.co is a favorite among non-VeriSign domains.
Registrars have many options when it comes to which top level domains to promote to customers. Sometimes this is based purely on demand calculations. In other instances domain registries strike deals with domain registrars to give them premium shelf space or promotion on their home pages.
I just checked the top 10 domain registrars. These results are for either the drop down box in their domain search function or the results page when you search. Excluded are reseller-only registrars that don’t have a consumer facing site. I’ve also excluded MelbourneIT because they seem to be having web site problems right now.
GoDaddy
.com
.co
.info
.net
.org
(notably, .me, which is backed by GoDaddy is #6)
eNom
.co
.com
.net
.org
.info
Tucows (Hover)
.com
.net
.info
.co
Then usually shows another variant of .com
Network Solutions
.com
.net
.co
.org
.biz
1 and 1
.com
.co
.net
.org
.us (I suspect this varies depending on your location)
Register.com
.com
.co
.net
.org
.xxx
Moniker
.co
.com
.org
.net
.asia
Interesting how, after 2 years, .CO still receives massive exposure from registrars. Apart from .com, .net and .org, as far as I can remember, this is a unique case, isn’t it?
@ Joe – .co has been smart about striking marketing agreements with registrars.
I’m surprised nobody’s pushing .tv harder, now that the contract has been extended for many years.
I really don’t understand .co/.info/.biz/.us/.xxx/.asia. I’ve never knowingly visited one.
But it’s funny that the traditional registrars don’t promote the only TLD specifically meant for individuals and SMEs.
When .tel breaks through it will be the specialists like TelChina/Novaltel/Telnames etc that win 🙂
It will be interesting to see whether any of the new TLDs do anything similarly innovative with the DNS.
@ Andy – it’s pretty clear why Go Daddy doesn’t promote .tel (I assume is still doesn’t offer it): can’t sell privacy on it, customers will be confused as to what it is (what do you mean I can’t create a web site), can’t sell hosting on it, etc.
It’s pure economics…
If TLDs like .asia, on which you can build a website, failed you’ll know why .tel and .mobi, as capped TLDs, were even bigger failures.
Surprised to see a .biz ?
I see .co hitting off when the .com variant is already taken and being sold for several thousand, which is too much for most average people who want to start a site.
Although I’m sure if .co were cheaper, more people would adapt to it anyway.
@Andrew But there are other things to up-sell. But registrars aren’t used to innovating.. they’ve only known selling one kind of thing. 🙂
@ Andy – so what would you recommend a registrar sell with .tel to make it as lucrative as another extension?
.Co is the new King.
.CO has potentials…..keep it up !
@Sam
“Although I’m sure if .co were cheaper, more people would adapt to it anyway.”
Cheaper? .CO is currently the same price as .com ($7.99 at GoDaddy) and is free if you join the Startup America program.
@Andrew There is tons of stuff! I’d start with voip services and email.
The point is that the market for .tel is potentially many times bigger than the market for standard TLDs, so you don’t need the same gross margins.
Andrew,
I would like you to make a correction just for “technical” sake on your readers understanding what you’re talking about:
EXTENSIONS
(not “domains”)
Your article is about which registrars promote what domain EXTENSIONS the most, not which “domains” they promote. Registrars shouldn’t be promoting “domains,” should they? *cough*.
Hope this clears up the obvious, but still important distinctions between a domain name and its EXTENSION.
cheers!
@Joe
It renews at a $30 rate, unless you have a coupon code at the time. And I haven’t heard of Startup America, but I’m sure you’re limited to the amount you can get for free, right?
@Sam
If you’re a domain investor and want to make some wise investment in the .CO namespace, I’m sure a $30 renewal rate (which is reduced to as low as $20 at GoDaddy if you renew when you find the right coupon during the year) isn’t all that big deal. Of course, if you buy a lot of junk, you’ll soon get burned.
If you’re a startup and get a nice domain for free (Startup America provides domains to startups, not domain investors so a domain is enough), I’m sure during the year you’ll earn the $20 or $30 to pay for its renewal.