Let the .tel goldrush begin!

A new TLD launches today. .tel has been released to Trademark Holders of National Effect to register, before the launch to everybody on February 3rd 2009.

Domain goldrushes are fascinating occasions on the internet. Domain launches usually have a ’sunrise’ period before launch, were people can lay a claim on any domain name they want. .asia had one that lasted for 3 months, and it was particularly long. During this time, people (specifically internet marketers) all over the world dream up with their domain names, and pre register them. Once the ‘goldrush’ begins (the launch day), the preregisters get first dibs on the domain names, and the lucky one walks away with the domain at registration value.

Obviously, some people are left incredibly disappointed. But then what happens? Usually two things.

• Domain Flipping is the first and obvious one. Usually, the new purchaser has no desire to keep the domain, so they sell it on at a profit. As soon as they can.
• Domain Dies but then nobody wants said domain, Domain dies.

You see, what people don’t realise is, because they’re not targetting the .asia market or the Montenegro market (for .me*, another recent gold rush), their domains have little or no SEO benefit to them, and people don’t have the time or energy to create a new site. So the sites are just left.

.tel could be interesting, as it’s farily plain - like .org, .net & .com - so it may get a few good sites on .tel domains (remember how nobody had heard of .us until del.icio.us came along?), and then the popularity would increase. Be interesting to see what sort of SEO benefit is put on the domains, like the fact that anything that’s not information (i.e. people trying to sell you stuff) on .info’s don’t rank at all well, yet information does.

Are you going to get a .tel domain?

* .me domains were a little different, due to the way in which you could use that word (”i.e. love.me, bite.me etc.), so they did have a huge brandable value. The rest still stands though!