There seems to be a considerable amount of uncertainty for many brands as it relates to gTLD domain names. The application process may be cumbersome, the marketing aspect is confusing, and the technical aspect would be complicated for non-tech people.

These are just three issues that brand owners and managers must consider when it comes time to decide whether or not to apply for one or more gTLDs.  Business Week addresses many of these issues, and it’s been fascinating to watch from the sidelines, as the Internet and domain business evolves and changes.

Some large companies are certain to apply, while others are undecided. One thing is for certain – hiring a knowledgable gTLD consultant / expert is something brand managers and gTLD applicants should do, whether or not they are planning to apply for a gTLD.

Just today, interactive advertising and media publication,  ADOTAS, recommended appointing a gTLD expert for companies interested in gTLDs. The organization also offered some other important tips as well. In my opinion, all of their recommendations can be carried out by a gTLD consultant.

Companies like Minds & Machines,  Right of the Dot, and Sedari  are three of the primary consulting companies for gTLDs. These companies can help brands evaluate whether or not they should apply for a gTLD, how they would operate and manage their gTLD, and possibly how they could monetize their gTLD if they choose to sell domain names to consumers or simply wish to monetize their websites.

Minds & Machines, Right of the Dot, and Sedari have experts on staff who are very familiar with ICANN policies, registry and registrar relations and operations, and other important aspects of managing a registry.

Personally, I don’t think operating a gTLD is for many companies. It may be unnecessarily expensive and not productive. However, there are many companies that will benefit from a registry, and a gTLD consultant can help a company decide if a gTLD application is a good idea, and if so, how to move forward with it.

Today is a big day for the ICM Registry and its .XXX extension. The 17 day landrush period for .XXX domain names begins today (November 8, 2011). Eligible people and companies can visit their favorite domain registrar and apply for their preferred .XXX domain name(s). Should more than one entity apply for the same name, an auction will occur at a later date.

Starting today, .XXX domain names can now be applied for by people and companies in the “adult sponsored community,” which includes people or companies who provide adult entertainment, representatives of those people or companies, or people and companies who provide products and services to adult entertainment providers. Adult domain investors are considered providers and can participate in the landrush.

Here’s more information from the Registry:

“The Landrush period will run for approximately 18 days starting on November 8, 2011. During this limited period, only those members of the adult Sponsored Community can apply for .XXX domain names. Apart from being a member of the adult Sponsored Community, there are no trademark or pre-ownership rights requirements during this phase of the launch.“

If you are thinking about applying for a .XXX domain name or more, check out DNW’s .XXX price list to see where you can get the best pricing. Personally, I think some registrars are going to make a mint from .XXX. It seems that the application fee in most cases is non-refundable. If 20 people apply for the same name, and the application fee is $100 on average, that’s $2,000 just in application fees… Not too shabby.

Once landrush has finished, the next opportunity to buy .XXX domain names is during the general availability phase, which begins December 6, 2011.