TLD frequently asked questions

What is a TLD and why does it matter to me?

TLD is an acronym for generic top-level domain. It is used to describe more recent domain extensions such as .guru and .photography. These new extensions are just like the common extensions you already know such as .com, .org and .net. 

These new domain extensions (there are hundreds to choose from) allow you to own your website. It enables you to tailor your domain suffix in such a way that your website address announces what you do. This allows people to find you easily when they remember what you do.  Domain extensions such as .photography, .build and .attorney tell visitors to your website what you’re all about and what you have to offer. 

Why are there new TLDs?

Business owners started getting tired of the .com as it approached its 30th year in existence because the best and most  valuable domain names have already been registered. Consequently businesses were forced to make up names for their businesses just to find an affordable domain name. Ut therefore became imperative to find a better way to put your business out there. 

New TLDs exist to increase your options of domain names. The more variety there is, the greater your chances of finding a domain name that suits your business. With the introduction of gTLDs, you have a fresh chance to get the domain name you really want. 

Because many of the custom domain extensions are specific to particular industries, interests or cities, your web address can now tell people exactly what you do and where you do it. This makes the new domains easy to remember and it becomes a million times easier to find you online.

Will there be domains in languages other than English?

Oui! Thanks to the new gTLDs, speakers of nearly three dozen languages – including Arabic, Chinese, and languages based on the Cyrillic alphabet – will have their own available domain names. This will be a big win for companies that promote their products in countries where these languages are spoken.

How much will the new domains cost?

Prices vary for the new gTLDs, but we publish pricing information for the new domain extensions as soon as it’s available. For many of these, pricing can vary depending on market conditions. Visit this page often for the most up-to-date pricing.

Will all the new domains be available to me?

Not all the new domains will be available to you. You have a little over 700 new domains available to you while we have about 600 others which are already trademarked. Examples include, .ford, .gucci and .dupont. Unless these bands decide to make their domains public, they are expected to be reserved for internal use only. 

Will the new domains change how the Internet works?

Your internet remains the same but the process of finding people and information on the internet will be greatly improved.  For example, if you’re new on the block and looking to name your business, the best place to start is with a domain name search. That’ll ensure you have a web address that matches your business name.

It’s also important to keep in mind that gTLDs carry the same weight with search engines. This implies that websites with custom domain extensions can achieve a high ranking on search engine results pages. If you are concerned about search engine optimization (SEO), your website will not be limited to .com or .net search engines. 

How is ICANN involved?

ICANN (The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) is a non-profit group responsible for the coordination and oversight of the global internet system. ICANN is responsible for the approval of the new domain extensions. ICANN acts as an online ledger that keeps an official record of everyone who registers a website domain extension. ICANN does not create web addresses however. 

Is there any reason to register more than one domain name?

Yes there is. You can register different domains for your business to expand your presence online.  For example, if you own LilysBikes.com you might also want to register LilysBikes.shop and even Lilys.bikes. You can forward the new domain names to your existing website or use them to create new ones. This increases the chances of new customers finding you online.

How can I protect a domain with my trademark in it?

ICANN protects trademark owners by letting them reserve their trademarked names first before anyone else is allowed to submit registration for a particular gTLD.