Industry News Digest: August 2024
- by Ilona K.
Table of contents
Welcome to our monthly Industry News Digest. Explore new online trends, platform features and domain industry news to stay up-to-date. Here’s a summary for August 2024.
VeriSign: .com Is Still the Leader, but new TLDs grow faster
VeriSign, the administrator of the .com and .net top-level domains (TLDs), has released its latest Domain Name Industry Brief (DNIB) for the second quarter of 2024. According to the report, the total number of domain registrations worldwide reached 362.4 million at the end of the quarter, representing a 1.6% year-over-year increase.
The .com TLD remains dominant, but the total number of registrations has been decreasing. At the end of June 2024, the number of.com registrations was 157.6 million, which is 3.7 million fewer than in the same period last year, representing a -2.3% decrease.
The .net TLD showed a slight increase year over year, with an increase of 100,000 new domains to reach 13.1 million at the end of the quarter.
Country code top-level domains (ccTLDs) and new generic top-level domains (gTLDs) registered 140 million and 34.6 million registrations, respectively. This represents a 2.2% and 23.2% increase from the previous year, respectively.
Why should you care? Although domain registrations in the .com extension are a 2.3% decline from the same point in 2023, it remains the leader with 157.6 million domains at the end of 2Q-2024. This indicates that users trust and rely on it. The decrease in registrations is likely because there are few free and attractive names left in the .com TLD.
Therefore, it is worth considering extensions such as .it.com, which offer the same advantages as .com (versatility, recognition, and reliability) but also provide a wide selection of short and easy-to-remember domains.
At the same time, new gTLDs are growing fast and showing that users are interested in them. The next round of nTLDs will soon introduce even more options for domain extensions.
Source: DNJournal
‘AI’ Is First and ‘IT’, ‘Tech’ and ‘Software’ Are in the Top
Afternic has published the top keywords in domain names sold on its platform in May. The leader of the list is still ‘AI’. Also in the top for several months now are it-related keywords:
- ai
- my
- bet
- home
- health
- group
- services
- company
- it
- tech
- us
- club
- care
- homes
- global
- coin
- shop
- best
- auto
- pro
A similar trend was highlighted in the recent Sedo report for July:
- ai
- bet
- crypto
- model
- software
- bitcoin
- car
- tech
- dubai
- hotel
Why should you care? When choosing a domain name or extension, it is advisable to rely on verified information. Researching popular keywords in domain names is crucial for many aspects, including SEO (search engine optimization) and branding purposes. Since tech terms are so popular, you can use them when choosing a domain name for your IT startup.
Source: X (ex-Twitter, Afternic and Sedo accounts)
US Companies Can No Longer Generate Reviews Using AI
The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has approved rules to ban fake reviews written by artificial intelligence (AI) on websites and online stores. FTC Chair Lina Khan mentioned that fake reviews waste people’s time and money, distort the marketplace, and steer businesses away from honest competitors.
The new rules will prevent the buying and selling of fake consumer and celebrity reviews. Also, these rules will prohibit misrepresenting a company-controlled website as providing independent reviews or opinions.
Violating these rules will result in a fine of up to $50,000.
The commission has been fighting fake reviews for years. In 2019, the FTC investigated complaints about Cure Encapsulations and fined the company $12.8 million for fake reviews.
Why should you care? AI is a tool that can greatly assist in various aspects of life. However, it can also be exploited for deception and fraud. Regulations can ensure that AI is employed in an ethical, safe, and fair manner, minimizing risks and potential negative outcomes while promoting technology that serves the interests of society as a whole.
In May, the EU Council approved the world’s first set of regulations for AI use. Now, the US is also taking steps to address the safe utilization of AI.
Businesses should adopt a responsible approach to using AI, first studying new regulations. This will help businesses build a positive reputation and establish themselves in the market.
Source: The US Federal Trade Commission
Cristiano Ronaldo Sets New YouTube Record
With his appearance on the video hosting site, Cristiano Ronaldo smashed several records for the speed at which he gained subscribers. In just one hour, 1 million people subscribed to his official channel, and in 24 hours, the number of subscribers surpassed 10 million.
As of three days after the launch, an impressive 37.9 million people have subscribed to his official channel.
Last year, Ronaldo also set an impressive record by becoming the first person in the world to reach 600 million followers on Instagram.
Why should you care? The situation with Cristiano Ronaldo demonstrates the crucial role of a brand in the online world of today. The football player has been building his reputation for years, investing in promoting his brand. Now, it works for him.
In the digital age, the impact of influencers has become a powerful tool for achieving results and connecting with audiences. These individuals possess a unique ability to shape the opinions and actions of users. For companies, this presents new avenues to reach their target market.
Influencer collaborations enhance the credibility of a brand and contribute to the generation of genuine and authentic endorsements that resonate with potential customers. Consequently, companies can more accurately and effectively focus their marketing efforts, leveraging the real influence and trust inspired by their partners.
Also, when developing your brand, it’s important to pay attention to all aspects of its development, including choosing the right domain name and extension. This helps you build a positive image and strengthen your connection with your audience.
Source: RollingStone
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