Nozak Consulting

How To Choose the Right Domain Extension

Scott Emigh

When a business owner decides to start a website for a business, there are so many factors that go into how difficult or easy it can be for people to find them on the internet. It’s about the end-user and effortless searchability and finding the correct domain name and extension for your website are paramount to the site’s visibility

Choosing the Correct Domain Extension

When attempting to decide on the correct domain name and domain extension, you must do the research to find out which domain and extension are right for you and your end-users.

The business domain is a foundational piece to your digital footprint, and choosing the correct extension is just as important. Both the domain and extension are how people find you on the web, and finding the right combination is key.

Do you need SEO services?  Our team of Local SEO experts can help you get whichever domain extension you choose in front of your prospective customers.

What Are the Different Types of Extensions?

Obviously, your domain name should be the name of your business, but there are different extensions to choose from, and you need to decide which one best suits the business.

There are numerous top-level domains or LTDs, and the five most popular extensions are .com, .net, edu, .gov, and .org, and the business type should be the determining factor when choosing an extension.

Let’s look at the three most popular extensions — .com, .org, and .net.

Charities and Non-profit Organizations Generally Use .org?

A .org is mostly used for charities and non-profit organizations. This shows the end-user that your company focuses on benevolence and not profit. This extension is meant for non-profit organizations and is not the ideal solution for a for-profit business.

A .net Isn’t Just For Networking Anymore?

A .net extension can carry less weight with google than both .com and .org. The .net extension was created for networks and is now generally used for technology and networking companies.

Some companies choose a .net if the .com version of their domain name has already been taken, but it can be confusing for searchers when the company falls outside of these two major categories. So, be careful, and there are always exceptions to these rules.

The .com is the Most Common Domain Extension?

The most popular extension is obviously .com. Most businesses choose a .com because it is the most common and carries the most weight with both google and keyword rankings. Anyone that tells you that the LTD and the extension have zero effect on your SEO are confused.

When someone is searching for your business online, more often than not, they will assume you are using a .com extension. The .com extension was originally created for commercial sites but is now used for just about anything.

Other Extensions?

There are so many extensions to choose from, and you need to make the right decision. Extensions like .co, .repair, .int, .mil are very specific to the business, organization, or military domain they are attached to. The best way to tackle which extension is best for you is to remember your end user.

There really isn’t a right or wrong answer, and in the future that will be even more obvious when all of the .coms, .orgs, and .nets are taken. Think about the demographics of the end-user or how they will react to a unique extension. Older end users might struggle with a .repair or .info rather than a .com or .net.

Use Your Domain and Extension For Branding Purposes

Once you’ve decided on a domain name and an extension, use both for branding purposes by referring to both your domain name and extension. For example, “Check us out at Nozakconsulting.com” or “I work for Nozakconsulting.com.” For us, we can brand Nozak Consulting and Nozakconsulting.com.

But take a website titled “Flight” and they aren’t using a .com because Flight.com costs $10 Gazillion dollars. So, they go with Flight.co for $500,000. This is where you would brand your company, as Flight.co, not just Flight.

Always Think About SEO

When thinking solely through the lenses of search engine optimization, or SEO, choose the extension that matches up with your business type. If you have to get creative, always think of your end-user.