Ditching dot com for eye catching domain names.

Interesting article about new businesses using eye catching or trendy alternative domain names for their company name and great for marketing.

“Known to some as not-coms, the suffixes give companies a chance to get website addresses, known as domains, that include their names. Many have tried to get a “.com” domain, only to find someone else already had it. They’re also used as a marketing tool, helping an organization or business show the public what they’re about. The suffixes are eye-catching and trendy, especially with tech-savvy Internet users.” (2015, http://www.statesman.com/news/business/who-needs-com-domains-like-vegas-pr-nyc-are-trendi/nnPgn/)

Let’s see who’s using the “New Normal” domain string.

Chatbot AI and Voice AI | Ads by QUE.com - Boost your Marketing.

DOMAIN NAME: republic.bike

OWNER: Republic Bike Inc., a bicycle manufacturer based in Dania Beach, Florida

WHY “.BIKE”? Using republic.bike is a good marketing strategy, appealing to tech-savvy customers who want the latest trends, says Avery Pack, president of the company that sells custom-made bicycles, electronic locking devices and other gear to consumers and companies.

“It’s kind of a nod to our customers that what we’re doing is not traditional,” Pack says.

STILL HAS THE “.COM”: The company uses republic.bike in ads. It still uses its original domain, republicbike.com; when people type in republic.bike, they’re taken to the “.com” site.

DOMAIN NAME: quinn.pr

OWNER: Quinn, public relations business based in New York

WHY “.PR”? Quinn made the change as part of a company overhaul. It had shortened its name from Quinn & Co. and broadened its customer base beyond travel and real estate clients to include spas, architects and retailers. It chose “.pr” because it described what the company does — public relations.

“It’s clearer, it’s fresher and it’s very much my style,” says Florence Quinn, owner of the business.

NEW TWIST ON OLD DOMAIN: The company selected “.pr” although it has been the domain used by Puerto Rican companies. If visitors type in the old address, quinnandco.com, they’re taken to quinn.pr.

DOMAIN NAME: mytab.travel this is actually redirect to mytab.co domain string. (As of October 20, 2015)

OWNER: myTab, travel gift card company based in San Francisco

WHY “.TRAVEL”? Two reasons, one practical, one strategic. The company had been using the address mytab.co because it couldn’t get a “.com” with its name when it launched in 2013. It would have cost $100,000 to buy the “.com” domain from its current owner, an amount the company couldn’t afford, president Heddi Cundle says. Some people were confused by “.co” and typed the “.com” address, so “.travel” eliminates that problem. The address mytab.travel also lets people know instantly what the company does, Cundle says.

NOT-COM A NON-ISSUE: “Nobody has batted an eye. No one even questions it,” Cundle says.

If you are a business that used new domain string such as .guru .zone .estate .team .technology .bike .nyc .science .club .party .website .realtor .online .ninja .photography and other gTLDs. Please complete this form, and we will add your business as soon as we confirm it is up and running. You can also send email to support @ king.net with your answers.

Related: How to afford a Premium Domain Name?

Related: Investing Guide in buying LLLL dot com.