Donuts, which manages the largest portfolio of new generic top-level domains (gTLDs), presented quite optimistic data on the first 8 months of this year. For example, the number of new registrations increased by 34 percent compared to the same period last year. The total number of names in Donuts’ new gTLDs has reached 3 million. The best results in all domains managed by Donuts were reached in .CITY, .EMAIL, .LIFE, .LIVE, .NEWS, .ROCKS, .SALE, .SOLUTIONS, .TODAY and .WORLD.
The average renewal rate during this period was about 71%, which corresponds to the “golden standard” – the renewal rate in .COM. Observers point out that significant registration discounts introduced in all domains of the company this year have added to the success. It was possible to register a name in the majority of Donuts domains for less than $10, in some – for less than $5. The renewal rate of such “discount” domains is usually quite low: registrants are not willing to pay for the renewal more than they paid for the domain itself. On the other hand, even discounted prices in Donuts were not “extra low”: some registries sold domain names for less than $1. It was them who faced the biggest fall in renewal rates. Time will show how Donuts does.
