The top-level domain (TLD) .BLACKFRIDAY is a generic top-level domain (gTLD) that was proposed to ICANN’s new gTLD program.
Top-level domains are the highest level of domain names on the internet, situated to the right of the last dot in a domain name. According to ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers), the global authority managing domain names, there are more than 1,000 TLDs available as of 2020. Some of the most well-known top-level domains include .COM, .NET, and .ORG.
The .BLACKFRIDAY extension is a thematic one, aimed at businesses, individuals, and organizations wishing to capitalize on the shopping frenzy that happens during the Black Friday period. Black Friday is a commercial tradition originating in the United States, celebrated the day after Thanksgiving Day, marking the unofficial start of the Christmas shopping season. It’s renowned for substantial discounts and promotions provided by retailers to entice consumers (Investopedia).
The establishment of .BLACKFRIDAY as a domain offers organizations a unique opportunity to differentiate their Black Friday-specific offerings, campaigns, or websites. For example, a digital electronics store might use a .BLACKFRIDAY domain for their Black Friday sales website to set it apart from their regular online store.
Uniregistry Corp., a large domain name registration company formerly owned by the entrepreneur Frank Schilling, is the registry operator for the .BLACKFRIDAY domain. The company manages several other new gTLDs like .LINK, .AUTO, and .LOL.
Like with any domain name registration, using the .BLACKFRIDAY TLD requires adherence to the terms and conditions set by the registry operator and ICANN regulations, including ensuring that the use of the domain does not infringe on the rights of others.
It is beneficial to note that while such thematic domains can help generate excitement and engagement during particular events like Black Friday, they may not be as valuable or effective during other times of the year. Therefore organizations would need to make strategic decisions about its usage.
Sources:
https://newgtlds.icann.org/en/
https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/tlds-2012-02-25-en
https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/black-friday.asp
https://uniregistry.com/
https://lookup.icann.org/lookup
