Verisign, the administrator of the top-level domains .com and .net, has published their quarterly Domain Name Industry Brief (DNIB) for Q1 2023. The quarter ended with a total of 354 million domain name registrations across all TLDs worldwide, which is an increase of 3.5 million domains (+1.0%) from the previous quarter and year over year.
(https://goldsteinreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Verisign-Domain-Name-Industry-Briefs-Q1-2023-top-10-TLDs.jpg)
The TLD .com remains the most dominant on the internet with 161.6 million registrations at the end of Q1-2023. This is an increase of about 600,000 domains from the previous quarter and 300,000 from the same point a year ago. Meanwhile, Verisign's .net TLD showed a slight decline year over year, dropping to 13.2 million from 13.4 million registered at the same point in 2022.
At the end of Q1 2023, country-code TLD (ccTLD) domain name registrations totaled 135.7 million, an increase of 2.6 million domain name registrations (+2.0%) compared to the last quarter. Year over year, ccTLDs also increased by 1.7%, adding 2.3 million domain registrations.
Finally, new generic TLD (ngTLD) domain name registrations totaled 27.3 million at the end of Q1 2023, a decrease of 200,000 domains from the previous quarter. However, ngTLDs did see a gain of 3.6% year over year with 900,000 more domains added from the same point a year ago.
It is interesting to note that while some TLDs experienced slight declines or plateaus, the overall number of domain name registrations continues to grow steadily. This suggests that the importance and relevance of having a website and online presence is only increasing in today's digital age.
The .com domain continues to dominate the internet due to several factors. First, .com has been around since the early days of the internet, and as a result, it has gained widespread recognition and trust among internet users. Many people automatically assume a website will end in .com, so businesses often opt for a .com domain to ensure maximum visibility and credibility.
Additionally, search engines like Google often prioritize .com websites in their search results, giving them an advantage over other domains. This can lead to higher traffic and better visibility for .com websites.
Furthermore, many of the most popular and influential websites use .com domains, further solidifying its dominance. Companies and organizations that are serious about establishing a strong online presence often choose a .com domain to align themselves with this established and trusted domain extension.
The continued dominance of the .com domain can also be attributed to its perceived universality. It is recognized and understood globally, making it a top choice for businesses and organizations with an international reach or aspirations. This universality contributes to the wide acceptance and preference for .com domains among internet users and businesses alike.
Moreover, the .com domain has become ingrained in popular culture and has been featured in countless advertisements, movies, and media. This exposure has further solidified its status as the default and most trustworthy domain extension in the minds of many people.
From a branding perspective, the .com domain is often seen as more professional and established compared to newer or less common domain extensions. This perception encourages businesses to invest in .com domains to convey reliability and legitimacy to their audience.
In addition, the scarcity of desirable and memorable .com domain names has also played a role in reinforcing its dominance. With millions of existing .com domains already registered, finding an available and relevant .com domain name can be challenging. As a result, businesses often prioritize securing a .com domain early in their branding and marketing strategies, further perpetuating the value and desirability of the .com extension.
Furthermore, the widespread use of mobile devices for internet browsing has only emphasized the importance of the .com domain. Users tend to default to typing .com when entering web addresses on their mobile browsers, reinforcing the dominance of the .com extension in the mobile user experience.
In summary, the association of .com domains with e-commerce, the scarcity of available names, and the prominence of mobile internet usage have all contributed to the ongoing dominance of the .com domain in the digital landscape. These factors collectively reinforce the enduring influence and relevance of the .com extension.