The top-level domain (TLD) “.pics” is a generic TLD (gTLD) in the Domain Name System (DNS) of the Internet. TLDs are the last part of a domain name coming after the final dot (i.e., .com, .org, .net, etc.). Transmitted in 2013, the .pics TLD is an appealing choice for photographers, collectors, photo sharing sites, and anyone involved in the creation, editing, storing, or sharing of photographs according to Donuts Inc, a domain name registry company that sponsors .pics.
The use of a specific TLD like .pics can bring multiple benefits. First, it offers creative opportunities for memorable, unique domain names that might not be available with typical TLDs like .com. Second, it is keyword-rich which can improve search engine optimization (SEO). The TLD can indicate to search engines what the website is about, making your site more likely to appear in search results when someone is searching for ‘pics’ according to Moz, a software services company specializing in SEO.
For example, if a photographer named John Smith owns a website called johnsmithphotography.com, he might struggle with search engine visibility due to the crowded field of ‘John Smiths’ and ‘photographers’. However, if he shifts to a domain name like johnsmith.pics, it offers a clear signal to search engines and potential clients about what his site is about.
Despite these potential SEO benefits, search engine Google has made it clear that new gTLDs will not receive any special or preferential treatment in search rankings. Instead, Google treats new gTLDs like .pics the same as older TLDs like .com or .org according to Google Webmaster Central Blog.
In terms of popularity, .pics has not yet gained significant traction compared to traditional TLDs. This may be due to the general unfamiliarity of internet users with newer gTLDs. According to statistics from Domain Name Stat, as of February 2021, there were only 6,623 registered .pics domain names, compared to 150.3 million registered .com domain names.
In conclusion, the “.pics” TLD, like other new gTLDs, offers unique opportunities for branding and domain name availability. It can potentially enhance SEO due to its keyword-rich nature, although this is not guaranteed. Its popularity remains low compared to longstanding TLDs, but as internet users become more accustomed to new gTLDs, this may change.
Sources:
1. Donuts Inc: https://donuts.domains/
2. Moz: https://moz.com/learn/seo/domain
3. Google Webmaster Central Blog: https://developers.google.com/search/blog/2015/07/googles-handling-of-new-top-level
4. Domain Name Stat: https://domainnamestat.com/
