Your thoughts on BreedingZone.com vs Breeding.Zone?

[rawTOP]

I'm not sure how many of you are aware, but there's a bit of a revolution going on in URLs. 900 new "TLDs" (top level domains) have been approved and they're starting to get rolled out. So for example, I've picked up GayPorn.Pics, GayPorn.Photos, and today I got Breeding.Zone. That means you'll start seeing words at the end of URLs instead of .com, .net, .co.uk, etc.

So I'm wondering what you guys might think if I switched from www.BreedingZone.com to Breeding.Zone. How does the new URL strike you as a URL? It would be easier for mobile users to type in (13 characters vs 20). But do you see any negatives to it? Does it seem professional? Legit?

I've been wanting to migrate to new software, but my initial tests showed it was going to be a little complicated, so I've put it off until I get some other stuff done. If I migrate to Breeding.Zone I'd do it when I do the migration.

Let me know your thoughts.

[seaguy]

It's going to take a while for the new domains to catch on with the general public because we are so used to .com As it is now people get confused when a URL has anything other than .com Well at least the people who are not very knowledgeable about the internet and technology.

[rawTOP]

One thing I should mention is that, if I switch over, the old URL will still work. It'll just redirect to the new URL.

[TigerMilner]

I think it seems cool, plus if the Breedingzone.com automatically forwards, then there is no loss. Less characters is a good point.

[ChaserBoysRHot]

I guess for me it depends on what the intent was for .zone. I know it gets mixed and matched all over the place in reality, but I'm the type that believes that .org's should be kept for non-profit organizations, .com's for commercial entities, etc. In then end I'm ok with either though. I'll probably just use what's stored in my bookmark.

[rawTOP]

I guess for me it depends on what the intent was for .zone. I know it gets mixed and matched all over the place in reality, but I'm the type that believes that .org's should be kept for non-profit organizations, .com's for commercial entities, etc. In then end I'm ok with either though. I'll probably just use what's stored in my bookmark.

.Zone has a very general "intent"...

“Zone” is used to describe a variety of different distinctions, from time zones, the zone diet, and thermal zones, to zone defenses and end zones. Whatever the application, .ZONE offers a unique, relevant, and memorable TLD for any person, group, or business related to zones. Use .ZONE as a market niche TLD, like yourmarket.ZONE, or yourbusiness.ZONE, or as a sports, science, or technology webpage or blog, as in climate.ZONE, baseball.ZONE, or software.ZONE. This TLD allows for both flexibility and fun.

I think in 5 years (if not 2 years) a lot of what you think about URLs will change with all these new TLDs. I think www. won't be the start of most URLs (at least not ones on newer sites). And you won't always just type in Something.com.

[seaguy]

did you see that hdk just came out with a new social site called barebackers.com http://www.xbiz.com/news/glbt/178553

[rawTOP]

did you see that hdk just came out with a new social site called barebackers.com http://www.xbiz.com/news/glbt/178553

Yeah, HDK is behind that. I signed up just so no one else can use the name rawTOP. IMHO, it can't compete with BBRT, so it's a non-starter.

It seems a lot of you are attached to the longer URL - www.breedingzone.com - but no one has really explained why, so I'm not sure how to take the results of the poll.

[bberik]

Doesn't matter to me. I have it stored as a favorite, so I never have to write the whole web address.

[wood]

It's going to take a while for the new domains to catch on with the general public because we are so used to .com As it is now people get confused when a URL has anything other than .com Well at least the people who are not very knowledgeable about the internet and technology.

bingo, its up to you rawtop, but with all the new domains coming online I think what you are going to see is just more people using searches to find what they want instead of the actually domain address.

[Guest beezee]

Dot zone is silly. It's not a real domain.

[tallbtm]

RawTOP, basically I think the reason you're seeing a preference for the status quo is inertia and familiarity. People know "www.breedingzone.com" and recognize it as a URL. Before reading your explanation I would not have guessed that "breeding.zone" was a URL unless it had the http:// in front of it. "Breeding.zone" just looks like a stylized word or brand, much like the capital letters companies put in middle of their names (e.g. iPhone, eBay) or the odd punctuation other companies use (e.g. Toys "R" Us, Macy*s). I'm sure that as the 900+ new TLDs start to become familiar it won't matter much either way.

Does this make sense? Does it help?

[rawTOP]

Dot zone is silly. It's not a real domain.

In 3-5 years people won't feel that way. Trust me. There's going to be a huge change in people's understanding of URLs.

RawTOP, basically I think the reason you're seeing a preference for the status quo is inertia and familiarity. People know "www.breedingzone.com" and recognize it as a URL. Before reading your explanation I would not have guessed that "breeding.zone" was a URL unless it had the http:// in front of it. "Breeding.zone" just looks like a stylized word or brand, much like the capital letters companies put in middle of their names (e.g. iPhone, eBay) or the odd punctuation other companies use (e.g. Toys "R" Us, Macy*s). I'm sure that as the 900+ new TLDs start to become familiar it won't matter much either way.

Yes, familiarity is the primary issue. Given the rising importance of mobile, I think a URL that's easier to type may outweigh people's familiarity issues. Personally I think as long as it comes up in Google, and as long as the old URLs work, people will adapt. I mean it's not like anyone will stop using the site because the URL is shorter.

[cumluvnbottom]

I mean it's not like anyone will stop using the site because the URL is shorter.

Very true.

The change will throw people off for a bit but they will adjust. I'm fine either way.

[bearbandit]

With URLs, the shorter the better. Go for it!