Snowboarding
UPDATED: When Work and Snowboarding Intersect
It’s not often, particularly in my line of work, that I get to connect snowboarding and my job. However, a recent development in the industry I work in now gives me that chance – for one blog post, at least!
If you follow Internet governance issues at all (I know, it doesn’t sound horribly exciting) you’re likely aware that there’s a movement afoot to get a slew of new Top Level Domains (TLDs) introduced. A TLD is a domain name “extension” like .COM, .NET or .ORG. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), which governs how and when extensions like these get introduced (among many, many other things), is taking a serious look at adding hundreds more in the near future. So, it’s not unlikely that in 2011 you’ll see all sorts of new extensions, from .ECO to .HORSE. (While there is no confirmed list at this time, I’m aware of at least one group each lobbying for the introduction of both of those extensions.)
Given the company I work for sells domain names, I’ve been keeping a close eye on the progress of this. And as an avid snowboarder and a so-so cyclist, I was pleased to recently discover Adrenaline TLD, which plans to apply to introduce five new extensions: .SKI, .SURF, .BIKE, .BOARD and .SKATE.
“Adrenaline TLD Inc. intends to be at the forefront of this new era by introducing five new Top Level Domains spaces dedicated to the 1 billion global action sports participants, professionals, organizations and corporations,” their site says. “Skiers, surfers, bicyclists, boarders and skaters will find unique navigation opportunities, safe and dedicated content for their passions through the provision of domain names using the .ski, .surf, .bike, .board and .skate extensions.”
I think these guys could be on to something with these extensions. While I certainly don’t think they will reach .COM sales levels (there are currently more than 80 million .COM names on the Internet), you don’t need to sell a zillion domains to be a success in this business. And I think those five extensions are targeted to audiences broad enough that they could move a fair bit of volume and reach avid audiences. Their proposed domain extensions are easy to identify and make mental associations with.
What do you think? Would you buy a .BOARD or .BIKE extension?
I wonder if they’ve thought about .SHRED!
UPDATE: Interestingly, according to their Twitter feed (here), Adrenaline TLD estimates about 250,000 existing domain name registrations are related to skiing. Sounds like they’re doing their homework.
Discussion
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.SHRED would be awesome.
It depends upon how much there would be to gain in terms of traffic and other stuff. If people aren’t very familiar with that extension then it may be more beneficial to just go with a .com.
It would mean that lots of cool url’s would become available under those extensions if you could get in there first.
I like your style of writing by the way. I’ve just set up my blog so would be cool to maybe connect sometime.
Thanks Dave.
Like your site as well!
I would totally buy a .shred domain. Or how about .stoked
Love the blog Adam!
Haha. I like .stoked.
Yes I would buy one of those domain extensions. I think it is an excellent idea. I wonder how that would affect SEO? I am sure only in a positive way.
I would likely by a .ski or .board domain name, but I might link it to an already established .com name. These new extensions will be very useful for existing online marketers to further grow their brands and extend their reach.
The larger my net, the more fish I catch in it.