domain nhsdirect.org.
In the UK the NHS (National Health Service) has an Internet/Phone service for general enquiries and health worry calls.
(If you are interested I registered it because in November 2003 I used the service because I had chest pains and my call resulted in being diagnosed with blocked coronary arteries and surgery in December - if the service had not been available I would not have gone to the doctor and would not have had the required surgery, with who knows what result!).
NHS Direct has the actual URL of nhsdirect.nhs.uk but as you will see from the page counter of my .org page if you visit, over 2000 hits since 10th February.
I cannot be sure of the detail in those hits but some people are sure finding that .org!

 

[Duke]

Originally posted by Crispy
I wonder sometimes about all these .biz, .info, .to, .org's being sold. How many times do I type any of thos extensions in ... probably 0.

How many times do I (and many other users) type in ANYTHING? Probably 0. If I go to a new site it is almost always because it came up in a Google search which only required me to click a hotlink. If I actually have to type anything in, it is because I saw a name in print and have to copy it into my address bar to get there. You don't see a lot of the new extensions because they are...you guessed it....new extensions. It takes awhile for sites to be developed and public recognition to follow. You might be interested in this article about what happened in the radio and TV industries. AM Radio used to be king too.

 

[izopod]

Originally posted by Duke


How many times do I (and many other users) type in ANYTHING? Probably 0.

Other than Amazon.com, eBay.com, Microsoft.com and Yahoo.com we don't really type in any of the other sites in "great numbers". I do type in the sites I visit regularly, but only after finding them in a Search Engine, or a friend sending me a link to a "must see" site. INTERESTING FACT: Most people only visit anywhere between 4 and 10 sites on a regular basis.... With websites now numbering in the millions you can see how important marketing becomes whether you are a dot com or a dot biz it does not matter.

I think the confusion begins when you try to compare the dot com name with the new TLD's. Right now there is no comparision, dot com is in a league of it's own. A head start of more than 17 years will do that for you. The question everyone should be asking themselves is which TLD will emerge as a viable domain in it's own right.

Here is my prediction:

1) .biz will become a name synonomous with business professionals, specialty businesses, industry sites etc (Some examples: HarveyCleaning.biz, JacksonRealty.biz, Protection.biz, tattoodesign.biz, URL.biz)----The branding of this TLD will happen through repeated advertisements by these businesses. IT's in their best interest to do so.

2. .Info will become a useful tool for businesses to promote certain products. Non-profits will flock to this domain to gain support for their particular emphasis (American Cancer Society---example (QuitSmoking.info). Medical info sites will flourish under this TLD.----The branding of this name will happen visa via under a "parent" TLD... Americanheart.org---would brand "HealthHeart.info"

 

[Drewbert]

.to was very popular in the past for redirection services to geocities-like sites.

Also popular in many European countries (such as .nl) who at the time had very restrictive registration policies. Many citizens were not allowed to register names in their own TLD so went with alternatives such as .to