Your domain name is what people use to find you on the Internet. You want a domain name that relates to how people will relate to your company and its brand. Selecting the right domain extension is part of this naming process that you need to consider carefully. Let's look at a few of the more common domain extensions and what they mean to the typical Internet user.
.COM: The .com extension is the strongest domain extension for businesses. Over 50 percent of websites out there have this extension. It is the one that people are most likely to use and remember. Many people instantly think this is the best domain for them. However, .com isn’t always the most apt choice.
If you are a for-profit business, make every effort to get a .com extension. If your domain name choice with the .com extension is no longer available, use these tips to get one:
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Try tweaking the domain name a bit. For example, instead of AcmeConsultants, try AcmeBusinessConsultants or AcmeEngineeringConsultants.
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Add a strategic hyphen. Don't use more than one though. The over-hyphenated domain names have the look of a spam site.
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If you are a localized business, try adding your location to the name. AcmePlumbing.com is likely taken. AcmePlumbingPoughkeepsie.com may not be. Be careful though and don't hamper future expansion options.
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Use a keyword in your domain name instead of your company name. If you are a plumber in Poughkeepsie, try "PlumbingPoughkeepsie.com". Just be aware that this approach will not help your company branding.
.NET: The .net extension is a perfect fit for an Internet service/technology company. For a business trying to get a particular domain name, the .net is often a second choice when the .com is not available. However, this can backfire. Because most people use the .com extension with most domain names, users may type in the .com extension and go to your competition instead.
.BIZ: You might think .biz is a good extension for business. Unfortunately, many .biz domains are spam sites. Adding a .biz is not going to help your online presence.
.ORG: For the non-profit. a .org extension is the perfect choice. This extension has a strong connection with the non-profit community and businesses should avoid the .org due to that strong link.
.INFO: If you want to create a totally informational site, you can use a .info extension. This is not a good choice for businesses or non-profits, which leaves it wide open for anyone who wants to share information on a hobby or passion.
.EDU: If you are an educational institution, such as a university, community college or even a high school, use a .edu domain. Even though .com is the most popular, a .edu is best for a school or place for learning.
.GOV: For a government agency, a .gov extension is your best choice.
If you are country-specific, it’s also a good idea to use the domain for your country. For example, if you own a toy store in the United Kingdom that only delivers to citizens of the UK, it makes sense to use a country-specific domain name, such as burtstoyshoppe.co.uk. The benefit of using a local domain name is that people will know you are a local entity.
As you can see, you need to put a good deal of thought into your domain name choice. Your domain name is part of your company branding. The right choice will improve your brand's value. The wrong choice will not. Choose wisely.
What should you do once you get the perfect domain name? Learn more about internet marketing by reading the 8 essential steps.
