The top-level domain (TLD) ‘.wang’ was launched in 2014 by Zodiac Registry that’s based in China. A TLD is the part of the domain name to the right of the dot. For example, in ‘google.com’, ‘.com’ is the TLD. Domain names form part of the Uniform Resource Locator (URL) that web browsers use to locate website content on the internet.
‘Wang’ translates to ‘net’ or ‘web’ in English, and it’s a popular surname in China. Thus, given the digital connotation and the widespread use of the term in China, it has been used as a top-level domain for several websites. It was introduced to embrace the Chinese market’s online growth that is one of the largest worldwide.
Using such a top-level domain is beneficial because it improves the reach of the site in the local geographical area. According to Google’s Search Console Help pages, the search engine uses TLDs as a geotargeting factor. Therefore, .wang is favorable for businesses trying to target China or Chinese-speaking communities globally.
Examples of websites using the ‘.wang’ TLD include ‘dudu.wang’. ‘Dudu.wang’ is a platform that offers digital marketing analytics for e-commerce platforms in China, thus clearly benefiting from the ‘.wang’ TLD by appealing to their target audience.
However, as Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) outlines, users considering a ‘.wang’ domain, or any new TLD, should consider the relevant regulatory considerations. These considerations include the rules for domain name leasing or subleasing, potential issues related to intellectual property rights or trade names, and any additional restrictions that the TLD operator may have put in place.
In summary, using a ‘.wang’ top-level domain can be highly beneficial for companies that are targeting the Chinese online market or the Chinese-speaking community by improving their SEO effectiveness in this target geography. However, users should be cautious of the regulatory environment for domain names in their particular geographical location and abide by any specific rules or restrictions that the ‘.wang’ TLD operator may have implemented.
Most of the information was sourced from Zodiac Registry’s website and SOPA’s “New gTLD Program” documentation, Google’s Search Console Help pages, and the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)’s handbooks and guidelines regarding domain names and their associated regulations and requirements.
Sources:
1. Google’s Search Console Help pages
2. ICANN’s handbooks and guidelines
3. Zodiac Registry’s website
4. SOPA’s “New gTLD Program” documentation
