It's the end of the .YEAR & predictions

It is the end of the year and, as a new gTLD fan, promoter and evangelist, I will keep updating my new gTLD reports on a monthly basis starting 2017. Now most of the new gTLDs have launched, registration volumes will probably be constants...more or less.

I am enthusiastic about new gTLDs but studying registration volumes on a daily basis taught me a lot about what to submit an application for in round two of the ICANN new gTLD program and what NOT TO submit an application for.

For those interested in submitting an application in future rounds of the ICANN new gTLD program, I strongly recommend to check registration volumes from round 1: each category of TLD expresses a need for new domain name extensions...or not. For example, I would not invest in an application related to Real Estate anymore. I think sport applications are of great value as well as applications for cities. I also think that a lot of niche applications will be highly valuable and have a lot of potential.

My predictions for 2017

I predict that a date to submit a .BRAND new gTLD application will be announced before mid 2018, possibly earlier. The reason for this is that nothing blocks ICANN from allowing new "specification 13" applications from being submitted today and there is a strong demand for this. I am also confident that there will be more .BRAND new gTLD applications in coming rounds. I also think that it will cost less to apply...and.. that there will be more service providers to offer to submit a .BRAND new gTLD application. There are already a lot of signs about this: there are more tools available, it reduces the number of service providers to sign a contract with, and there is more money to earn by offering such a service to an existing list of clients: I heard about a law firm who's already understood this.

What you missed in our previous Newsletters:

1. Must listen to podcast - New gTLD predictions for 2017: hear predictions for 2017 from 15 people in the domain business;
2. URS comes to .mobi as ICANN offers Afilias lower fees;
3. Who do you think...has done the most to promote new gTLDs in 2016?
4. December 2016 Dot Brand Insights;
5. Donuts extends brand protection offering;
6. GDD Industry Summit Sponsorship Opportunities (8 - 11 May 2017);
7. In which extension(s) should companies secure their domains? (Last update of the year);
8. Useful - Confusing New gTLDs (The complete list of confusingly similar new gTLDs);
9. Here’s the Largest URS Complaint Ever Filed;
10. Interesting - Updated Staff Report on Proposed Amendments to Base New gTLD Registry Agreement;
11. Non .com in Snickers Commercial;
12. Global bars and restaurants set to benefit from newly released pool of .bar and .rest domains;
13. French - Amélioration des mécanismes de protection des marques dans le cadre des new gTLDs.

Starting 2017, we welcome new sponsors to gTLD.club and its daily Newsletter.