Assuming that the new TLDs are going to be released soon what opportunities do you all think will be there to benefit from all this.


- Buying your own TLD, which probably only a few domainers can afford to do this at the current costs of applying for and maintaining a new TLD.

- Buying second level domains, which depends on which one of the new TLDs are going to be open to the public at the second level. (Many companies might choose to keep their TLD closed to the public and only implement it for their own use.)

- Providing consultation and assistance to companies and entities that need help with applying for their own TLD. (This might be a good opportunity for domain attorneys.)

- Providing consultation and assistance to companies and entities that need help with implementing, operating, and maintaining their new TLD. (This might be a good opportunity for existing registrars.)

- Providing consultation and assistance to companies and entities that need help with branding, promoting, and marketing their new TLD. (This might be a good opportunity for those who are familiar with promotions and advertising.)


I did register the following domains just incase.

TLDbranding.com
TLDmarketing.com
TLDpromotions.com


Please note: This thread is not about whether you like the idea of having the new TLDs being released or not, we just want to explore the opportunities that might be there if and when the new TLDs are released. So please keep your comments on the positive and constructive side.

Thanks, ojohn

RETAIL TLDs:

Registar interest in new TLDs has dramatically decreased since the .INFO release, in turn there has been a huge increase in Registry involvement on the retail side of the release. In other words the auctions moved from registrar to registry.

That then suggests to me, if you have the stomach for it, starting your own TLD might be a way to make some money at least during landrush. However I think the world has reached new TLD "burn out" and profiting from this play is questionable.

The other thing I've seen people do, returns us to those 300,000 keywords that allways get registered. In this case I see domainers judging the keyword value and landrush auctions, grabbing keywords that are undervalued, and then doing a fast flip of them. The more that succeeds the more will be involved so the auctions will natually go to the end user pricing (I think).

From what I'm seeing, and hearing people say, it seems like to some extent, the keyword itself being so rare that the TLD is being ignored for the best keywords (both dev and users).

Assuming the price structure for domains does not become opressive, seems to me the best approach for these "non traffic" domains is Development intially pumped by SEO.

In other words, become an "end user" and make something useful ....

BRAND:

If you can somehow obtain a top keyword at the TLD level, and afford the development, I think this is where huge money could be. But few can play at that level.

For example, owning; http://credit, http://mortgage, http://car, and on an on.

I think it's going to cost a lot to get the traffic going to those sites, but I think people underestimate the potential of moving the keyword to the TLD level.

SUMMARY:

I think the money is in Brand TLDs and not retail TLDs. But the initial investment will be large.

Also note, for your own Brand TLD you have *ZERO* need of registry infrastructure, period. That's a *HUGE* cost for a retail registry - Keep in mind registries run at the world level and thus provide live human support 24/7/365 (lots of bucks here and hardware infrastructure and bandwidth).

Brand TLD is "just" a ROOT entry to your servers, done. But you need others to care, thus lots of promotion building a brand.

I'm not sure if there is any money in selling current brands on the idea of their brand at the TLD level. I suspect their legal folks have allready eyed the billable hours in doing that for them, so that leaves little for outsiders. I think.

ADDITIONAL

There are some other opertunities you have not listed. Since I'm eyeballing those myself I'll just say keep thinking about it.

As far as other opportunities I would assume that if you are lucky enough to qualify for your own TLD then the easiest thing to do is to wildcard all the second level domains and keep all the traffic for yourself since as you already mentioned it doesn’t cost much to be the registry for a closed TLD, although I believe that it might be required for all the Generic and Geo TLDs to be open to the public at the second level (or at least open to the people and businesses who have some kind of a connection to that TLD). IMO

http://www.londonstockexchange.com/e...entId=10118983

But the initial investment will be large.

Also note, for your own Brand TLD you have *ZERO* need of registry infrastructure, period. That's a *HUGE* cost for a retail registry - Keep in mind registries run at the world level and thus provide live human support 24/7/365 (lots of bucks here and hardware infrastructure and bandwidth).

Brand TLD is "just" a ROOT entry to your servers, done. But you need others to care, thus lots of promotion building a brand.

In what price range is the initial investment?

Originally posted by MediaS
In what price range is the initial investment?

Hi,

Evaluation fee is $185,000.

Regards,

Originally Posted by maxime

Hi,

Evaluation fee is $185,000.

Regards,

That is a huge amount, but I think is worth doing.