Every successful website starts with the perfect domain name. While companies can spend ages agonizing over the perfect name that’s concise and memorable enough to attract visitors, they may forget about the domain extension. This is the part of the website address after the name and the period. There are several types, but which one should you go for?
The Different Types Of Domain Extensions
There are several forms of extensions for website domain names, and each one has a specific purpose. So, you’re going to want to buy a domain name with the right extension to get people to your website. If it’s not appropriate, you could end up losing traffic because people suspect you’re not legitimate. You may also face additional repercussions from using the wrong form of a particular type of domain extension. With so much to consider, it’s worth taking the time to understand the different forms before diving into an online domain name search.
1) .com
This is the most common form and the one you’re probably going to want as your primary domain name. A .com extension is for commercial business. That’s why the majority of brands selling products and services online have this as their extension. All you have to do is attach this to a unique and appropriate domain name, and you’re away.
2) .net
This one is far less common because .net stands for network. It is mainly used by network providers, such as Internet service and mail service providers. Because of this, it can look a little strange if you pick this for a commercial brand. Just because the domain name is available doesn’t make it suitable. Think about how it will affect your authority.
3) .org
This is another one that first-time website owners might pick up and use as a primary site by mistake. Typically, these .org sites are for organizations rather than brands. That means a company that isn’t operating solely for personal profit. You’ll find a lot of charities and similar organizations with this extension. Therefore, you need to be careful not to use it and give the wrong impression.
4) .edu
This one is much more niche and only applies to educational websites. Colleges and schools with accreditation can set up a .edu domain name to promote their establishment, showcase their courses, and provide distance learning content.
5) .gov
Again, this one is more specific and refers to government agencies. Any government department that has a website can use this extension, and it helps users know they’re in the right place. Scammers may try to set up fake government sites with a .org, and you don’t want to be accused of that.
6) .mil
It’s a similar situation with the .mil extension. These sites are purely for military organizations, which is why you don’t see this one as much as other extensions. While the Department of Defense will use the .gov extension as it’s a government agency, the divisions within the armed forces will have .mil, such as the Army and Marines.
7) .ca
Finally, there are the regional domain names that relate to other markets. The .ca version can be useful for US businesses because it relates to Canada. You can use this for any operations across the border. Other regions have their own versions, such as co.uk for the UK.
Can You Have More Than One Domain Name?
Yes. In fact, it’s advisable to get hold of as many different domain names and types of extensions as you can. This may sound like contradictory advice after everything that was said earlier. However, it all comes down to how you use the domains. You need to start with a strong primary domain that fits your business. If you’re a commercial business, you’ll want that .com domain extension with the perfect name. This is where you’ll welcome visitors with your engaging and informative content and where you’ll hopefully convert all that traffic into sales. Additional domains can act as secondary sites. You don’t have to conduct your business from an inappropriate .net or .org extension. However, these sites can act as effective redirection tools. Let’s say a previous client wanted to return to your site for additional business or information, but they forgot the extension. Either they end up with an error message and get nowhere, or the .net domain automatically takes them to the correct .com site.
Getting hold of these .net and .org versions also stops competitors from getting there first. It’s a sneaky tactic to buy up a load of unused domains for rival companies, but it can be effective. They could create similar redirection sites that take people to their business instead or just leave the page broken and ineffective. Either way that traffic isn’t making it to your primary site. This is also why it’s so important to create additional domains with alternative names and spelling errors. Visitors will make mistakes, and you don’t want to lose out because of it.
Finally, don’t forget to buy up all those regional alternatives for your domain name. This is particularly effective for those selling online in different markets. A local website, like the .ca or .co.uk extensions, gives customers somewhere with the right currencies, contact details, and culturally sensitive information. This can make expansions a lot easier. Even if you haven’t expanded yet, those sites are still beneficial redirection tools and can be adapted for branding and promotions in the future. All of these options emphasize the need for a thorough online domain name search with a trusted provider.
Get Started With Your Primary Domain Name
Hopefully, this introduction to domain extensions gives you a clearer idea of how each form works, and which is right for you. Small businesses selling services and goods are going to need a .com as the primary site, but that doesn’t mean you should dismiss all the others outright. Consider the potential of buying additional versions for redirection purposes and planning ahead with regional extensions. The more you have to work in your favor, the better.