The Spotlight On Domain Names



by Gregory Grant

     There are currently more than 6.5 million .com, .net, and .org domains registered worldwide, with more than 30,000 new domains being registered daily. According to International Data Corporation, the number of registered domain names is expected to reach 13.1 million by the year 2003. Until recently, domain names had been limited to 26 characters in length. Today after a change in Domain Name regulations you could have up to sixty seven characters in domain names.

     To get on top of the search engines, one of the critical keys is a good domain name loaded with keywords. Some engines are no longer accepting sub-directory pages. This is one of the reasons the users have been buying keyword-phrase domain names. Since 1993, Network Solutions has registered more than 3.4 million domain names, all limited to 26 characters. Now that their exclusive government contract is ending, competitors have tossed this artificial limit and are allowing longer names. With 67 characters as the limit, today you could easily find a domain name with your products and services in it. This change represents both a marketing opportunity and a search engine placement opportunity not unlike the days when the web was new.

     Internet Domain Registrars, an ICANN-accredited domain registrar, is the first registrar to offer 67 character domain names. Companies are finding it increasingly difficult to register distinctive domain names. The extended domain length introduces millions of new possible combinations. As a result, many new marketable domains are likely to emerge. As they say, they have experienced a significant increase in registrations from companies rushing to stake their claim in cyberspace and to protect their online identities.

     Internet Domain Registrars is one of the few registrars officially accredited by the International Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). The U.S. Commerce Department established ICANN to manage the Domain Name System. In 1998, ICANN introduced competition to the domain name industry. As an accredited registrar, IDR is positioned to compete directly with Network Solutions, which formerly held a monopoly position in the industry.

     However Network Solutions is still the leader offering great exclusive services like idNames. The idNames is a country-specific Web Address (domain names ending in .jp, .uk, .fr, .de etc.) search and registration service offered exclusively by Network Solutions. Today's net-savvy businesses think globally and are quick to register in top Internet markets outside of their home country in order to protect and market their valuable company names, brands and products. Your company or brand name is up for grabs in more than 80 countries, even if you have registered a .com or .net Web Address. Why risk it? Multinational corporations and Web-based businesses have learned that regaining the rights to a name registered by someone else can be costly, time consuming, and as some companies and their counsel have learned, nearly impossible. It's essential to register in individual country domains in order to prevent unauthorized use of your trademarks, brands and licensed names as Web Addresses worldwide.

     In conclusion good domain names are essential tools for your business. Even if someone gets a Web Address from Network Solutions every 6.6 seconds there are still good domain names available. Your Web Address is the core of your Internet identity, your online brand. Your customers will remember this name and use it to find out about your products and services. And since no two parties can ever hold the same Web Address simultaneously, your Internet identity is totally unique. Internet is a great way to promote your business and that's why you should register a domain name to put your business in cyberspace and to protect your online identities.