Regardless of where you get your domain name related news and information, you’re bound to see plenty of articles and threads about the new gTLD domain names. New gTLD domain names are coming, and they are going to have a big impact on the business of investing in domain names.

Now that we’re close to the point where new gTLDs are going to be available, and we’re past the point where companies are advertising the new TLDs, I am curious if you would reconsider your decision to not apply for new gTLDs, assuming you are in the majority and are not an applicant.

In a Domain Sherpa interview last week, Daniel Negari said his decision to spend more than a half a million on his three new gTLD applications “was one of the biggest no-brainer investments that I have ever had to consider.” I’ve heard others say similar things about their applications, so it seems to me that there are few regrets.

I would venture a guess that nearly all of us will own at least one nTLD domain name within the next few years, and some of us will likely be owners of large portfolios of these new TLD domain names. The closer we get to new gTLD availability, the more it seems people are finally accepting that these new extensions are coming and will impact this business in many ways. The actual impact is yet to be determined (and probably won’t be fully realized for several years) but it will be fun to observe and see how things shake out.

Now that we are close to seeing these new gTLDs be approved and marketed, I am wondering if you would apply for a new gTLD if you could turn back time and had the capital to apply. Vote in the poll below, and feel free to add a comment. You’re also welcome to share what new gTLD you’d apply for if given the opportunity to turn back time.

Vote below!

Domain registrar 1&1 has been advertising the new gTLD domain names somewhat extensively in the US during NFL games. The company may be advertising at other times as well, but I have primarily seen these commercials while watching football.

I find these commercials most interesting because 1 & 1 is advertising a product that is not yet available and the company doesn’t know exactly when the new gTLDs will become available. They are also advertising pre-reservations, which are non-binding.

That said, the company is reporting the number of pre reservations it has received, and that number has eclipsed 1.6 million. The top 5 pre reserved gTLDs are:

If you’re watching the NFL today, you may have seen one of (if not the) first new gTLD television commercials. Domain registrar 1&1 ran the commercial I embedded above. It’s all about notifying the general public about the new gTLDs that are coming, and it implores people to pre-reserve a new domain name now.

It’s interesting that the company has

New gTLD domain names are a source of discussion and debate throughout the domain investment space. Off the top of my head, I can’t really think of a more polarizing topic related to domain names.

Last week, I reached out to a random group of colleagues to get their feedback on the new gTLD domain names that will be rolling out soon. I asked them to complete the following sentence using 5 of their own words or less: “gTLDs will…” As you can see below, the responses run the gamut.

Within the next few months, new gTLDs will become available for the public to register, purchase, reserve, and use, and I think it’s going to be fun to watch what happens. I invite you to complete the “gTLDs will…” sentence in your own 5 words in the comment section.

Thanks to those who participated and to those who participate with a comment!