domain names may be the security blanket that keeps you covered during these unpredictable financial times.

As the financial state of economies around the world continue to look bleak, domain investors may find themselves sitting on a gold mine of online real estate. Although domains aren't tangible assets, their current value can be attributed to the fact that they're among the easiest assets to measure and account for. With their consistent performance indicators and trackable advertising opportunities, domain names may be the security blanket that keeps you covered during these unpredictable financial times.

Why the .com is Still in Command By Stephanie Nichols, Customer Service Specialist Established in January of 1985, the .com is one of the five original generic Top-Level Domains (gTLDs). It has become the most recognizable Top-Level Domain (TLD) available and investors continue to utilize its popularity for profit. In fact, according to VeriSign's Domain Report in Sept, new registrations for .com alongside .net domains continue to grow by 20% percent year over year, with the .com remaining on top with more new registrations than any extension. Even with the introduction of new and targeted domain extensions, such as the most recent .mobi and .me domains, the .com still remains the top dog of TLDs.

If you decide to invest in a .com domain make sure you keep it brandable, memorable and reasonable enough for potential visitors to type it into their search bar. Although these types of .com domains are most likely already registered, you may find that a secondary marketplace can offer a selection of quality .com domains far greater than any registrar can provide. Secondary marketplaces allow potential investors the chance to buy and bid on .com domains that are on sale by the current owner. When you consider the potential traffic a valuable .com can earn from type-in traffic and existing traffic, the choice to invest should be an easy one to make, especially during these hard economic times.