What are the best domain extensions? The answer seems pretty obvious, but the more interesting part is why those letters that appear in the space after the dot in a domain name matters.
Those are the questions this article will answer about everything related to domain name extensions. Get ready to find out the top 10 domain extensions that are in demand right now and see which will make the news and trend in the domain name industry in the near future.
Before diving into the nitty gritty, let’s clarify what a domain extension is. Simply put, the resource forms the last part of a domain name and comes after the dot. It is the .com part of the name google.com and the .org part of the name wikipedia.org.
A domain extension, also called a top-level domain (TLD), indicates the following information about a website.
The Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) website provides a list of all available domain extension options.
One of the reasons why choosing the right domain extension matters is that it affects a site’s perceived credibility in the eyes of the target audience. A .com domain is considered to be trustworthy and would benefit a business looking to build an online presence.
However, in terms of search engine optimization (SEO), choosing a less popular TLD won’t matter much. A search engine like Google treats non-com TLDs similar to .com. There’s also the fact that other domain extensions can convey a brand’s message or offerings much better than the standard .com domain can.
Do note, though, that some extensions are associated with scam or spam sites. Try to steer clear of TLDs like .wiki, .live, .rest, and .hair, as they have a sketchy reputation.
Below is a list of the 10 most popular and different domain extensions on the Internet. Read on and find out what benefits each one brings to a brand and what each is best used for.
A .com domain extensions are the most popular extensions with the largest market share. Originally created for for-profit businesses, they’re now used for various purposes by everyone. It’s considered to be the best habit because it’s familiar and easy for users to type in a web browser.
If a company name is associated with a .com site it doesn’t own, the business is likely losing traffic because people are mistakenly going to the other website. A .com domain is also considered to be more authoritative in terms of backlinks.
One of the most popular TLDs, the .net extension, was originally intended for use by networks and internet service providers. Since then, though, it’s become a popular alternative to .com.
The .net domain extension is also recommended for tech- and web-based companies because the name implies technology. Some popular websites that use .net are Behance.net and Slideshare.net.
The .org domain extension originally represented nonprofit organizations but can be used by anyone today. It can be the perfect domain for political parties, online communities, and non-governmental organizations.
It’s a popular and trustworthy TLD and can have the same benefits as a .com domain. It can also be easier for a business to get the .net version of their desired domain since it’s not as in demand.
Originally meant to be the country code for Colombia, the .co domain is now popular for global domains. It has become an acronym for a corporation, company, or commercial venture.
A .co TLD is beneficial for startup businesses that want to be seen as unique and original by consumers. It might be easier to register a domain with a .co extension because it's less popular.
Another popular domain extension is .us. It is reserved for entities based in the United States, and most of its operations are based there. The .us extension was once associated with the American government like the .gov extension.
A brand with a patriotic identity will benefit the most from using a .us domain. A good example is vote.us, a site that provides information about voting in the United States.
The .cn TLD is the country-specific domain extension or ccTLD for the country China. Its popularity doesn’t come as a surprise given the Asian nation’s big population and growing economy.
It used to be reserved for multinational organizations with locations in China. Now, other organizations can apply for the use of .cn, too.
Also among the most popular ccTLDs is .de, which stands for Deutschland and is the domain extension for Germany. It was first registered in 1986 and the first ccTLD to surpass 1 million registrations.
The ccTLD for the United Kingdom, the .uk extension, has been around since 1985. Its registration is open to anyone, even if a business operates outside the UK. However, corporations that want to appeal to UK residents should consider registering a .uk domain.
The .nl extension is the ccTLD for the Netherlands and has become a trusted domain extension by the Dutch. Anyone can register for a .nl domain but those who want to rank higher in Google NL search results might benefit from it the most.
Introduced in 1994, the .ru extension is the ccTLD for Russia. It is a great choice for any website targeting Russian consumers or visitors.
Although not as popular as the ones mentioned above, here are some up-and-coming domain extensions to consider. These TLDs can add a sense of originality to a domain when paired with a company name.
Sometimes, the most popular domain extension is not the best choice for a business. Choose the right TLD with the help of these tips.
If possible, it’s best to choose a .com domain. However, if a business name needs to be extended to register a URL that ends in .com, since they're in demand, it might be difficult to find available domains.
Speaking of availability, make sure that the preferred domain is available in the desired extension and is not already taken. Web hosting services like Bluehost offer a tool that lets users check if the domain they want has already been taken.
Choose a TLD that reflects the message the business wants to convey. Consider how a domain name will work with the brand’s marketing efforts.
Register a domain that aligns with the location of the target audience. Country code top-level domains are handy for this.
The most popular and generic domain extension is .com, and by a large margin. It reportedly comprises over 44% of all domains on the Internet and sells for thousands, sometimes millions, of dollars. That said, it might be hard to find an available one for a business.
One way to acquire a sought-after generic top-level domain .com is to opt for a domain backorder. Doing so would let a buyer know when a domain will expire and get them in line to buy it when it does.
Aside from choosing a .com extension, here are some options to consider to help you distinguish a top-level domain from a bad one.
1. Keep it short and simple. Short domain names are easy to remember and type in web browsers. To make it easier to remember, Ideally, it should be 6 to 14 characters in length.
2. Avoid double letters, numbers, and hyphens. These elements will only be another hurdle for people when visiting a website. They are also likely to lead to typos, causing a loss in site traffic
3. Keep it specific and on brand. Consider how people associate the business name and product when brainstorming potential domain names.
4. Use relevant keywords. Keywords can help a website rank but are not the final deciding factor when choosing a domain name. If possible, pick a name that is both a keyword and a brand name.
5. Think local. Consider getting a country code domain extension if a business is based in a specific country. It's even more important to include the name of the local area the business serves in the domain name.
WordPress.org mentions Bluehost as its longest-running recommended host. The web hosting company is highly regarded for the following reasons.
Now, it should be clear what domain extensions are the best and which domain extension is best for a business to use. Common domain extensions like .com and .net should be the go-to choice if they’re available.
However, this doesn’t mean that newer domain extensions and ccTLDs aren’t good options. The final decision should be made considering several factors, from a domain’s length to brandability.
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