On October 8th, New York City gave its residents their own web address, opening public access to .nyc. The new top-level domain is open to any business, organization or person with a physical address in the Big Apple.

Neustar is the official registry operator for .nyc. In fact, today members of Neustar’s .nyc team joined City officials to ring the bell at the New York Stock Exchange.

Said Neustar President and CEO Lisa Hook, “We are excited to open up registration to the general public and see how New Yorkers will leverage their domains and ‘own’ their individual and professional NYC identities.”

Why should you get a .nyc domain?

If you live there, New York City is a part of you. Now it can be a part of your web address. A .nyc domain gives you an official way to brand your identity online and showcase your location in New York City as a key to your success. It’s an exclusive competitive advantage only New Yorkers enjoy.

A good domain is invaluable, starting with the name. You want people to remember your domain name, since you use it every time you pitch your business, brand or blog. A short, memorable name can inspire people to type it into their web browsers, tap it on their mobile phones and share with friends. It’s also a great way to help your website get found by search engines.

Why is .nyc such a big deal?

Deputy Mayor Alicia Glen may have said it best: “To compete in the global economy, a strong web presence is no longer a luxury—it’s a must. The .nyc domain gives individuals and businesses—thinkers and doers of our city—the ability to leverage the power of their location and market their brands to consumers.”

Added Mayor Bill de Blasio: “Whether you’re an artist, a manufacturer, or a tech start-up, with .nyc you can make your mark on the global economy as a New Yorker.” And this from Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams: .NYC “uniquely brands the digital landscape, a brand that I believe will help boost online traffic to local ventures.”

Thousands of .nyc sites have already launched.

Thousands of New Yorkers already is agree. For the past several months, businesses and non-profit organizations have grabbed the chance to request .nyc domains during the Sunrise and Landrush periods. During this same time, the City launched ‘Neighborhoods.nyc’, an open application process for community groups to receive a premium neighborhood domain name like WestVillage.nyc, Flatbush.nyc or ForestHills.nyc.

Additionally, a select group of qualified City businesses and individuals had a chance to be one of the first .nyc domain owners through the .nyc Founders Program. A diverse group of New Yorkers received Founders names, including First Lady Chirlane McCray, Chair of the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City, journalist Tim McDonald, Pace University and The New-York Historical Society, among others. Founders websites launched September 7 and can be seen here.

“No one else is doing it like New York City.”

If you’re a marketer, New York City is speaking your language, wielding the power of location to compete globally. A geospecific web address will drive website traffic to your brand, business or online presence. The city that powers the modern economy is once again in front, leading with technology, innovation and pure moxy.

Here’s how well the city gets it: “What’s unique about .nyc top level domain is the real link that is being created between physical geography and virtual space on the Internet,” said Minerva Tantoco, the city’s Chief Technology Officer. “No one else is doing this like New York City.”

To register your .nyc address, visit www.OwnIt.nyc and select the retailer of your choice. Domain names are available on a first come, first served basis.