Value of gTLD-Related Domain Names Contingent on What They Will Be Called

What Will gTLDs Be Called?

I own just a couple of gTLD-related domain names – gTLDBroker.com and gTLDDomainNames.com. Neither of these domain names is worth very much (if anything), but they were speculative hand registrations, and I’ve lost more on a hand of blackjack than I’ll lose if I keep these names for several years without selling them.

I’ve seen many people buying and selling gTLD-related domain names, and I don’t think it’s such a wise idea.

While these TLDs are being called gTLD on the technical side (ICANN, consultants, investors…etc), the consumer side is what will probably drive the most value for these domain names. How domain registrars market these new TLDs will be important in determining whether gTLD domain names are worth anything because the “gTLD” moniker may disappear once they are on the market.

If consumers (buyers) and users call them gTLDs, these types of names may have more value, obviously depending on the keywords. If domain registrars call them “new TLDs” (like eNom is currently doing) they will probably not be referred to as gTLDs, rendering gTLD-related domain names worthless or worth much less.

My opinion is that registrars will not market them as gTLDs because most consumers don’t even know what TLD means let alone gTLD. My bet is registrars simply call them new domain names or maybe new TLDs. That’s a big reason why I haven’t done much speculating in this area…. that and domain investors are cheap when it comes to being end users 🙂

As always, I welcome your thoughts on the topic.

Elliot Silver
Elliot Silver
About The Author: Elliot Silver is an Internet entrepreneur and publisher of DomainInvesting.com. Elliot is also the founder and President of Top Notch Domains, LLC, a company that has closed eight figures in deals. Please read the DomainInvesting.com Terms of Use page for additional information about the publisher, website comment policy, disclosures, and conflicts of interest. Reach out to Elliot: Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn

12 COMMENTS

  1. Elliot,

    I developed this name years ago with the evolution of the usage of domain names and the Internet as a whole.

    Branding is big. Branding is everything!

    Domain names are basically a tool for facilitating the integration of the consumers “real world” experience with the online world.

    An “onramp” to the digital world if you will. Hence the development of the term:

    “CYBRANDS”

    An integration of the term “cyber” with “brands” or branding.

    CYBRANDS= The domain aspect of the Online Brand identification or experience.

    “Cybranding” is already being used. It is just a matter of time before another name for Domain Names may be readily used and that is:

    “CYBRANDS”

    Thanks for letting me post.

  2. “gTLD” isn’t sexy enough for the masses…I would watch what Google calls them when they sell/give them away on their end.

    Also Amazon may sell some off, they are heavy advertisers…watch what they call them.

    Others will take leads from them.

    Good luck with your names.

  3. Because Godaddy has already done the grunt work in getting the term “domain name” accepted by the public I believe this term will continue but in a more brandable way. From a marketing stand point Google, Amazon, whatever brand etc……is not going to try to coin a new phrase when they can piggyback off what already exists. So in the end they will be known as they are now, “Domain Names.”

  4. “New Market Names”

    New markets for domain sales. New markets for consumers and customers. New applications. New uses. (Unlimited) new opportunities.

    NMN bas a nice “alliteration”/sound to it.

    Thanks again for the opportunity to post.

  5. I actually held newmarketnames.com for several years and let it expire recently. I just re-registered it at Godaddy for 1.17 as I just like the name whether anyone takes the idea or not.

  6. Elliot here is my take:

    Inside the industry new gTLD’s will always be called new gTLD’s like country codes are call ccTLD’s and restricted TLD’s like .XXX are called sTLD’s and TLD like .com are called TLD’s.

    However to the public none of that will be important, nor will the public be interested in classifying them as anything other than domain names.

    • Do you think domain names like gTLD[keyword].com will have value? I’ve basically written off my two registrations as losses, although when gTLDBroker.com went up for auction (never completed due to a tech error I should follow up on) there was more than one bidder at the $69 minimum.

  7. If you look upon these names from a buyers perspective they will look for variations of the theme (many still available) at reg fee as this would save them paying aftermarket price’s.

    I recall something on NPro’s here: http://www.namepros.com/domain-appraisals/765024-please-pick-top-ten-out-these.html where it seems this member was also playing on your blackjack table.

    Personally I’ve keeped away from these (Unlimited)_keyword.whatever names as there are to many still available to reg hence they’re as common as iron ore.

    Sticking to mining gold and silver is always going to yield a decent return.

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