Stupid Question: “Why Not Just Stick With .io?” 10 Years Later, Answer Remains Clear

While the Internet country code top-level domain “.io” is assigned to the British Indian Ocean Territory, when ICANN began releasing new gTLDs in 2014, interest and adoption of all alternative domains increased. File photo: NicoElNino, ShutterStock.com, licensed.

SOUTH FLORIDA – A startup I never heard of caught my attention when it appeared on DomainInvesting.com for its strategic and necessary (in my opinion) acquisition by ownership of their “.com” domain name, YouForm.com, a business that had been using the popular – while not as good, io domain, YouForm.io.

Youform is a free form builder that provides unlimited forms and responses. It is an alternative to Typeform and Formidable. Youform’s features include a drag-and-drop builder, ability to collect partial data, and ability to download all data.

The co-founder, Davis Baer, posted to twitter on his acquisition of the “.com” version of their domain name, for $7,500.00 from a seller originally asking $25,000 for the name. His post indicated that many people wanted to know “Why Not Stick With .io?” which seems to me like somewhat of a foolish question.

While the Internet country code top-level domain “.io” is assigned to the British Indian Ocean Territory, when ICANN began releasing new gTLDs in 2014, interest and adoption of all alternative domains increased. Yet, 10 years later, the answer remains clear: Trust, Credibility, Legitimacy.

This is the general consensus among even the most average interest user but new gTLD advocates will at times insist there is decreasing need in considering the .com to be superior. Obviously I happen to disagree. I always go back to the my old 1800 analogy.

I agree with every word written in this tweet. It all sounds profoundly accurate, every word, right down to the reason not to wait any longer; I felt it was worth pointing out and making an example of it.