It’s official – all .com web addresses for four-letter names have gone. We are rapidly running out of options. The naming system for the internet is finally going to have to change. The .net TLD never got going and .org was never a good answer. Country codes like .co.uk, .fr, .kr or .jp have eased the pressure over the last few years, and the idea for localized domains like .nyc or .paris could become reality this year. But it looks like this is the year all those odd domains like .tv, .mobi, .museum and .xxx are finally going to come of age. Building your brand in the digital age demands that it have a home on the Web that people can find, but with Google or Bing at your fingertips, who needs to know the address? Any domain will work as long as you can find it through search. Brands are going less mainstream, yet people are still going to find them. Of course with Facebook, Twitter and mobile apps, maybe you don’t even need a website anymore…
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“Maybe you don’t even need a website anymore…”
Contrary to what many “Social” consultants might tell you these days… Neither Twitter or Facebook will ever replace the value (and benefits) that is offered from owning a website – especially for businesses who have products or services and want to demonstrate differentiation through branding. It’s important for “some” businesses to adapt with social, but there will never be one portal on the web that essentially takes over the internet and eliminates the need for businesses to own a website.
With as much spam and junk on search engines these days, it might feel like we need to one portal that serves all purposes of the web. Google’s recent update that stated they will be refining search results and eliminating the junk sites, in my opinion, is a smart move and should help bring back that great experience of searching.