NetNames .Brand service

ICANN’s decision to open applications for new gTLDs in 2012, provides many commercial and marketing opportunities for brand owners. However, the first key decision is whether or not to apply for a new gTLD.

Owning a TLD means that your business would have to implement and manage a registry service for a specific domain extension on the Internet. It is a key decision that needs careful evaluation and consideration before embarking on the prospect of owning a global top-level domain.

Unlike registering a regular domain name, this is a far more complicated process that involves complex legal, technical, and commercial issues, and if not thought through thoroughly and implemented correctly, it could significantly impact the future of your business.

With NetNames’ expertise in the domain name management industry and together with its partner Crowell & Moring, the NetNames .Brand service can provide your organisation with the expertise and knowledge to enable you to make the correct decision about whether or not you should apply for a new gTLD.

The NetNames .Brand service - tailor made to your business - would allow you to:

• Gain an overview of the new gTLD process, discuss future issues that you need to consider, and decide who should be involved going forward
• Participate in workshops that:
  • Analyse the suitability of the new TLDs within your company’s strategy
  • Evaluate the dynamics of a defensive approach towards the new gTLD program
  • Discuss the results of multiple analysis reports including a SWOT analysis, highlighting your company’s investment and ROI in terms of cost, resources, tasks, and any future considerations and recommendations suited to your overall strategy
• Assess the results of a NetNames/Crowell & Moring produced feasibility study that will align the technical, financial, and operational requirements needed within your organisation to support the operation of a new gTLD

If you then decide to proceed with applying for a new gTLD, NetNames can help you further by developing the necessary business plan which will form the basis of the new gTLD application, and supporting you in the implementation and the launch of the gTLD (should your application be successful).

The lead time from client meeting to final application takes four to five months, and therefore it is important that clients consider applying for the new TLD as soon as possible to stand a better chance of acquiring their preferred TLD.

Please contact NetNames for further information. Please also visit our new website dedicated to the new gTLDs - www.gtld.com.