Out of the Fog Marketing

Last week we reported that ICANN(Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) will be allowing customized top level domains starting sometime in 2010. ICANN is instituting the change to allow more visibility and intuitiveness to domain names. After all, what does a “.com” mean to most people? A .nike would be much more intuitive.
ICANN is reviewing its application process and will soon announce when in 2010 the customized top-level domains will be available. However, it's not going to be as easy as buying a .com or .org domain name. The ICANN application process will require the following

• Business plan - including how you will maintain the domain over a 5-year period
• Policy overview
• Extensive documentation of community support (if the domain is for a community site)
• A competent and stable technology provider for registry services and hosting

So this is not going to be a minor or cheap undertaking for most companies. There is going to have to be a large budget and commitment to the project.

Labels: 2010 domains, domain registration, icann

If you're looking for a more direct and personal way to interact with consumers, instead of
sending them to your company's Facebook page or Twitter profile, what could be
better than an entire section of the Internet devoted solely to your brand?

That is exactly what you'll be able to get in early 2010 when you'll be able to grab a .brand instead of .com. Your company name can replace the .com! Imagine our emails coming .[your brand here]. Or your emails coming from you.[yourlastname]! Will Nike launch branded communities on a .nike domain? Can your company create an engaging microsite on .[your product name]? Whether you are a brand owner, technology company or healthcare organization you need to know how this upcoming domain registration change will affect your brand.

We will let our blog readers know exactly when these domains will be available and how to grab them. Stay tuned.

Labels: 2010 domains, branded domains, domain registration