My 2017 Domain Name Predictions

These are my 2017 domain name predictions and advice.

Hover.com asked me and 10 other people from the domain name industry to weigh in on what the big trends in domain names will be. You can find my answers and opinions to the 4 Hover questions below.

You should also read:

• Morgan Lintons’s 2017 domain name predictions.
• DomainGang’s “10 domain investing mistakes to avoid in 2017“
• Frank Schilling gives domain name advice ahead of 2017

Here are mine:

Are there any emerging naming trends that will become more prevalent?

Good domain names is the new trend to follow. The oldest and newest trend at the same time. Buying hundreds or thousands of worthless domains and treating them like penny stock is out of fashion. Solid names is the only way to go. Names that people can understand, names people can use and can build something on them. Back to the basics.

Will new top-level domains become more popular? If so, which ones (you can find a more comprehensive list here)?

New gTLDs are still pretty new so the only way is up. .Club is a New gTLD that is always trying to innovate.

New extensions will become more popular but I am not sure what their peak is going to be. It is only natural to see more usage but I think their market share increase (in domain name registration numbers) will stop being so fast at some point in the next year or so.

The .Blog launch was a big disappointment for everybody so the industry is now looking forward to the next big launch: .Web from Verisign. .Web and .Music (still in contention) are the new top-level domains to watch in 2017.

What types of domain names should people be investing in?

People should invest on what they know, whether it is a .com, a New gTLD or a ccTLD. They should invest in a niche they have a passion for or have deep knowledge in. They should invest on domains similar to what they have been selling before and after China changed the whole game temporarily.

For new buyers, I always say that they should start local and with what they know, start slow with money they can afford to loose and then reinvest some of their earnings and grow from there.

Any other thoughts?

Although the big Chinese boom has finished, China is nowhere near gone. I think we will see Chinese buyers making more sensible domain name purchases in the future. They are still learning what works and what is not. Other emerging countries in the domain name space will soon follow.