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Dot Pro (.Pro) generic top level domain has seen soaring registrations since RegistryPro (re)launched the TLD under expanded new ICANN registry guidelines. RegistryPro, the exclusive operator of this top level domain, has attributed the growth to expanded eligibility requirements as well as the effort put in by partner registrars.
.Pro recent history
Dot Pro (.Pro) is the only domain extension that caters for professional entities globally. RegistryPro has done a marvelous job of making .Pro available for registration to millions of professionals worldwide. Furthermore, mainstream registrars, most conspicuous being Network Solutions, joining as partners to promote .Pro has further maximized the market penetration of this unique TLD.
Going back to last year, September 8th saw the relaunch of .Pro under the expanded ICANN registration regulations. The new guidelines allowed professionals living around the world eligible to register this domain. Network Solutions further enhanced the market acceptance by actively taking part in its promotion.
Probably for the first time in the history of the internet, professionals can stand out by using the .Pro TLD for their websites.
What is so professional about .Pro?
Dot Pro is available for registration to only licensed and credentialed professionals or professional entities who certify that they meet the requirements of their profession and provide eligibility information before gaining use of a .Pro domain name. This simply means that any Tom, Dick and Harry cannot register .Pro names and use it “unethically” on their websites. Dot Pro assigns a level of trust to the website; clients can safely concur that they are dealing with a trustworthy individual and not someone who will scam them off their investment.
Eligibility Requirements to register a .Pro TLD
.Pro Third-Level – medical, legal, accounting and engineering professionals qualify to register the third level .Pro domains, such as, name.law.pro, name.med.pro, name.eng.pro, etc. The registrants of this third level .Pro names would be verified against public and third party databases prior to activation of the domain name. Each domain comes with a digital certificate and a choice between SSL or email (s/MIME) certificate.
.Pro Second-level Resolving – professional service providers can register a resolving second-level name, for example, serviceprovider.pro. This second-level name also comes with a digital certificate and a choice between SSL or email (s/MIME) certificate.
.Pro Second-Level Redirecting – medical, legal, accounting and engineering professionals who have a third level .Pro name under their ownership can also purchase a redirecting service whereby a second-level name (for example, name.pro) can be redirected to their third level name (for example, name.law.pro).
Would you register a .Pro?
My question is simple; if you run a professional service, would you consider registering a .Pro TLD for you or your business? What will .Pro offer that .com (or any TLD for that matter) has failed to deliver for your professional entity? You can discuss by commenting below.
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January 28, 2009 pm31 9:56 pm
Never knew of Dot Pro.
Maybe if i had a professional service and i could not get the dot com, i would go in for dot pro
Nice post, as usual
Farrhad A’s last blog post..Beat The Stress!
January 30, 2009 pm31 3:08 am
I never knew of the .pro either. But it isn’t appealing. Most people don’t know what it is.
And I am sure that people can get .pro’s without REALLY being licensed or professional. I mean, how is this information verified internationally? And how WELL is it verified? Perhaps I need to do some research to learn more about the third-party databases that you mention.
Shirley’s last blog post..Your FeedBurner Subscriber Count Is Not Accurate
January 31, 2009 pm31 11:50 am
It’s kind of interesting to see domain name extensions diversifying. I dunno that I would register something like “deadlycleverdesigns.pro” but when I hear the extension what comes to mind is celebrities. Something like “MichaelJordan.pro.” I think sports companies could benefit by setting up star players with .pro names to kind of strengthen their image.
January 31, 2009 pm31 2:23 pm
Hi Farrhad, having a .pro would surely give your website a credibility status, so by all means, go for it if your qualify.
Shirley, as the norm, any other TLD is shadowed by dot com and the same is true for dot pro.
Hello Corey, thanks for commenting on my blog. Your idea is quite good; dot pro does give a sense of authority to the domain and it would sound nice with celebrity names.
February 2, 2009 pm31 7:35 pm
I thnk Most of the vpeople don’t know what it is. bt interesting to see domain name extensions diversifying.
Thnx..
February 3, 2009 pm31 8:34 am
Well, I heard about .pro some where 9prolly one of your old posts). If I was eligible for them I would get one for myself. Not cause it would benefit me but because I can get one.
and @ Shirley, it’s not like getting a .us domain where you have to be a us citizen yet every one has one.
Blog for Bloggers’s last blog post..That January Thing: Monthly Update
February 4, 2009 pm31 5:02 am
To be frank and fair, I never heard about .pro yet
Actually though I now understand that it’s meant for some kind of certified professionals, how do they validate them and what categories of (medical, legal, accounting and engineering) certifications can claim a .pro domain? There’ll be a lot of complications due to country specific certification policies right?
(On a lighter side it would have been great product names ending with pro could register one
like PaintShop.Pro)
Ajith Edassery’s last blog post..SEO Challenge ‘09 – Week 4 Update