This webinar encapsulates how .VIP is such a globally recognized domain extension, especially in China (the term runs deep in Chinese culture). Here's a brief insight on how .VIP is not only about status, but sentiment as well, and how it's the perfect TLD for your customers. Presenter - Susan Lawrence - Director of Channel Management, Minds and Machines Group Ltd. (MMX.co) Simon Cousins - CEO, Allegravita. Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coaksD7YsbU

1. A MINI MASTERCLASS ON ‘VIP’
The new internet domain name extension .vip has
broken some of the most respected sales records since
.vip domains launched globally on May 18, 2016.
Holding twin titles as the fastest-growing new domain
extension in history, and the largest total billings for a
new domain extension’s launch month, .vip has
performed so well in Chinese-speaking regions that
many people around the world are wondering why “VIP”
is such a hot property in China.

2. 6,968 PER HOUR / 116 PER MINUTE！ 730,450 PER DAY / 1269 PER HOUR!
7 DAYS24 HOURS
13,943 PER DAY / 581 PER HOUR!

3. ntldstats.com December 7, 2016

4. NEWSFLASH!
.VIP FULLY APPROVED BY CHINA’S GOVT.
On Monday December 5, 2016, .VIP became one of only
three new gTLDs to become approved for sale and use in
China.
This achievement was hard-won by the MMX team.
This means that .VIP domains can be resolved to
websites hosted in China – only approved TLDs have this
privilege.

5. SO, WHY IS VIP SUCH A WHITE-HOT WORD
IN CHINA?
For American, European, Indian people and other non-
Chinese English speakers, the question has arisen
countless times since .vip’s global launch: China speaks
Chinese, so why is “VIP” such a white-hot term?

6. ‘VIP’ IS A CHINESE WORD.
A bold statement that is perhaps counter-intuitive to
non-Chinese! Bear with us and learn why VIP is
considered a Chinese word in China.
China’s flag carrier, Air China, designed ‘VIP’ into the
company logo in 1988. The stylized ‘VIP’ represents the
phoenix.

7. VIP ≠ V.I.P.
In China, VIP is not an acronym.
When a Chinese person sees ‘VIP’ they do not mentally
expand the English acronym to “Very Important Person”.
Thinking that ‘VIP’ means ‘Very Important Person’ in
China is not accurate. You could poll any random million
Chinese people in any average Chinese province, and
you would be very surprised to find even one who
knows that VIP is also an English acronym, and that it is
an English abbreviation of “Very Important Person”.
Kind of like General Tso’s Chicken and Fortune Cookies,
which many non-Chinese assume are Chinese, but are
completely unknown in China!
Fortune cookies are not Chinese.

8. A HISTORY LESSON ON VIP IN CHINA
‘VIP’ first entered China in 1965, as a word (not an
acronym) as a term meaning “honored guest”.
In 1965, exceptionally few Chinese people knew even a
single word of English, so the term “VIP” was codified as
an acceptable and appropriate term for the Chinese
language by the Central Government’s “Western
Languages-Chinese Translations and Writings Ministerial
Joint Experts Specifications Committee”, China’s highest
authority for standard linguistic translations.
This is the official Chinese government
translation for ‘VIP’, meaning ‘honoured
guest’, from “Chinese Language Translation
and Writing Specifications”

9. A HISTORY LESSON ON VIP IN CHINA
In 1978, China’s historic “Reform and Opening Up”
economic policies, in which Communist collectivism was
loosened by new Chairman Deng Xiaoping and the seeds
of today’s Chinese ‘economic miracle’ were planted, the
term ‘VIP’ enjoyed a burst of widespread usage that is
continuing strongly today.
Usage of ‘VIP’ in China started its current upward trend in
1978, as China opened to the world, and limited private
businesses became legal.

10. PRODUCTS, PLACES AND EXPERIENCES
ARE ALSO VIP
China has for thousands of years developed a culture of
hospitality. Any visitor to China will have experienced
the singular welcoming grace offered by practically every
Chinese citizen the visitor encounters.
In China, consumers of products, visitors to places and
participants in experiences are all considered by the
vendors to be ‘honored guests’. It is this link that has led
to the widespread adoption of ‘VIP’ by vast numbers of
businesses and brands.

11. TO BE RICH IS HONOURABLE
Ancient and contemporary Chinese culture encourages
people to openly display their wealth and status with
each other. This is the reason that China has been the
world’s biggest consumer of luxury goods since 2007.
Make no mistake: in todays’ China, conspicuous
consumption has none of the negative cultural
connotations that exist in many Western cultures.
Wealth bestows honor.
Honor is acknowledged with the Chinese word VIP.
The ancient Chinese gold ingot, or ‘yuanbao’, is the
symbol of honorable wealth. The yuanbao appears in
the .VIP logo, to emphasize .VIP domains as
representative of attainment.

12. VIP IN USE IN CHINA:
‘HONOURED GUEST’
In the Chinese language, the standard term for ‘loyalty
card’ is ‘VIP卡’ (“VIP Card”)
Practically every Chinese company which welcomes
customers into their premises, loyalty programs or
experiences uses ‘VIP’ to give their ‘guests’ honor and
face.
Chinese consumers love receiving ‘VIP cards’ (the
standard term for a loyalty card) and feel honored and
appreciated by companies which issue them.
Ask any average Chinese consumer to show you her
purse or his wallet, and you will find a dozen or more VIP
Cards inside!

13. China’s biggest bank, The Bank of China
Greenery is a leading national restaurant
chain, with >100,000 VIP cardholders.
Ctrip is a massive online travel bookings
site, with >90MM registered members.
Bailian outlet belongs to Bailian Group,
which is one the largest trade and business
enterprises in China.
Haagen-Dazs VIP Club Card in mainland China

14. VIP IN USE IN CHINA:
EXCLUSIVE EXPERIENCES
VIP is used in many business names of hospitality
companies in China.
One random example amongst tens of thousands is the
Chengdu VIP Holiday Hotel, whose Chinese name is
written 成都VIP假日酒店
Wanda Group hosting an VIP Cruise Party for their loyal
customers.
Semire hosting a VIP fashion party for their consumers.

15. VIP IN USE IN CHINA:
HIGH-END EDUCATION
New Oriental Education & Technology Group has taught
more than 20 million students since 1993. It has built 56
schools, 31 bookstores and 703 learning centers over 50
cities in China.
The company’s premium certification product is known
as the Overseas Testing VIP Program.

16. VIP IN USE IN CHINA:
ONLINE SERVICES
Practically every leading Chinese online, social media
and O2O service offers a ‘VIP’ program.
For example, iQIYI, arguably China’s most influential
mobile video platform, has 20 million paid subscribers,
who are called ‘VIP Members’.
Sina Weibo (“China’s Twitter”) has more than 1 million
users who have the word 'VIP' in their username or
profile description.

17. Chinese event holders use the word “VIP guest” on their
posters to show their respect for guests.
VIP IN USE IN CHINA:
GIVING RESPECT TO EVENT ATTENDEES

18. Mercedes-Benz Club
Alibaba’s Taobao is the world’s biggest online store,
generating sales that exceed several of the largest
American online stores added together. Taobao listings
include ‘VIP’ in their titles to help consumers discover
expensive and luxurious products, services, and real
estate.
Another random example: the influential Chinese
Jewelry Business Circle have built ‘VIP’ into the trade
group’s logo.
VIP IN USE IN CHINA:
LUXURY
VIP Jewelry Business Circle
Porsche VIP card
in Shanghai Auto Show
Taobao estate website

19. In today’s China, pursuing a ‘VIP lifestyle’ means to get
well-educated, and to work hard to become a respected,
influential person.
VIP IN USE IN CHINA:
A NEW KIND OF LIFESTYLE

20. A MASTERCLASS ON ‘VIP’
MASTERCLASS PART TWO:
How to sell .VIP domains to your customers.