There is no denying the importance of domain names. People need an online address in order to visit your website, and they are a major component of your brand identity. Whether you are a hobby blogger, a small business owner, or a large corporation, your domain name represents you and represents your business.
In addition, even the highest-quality domain extensions (.com, for example) are not as crucial as the primary domain (the elegantthemes at elegantthemes.com), but you should not disregard them either. You have a number of options when selecting a domain extension. However, .com is still the best extension:
- Most users are familiar with this domain extension, and it is what they expect.
- .com is easier to remember than any other extension.
- It has a greater authority, which increases your chances of obtaining backlinks.
If you do not have a .com, users are likely to type it into their address bar by default. If you do not own the .com URL, they will likely land on your competitor's site. In this article, we will cover everything you need to know about the best domain name extensions for SEO, whether you are planning to purchase a few domains or just one that is a little different from the norm.
What is a Domain Extension?
In order to understand domain extensions, you must first understand domain names. Domain names are URLs that are typed into a browser when you wish to access a website, such as elegantthemes.com. They are your website's digital address.
It is possible that you received your domain name from your host — domain hosting and web hosting are two different services, though some providers bundle the two services together.
Domain extensions are also referred to as top-level domains (TLDs). This is the name after the period at the end of the primary domain. .com is the TLD for elegantthemes.com. It is important to note that this is not the same as a subdomain, which you can learn more about here. A subdomain is a part of your URL that is neither a primary domain nor a TLD.)
There are a lot of TLDs beyond .com. Like .net, .co, etc. In terms of accessing your website, all TLDs are the same. For example, .com domains and .net domains are accessible at the same technical level. The user can access the website with either domain. However, there are some other differences.
Why Choose Anything But .com?
The .com TLD was originally intended for use only by commercial organizations, but today, it serves as a standard for most web addresses. Most of the time, when you register a domain name, you hope that a .com is available, but there are plenty of other reasons to choose another type of TLD.
The TLD can tell the user what your website is about or what type of website it is. For example, a .org TLD indicates that the website is a nonprofit, whereas a .edu TLD indicates that it is a school or educational website.
Your customers may be misled if you choose the incorrect TLD, for example, if you run a shop but use the .blog TLD instead of the .shop domain. As a result, choosing the appropriate TLD is critical for your brand.
The price also varies when it comes to TLDs. While .com is the most commonly used and recognized TLD, the price could be much higher for a .inc TLD. If you have the budget for a pricier TLD, your URL may communicate authority (assuming your website visitors know TLD hierarchy, that is) as well as be of value should you decide to sell it.
As an alternative, a less expensive, more easily available URL like .net may diminish your authority, however, if you are running a hobby blog, it may not matter much, and you will save money.
Do the Best Domain Name Extensions Help SEO?
It is not clear whether domain extensions directly affect SEO, but they do have a lateral impact. A TLD will not impact your website's placement in search engine results. Nevertheless, the TLD you choose has a direct effect on user trust, which is important for SEO.
A less common TLD is more likely to be associated with spammy websites and not always trusted by users. When searching online, are you more likely to click on the .com website or the .xyz website?
SEO can also be affected by country-specific TLDs, such as .co.uk for the UK. Having a .co.uk domain extension will allow your site to become more visible to users in that region. As search engines will return location-based results when you have a .co.uk domain extension, you will reach many more users in that region than you will in the U.S.
If you are targeting users in a specific geographic area, consider using a country-specific TLD; otherwise, you should not restrict your site's reachability.
Best Domain Name Extensions
We recommend that you consider the following TLDs based on the following factors: what's available, how much it costs, and your industry and business type. (We place .com in the first place for obvious reasons, but the other TLDs are arranged alphabetically.)
1| .com
It is a no-brainer that .com TLDs are among the most popular, recognized, and sought-after extensions for commercial and for-profit businesses. As such, they are now the first choice for just about any type of website. Even if you plan to purchase other TLDs for your business, purchase .com if it is available.
You should consider the .com TLD if...
- This domain extension is available to everyone who has a website. Period.
- It is affordable (and available). If you do not purchase your primary domain with the .com TLD, someone will and/or users will already be typing in the domain with no results.
- A backlink is what you are looking for.
2| .blog
You can create a blog as a monthly journal of your thoughts or as a daily feed of brand-related tips. In fact, the more important aspect is what a blog post is not – it is not a product page, a press release, a landing page seeking your data... When you use the .blog TLD, you will be clear about the user's expectations – and what they should not expect.
You should consider the .blog TLD if...
- A blog is the primary focus of your website - or your website is only a blog.
- Your writing style is more casual than business speak, which is usually a blog-style voice.
- The content of your blog is entertaining and/or informative, which is what people expect from a blog. You would not want to use .blog for a news website, for example.
- Keeping the primary domains the same will allow you to distinguish your blog from your main website.
3| .co
It may seem that the .co extension has moved further away from its roots than any other extension on this list. Once the Colombian country code, it has now become associated with businesses, particularly startups.
Entrepreneurs and businesses of all sizes love .co as the cool new kid (or the not-new kid after it's gone through a makeover and has become cool afterwards like the young, fresher version of .com). In addition to being succinct and trendy, .co is also more widely available than .com in terms of availability.
As a result, you should be aware that .co is less recognizable than .com, and if your primary domain already has the .com TLD, people will probably visit your site even when they do not intend to. If you want to use the .co for branding purposes, it is a good idea to purchase both domains and direct the .com to the .co.
You should consider the .co TLD if...
- This website is for a commercial venture, company, or corporation.
- It is important that you make a statement about your brand with your TLD.
- If you own the .com for your primary domain, you are not concerned about competing with a .com.
4| .io
In recent years, the .io TLD, which was once country-specific to the British Ocean Territory, has gained widespread popularity. A popular domain name extension for technology startups and software-as-a-service (SaaS) companies, it is similar to I/O, an abbreviation for “input/output,” an abbreviation used in computing.
You should consider the .io TLD if...
- Your company is a tech startup or a SaaS company.
- Your domain name should be short and easy to remember.
- If your budget permits, you may be able to spend a little more on a domain extension - this TLD is a little more expensive than some others.
5| .net
This extension works for all types of websites, as does .com. It is also sometimes the second-best choice if a .com is not available, and it is usually more inexpensive than .com. Although this TLD was originally intended for internet providers, it is still more common among tech and web companies. Choosing a .net domain can depend on the nature of your site. Choosing a .net domain is fine if you have a tech/web-focused website.
In the event that you have another type of website that might sound like a tech site, perhaps you should avoid using .net. For example, if you have a website dedicated to baking with the word "cookies" in the title and choose .net, it may be mistaken for a website.
You should consider the .net TLD if...
- If you work in the IT, tech, or web industry.
- There is no .com domain available or it is too expensive.
- Even if your website has a .net extension, it will not be mistaken for a tech website.
6| .org
In spite of the fact that .org is available to anyone now, it is best known as representing non-profit and not-for-profit organizations. Many people still view this TLD as this. It is not suitable for just any website.
This TLD is ideal for non-profit organizations, political parties, politicians, and online communities. Even though .org indicates a high-quality website with trustworthy, reliable information, it is not usually associated with commercial brands, and visitors are unlikely to expect to purchase products.
You should consider the .org TLD if...
- Your website provides information, such as one associated with a nonprofit organization or a political organization.
- It is your website that builds and nurtures a community.
- A primary objective of the site is not to sell products. The site is not commercial in nature.
7| .tv
.tv is another TLD that started as a country code but has evolved into a more generalised, non-location-specific TLD. Originally intended to serve Tuvalu, a country in the South Pacific, it is now used by television and video brands (for obvious reasons).
You should consider the .tv TLD if…
- Having a video on your website is an important element of your business.
- It is important that your audience is able to see how committed you are to video creation and that it is an essential part of your brand identity.
- Your domain name sets expectations - users will know what type of website they will be visiting.
8| .us
You will not want to use the .US TLD if you wish to reach a more global audience as it is specifically intended for U.S.-based users. This TLD is available to individuals, corporations, and nonprofits located in the United States and/or with business operations there.
The .us domain was once reserved exclusively for government websites but is now available to the general public. In spite of this, it still has a governmental feel, so it is ideal for websites with a patriotic or American theme.
You should consider the .US TLD if...
- It is intended for users in the United States.
- Business operations are primarily conducted in the United States or you target American citizens or residents
- Whether through content, marketing, or both, your website makes use of American patriotism.
9| .fm
As with .tv, the .fm TLD has been repurposed from the country code of Federated Micronesia to serve as the de facto domain extension for audio services and podcasts. While it is usually more expensive than other TLDs, .fm is a great choice if you run a radio show, podcast, or another audio-based brand.
You should consider the .fm TLD if...
- As your site is predominantly (or entirely) devoted to audio, you need your users to be able to distinguish your audio brand from a similar-named non-audio brand.
- In order to distinguish yourself from competitors with more traditional TLDs, you have the budget for a more specialized domain
There are other options for domain extensions
It is important to note that the domain extensions discussed above are not the only options available to you. More than 1,500 different TLDs exist in addition to the five most common extensions mentioned above. The following are some other popular options:
- .gov — Is only available to government entities
- .edu — For educational institutions only
- .biz — Although associated with businesses and e-commerce, it is less popular and trusted than .com or .co.
- .info — Short for information, this is an open extension
- .xyz — An open extension that can be used by anyone
- .ly — A country code for Libya that is used by many tech startups for creative spellings
- .site and .xyz — These are two common TLDs (with .site being the more popular of the two).
When choosing the perfect domain name, a number of factors must be considered. In addition to finding a name that reflects your personal or brand identity — and is easy to remember and type — you must also make sure the domain extension is available and aligns with your needs.
Names play an important role in the Internet industry
Getting your website right is key to determining a business's success. If you fail to get your website right, no amount of Facebook or Google ads will be able to help.
Your domain name shadows the following aspects:
1. Brand Positioning
It is imperative that your domain name is effective in establishing your brand and what it has to offer. For example, lifestylemag.online is an effective domain name.
2. First Impression
If you were to introduce your business with its name, that would be your first impression. What would be your first impression of directpay.online?
3. Marketing Touchpoints
You can use domain names as touchpoints to attract and engage your users. For instance, huntapartment.online will enable you to deliver an effective message. Good domain names are determined by their domain extension. In the past, the most common extension for domains was .COM, indicating a commercial website.
Today, however, there is a wide range of options available for domain extensions that make them more brandable and meaningful. With a domain name in .ONLINE, you immediately establish your online identity. The fact that the word online is available in 25 languages is also a great advantage since it allows you to build a global brand.
The five most effective ways to use a domain name in your digital marketing campaign
You can tailor your marketing approach based on your goals and the type of campaign you are running.
As an example, a domain name can simply point to a page on your website. If you have the marketing budget then, you can create a campaign-specific landing page or even develop a brand-new microsite.
You can enhance your marketing strategy by using domain names in the following creative and effective ways:
1. Develop campaigns that are highly targeted
To maximize the effectiveness of your marketing campaigns, give them their own unique Internet identity. A unique domain name can be used to direct users to a specific landing page in which you wish them to engage. For example, you could use a unique domain name to advertise a special event, a giveaway, a registration form for a trade show, a loyalty program or even a video advertisement.
In the case of launching a skincare campaign, you may choose a domain name, such as www.[productname]online, which redirects users to a landing page where they can learn more about the product and register for a giveaway to receive a free sample. As a result of this approach, you will be able to:
- A specific audience should be targeted
- Attract more attention
- Put your creativity to the test
- Determine which type of message is most effective by experimenting with different types of messages
- Analyze the results of specific campaigns
2. Create a unique identity for your products
It is common for businesses to have one-star products they promote more than others. When this occurs, giving the product its own unique identity can help it stand out in the crowd.
A major eCommerce company, Amazon, did this with the Kindle - the domain kindle.store redirects to the product page for the Kindle on Amazon's main website. You could register a domain name such as spicyscent.online and redirect it to the product page of your website if you are interested in teas.
3. To increase exposure, create branded short links
You may have come across links such as bit.ly or virg.in while scrolling through social media. Many new entrepreneurs make the mistake of thinking that sharing branded links on social media is an expensive proposition.
As an example, branded links can help you increase your brand awareness significantly by utilizing every aspect of your digital real estate without costing you a fortune.
- bit.ly/4FF76V
- pay.online/digital
How would you rate the meaning of each of the following links if you were simply to look at them?
Branded links can boost trust and increase CTR (click-through rates) by up to 39%. Having a meaningful domain name on a new domain extension can help you achieve great branded links that can enhance your brand credibility.
4. Obtain backlinks that are relevant to your topic
In order to rank well in search engines, backlinks of high quality are essential. Anchor text (the words/characters on which the hyperlink is set) makes these backlinks even more powerful. Adding additional credibility to the link when the words in the URL match those in the anchor text adds to its credibility.
When the anchor text ‘gardening services online’ is linked to gardening.online, it strengthens the backlinks to that site. For example, when the anchor text ‘gardening services online’ is linked to gardening.online, it helps strengthen your backlinks.
5. Make your marketing campaigns more creative
When it comes to getting the most out of your promotional efforts, having a memorable domain name can lend multiple benefits. Especially when it comes to search engine optimization and brand recognition.
Consider the following examples, for example: An event or season: springevents.online getactive.online is the campaign slogan. Website address: womensalon.online Black Friday is a specific day: blackfriday.online Consider using name generators to come up with some creative and memorable names for your digital campaigns.
In summary,
You do not need to create hundreds of domain names to succeed in the highly competitive digital marketing marketplace. However, domain names are a powerful tool to give your digital marketing campaigns a fresh and unique feel. A good domain name on a relevant domain extension such as .online can go a long way in enhancing your marketing campaigns, which would create more opportunities to grow your business and to keep your existing customers engaged.