What dotBrands Can Do for Companies

Global distribution of dotBrands* 

Worldwide, there are currently 554 dotBrands with 40 countries of origin. The USA leads the list of countries with the most dotBrands, followed at some distance by Japan and Germany: 

With a focus on the number of registered domains under all dotBrands, the following chart reveals a slightly different outcome. Here, Germany is at the top with 3,163 domain names, closely followed by the USA and France: 

The view by sector reveals that, worldwide, the financial industry is at the top with 66 dotBrands, followed by the financial and Internet industries: 

The companies with the largest number of registered domains under their dotBrand are based in Europe, followed in second place by China, and in third by the USA. With 1,695 domains registered under .mma, the insurance company MMA IARD from France is the leader, followed by the financial advisory DVAG with 1,239 .dvag domains and the car manufacturer Audi with 645 .audi domains, both from Germany: 

The value of a dotBrand

The benefits of .brands can be utilized in many ways. The following examples illustrate how dotBrands generate value by engendering higher levels of customer trust, providing more intuitive information, and enabling more efficient branding: 

1. Leading through innovation – .audi

2. Improved stakeholder communication – .edeka

With a dotBrand, companies also improve collaboration and communication with their various stakeholders. One of Germany’s largest grocery store chains, Edeka, satisfies the communication needs of its various interest groups by offering each of them their own platform. Thus, stakeholders locate information easily, intuitively, and quickly.

Anyone who is interested in starting an apprenticeship gets relevant information on Edeka’s digital platform for apprenticeships, www.ausbildung.edeka. Here, interested parties not only use the search function to find vacancies; they can also learn which qualifications applicants have to fulfil, how the application process works, and what Edeka has to offer its employees. Additionally, Edeka supports applicants with important tips and tricks for a successful application. 

For ambitious startups who are interested in launching their products in the grocery stores, Edeka started foodstarter.edeka. Startups can use the digital platform to present their products to the Edeka store owners, have their products tested by them, and finally get to fill Edeka’s shelves on a long-term basis. In the related blog, successful “foodstarters” have the opportunity to give interviews and report on their experiences. 

3. Stronger customer loyalty – .emerck

A dotBrand strengthens customer relationships in new and innovative ways. Merck, a German-based healthcare, life science, and performance materials company improved their customers’ interest with the digital magazine www.magazin.emerck. Within three different categories, interested parties gain exciting insights on various topics concerning “life”, “innovation”, and “culture”. Each article is written in a clear, comprehensible language and is illustrated with a matching photo or graphic – and thus appeals to a broad audience. To everyone who wants to explore the world of pharmaceutics and life sciences, the online magazine is available in English and German. 

4. Better branding – .swatch

With the help of a dotBrand Internet address, a company easily presents the connection between itself and its products. In this way, customers intuitively perceive the tie between the company and its products. Watch manufacturer Swatch presents its new collection, POP, on the website www.pop.swatch. Interested parties find everything they need to know on the branded domain which was especially created for this purpose, instead of having to click their way through endless menus. Additionally, a brand domain name sticks in the mind much more easily than a generic domain name as it not only reinforces the company’s name but also tells website visitors from the start who the brand is. 

5. Secure communication – .allfinanz

Allfinanz Deutsche Vermögensberatung, a German investment consultancy, offers its customers digital access to their mailbox at postfach.allfinanz. This has several advantages: Customers are not only able to retrieve information easily and at any time, they also have an additional communication channel at their disposal, on top of personal contact with their advisor. More important, however, is the fact that the security of the customers’ personal data is guaranteed at any time.

As Allfinanz is the owner of the .allfinanz top-level domain, it has complete control of all facets of the top-level domain operation, which means that the risks of phishing, spam, or any other abusive usage plaguing Internet users today are practically non-existent. As a result, customers get greater confidence that their private data are protected in the best way possible. A dotBrand thus serves as the ultimate means to increase consumer trust and confidence.

Katrin Ohlmer is an expert in Internet Governance, Internet Infrastructure and Digital Brands. She is the founder and managing director of DOTZON, a consultancy specializing in developing Digital Brands and Identities. She regularly speaks at international conferences and supports the Internet Governance Organization ICANN in developing policies which deal with the enhancement of the namespace on the Internet.