INTERVIEW QUESTION: What inspired your team switch to Go.compare? Give us a behind-the-scenes into what went into that big decision?

Paul Rogers, Director of Brand and Campaigns at Go.Compare, explains the brand’s big decision to bring .compare into the mix. “All our customers need to know now is Go.Compare and they’re there,” he said. “It’s basically making it easier for people to find us directly, which is in-keeping with the brand’s legacy, which has always been about cutting out the middleman and making it easier for people to take control of their finances.”

INTERVIEW QUESTION: How does the new web address align with your company’s marketing strategy?
Go.Compare is all about making it easier for customers to find them quicker and easier.
Go.Compare’s services are key for consumers in the current climate, and it is a powerful proposition for bill payers,” Rogers said in the press release. “There are still people who don’t switch their outgoings and still possibly pay more than they have to for things such as insurance, mobile phone bills and broadband. In a time when we’re all looking to cut costs, it can really help shave a bit extra from the monthly bills.”

INTERVIEW QUESTION: How does the new web address align with the company’s mission?
The new logo debuted on TV and the website in September. And as a sponsor of “The Voice UK,” the new logo was unveiled in one of the episodes. In it, Go.Compare’s operatic tenor Gio Compario, and the actor who plays him, Wynne Evans, were both in the judging chairs as people auditioned for them. Viewers can follow them on their serious quest to find a new voice to help them sing the new Go.Compare jingle and play the ‘dot’ in the new website address. Check out the new jingle here:

“Go.Compare has always had a lot of fun with its branding, personified by the larger than life character of Gio,” Rogers added. “With the new addition of the ‘dot’ in the brand name, we’ve been able to have even more fun with it, and evolve the story of Gio even further.”

INTERVIEW QUESTION: What is the plan for the .com website? Will the old website redirect to the new site? What is the transition plan?
Incorporating the rename and relaunch into its sponsorship of “The Voice UK” goes hand-in-hand with Go.Compare’s goal to build interactive campaigns, and connect with its millions of visitors. Go.Compare provides comparison services for all of life’s financial products, from business insurance to pet insurance, and even provides tools on comparing broadband speeds and opening your first bank account.
Rogers continued in the release: “Gio has been around since 2009 and has starred in over 125 ads. While it’s no secret that he’s annoying to some, you can’t deny his longevity and fame. He’s evolved with the business and we continue to tell his story, which grows alongside the Go.Compare comparison business. I love that he is continuing to evolve as our brand mascot, as we continue to develop the brand itself with the new Go.Compare logo and website.”

INTERVIEW QUESTION: Explain how the web design and branding speaks to the Go.compare mission to simplify insurance.
While its branding and campaigns are fun, Go.Compare takes its mission of transparent pricing information seriously, as a member of the British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA); it is also authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). At the end of the day, the company exists to not only help people find the best prices, but the best quality products out there. And its rebrand to Go.Compare is just one small step in making itself more accessible and easier to find for those who need their website most.

What is your favourite tld and why?

My favourite TLD is most likely .online, I just like the robustness and usability of it. Whether it is an online game, or online service, it is still relevant.

How do you envision the next iteration of the web (Web3)?
I am, sadly, not psychic. I do think though that the end-user usability of technologies is essential to the health of Web3 and is likely its biggest threat; the more complex the technologies become, the more difficult it is for the end-user. I think it's fantastic to have the best product in the world, but what use is it if nobody can use it, let alone understand it?

What is your favourite crypto currency and why?
My favourite cryptocurrency is API3. It is an API-driven blockchain technology that will allow third parties to utilise a variety of data. The intriguing aspect of API3 is that it does away with the intermediary that is currently present in other data-driven protocols. As users connect directly to the company's API, API3 preserves the integrity of data arriving from the source. Accuweather just developed a partnership with them in which their API may be used to obtain all weather data. For the first time, detailed weather information is obtainable on the blockchain!

What are the 5 things you can’t live without?
Nature, food, my dog, friends and family.

What dramatized sales film/tv series gives the most accurate representation?
Mad Men, in my opinion, it was a fantastic TV show depiction of advertising and sales. It encapsulated many of the great characteristics of both such as, the accomplishment and the capacity for quick decision-making, etc. For the time period in which it was set, the cinematography of the programme was beautifully stylized.

What is your favourite domain joke?
Did you know .lol is a domain extension. I didn’t, but it had me laughing out loud when I found out. 

That's it for today's interview, if you'd like to know more about Scott or want to get in contact with him directly, then please connect with him via LinkedIn.

History of .XXX and AdultBlock

In 2011, .xxx launched as a new extension for the Adult Entertainment industry. During the initial launch, trade mark owners were able to purchase a 10-year block during a phase called Sunrise B. The .xxx Sunrise B blocks included only an exact match of trade marks and only within the .xxx extension. These blocks were not available to purchase after the initial launch ended.

Fast forward 8 years and in 2019, the .xxx registry launched a new blocking service called AdultBlock and AdultBlock+. These blocking programs include all four of the adult entertainment extensions: .xxx, .adult, .porn and .sex. All owners of a .xxx Sunrise B block then had the opportunity to convert their Sunrise B block to an AdultBlock.

In December 2021, any remaining .xxx Sunrise B blocks that had not been converted to an AdultBlock expired. Since then, the registry has been holding on to all remaining .xxx domains that were previously blocked and they have been unavailable for standard registration, until now…

Release of Reserved .XXX Domains

The registry plans on releasing the reserved .xxx Sunrise B domains in a two-phase approach over the next few months of 2023. As previously mentioned, this is only for Sunrise B .xxx domains that have NOT been converted to an AdultBlock. If you have upgraded your Sunrise B .xxx block to an AdultBlock , your .xxx domain will NOT be released for registration.

Phase One: 16 March 2023 – 18 May 2023

During this phase, original owners of a .xxx Sunrise B block will have the opportunity to register the matching .xxx domain. If you purchased a Sunrise B Block in 2011 and don’t have the matching .xxx domain, then please get in contact as we can process your registration during this priority phase. Please take note, that as a .xxx Sunrise B owner, you still have the option to upgrade to an AdultBlock during this time.

Phase Two: 22 May 2023 – onward

All remaining domains that have not been registered will be available on a first come, first served basis with no restrictions, leaving brand owners exposed

Next Steps

Lexsynergy is assisting owners of .xxx Sunrise B blocks who wish to register the matching .xxx domain or upgrading to an AdultBlock. If you have any questions about .xxx, AdultBlock, or protecting your brand online, then please reach out to us today to start the process – [email protected]