report .app/.com cross-zone analysis

[Kate]

In this exercise we are going to compare .app registrations against .com.
The same exercise can be applied to other nTLDs.

Materials needed:

• .com zone file
• .app zone file

I used today's zone files.
The counts are as follows:

• .com: 133051790 unique domains
• .app: 198097 unique domains

The goal is simple. For every .app domain registered and found in the .app zone file, let's find out if the .com 'counterpart' is registered. For the purpose of this analysis the counterpart means this: domain + 'app' + .com
For example if abc.app is registered, we check if abcapp.com is registered. We could also check if abc.com is registered, as there must be a few domains registered in .app that are available in .com (and other extensions)

I will spare you with the scripting here, and cut to the chase.
Out of 198097 .app domains, 45876 'counterparts' are found in the .com zone file. That is 23.16%.
The difference is 76.84%. So that means that three quarters of all registered .app domains are not registered in their .com 'equivalents', if only for defensive registration purposes.

In my humble opinion, it is not a good idea to register a nTLD while leaving the .com counterpart unregistered. Why: bleeding traffic, defensive registration etc.

Also, buying something.app when somethingapp.com is not even registered suggests that it is a dubious investment in the first place, because the demand for the combo does not even exist in .com.
Again, just imho.

Besides, the vast majority of registered domain in .app probably don't make sense, and are not really usable for any practical purpose.

 

[Premiums]

app.wow
or wow.app?

 

[Rhythm8]

I was inspired by this thread to make some research. Thanks @Kate

I checked all .app registered domain names to see how many of them have free .com alternatives

For Keyword.app domain name

160 733 KeywordApp.com domains are available to register
view full list in Google Sheets

5 364 Keyword.com domains are available to register
view full list in Google Sheets

5 258 Keyword and KeywordApp.com domains are available to register
view full list in Google Sheets

Keywords?

List is full of mostly garbage.com and gibberish.com

 

[Rhythm8]

Oh and what about if an app does not have the matching .app domain but is really really well designed with high quality official live feeds, no ads, no malware and uses a brandable name with no live or soccer in it's name itself. It should not show up at all right?

Why build a mansion in the middle of nowhere unless you want nobody to visit

 

[Joe N]

But Joe.. those were the good old days.

Ha ha! That's what I've heard Dave. I'm sorry to have missed them. I was just reading another post from you about yoir college days of making easy money with good keyword domains (I believe it was you).

Oh what the heck. Maybe I'll go reg a few long-tail .app names just for the heck of it.

 

[Dave]

Oh what the heck. Maybe I'll go reg a few long-tail .app names just for the heck of it.

No no, don't do that.

The reason they had such value back in the day was because of SEO. If you had a domain with the exact keywords people were searching for, it was guaranteed top 3 spot on Google even with the most minimal website. Heavy weighting factor. So if somebody searched for "over 50s life insurance" and you owned Over50sLifeInsurance.com, could throw up a lead gen one page site with a form.

Of course Google clamped down on that around 2010 or so (can't quite remember the year).

Thanks

 

[Joe N]

No no, don't do that.

The reason they had such value back in the day was because of SEO. If you had a domain with the exact keywords people were searching for, it was guaranteed top 3 spot on Google even with the most minimal website. Heavy weighting factor. So if somebody searched for "over 50s life insurance" and you owned Over50sLifeInsurance.com, could throw up a lead gen one page site with a form.

Of course Google clamped down on that around 2010 or so (can't quite remember the year).

Thanks

Oh I know, I was just trying to be funny. I won't be regging any .app names. New gTLDs scare me.

 

[Recons.Com]

Ohcr.app!

 

[vkwebdev]

Keywords?

List is full of mostly garbage.com and gibberish.com

SLD or whatever you want to call it. You said list full of garbage.com, but isn't a list full of garbage.app that are even available in .com

 

[Vimal Kumar]

Interesting study Kate!

Google is just getting a piece of the "domaining" pie that so many registries are cashing in on (Smart move I feel). I don't think they will use it in either of the scenarios mentioned. However .APP does sound better than much of the junk out there but heavily depends on usage by app developers (who would obviously go for the .COM - if they don't already have it - as soon as they generate enough money). Everyone investing in NGTLDs know that they are gambling unless they have actual development plans. Defensive registrations/purchases by paranoid end users is the only way these gambles can pay off right now imho.

Doesn't Google own the .WEB extension too?... waiting to see what they do with it!!

I am not sure how .WEB would be different from an .COM. .COMs are already synonymous ( and king) with internet. .APP on the other hand is distinct. It is a homepage only for Apps. There are thousands of APPs which do not have a homepage and and, are present in the App marketplace. .APP gives them an homepage, an identity on the internet.

 

[anantj]

Why build a mansion in the middle of nowhere unless you want nobody to visit

what?

 

[Vimal Kumar]

Kind of sounds like going back to the days of giving too much strength to EMDs. Want to rank for an app about Honey Roasted Barbecue Peanuts? All you have to do is register HoneyRoastedBarbecuePeanuts.app and you'll rank #1. Kind of a step backwards for Google...

The way .app sites would be ranked would be the same as any other site: based on quality content and backlinks. And in that case, it doesn't matter if you own a .app, .com, .net, or .beer... if you have the best site authority, you rank #1. And so the best and most efficient way to find an app you want to download is still... wait for it... the App Store!

Let me put it this way.
1) If you are a pure App based company having no interest on being on the internet but still need a homepage to showcase to customers and investors, would you prefer an long domain name in other TLDs or a short crisp name under your business domain TLD?
2) Apply the above similar scenario for lakhs of other App developers. If there were to adopt different TLDs to showcase themselves, it would be chaotic with each squandering for different TLDs. Thus, having a standerdized TLD will help in quickly identifying that its an APP and searches are made more easy.
3) Now considering App developers make .APP their homes in huge numbers. What stops google to make a seperate .APP search section to make app searches more easy/ streamlined. ( similarto seperate search options given to Images, News, Maps, etc)
4) For your given example, HoneyRoastedBarbecuePeanuts.app could throw up exactly the same domain on the top of the search results or, a similar domain/ APP with better quality content and backlinks. That,is for Google to decide based on their user search pattern and preferences. However, having that APP DOMAIN NAME showing up in the search result ( on the top or, somewhere down) gives confidence to the user that the APP recommended by his friend is infact that same APP, as the friend could have given that distinct APP DOMAIN NAME to download. He does not need to browse endlessly to find it ( if more apps have exact similar names as is currently)

 

[Recons.Com]

Facts:

1. Most apps don't use word app as part of their domain. It is instagram.com not instagramapp.com or instagram.app

2. Having app name plus word app basically means I could not afford proper .com or could not come up with proper branding

 

[Vimal Kumar]

Facts:

1. Most apps don't use word app as part of their domain. It is instagram.com not instagramapp.com or instagram.app

2. Having app name plus word app basically means I could not afford proper .com or could not come up with proper branding

1. Instagram runs on Desktop and Android/ IOS. Hence an .APP might not be needed. We are looking at pure Andriod/ IOS based app with no homepage.

2. Short, crisp .coms are not easily available in existing top TLDs. If available, they come at premium pricing. An app developer might not be interested in splurging. An .APP gives him a distinct identity to showcase. Within .APP having a one word/ short name could give him a better branding.

 

[anantj]

1. Most apps don't use word app as part of their domain. It is instagram.com not instagramapp.com or instagram.app

Bad example. Instagram is also a service (web service for posting, photo browsing etc)!

 

[Recons.Com]

Instagram is primarily an app. Many features are not available on desktop.

Many apps also have Web functionality, but they still are known as an app.

Regarding short, most short and nice are already unavailable in .app, including dictionary meaningful, 2l, 3l and on top have premium pricing.

 

[MadAboutDomains]

They have app search already on Google. When you're on a phone, it searches for apps. It works pretty well.

 

[-EM-]

Facts:

1. Most apps don't use word app as part of their domain. It is instagram.com not instagramapp.com or instagram.app

2. Having app name plus word app basically means I could not afford proper .com or could not come up with proper branding

Instagram is primarily an app. Many features are not available on desktop.

Many apps also have Web functionality, but they still are known as an app.

Regarding short, most short and nice are already unavailable in .app, including dictionary meaningful, 2l, 3l and on top have premium pricing.

Well said.

 

[smartwebby]

I am not sure how .WEB would be different from an .COM. .COMs are already synonymous ( and king) with internet. .APP on the other hand is distinct. It is a homepage only for Apps. There are thousands of APPs which do not have a homepage and and, are present in the App marketplace. .APP gives them an homepage, an identity on the internet.

Well yes agreed! I too don't like .WEB much to think of it.... initially when I thought google won it I thought it would make an impact with personal web pages of some kind (has to have a unique proposition like .APP).

Totally agree on the .APP usage... its going to be adopted quickly is my take too! From development perspective I find it very attractive as I can have specific websites for my apps even if I don't own the .COM... which doesn't really matter coz the APPs would be shown to be made by my existing .COM brand. Reverse view, I don't think the .COM owners of known apps however need to purchase the .APP unless they are generic words that they are paranoid about losing traffic to a new player with a better app possibly.

 

[smartwebby]

Instagram is primarily an app. Many features are not available on desktop.

Many apps also have Web functionality, but they still are known as an app.

Regarding short, most short and nice are already unavailable in .app, including dictionary meaningful, 2l, 3l and on top have premium pricing.

Premium, unavailable or running out fast!

Additionally... Premium renewals is bad news! But I guess it makes sense for the registry coz they will have to wait a few years till the extension is adopted universally. Like Rick said, End users will not mind the premium renewals, its the domain investors that will.