The Top-Level Domain (TLD) .CLUB, launched in 2014, is a generic TLD (gTLD) available for the general public’s registration in the domain name system (DNS). TLDs like .COM, .NET, .ORG, .EDU, and .GOV have been used since the inception of the internet. The internet’s evolution and expansion of businesses online, needed more domain options. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the international authority overseeing domain names and IPs, started a new program of expanding the list of gTLD applications in 2012.
The .CLUB TLD is managed by the .Club Domains LLC, an American company based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Its unique selling proposition is to provide businesses and communities a unique presence online, with clubs as the central idea. Beyond traditional clubs, any entity that has a group or community base can avail of this domain. This includes membership organizations, interest-based communities, retail loyalty programs, fan clubs, and more.
For instance, the premium domain Coffee.club sold for $100,000, and other early adopters include rapper 50 Cent for 50inda.club and Demi Lovato for Lovato.club. These high-profile examples underline how the .CLUB domain has gained commercial attraction. By 2019, the .CLUB domain had over 1.5 million registration marks, according to the registry’s stats and Domain Name Wire.
Aside from the price of the domain purchase, several key benefits set the .CLUB TLD apart from others. This TLD is keyword-rich, implying many businesses and communities can find suitable domain names that align with their group’s purpose. Since ‘club’ is a universally recognized term, this TLD also has a global appeal, making it suitable for both local and international entities.
Moreover, .CLUB is among the top-selling new TLDs. As per nTLDStats, .CLUB is ranked 5th in the total number of domain registrations among all new gTLDs as of the end of November 2021. This shows the appeal and widespread usage of the .CLUB TLD.
In conclusion, the .CLUB domain provides a unique and targeted presence online for businesses and communities. Its success reflects in its high registration numbers and noteworthy usage by high-profile celebrities and businesses.
Sources:
1. ICANN’s official website : https://www.icann.org
2. nTLDStats : https://ntldstats.com/tld
3. CNN Money : http://money.cnn.com/2014/05/07/technology/50-cent-club/
4. Domain Name Wire: https://domainnamewire.com/2015/12/16/dot-club-hits-1-million-domain-name-registrations/
5. .Club Domains LLC’s official website : https://www.get.club/
6. Sedo’s Domain Market Study: https://sedo.com/pdfs/gTLDReport.pdf
