I’ve written about how the Domain Search Tool helps me find potential buyers for my domain names by showing me lists of registered domain names that have a specific keyword string in them. I think gTLD registrants can use the tool to help project sales figures and potentially use it for outbound sales.
I can assume that gTLD registries will want to target domain name / website owners who use the gTLD keyword at the end of their domain name. For instance, the .Inc registry will probably want to convince WidgetsInc.com and similar domain name owners to trade “up” to Widgets.Inc. The name is shorter, and it may be easier to remember. The DST can help search for domain names that end in a particular keyword that are registered or have been registered. It can also give a list of prospects that the registry or its marketing team can use to find buyers.
Yesterday, Afternic and NameJet jointly announced the news that the companies had been “selected by dotStrategy to launch the .BUZZ top level domain (TLD), having just passed ICANN Initial Evaluation.” When I think of .Buzz without doing any type of due diligence, I assume there may be a somewhat limited market for .Buzz domain names. However, the Domain Search Tool shows me somewhere in the ballpark of 50,000 domain names are either live or had been live at some point that ended in the -buzz string. Coupled with companies that want to protect their brands by buying all extensions, that could become a decent business.
One especially beneficial feature of this tool is the ability to see a screenshot of the website on the search results page. This can help the registry quickly hone in on the owners of developed domain names, as the more domain names that are built out the better for the registry to generate “buzz” and awareness.
I am sure there are plenty of other helpful tools gTLD registries can use to find prospects, but the Domain Search Tool should be at the top of the list.
