Google Analytics

Friday, July 29, 2016

Is the Digital Tagline the New "Hashtag"?

By Duane J. Higgins, ceo
xtradot.com and tagline.tech

Whatever you want to call it, the digital tagline is something that may very well be creeping into our everday Internet vernacular and usage. Other names given these nifty domain name applications are:

virtual tagline
domain tagline
dot tagline
domain name tagline
digital tagline
dot slogan
personal tagline
business tagline
or (just) tagline

So as most of us know (according to Wikipedia) a hashtag is a type of label or metadata tag used on social network and microblogging services which makes it easier for users to find messages with a specific theme or content. .

Many think that the hashtag is a relatively new phenomenon relating to of course to the recent explosion of interest and activity in social media. That is not the case as "hashtags" actually have a much deeper history than that. In the 1970s the pound sign was for example used to denote "immediate address mode" in certain computer languages.  

From Wikipedia.org regarding the tagline:


In entertainment, a tagline (alternatively spelled tag line[1][2]) is a short text which serves to clarify a thought for, or is designed with a form of, dramatic effect. Many tagline slogans are reiterated phrases associated with an individual, social group, or product. As a variant of a branding slogan, taglines can be used in marketing materials and advertising.

The idea behind the concept is to create a memorable dramatic phrase that will sum up the tone and premise of an audio/visual product,[note 1] or to reinforce and strengthen the audience's memory of a literary product. Some taglines are successful enough to warrant inclusion in popular culture. Consulting companies which specialize in creating taglines may be hired to create a tagline for a brand or product.

So what is the digital tagline and how is it used? 

The digital tagline utilizes the domain name system (DNS) to create memorable and impactful business and personal taglines. Domain strings that can be used for linking. Particularly useful in social media and for advertising and marketing purposes. 

The best way to illustrate dot tagline usage is in an actual social media post. Here is a sighting of a dot tagline included in a recent company tweet:


The possibilities for tagline usage are endless. Think of tagline usage in nearly any kind of social media. Think of tagline usage in nearly any kind of advertising. 

The value of the tagline lies in two simple inherent qualities:

1.)identity/identification (who do you want to be?)

2.) linking (where to you want to link?)

There you have it. 

Get your own digital tagline and use it where you will. 

Our registry is here and we have hundreds and hundreds of extensions to choose from:

tagline.tech

(Or) you may become a reseller

Friday, July 15, 2016

The New Domain Economy

By Duane J. Higgins, ceo
xtradot.com  and tagline.tech 

The first commercial Internet domain name, in the TLD (top level domains) .com, was registered on 15 March 1985 in the name symbolics.com. Ironically just now, nearly 30 years later, we are in the process of leaving the infancy of the "domain name economy" and experience.

We have the ongoing release of (upwards of 1000) new domain name (GTLD) extensions and we have new applications and uses that will follow. Domain name values, uses and applications will certainly be effected in many expected and unexpected ways. We are witnessing first hand the biggest domain name expansion in the history of Internet.

It's interesting that many naysayers have speculated for years that domain names will go the way of the Dodo bird (which is of course extinct) but that just isn't going to happen. Speculation regarding the demise of the domain name is going on its second decade now. With various theories as to what application will replace them. Fortunately, the naysayers arguments are ringing just as hollow as ever. Domain names are critical to the smooth functioning of the Internet and they will do nothing but get more relevant, critical (and valuable) to all aspects of the Internet.

Domain names represent the human end of the Internet. They are identifiers that are needed for location and for communication. We would have no consumer Internet without them. Domain names are as integral to the Internet as personal names are to human relationships, communication and existence.

How many domain names are now registered? Apparently, the total number of domain registrations has recently climbed well over 314 million. Seems like a lot doesn't it? Let me ask you something. How many people are in the world right now? I'm not exactly sure however I know that the number is north of 7 billion people. According to Worldmeters.info the population in the world is currently growing at a rate of around 1.14% per year. The average population change is currently estimated at around 80 million per year. Projections are for population growth to continue (not shrink). Projections also predict that the world population will hit 10 billion within the next half century.

Now let me ask you something else. What if owning/registering a domain name became as common as having a phone number or email address? Is that possible? Of course it is. With the ongoing release of the new gTLDS (Global Top Level Domain Names) into the wild-the fact is that this scenario is certainly possible. The fact is that no one knows what all of the potential applications will be for domain name extensions and especially with the release of the new GTLDs.

Now factor in the continued trend of domain name investment and speculation which has always been a large part of the domain economy. How many domain names do some speculators own? The answer is that there are already millions of domain speculators and some individually own millions of domain names. There are many lower scale speculators who own hundreds of thousands and thousands of names each. There are thousands of domain speculators of own hundreds or a handful of names. Do you think that speculation will continue or even ramp up? Of course it will.

How many domain names will be registered in 5 years? 10 or even 20? It's very possible that in a very short period of time were going to be counting the number of registered names in the billions. Everyday uses and applications are certainly to become more commonplace and widespread.

The new domain economy is descending upon us and no one knows how it will land. What will the domain names' place ultimately be in our everyday lives? What will their uses and applications be in our society? How much will domains be a integral part of our daily lives?

Only time will tell.