Do weak renewals change how hosts offer new TLDs?

[NiceNIC]

Some TLDs grow fast because first-year prices are low.

For hosting providers, the bigger question may be whether customers keep those domains after year one.

Do weak renewals make you less likely to offer or recommend a fast-growing extension?

 

[SenseiSteve]

Renewal rates are definitely something I pay attention to. A low first-year registration price can drive impressive growth numbers, but if a large percentage of those domains aren't renewed, it suggests many registrations were driven by price rather than long-term intent.


That said, I don't think renewal rates alone should determine whether a TLD is recommended. It really depends on the customer's goals. For a local business, startup, or personal project, a newer extension that fits the brand well may be a perfectly good choice. For a business making a long-term investment in SEO and brand recognition, I still tend to encourage securing the .com whenever it's practical.


In the end, I'd rather recommend the extension that best matches the customer's objectives than simply the one showing the fastest registration growth. Growth can be driven by promotions, but sustained renewals are a much better indicator of real adoption.

 

[NiceNIC]

Renewal rates are definitely something I pay attention to. A low first-year registration price can drive impressive growth numbers, but if a large percentage of those domains aren't renewed, it suggests many registrations were driven by price rather than long-term intent.


That said, I don't think renewal rates alone should determine whether a TLD is recommended. It really depends on the customer's goals. For a local business, startup, or personal project, a newer extension that fits the brand well may be a perfectly good choice. For a business making a long-term investment in SEO and brand recognition, I still tend to encourage securing the .com whenever it's practical.


In the end, I'd rather recommend the extension that best matches the customer's objectives than simply the one showing the fastest registration growth. Growth can be driven by promotions, but sustained renewals are a much better indicator of real adoption.

Thank you Steve! That is a good distinction. A low first-year price can attract attention, but the real test comes when the customer reaches renewal time.

For hosting providers, recommending a domain extension is also about setting the right expectation from the beginning, not only what works today, but what the customer will still be comfortable keeping years later.