Choosing a domain name might not seem as big of a task but let me tell you, it has a big impact on your website! The letters in a web address that comes after the period is called a domain extension. It is provided to indicate a website’s category or country code. You might not believe it but domain extension does make a big difference!
.COM
The most widely accepted Top-Level Domain is .com. Although the .com domain extension was initially intended to identify for-profit companies, it has become the most popular choice for domain extensions. If the .com domain extension is available, your decision must always be clear to choose it.
People are easily programmed by habit. We have been seeing .com domains for years, and now, we’ve become accustomed to this type of address from websites. Since we are most familiar with the .com domain extension, we understand it when we hear the business name!
Even if a domain has a .com extension and you don’t own it, people are likely to use that one instead of yours due to human instinct! These days, hackers use typosquatting by buying the .com extension with other misspelled domains of your domain so as to scam your customers!
It is claimed by several SEO firms that the .com extension can result in higher search engine ranks. A domain with the .com extension has far greater authority in terms of backlinks than one with a new or unusual extension. It even seems more respectable when you are working on your outreach for backlinks or PR. However, there is often a chance that someone has already taken the extension.
You must seize the opportunity whenever you get it! If your preferred name is already taken, remember to be on a backorder for domains. This way, you’ll get notified when it expires, and you’ll be able to purchase it.
.ORG
.ORG was once intended to represent not-for-profit organizations. A lot of NGOs, politicians, political parties, and other internet communities choose it as their preferred domain extension. People don’t associate it much with commercial branding, but they often tend to think of it as a reputable and trustworthy source of information. .org is also one of the original TLDs that has many SEO advantages, much like the .com extension.
You have a greater chance of finding your preferred domain with the .org extension, as it is not as common as the .com extension. Therefore, the.org TLD is one of the most popular extensions, and many organizations use it while developing their websites. The extension makes much sense when your company is an information-driven or not-for-profit organization.
As most people think of it as a community or information-based extension, it might not be the best idea to use .org if you run an online store. The websites that make the best of the domain mostly concentrate on creating and fostering communities.
.NET
Yes, anyone can use the .net extension, but initially, it was designed for networks or internet service providers. It is now a popular alternative for .com websites. It is often considered a good choice for tech or web-based businesses. If your company is based on certain sectors that make perfect sense with .net, then you must choose this extension.
Also, there is a higher chance that the domain you want will be available because .net is less popular than .com. You might not want to take the domain if your business is not based on technology or web-based service, as people mostly identify it with technology.
. Co
At first, the domain extension’s purpose was to serve as Colombia’s country code. The extension is now a well-liked choice for international domains. Many dynamic business owners have built their businesses on .co domain extensions. This has made it more popular!
A new business would do well with the extension if it’s going to market with its unique or unusual idea. While .com is, of course, the most widely used and likely most recognizable domain name, .co is particularly catchy to younger audiences. Diversification and targeting of the younger audience might also become easier. .co domain is less popular than .com. Therefore, it is less sought after and provides you with more flexibility.
However, you might face a risk if a .com extension already has your current domain. It is because you might be sending traffic to them and miss out on the reputation that comes with having a .com extension.
.IO
The .io domain extension is liked by tech startups as it is often used as an acronym for input/output. Using a .io extension can be part of your smart branding strategy and tech-related businesses as it helps you to establish a link with the target consumers who can connect IO with computer science.
However, the popularity of .io websites is not limited to the businesses limited to the technology sector! You might not very often get a .com name that fits your liking, or that aligns with your goals. In contrast, you have a lot of options with.io domains that’ll help you get the ideal name for your next website!
In a nutshell, the process of choosing the perfect domain name looks after several aspects. The best and safest choice would be to choose a name that is easy to remember and type, quickly describes your brand, and satisfies all your requirements. Do not forget that the domain extension should also be available, too. However, the .com domain extension still remains the best choice because of its popularity and ability to attract the targeted audience.
