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.
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.
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?
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.
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 Gajillian 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