Website Solutions
by Connecting Rainbows
Top Level Domain Name Extensions – TLDs
What’s the difference between a .com and a .net?
The question is actually much bigger than that. There are literally hundreds of top level domain name extensions (TLDs). As of March 2009, there were 280 of them. Of course, most of them are reserved for country codes, like .ca for Canada and .mx for Mexico. A much smaller number are for general use.
Here is a list of the most popular domain extensions and what the represent:
.com is intended for commercial websites. It is the most popular.
.net was originally intended for network providers, although individuals and commercial sites are purchasing them now.
.org represents the word “organization” and is primarily used by non-profits.
.biz is used for small business websites.
.info signifies a resource website.
.mobi is reserved for mobile device websites.
.tv was intended for the islands of Tuvalu, but is now being used to represent television.
.us is for the good ol’ USA.
.ws was originally designated as the country code for Western Samoa, but is now commonly used as an acronym for websites.
.name and .me are intended for personal use.
.edu is reserved for educational institutions.
.gov is reserved for US government agencies.
Does it really matter?
Yep! Not only does the domain name extension tell the visitor what type of site it is, but it is a professional representation of you. I can’t swear to it, but I’d also bet that the search engines give you more credit in rankings for having a more popular domain extension like .com. And having a .com extension on your URL will probably make you easier to find. I don’t know about you, but I always assume a .com before anything else.
Do I need to purchase them all?
In my opinion, no. Personally, I never have. I purchase the .com every time. (Although I’m tempted to try for one of the new .co extensions… keep reading…) It really just depends on how important brand protection is to you. If you found a great .com and want to make sure nobody else gets their hands on your idea, purchase a group of domain names with the most popular domain name extensions.
What if the domain name I want is taken?
If you absolutely have to have a particular domain name and the .com is taken, go for the .info or the .biz. … ORRR the brand new .co! The .co domain extension was originally intended for Columbia usage, but has now been released for public company/corporation/commerce use. Could you get much closer to a .com? Just give up an ‘m’ and you’re golden. If the inital price of a .co is any indication, the demand will be high! As I type this article, the price at www.GoDaddy.com is $29.99!
2 Responses to “Top Level Domain Name Extensions – TLDs”
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July 30th, 2010 at 1:00 pm
Thanks for sharing this. We’re always looking for smart information to share with clients and my coworkers, and this post is definitely worth sharing!
July 30th, 2010 at 4:49 pm
Please do the world a favor and post tons more! Your posts are great.