Soon hundreds of new domain names will come online - and the Internet professionals who should be educating their colleagues and clients aren't even aware they are coming, at least 54 percent of them surveyed by Sedo.com.
If Internet professionals aren't educated about the new generic top-level domains (gTLDs), what chance do Web users have? This is where The Domain Name Association is making its claim. This newly created international nonprofit organization has been created to promote the interests of the domain name industry by advocating the use, adoption and expansion of domain names as the primary tool for users to navigate the Internet.
According to a company statement, The DNA's first priority will be to educate Internet users around the world about new top-level domains. The DNA is developing educational resources and campaigns to prepare end users for these changes and ensure the success of the new domains. An example of the group's efforts is the informative website whatdomain.org (pictured below), an educational resource about the new top-level domain program.
Membership is open to organizations involved in all aspects of managing domain names, including domain name registries, registrars, resellers, and registry service providers. Founding members serving on an Interim Board include ARI Registry Services, Demand Media, Donuts, FairWinds Partners, GoDaddy, Google, Momentous, United TLD, and WhatBox?. DomainsBot Inc., Minds + Machines, and RightOfTheDot, LLC are also Founding members.
"The domain name industry sorely lacks a vocal advocacy body that is prepared to fight for our commercial interests, and this is the gap the Domain Name Association is going to fill as the first-ever domain name industry trade group," said Adrian Kinderis, Chair of the Interim Board of the DNA.
"As such, we are ideally placed to help Internet users learn about the upcoming new Top-Level Domains and to help them navigate the changing Internet landscape. We will also work to build trust, exchange ideas, educate, and raise awareness of domain related issues within the industry, and we invite all stakeholders in the domain name industry to join the DNA and work together in support of our shared objectives."