Joseph Peterson uncovers some great usage examples of .XYZ domain names.
This “love letter” to .XYZ may surprise readers who remember me as one of that registry’s more persistent critics. True that I’ve found fault with .XYZ’s inflated registration numbers and decried statements made by CEO Daniel Negari. Yet the TLDÂ itself is separate. As a branding option for entrepreneurs or a resale proposition for domainers, .XYZ is affected by registry actions but not defined by them.
Here I want to draw attention to a couple of specific areas where, in my opinion, .XYZ has a strong case. Although .XYZ is marketed as a versatile .COM substitute, regardless of topic or industry, and that is how many people see it, I personally prefer a variety of other “Not COMs”. Where I really like .XYZ is more niche.
You see, I take those letters X, Y, Z literally. Rather than view the suffix as an arbitrary, anything-will-do domain ending, interchangeable with others like .NET or .LINK, .BIZ or .INFO, .PRO or .CLUB, let’s look at cases where .XYZ is meaningful, relevant, appropriate, superior.
.XYZ = The Alphabet
Obviously .XYZ suggests letters. That leads on to writing, fonts, typing, transcription. Some projects use .XYZ to reinforce those ideas:
iFonts.xyz – An attractive gallery of downloadable typefaces.
EmojiKey.xyz – A tool to type emojis directly from your keyboard.
Trandict.xyz – Compare machine translations in 54 languages using multiple sources.
ABC.xyz – Google’s spinoff parent company, Alphabet, uses this domain as its online address.
Transcribe.xyz – Last year, Konstantinos Zournas chose this domain as the winner in a registry-sponsored contest. Now it’s a developed site that offers automatic audio and video transcriptions powered by IBM’s Watson.
.XYZ = 3D
After you learned your ABCs, the next time you encountered X, Y, and Z would have been in the context of algebra – first as variables in equations, then in graphs. X and Y are the conventional names for coordinate axes in 2 dimensions. Adding Z puts you in 3D.
Across the world, regardless of language or alphabet, (X,Y,Z) already means 3D. Mathematics is the only universal language. Thus .XYZ has the potential to act as a shorthand for 3D in every sense: 3D graphics, 3D games, 3D printing. Here and there, that potential is actual.
Elsewhere.xyz – “Watch anything in immersive 3D” using these spectacles and an app.
uPrint3D.xyz – For the “student-run 3D printing service at McGill University”.  Students encountering .XYZ in this way will take the 3D association with them after graduation.
Shaper3D.xyz – 3D CAD modeling for the iPad Pro. In this case, .XYZ is either an upgrade from or brand protection for Shapr3d.com (which lacks an “E”).
uMake.xyz – Transforms a 2D sketch or doodle into a 3D model.
3DBoulevard.xyz – 3D printing workshops and prototyping services in India. The domain forwards to a Facebook page, but it’s still a memorable shortcut.
Haxor.xyz – Software tools for 3D animation.
This is my favorite application for .XYZ because the 3D space is well defined, expanding, and ripe for a consistent recognizable identifier – a jersey for “Team 3D”, if you like. Why not? Treating .XYZ as a synonym for 3D makes as much as sense as using .IO as a shorthand for input / output processing.
Ideally, a domain extension’s brand would be based solely on entrepreneurs building quality websites. Unfortunately, while looking for .XYZ sites to feature in this article, I ran across an unusually high percentage of .XYZ websites blocked by the browser as suspicious … or ranking in SERPs but parked … or squatting on .COM brands. This is what gives me pause and prevents me from endorsing .XYZ wholeheartedly even for 3D or alphabet / script projects.
It’s no surprise to see impostors, malware, and low quality sites built on .XYZ. This is what happens when domains are given away in unlimited numbers for 1 penny apiece. Arguably, in order to maintain its high registration numbers, the registry undercut its TLD’s credibility online. If .XYZ websites are to flourish, that can’t continue.
Even cybersquatting on .XYZ sometimes points to 3D. For instance, I ran across Photoneo.xyz in search results; but once I clicked, I was taken to porn. The real site is Photoneo.com, which sells 3D scanners. Because .XYZ seems plausible in the context of 3D, I clicked on the fake.
For the record, I don’t own any .XYZ domains. No, the .XYZ registry hasn’t paid me to blow it kisses. No registry ever has. Merry Christmas, Daniel, all the same!
No serious end user, especially corporate, will ever use .xyz.
Those “examples” you mentioned are just more or less “hidden” marketing stunts (ABC.xyz) and/or scammy, poor quality/business model entities, which IMHO won’t last much …
.xyz is just a bubble, a junk extension, pumped by deceptive marketing (and more …), it won’t last much either …
Happy New Year! 🙂
I’ve always felt similarly, but what about when you factor China into the equation? Do they not like this one enough in China to make the difference between junk and success?
Adding China to the equation means just more speculation, no solid end users if we exclude paid marketing stunts … it’s a smoke and mirrors game which IMHO will end badly.
Joseph,
You are right on a lot of domain things, but I disagree with you on .XYZ.
With .XYZ, you have the sound out the letters X Y Z, you don’t have to do that with .Com .Club .Net .Org .Co .Web and so on. It’s the same reason why I don’t like .VIP.
It is a big turn off IMO.
@Mark Thorpe,
Believe I was the first person to bring up the point you just raised. I wrote about .XYZ’s extra 3 syllables back in 2014. And 2015. And 2016. On this point, we don’t disagree whatsoever.
Okay. It just seemed like you were finally getting on the .XYZ bandwagon like every other domainer is lately.
I do remember you mentioning the syllables issue before, but just did not see it in this article.
I myself don’t like .XYZ, I have tried to like it, but it just sounds and looks weak to me. It’s my unbiased opinion.
@Mark Thorpe,
Nope. Bandwagons are for jousting against.
On the topic of .XYZ, my past remarks have been quite scathing. And I retract nothing. That said, after that hostile viewpoint of mine became the consensus, I decided I’d done my duty, so to speak. Time to jump off that bandwagon! Time to confuse people with an apparent 180! Just to qualify the “rule” with an exception or 2. Spice things up with a little nuance …
Generally speaking, .XYZ isn’t something I’d pick for myself or clients. But, having criticized .XYZ plenty, I ought to look for its strong points too, if I’m to maintain objectivity. So I decided to discuss 2 areas where I WOULD consider recommending .XYZ. Honestly, if I were naming a 3D project, I’d include .XYZ in my top 5 options. And there is some chance that this 3D meaning could take off.
Fair enough.
Transcribe.xyz isn’t operationally yet fyi. Still has a an email sign-up form and there doesn’t seem to be any voice/audio translation tool there.
Facebook/Instagram does not allow .XYZ on pages.
https://www.facebook.com/business/help/community/question/?id=10153483622302553
I own 5 .xyz and 4 of them I’m going to giveaway I’m sticking to just .com, .net…
I like this post to be against the XYZ extension I particularly like I had several of them also be .com extension, no matter that you can buy domains with XYZ at 1 cent better if available 4 or 5 letters.
In China the investors of this country pay more than US $ 10,000 to 1 cent that I have paid, it is luck not to write in the keyword is what is worth more remember the word is what we must learn from the beginning to be able to sell remembers you Robert or do not remember 4 and 5 are not the same as 20 characters.
I have interested buyers and this year I hope to raise more than three million USD in sales of .XYZ domains the profitability is very interesting who does not run flies when this website give the news of this link https://domainnamewire.com/2016/12 / 05 / big-china-approves-club-vip-xyz /
Happy New Year.
Are you trying to communicate with us?
Your argument reminds me a bit of that guy from the late aughts who used to extol the virtues of 3D domains, “The 3D Domainer”, I think he was called.
He looked at every domain through a 3D lens because 3D was the future. He loved 3D domains. He went out of business last I heard.
@Pak,
Do you think I view the domain industry “through a 3D lens”? Within my own portfolio, fewer than 1 domain in 10,000 is related to 3D.
How about those .cc’s??? Undervalued? Worthless? I like them way better than almost every extension other than .com. Short combos seem to be holding a decent price on some of the drop sites. Gdaddy, etc. Easiest and fastest extension to type in the World. Great for mobile and I think it is approved in China as well as being run by the same company that runs .com
Oh and they just dropped the renewal rate to 10\yr. All signs point to .cc IMHO!!!
.CC may appeal to the Chinese appetite for short, repeating strings. Domainers buy English keywords too, it’s true. But I haven’t seen much interest from brands in the West.
For the record, I haven’t said that .XYZ is more promising overall than other TLDs. On the contrary, it’s not among my favorites, as I stated in the article; and I’ve long criticized both the .XYZ registry and .XYZ itself. However, I do see 2 “clumps” of usage where .XYZ makes a lot of sense to me AND where it is being put to use. The scope and purpose of this article wasn’t to single out .XYZ as a “winner” but to highlight those 2 subsets of meaningful usage.
I can’t imagine any use for xyz. It is hard to type with your thumbs and doesn’t really represent anything except a few letters from the alphabet. Blowing them out for almost free will pump any dog extension. It will be used for spam until the renewal fees go up. Can you say .co? I can actually see much more practical uses for .co than xyz for sure and I don’t like .co
Happy New Year!!! All the best for 2017.
On another subject I would be interested to hear your opinion if any on bitcoin. Seems like a perfect fit for domains.
@Steve,
I know zilch about bitcoin. Safer to ask my opinion on open heart surgery.
NP. It just seems likes perfect match for domain buying and selling. It is as easy to transfer bitcoin anywhere in the World as it is to transfer a domain name.
Francois put up a site at Bitkoin.com similar to domaining. This time last year it was around $350/coin. Just passed $1000 the other day. In 2009 they were around .13$ each! Some say they will go to $100k each or more. Of course it is VERY SPECULATIVE. CAVEAT EMPTOR.
With the current global war on cash crypto currencies may be the only way to preserve and transfer wealth without big brother wanting to take their 10 pounds of flesh. The current monetary system is broken and a joke. World citizens are creating a separate system to avoid the crash when it happens. It will happen.
Quantitive easing is another word for THEFT.
Corrupt governments including ours want your wealth. They hinted at it when they talk about negative interest rates. Ask a Greek how it was when they needed to access their money in a bank. Oops sorry not available, only 50 euros a day per citizen and we are going to steal 30% of the funds in YOUR BANK ACCOUNT!!!
Just happened in India and Venezuela. Italy anf Spain are next.
If you ever see a news item on a Friday that says the all the banks will be closed until Monday because of a “computer” problem I can almost guarantee you it will be the signal to head for the hills.
Chickens and bullets will be the new currency then.
Should be a VERY interesting 2017.
Cheers, all the best!
Call the exorcist! Joseph is possessed!
🙂 I am just kidding!
“Last year, Konstantinos Zournas chose this domain as the winner in a registry-sponsored contest.”
Just wanted to clarify that the registry sponsored the winner’s prices. Judges were not paid. (At least I wasn’t.)
believe it or not. I was not a fan of .XYZ before its sunrise.
2 or 3 days after its launch I started to look for some good available .XYZ names and was surprise to see that so many good ones were still available at reg fee..
Unlike all other new gtlds, only a few names cost you more than $12/year..
Surprisingly people easily remember .XYZ just like .org .net.
I personally prefer a TwoWord .xyz over a wordDotword.
I wouldn’t recommend a company to use a .XYZ for its main domain.
However, it is a great extension for creative minds!
a 2 word xyz might be ok for investor but for an end user— i don’t think so
How can it be okay for an investor if it is not for an end user?
.XYZ is good for apps or personal projects IMO
I don’t own 2 word .XYZ but I would prefer owning one over a random ngtld
.xyz is a great domain extension. I mean it holds a ton of potential…
Speculative, sure. But, isn’t that the point. I mean if I owned cars.xyz, stamps.xyz, or pets.xyz, I would definitely hold on to them for a few years to see what happens.. No questions asked. A small investment with potential for huge returns.
One of the reasons .xyz is popular in the china market : it translates as
“little universe” which could be popular in social, collectible and game sectors. I believe too much emphasis is placed on “what a “serious” business would choose” when evaluating anything other than .com There are 2 massive markets emerging each with their own cultural twists to account for in addition to massive verticals emerging globally. Although I’m not a fan of .xyz What I do see is those Registrars that kick ass on marketing are creating the market interest in use.
I appreciate the interesting view on 3d application xyz.
It’s amazing what actual end users are doing instead of what domainers think they should be doing.
The cream of .coms are now in a niche category for the top 20% of investors/end users.
The 80% of the market remaining, will most certainly be competing with the best of the New “G” and Country Code alternatives with a few cultural winners along the way.
Happy Hunting!
There is no question that .XYZ is going to be a massive success. Almost 6 million registrations so far and developing a niche of techies or creative users who prefer to build their assets on a .xyz. Daniel also markets it cleverly as the name address for the millennials and I think many young creators find this quite appealing. I wouldn’t be surprised if .XYZ hits 10 million registrations in the next year or so. That is what registry success looks like. Mass appeal. And I think the fears of abuse are unfounded. .XYZ is still the least abused TLD according to Spamhaus in spite of the millions of registrations. It has also opened new opportunities for new countries, notably China, to go big on domain investing and that is good for the internet industry globally. It is something I would consider for my creative projects or personal blog although for investment purposes, I am currently going with .shop and .VIP 🙂
@shopman,
“There is no question that .XYZ is going to be a massive success.”
If there’s no question, why is that claim questioned by so many intelligent people?
“Almost 6 million registrations so far … That is what registry success looks like.”
A successful registry might look like that – with 6 million registrations. But the converse is not true: Merely having 6 million registrations doesn’t mean a TLD is successful.
Stuffing .XYZ domains into registrar accounts without the owner’s request and dumping .XYZ domains on the market for as little as 1 penny apiece – this also looks like “almost 6 million registrations so far”.
If 2 different things look identical, it’s only fair to question which 1 we’re looking at. Right?
“.XYZ is still the least abused TLD according to Spamhaus …”
Can you cite a report that says that? Looking at Spamhaus now, it says nothing of the kind. And I’d be very surprised to find any credible study claiming .XYZ is really the least abused TLD. Stands to reason, given the number of scammers who need disposable domains and .XYZ’s past offering at 1 penny, that this TLD wouldn’t be exclusively registered by saints.
If you’re a fan, terrific. But let’s acknowledge a modicum of reality.
Joseph, my Spamhaus claim is based on these tool https://www.spamhaus.org/statistics/tlds/. .XYZ is really at the very bottom when it comes to abuse. Maybe it is too early but it is currently not among the most abused gTLDs.
@.shopman,
What you’re referring to is a list of the top 10 most abused TLDs, according to Spamhaus.
Their list is interesting. And it may be accurate. But we shouldn’t accept it at face value. We have to interpret it:
1. Their list changes from month to month. You’d want to look at past lists as well to see which TLDs are among the “most abused”.
2. .XYZ isn’t currently listed among the top 10. But this doesn’t mean “.XYZ is still the least abused TLD according to Spamhaus”, which is what you had claimed. Out of 1000+ TLDs, Spamhaus isn’t telling us where .XYZ ranks. Is .XYZ #11 or #1100?
3. Crucially, look at how Spamhaus scores “badness”:
(# Bad) * log ( # Bad ) / (Total Domains)
Their score DIVIDES BY the total number of domains registered in a given TLD. So if you’re a registry and want to reduce your badness score to get yourself off of the Spamhaus list of worst offenders, how would you do it?
Well, you might to it by having a 1 penny sale and unleashing millions more domains. Dump more domains on the market and double your registration volume, and you will cut your “badness” score in half. The odds are most of those penny registrations won’t be abused because there are simply too many of them for the scammers to use them all. But the volume of abusive domains may still be very high in absolute terms. Just diluted by millions of unused penny registrations.
I like the TLD for some projects such as some that you have stated above and I have read a bit on some of the questionable registrations done last year; I can’t defend them on that, and I don’t have to, because like everyone else, I am in the dark. But that does not negate the fact that it has largely been a successful launch compared to other new gTLDs that can barely master 4000 users and are largely unknown. There are probably multiple ways to gage TLD success; the name recognition and number of registrations is definitely one of them. Even if we discount the “forced registrations” which is probably less than 30,000, .XYZ still has millions of users and there is a lot of innovative development going on in the namespace (search site:.xyz). It is a mixed bag, with the good and the bad. Mostly good.