LinkedIn: did some cleaning

I have a lot of contacts on LinkedIn and I would easily write that I n-e-v-e-r shared anything with probably 90% of them so I wonder: what's the point in allowing someone to add me in his list of contacts if he has nothing to tell me?

I once asked to someone who added me (and I accepted him to add me to his list) what was the reason for adding me and the guy...just did not answer me.

3,500 contacts?
I have an important list of more than 3,500 contacts and I use LinkedIn exclusively for work. I don't pay attention to the rest: my friends and family usually contact me on Facebook or send me emails...oh...and they call me too.

I've started a little cleaning on LinkedIn and since it is not possible to massively delete contacts - yes, you have to do that one by one on LinkedIn - I have decided to use the method below:

• Self proclaimed mentors: go away;
• Indian Seo specialists and marketing experts: go away (note that I have nothing against people from India but I am so spammed by these requests...);
• No picture? Go away;
• The word "influencer" (or equivalent) appears in you title? Go away;
• You've not answered me after 2 messages: go away;
• Recruiters: go away;
• You sell wine: go away ;-)
• You still use a ".com" domain name? go away;
• Advertising your number of LinkedIn connections in your signature? Go away;
• .com Domainers domain name investors: go away;
• You forgot to put a capital letter to your family name: go away;
• I don't understand more than 50% of what is written in your signature or title? Go away;
• No personalized message with the reason why you want to add me on LinkedIn: go away;
• Not in the new gTLD business (or close to it): go away unless you have a serious question.

Limiting to 300 connections = done
I did clean my list of connections and lowered its number of contacts to 300. I think that makes more sense and as a new method, I will try to stick to 300; meaning that I will remove a connection for one gained.

My email can be used to contact me instead (or visit Jovenet Consulting).

Good to know prior to contacting me on LinkedIn

1. I now refuse LinkedIn incoming connection attempts when there's no introduction message;
2. A "no" is always acceptable to me as long as I get an answer so I now:
1. delete contacts who don't answer me;
2. remove them from groups I moderate on LinkedIn.

"With regards"

The .FAN new gTLD finally launches

I was about to entitle this post "the .FAN new gTLD re-launches" but in fact, it never launched: it existed...but never launched. The new gTLD report dedicated to Singular VS Plural new gTLD tracked registrations since 2016 but the Sunrise Period itself had not been announced and the Trademark Clearinghouse calendar says nothing about it until...recently. That might sound strange but some new gTLDs are in this exact same position: they've existed for years but they've not launched yet (the .CONTACT and .FORUM new gTLDs for example).

When

• Sunrise Period starts: Tuesday, 2 October, 2018 - 16:00;
• Sunrise Period ends: Saturday, 1 December, 2018 - 16:00.

What
Extracted from the application submitted to the ICANN, Donuts, which announced the acquisition of the TLD in June 2018, does not say much about the benefit to use a ".fan" domain name: "This TLD is attractive and useful to end-users as it better facilitates search, self-expression, information sharing and the provision of legitimate goods and services. Along with the other TLDs in the Donuts family, this TLD will provide Internet users with opportunities for online identities and expression that do not currently exist." and it also says things like"This TLD is a generic term and its second level names will be attractive to a variety of Internet users. Making this TLD available to a broad audience of registrants is consistent with the competition goals of the New TLD expansion program, and consistent with ICANN’s objective of maximizing Internet participation."

I personally like the descriptiveness ot the TLD since the word "Fan" makes no doubt about what you will find behind such a domain name.

Singular or Plural?
There is another .FANS new gTLD ("fan" with an "s") which already has 1,500 something domain names registered and since the risk is high to use such a domain name without owning the exact same second level domain in both versions of the extension, I would suggest to buy two domain names instead of just one.

Good to know
And if you are a sports' fan, the restricted .SPORT new gTLD launches its Sunrise Period tomorrow.

New gTLD reports have been updated

I just finished the update of all new gTLD reports for the month of August/September 2018. New domain name registration volumes are an opportunity to check if end users register domain names or not. We recently added two new reports: Luxury and Music:

1. New gTLDs related to CATERING and RESTAURANTEERING
   (.restaurant - .kitchen - .bar - etc...)
2. New gTLDs related to PHOTOGRAPHY
   (.photo - .film - .gallery - etc...)
3. New gTLDs related to CITIES : these are city names only
   (.paris - .london - .tokyo - etc...)
4. New gTLDs related to COMPANIES : new domain name extensions that we believe a company should keep its eyes on.
5. New gTLDs related to the LAW and LEGAL matters
   (.legal - .attorney - .lawyer - etc...)
6. New gTLDs related to FINANCE
   (.credit - .capital - .finance - etc...)
7. New gTLDs related to a COLOR
   (.orange - .pink - .green - etc...)
8. New gTLDs related to SPORT
   (.hockey - .basketball - .ski - etc...)
9. New gTLDs related to ALCOHOL
   (.beer - .wine - .vodka - etc...)
10. New gTLDs related to REAL ESTATE
    (.realestate - .realtor - .villas - etc...)
11. Singular VS Plural versions of a new gTLD : these are domain name extensions which exist in their singular and plural version (ie: .gift and .gifts)
12. FRENCH new gTLD applications : these are applications submitted by French companies only;
13. New gTLDs related to RELIGION
    (.catholic - .bible - .church - etc...)
14. New gTLDs related to CARS
    (.taxi - .auto - .car - etc...)
15. New gTLDs related to HEALTH
    (.health - .doctor - .hospital - etc...)
16. New gTLDs related to ADULTS
17. Multiple Registries : group of Registries operating five (5) and more domain name extensions;
18. NEW - New gTLDs related to the MUSIC community
    (.music - .band - .hiphop - etc...)
19. NEW - New gTLDs related to LUXURY
    (.rich - .yachts - .chanel - etc...)

New gTLDs "Today": a new communication channel

I recently noticed that 150 members are following the new gTLD info on the Google+ community that I created a few years ago. Basically, I post the exact same info as on the LinkedIn new gTLD group.

A different channel
I am reopening this communication channel because it is simple, efficient and some still use it. It is also quite fast for me to post an info there: it requires a link and a title (I often add a picture).

You should click here to be invited and note that it requires to join to be able to post. As usual, I try my best to moderate publications and do reject everything that has nothing to do with the subject of new gTLDs. And again: selling domain names there is not accepted, there are many other places to do that.

Which information channel?
Many exist but I created five of them:

1. A newsletter where I send 100% of the news found on Internet and related to new gTLDs (new gTLD domaining excluded);
2. A Blog: the gTLD Club (my blog);
3. My Twitter account;
4. The LinkedIn group about new gTLDs (2,700 subscribers);
5. The Google+ Community (100% of the news published in the Newsletter).

New gTLDs "today"

When desperately lost searching for the latest news about new gTLDs, I suggest to try this reminder:

gtld.today

Sponsors welcome

We have become quite efficient when it comes to ensuring that an information "about new gTLDs" is seen: we talk to/about new gTLD service providers but they are certainly not the majority to read what we write. Potential and existing applicants also read us. For example, this publication generated quite some buzz recently, this one too. We look for one single sponsor in each of the categories below:

• A Backend registry provider;
• A Registrar solution provider;
• A Corporate or Retail Registrar;
• An escrow service provider;
• Trademarks are also welcome to sponsor us;
• New gTLD and legacy Registries are also welcome.

Please contact us if you are interested.

ICANN did not approve some .BRAND new gTLDs

The first round of the ICANN new gTLD program officially launched with no real methodology dedicated to ".brand" new gTLD applicants and - early before applying - some service providers (like myself) had no idea what to answer their clients when they asked: "do you mean that all registrars will be allowed to offer my domain names?"

Specification 13
The specification 13 was then created to change that and it became more clear how to differentiate a new gTLD dedicated to selling domain name (like .CLUB) and a .BRAND dedicated to the personal use of a Trademark (also called "dotBrand" new gTLD).

If the official list of the ICANN new gTLD applications does not specify which TLD is a Trademark and which is not, the complete list of specification 13 applications (for Trademarks) can be checked and one will notice that most requests were granted but some were not Approved or Withdrawn.

Not approved
The reason why some Trademarks were not approved is not explained and in many case, it is because the application was withdrawn by the applicant. Some, were not approved but the extension was delegated:

1. The .POLITIE new gTLD (Police from Netherlands);
2. The .MOBILY new gTLD;
3. The .BOOKING new gTLD;
4. The .OFFICE new gTLD from Microsoft;
5. The .ORIENTEXPRESS new gTLD;
6. The .GOOG new gTLD from Google;
7. Etc...

No comments
In the process to become eligible for a specification 13 application, the registry has to provide ICANN with an accurate and complete copy of his trademark registration and his request can receive a comment.

Very few comments were sent:

1. A test was done in May 2014;
2. A question was asked about the .MAN new gTLD in December 2014;
3. Nine comments were sent about the .FOOD new gTLD in October 2015.

As of today, this represents 10 comments for a total list of 490 contracted dotBrand new gTLD applications.

How do New Domains impact SEO: the report

The report

This is a report from India based multiple registry Radix on how new domains impact SEO. Questions covered are:

• New domains and SEO - What is the connection between the two?
• What do the users have to say about the impact of new domains on SEO?
• What do SEO experts have to say about the impact of new domains on SEO?
• Is Google using new domains?
• What are some known facts about new domains and their impact on SEO?
• What are the best practices for moving from one domain extension to another?
• Does the age of a domain name matter in SEO?

The report can be downloaded here.

Radix Registry

"Radix" is a multiple registry to have applied for several new domain name extensions such as .TECH - .PRESS - .SITE - .SPACE and .HOST. The full list of the TLDs it applied for is available on its website. It is the third largest new gTLD operator with 2,533,086 domain name registrations (July 2018) for a total of nine extensions.