Benefits of a .ONLINE domain name.

One such domain extension is .online. It is a versatile domain name that comes with multiple benefits such as:

• It is available.
• It is globally understood – the word online is understood in more than 25 languages.
• It is meaningful.
• It is brandable.
• It is relevant.
• …and many more.

Here are 10 businesses or industries that can use this highly adaptable domain extension to create a memorable online brand.

1. Architecture

Even an engineering and design-oriented field like architecture, which is dominated by blueprints and scaled models, cannot afford to ignore the importance of a strong online presence.

With a domain name on a .online extension, you can craft your unique online brand that mirrors your offline style in terms of color scheme, design elements and other aesthetic aspects.

You can use your .online website to showcase your credentials as an architect or architectural firm, introduce your team to potential clients, upload blueprints and other plans of your best projects and provide contact information. For example, www.architectscollective.online or www.buildingblokes.online.

2. Interior Designing

The word ‘online’ is a universally understood and accepted term, which makes it the perfect choice for the web address of an interior designer or a design firm, especially if it wishes to find clients in multiple geographies.

With a well-designed website on a .online extension, you can not only showcase your best projects but also get into the details of your thought process, your inspirations and aesthetic understanding. Your favorite works can truly come alive in the form of a story when presented online.

You can take the visitors on a virtual journey of how you transformed your client’s vision into a beautiful cafe, restaurant, home or office space. Examples of meaningful domain names include www.bestinteriors.online or www.designbydavid.online.

3. Real estate

Real estate deals are only sealed after in-person meetings and site visits but that doesn’t mean that a real-estate company should ignore being online.

A website that states your company’s history, property listings with photographs, 360-degree views and videos as well as client testimonials can enhance the legitimacy and reputation of your business.

A domain name that includes your company’s name and the .online domain extension is a great way to establish your online presence. For example, www.youradobe.online or www.malikestate.online.

4. Agriculture

The penetration of the Internet is no longer restricted to urban areas. Farmers in almost all countries heavily rely on the Internet for gaining useful information regarding weather conditions, new methods of farming and irrigation, agricultural technology, market trends and new products.

By creating a website on the .online extension, an agricultural company can create a unique online brand that stands out but still resonates with its offline work. For instance, your website can be an important tool for highlighting your CSR work, case studies and promoting any technological or product innovation that your company may have created or contributed to.

It can also be a source of information, not just for farmers but also for people who ascribe to clean and organic food consumption. This is especially beneficial for an agricultural company that wants to establish itself as an industry expert. A few examples include www.agricare.online or www.agrotalks.online.

5. Advertising

If there’s one industry that has truly been revolutionized due to the digital revolution, it is marketing and advertising. New digital-only advertising agencies are mushrooming at a rapid rate to cater to the new businesses.

Veteran firms that earlier prided themselves on their TV ads and witty print messaging are creating and expanding their digital footprint to stay in the game. For agencies with digital at their core as well as those looking to expand from traditional channels to digital, the .online domain extension provides the ideal base for building a memorable brand.

Firstly, it gives you an easy and relatively inexpensive opportunity to create a brand-new website that still resonates with the name and reputation you have already created in the industry.

Secondly, it lends greater credibility to your passion and expertise in all things digital by its mere definition. For instance if you are an advertising company called Vibgyor and are now getting into digital marketing, your domain name can me www.vibgyordigital.online. In fact, an Australian digital marketing agency called Louder Online has a similar domain name at www.louder.online.

6. Music

Music is the universal language and there’s no reason why your musical creations shouldn’t transcend borders. Whether you’re an amateur musician or someone who has already garnered fame locally through live performances, you should consider taking your music “online” with the help of the .online domain extension.

You can use your website to post recordings of your music, studio sessions to give fans a glimpse into what goes on behind the scenes, stripped-down acoustic versions of your favorite tracks, tour dates and so much more. For example, you could have www.learntrumpet.online (if you’re a music teacher) or www.martinsings.online (if you’re a singer).

7. Healthcare

Thanks to digitalization, healthcare is now literally available at one’s fingertips. Whether it’s finding practitioners in the area, booking appointments, ordering medication or seeking advice and information, every kind of healthcare brand or company benefits immensely from being online.

The .online domain extension can help you create a digital presence that exemplifies how digitally-savvy you are. It can help you become a useful and reliable source of information for both patients and healthcare professionals. For example, www.healthytalk.online or www.findadoctor.online.

8. Food

Having an online presence offers a wide range of branding and expansion opportunities to anyone in the food industry. For standalone restaurants, bakeries, home chefs or family-owned food businesses, a website is the perfect platform to showcase your legacy and expertise.

For those companies that are new entrants to the digital world, the .online extension is a short and sweet way of letting patrons know that you are now online.

Moreover, with the trend or ordering food online on a drastic rise, every food establishment needs a strong online presence to allow people to place online orders and to manage them efficiently. For example, www.veggietreats.online or www.expressfood.online.

9. Beauty

Whether you’re a beauty blogger or a well-established beauty brand, there is a lot you can do with a domain extension as versatile as .online. Consider the following names for creating a personal brand out of your blog: www.beautyonduty.online or www.allmadeup.online. All make for fun, catchy and creative domain names that are sure to entice beauty enthusiasts to click on your website link.

Beauty brands can use the .online extension to create their brand website or microsites for new products or campaigns. For instance, if you have recently come out with a revolutionary product, you can create a standalone page for it that includes the product and/or your brand name followed by .online. You can also create domain names for campaigns and giveaways using .online, such as www.getpouty.online (for a lipstick giveaway) or www.freemakeover.online (for a free online makeup consultation).

10. Sports

Sports channels can use the .online extension to create a web presence that’s different from but still relatable to your reputed name, such as www.allforsports.online. This online platform can be used for showing live scores, clips from tournaments and reviews by experts.

Sports enthusiasts and experts can also use the .online extension to create blogs that post exciting content on sports analysis, predictions and highlights, for instance, www.yourtopsport.online or www.matchpointbygreg.online.

Get .ONLINE today.

With an easily available and versatile domain extension such as .online, there is no excuse for you to put off creating an outstanding online brand for yourself with immense potential for growth and popularity.

Author Bio

Alisha is a Senior Content Marketing & Communication Specialist at Radix, the registry behind some of the most successful new domain extensions, including .STORE and .TECH. You can connect with her on LinkedIn and Twitter. 

No matter where you look, design is all around you. It’s central to everything — from the way we navigate a commute to work all the way to every aspect of the technology and software that we interact with. There’s no doubt that design informs everything that we see or experience. Many companies, cities, and individuals have made design their unique differentiator, thinking about and planning around details that others do not. Just one frustrating shopping cart experience online can remind us that successful modern companies have prioritized user experiences to survive and grow.

More “traditional” designers might be folks working in graphics, web design, UX design, fashion design, landscape design, and others that wed the practical with the artistic. But “design” has become such a catch-all word that if often means that your services are intentional and easy to use. For example, a stay-at-home mommy blogger may consider herself a lifestyle designer, helping others navigate their own paths with intention and elegance.

Given that design is so pervasive in our lives and such a powerful commercial differentiator, it should be no surprise that .design is one of the most widely used new domain extensions. It’s also obvious that the sites and brands using .design tend to hold themselves to a higher caliber, showcasing truly inspirational work and unique visions.

Why use a .design domain name when you could use something like .com?

When the .design TLD was created in 2014, design was THE most popular word in .com domain names. Imagine taking a long, clunky domain name like DeesDaringDesign.com and turning that into DeesDaring.Design — it’s shorter, catchier, and makes the words on both sides of the dot work for you. Indeed, the .design makes your branding pop, using the dot to separate who you are (your chosen domain/brand name) and what you do (.design!). It looks great on resumes, business cards, and is the first building block for a professional and unique email address.

Despite what you may have heard about a certain domain name being “king,” it’s not about what others are doing and using, it’s about having the most memorable, relevant domain name. And with .design being a newer domain extension, chances are, you’ll have better odds of scoring the exact name you want.

Get your .design domain name today!

Build your brand and showcase your talents with a .design domain name.

Of course, .design is the perfect domain name for your online portfolio. Looking for a new career? Or perhaps you’re not actively looking, but want to keep your work public for potential opportunities? Use a .design domain name to display your accomplishments, what you’ve created, and what you’re capable of.

But remember, when launching your portfolio, don’t make perfect the enemy of good. Sometimes, all you need is one great image or rendering with a professional .design email address to look credible. When beginning a career in design, people feel they need to show every project they’ve done, when in fact the best and most successful designers know that their work and their portfolios are all about curation and editing.

A .design domain name may be the kick in the pants you need to create an engaging website.

Sometimes just picking up the perfect domain name (before someone else does!) is the first bit of momentum you need.

The word design lends itself to creative thinking and problem solving. What part of over-used stock images and blasé text is creative? What about that is inspiring? Using a .design name will challenge you to live up to your domain name’s and website’s potential. Starting with the right domain name and brand vision will inspire you to flesh your site out with thoughtful content and engaging copy.

What are you waiting for?! Get your .design domain name today!

Whether you’re a graphic designer, UX researcher, or work-from-anywhere blogger, a .design name may work for you. They’re catchy, they’re relevant, and they’ll challenge you to create the best-looking website around.

Don’t wait too long though, .design domain names are catching on — in fact, it’s the only new domain extension “to have major adoption by household brands.” Major companies known for their smart design and marketing are showcasing it on .design, giving their design departments a platform and making themselves that much more prestigious. There are more than two dozen brands like airbnb.design, uber.design, and even tacobell.design leading the way! Take a page out of the big players’ books by posting interesting content on your .design site and building a community of your own dedicated followers.

Get your .design today!

There are two basic components comprising a website address. First, there’s the domain name — it’s what connects the website to a company or individual. It usually contains the name of the business or speaks to what the business offers, or both. Then, there’s the domain name extension, which identifies what kind of website it is. There are over a thousand domain extensions although these are the most common:

• .com
• .net
• .org
• .edu
• .gov

The two most frequently used domain extensions, .com and .net, are used by individuals and businesses who are trying to expand their reach online.

Having a website allows you to buy and sell products online, offer research and expertise into a specific topic, and spread a captivating message. So, with both .com and .net being so common, which domain extension should you use?

3 Factors to Consider When Choosing .com or .net

Whether you’re a for-profit business, a blogger, or a conspiracy theory debunker, the right domain extension sets the proper expectation for users accessing your site.

Imagine trying to purchase shoes online and seeing that the domain extension is a .org. It isn’t what you normally see used for eCommerce sites, so one might make the logical leap that purchasing these shoes is in some way benefiting a nonprofit (as most nonprofits and charities will use the extension .org).

While at first, this sounds great — even more reason to buy those shoes! — some might consider that a dishonest use of a domain extension. Not that there are many requirements as to which TLD (or, top-level domain) businesses can use, but there are certain expectations and connotations for each one.

To properly utilize the .com or .net domain extension, consider the following three factors.

What is the Purpose of the Website?

Are you selling a product? Are you offering information? Are you trying to save a species of animal?

These are important questions because they strike at the heart of your business and determine which domain extension is appropriate. Here is a breakdown of the most common domain extensions:

• .com – Usually offers a product or service. “Com” is short for “Commercial.” Commercial businesses, for-profit companies, personal blogs, and non-personal blogs are all standard for owning a .com domain. That being said, because of its generality, almost any website is acceptable as a .com.
• .net – Stands for “Network,” and is generally associated with “umbrella” sites — sites that are home to a wide range of smaller websites. Network sites were initially created for services like internet providers, emailing services, and internet infrastructure.

If your desired .com domain name is taken then consider using a .net. Other commonly used domain extensions have a more specific purpose:

• .org – Short for “Organization.” These sites are generally associated with nonprofits, charities, and other informational organizations that are trying to drive traffic not for commercial purposes. Other organizations who use .org are sports teams, religious groups, and community organizations.
• .edu – or “Education.” Schools, universities, and other educational sites will utilize the .edu domain extension for an air of authority in the education space.
• .gov – or “Government.” These sites are required to be part of the U.S. Government. Anything related to U.S. government programs or other departments must have a .gov domain extension.

How Common is Your Business Name?

Imagine: A business offers standard products like sewing equipment and materials. The name of the company is something equally familiar like Incredible Sewing.

Because “incredible” and “sewing” are two commonly used words, the chances that the appropriate domain is available for a .com domain extension are much less than for .net. (Although as of writing this, Incredible Sewing is available in the domain space.)

The reason for this is how frequently each domain extension is used. In 2018, upwards of 46% of all registered domains used the .com TLD while only 3.7% used .net. When trying to come up with the perfect web address, sometimes it feels like every one-word or two-word .com domain name is already taken. This is one reason why some individuals and businesses will choose to use a .net extension versus a .com.

N.B.: It is beneficial to check if your desired domain is available before moving forward with a project or company.

Going to great lengths to plan in the beginning will save time and prevent you from having to remake those business cards due to an unavailable domain name! If you’re wondering how to search for your domain, check out Domain.com.

Memorability: .Com vs .Net

Has this ever happened to you: An advertisement is playing and you barely catch the tailwind of it? You type in the website address only to have it come up blank. Later, you find out you had put in .com when it was a .net, or some other, domain.

The fact is, the basic assumption about websites is that they all have a .com domain extension. This is because the second most common top-level domain is only used about 5% of the time (.org). By going with the tried and true .com, companies can ditch this confusion and not worry about decreased traffic.

If this seems absurd, consider this: Most cell phone keyboards now come with a “.com” button, though none come with .net, .org or any other domain extensions attached to it.

Other Considerations for Creating a Web Address

While both .com and .net are resourceful domains, there are other considerations to think about when creating a web address. Some of those center around:

• Traditional vs nontraditional domains
• Domain protection
• SEO: how each performs

Traditional vs Nontraditional Domains

For most businesses, straddling the traditional and nontraditional is part of the balancing act. While companies want to seem edgy and unique, unconventional ways can be viewed negatively by more traditional businesses and customers.

In the web domain space there are now over a thousand domain extensions available to the consumer. All but a handful are looked at as “nontraditional.” So, while it might seem valuable to stand out, be sure to consider how it may be viewed professionally.

New TLDs

Back in 2012, ICANN decided to allow businesses to apply for unique domain extensions. This quickly rose the number of TLDs from its original 22. Some of the early applications for domain extensions involved words such as:

• .design
• .lol
• .love
• .book
• .tech

Some of these new TLDS offered immediate value to businesses and consumers who wanted a new and noteworthy domain. Others seemed more like gag websites (hence the stereotype of new TLDs being unprofessional). Either way, these new TLDs have exploded into a comprehensive list.

Now, if you’re a yoga company, you can use .yoga. Sell yachts? Make tech? Play tennis? Eat soy? These are all available as domain extensions. Which means not only can you create more unique web addresses, but you can also be more specific. If having a new TLD sounds perfect for your business, be sure to check through the full list to find one that fits your needs.

Domain Protection

Depending on what you want to accomplish with your business website, it might be worth registering both .com and .net. In this way, you can protect yourself from competing companies taking a very similar domain. Otherwise, another company can ride off your success and potentially drive traffic away.

As companies grow, they become more susceptible to being confronted with these sorts of schemes. They are then forced to decide whether to buy out the competing website or to let them be. Needless to say, the larger the company, the more they’re going to have to pay.

What are other things you should look out for when it comes to people using similar domain names?

Typosquatting

Typosquatting is when individuals purchase web domains based on common misspellings of words. From our last example of Incredible Sewing, they might take the web domain by spelling “incredible” as “incredibel.”

By systematically using misspellings, these forms of leaching can drive substantial traffic away from the intended website. These typosquatters can then offer to be bought out, or they’ll just continue to steer traffic to other organizations that they own.

As of right now, the most viable option for protecting yourself is to purchase multiple domains so that they’re unavailable to your competitors.

SEO: How Each Performs

Search engine optimization has to do with complex algorithms that determine how relevant your website is to a given search. In terms of which domain extension you should pick (between com vs net), there is no evidence that suggests one does better over another.

It can be noted, however, that having certain keywords within your web domain can improve your SEO ranking. Having “sewing” within your domain will make your site more relevant for keyword searches around sewing. It’s that straightforward.

Com: Pros and Cons

As an overview, let’s run through the benefits and pitfalls of using a .com domain extension:

• Pros – Using a “commercial” extension, companies and individuals can signify their intention. Whether that’s to sell a product or service or to promote your work, the .com does this in a matter that’s professional and can be trusted. Also, there’s no worrying over your web address being confused.
• Cons – Because nearly half of all websites are based on .com, finding the perfect domain name that isn’t already in use can be tough. It can be pricey to buy out an existing domain and time-consuming to find one available.

Net: Pros and Cons

Originally designed for any network organization like internet providers and email sites, .net sites have been rising in popularity as an alternative to .com.

• Pros – Many fewer .net website domains have been registered than .com domains. This means there’s a higher chance of getting your ideal web domain. Also, because of its original design, .net sites are often associated with having a community around them. This can promote a positive image.
• Cons – These websites will need to market harder to compete with a similar .com site. Automatically, people think that any website is a .com site, which means businesses can lose traffic due to confusion.

How to Create the Perfect Domain Name

Once you’ve decided whether you’re branding with a .com or a .net domain extension, it’s then important to make sure it’s paired with the perfect domain name. The ideal address will do one of three things:

• State your business
• State what your business does
• Incite intrigue

The first two are preferred, while the third is more of a backup strategy. Because many .com and .net sites have already been taken, sometimes a roundabout domain will be the best solution.

A domain name should also have a few decisive characteristics. Try creating a web address that is some combination of:

• Clear
• Concise
• Unmistakable
• Short

Straightforward Approach

The first step is always to check if the business name is available as a domain. If your business name has been taken, check to see how up-to-date the website is. If it’s not current and doesn’t look like it’s being used, it might be possible to purchase the domain name from whomever owns it.

Having the business name as the domain name is ideal because it’s the logical extension of that business. Starbucks has Starbucks.com. Apple has apple.com.

If the business name is unavailable, sometimes it helps to add a modifier word. If starbucks.com was already taken, the next logical domain would be starbuckscoffee.com. In the same way, Apple would be able to use appleelectronics.com. It’s not as short as only having the business name, but it is still clear, concise, and unmistakable.

Branding a Unique Term

Another idea for getting the perfect website domain is to coin a term that’s unique to your business. Then you can use that term within your brand’s website. By doing this, you not only have crafted a unique web identity, but it can also be concise and short.

Ready to Purchase Your Domain Name?

When determining which domain extension is better, .com vs .net, always be sure to look inward first. Acknowledge the purpose of putting your content online. Whether it’s to market a brand, sell a product, or connect various smaller sites by theme, each domain extension has its proper setting.

By crafting the perfect domain name with the suitable domain extension, you can have a web address that is memorable, unique, and fitting for your business.

More Information

To find out more about the differences between new TLDs and gTLDs check out our domain blog today! There you’ll find other resources like How to Block an IP Address, How to Design a Website, and more.

• .tech
• .space
• .actor
• .yoga

New TLDs provide novel territory for individuals and businesses who want to distinguish themselves among other websites. Some of these domain extensions have incredible utility by offering companies a more niche website or a creative take on their original TLDs.

What Are the Original TLDs

The old TLDs are the original domain extensions that are still commonly in use today. Each has a specific purpose and a certain domain space to which it is connected. A few of the most well-known examples are:

• .com – Often used for commercial businesses and individuals who are marketing themselves.
• .net – Short for “Network,” these are commonly associated with internet providers, emails, and umbrella sites that are connected to various smaller sites.
• .org – Nonprofits and charities will often use the .org domain extension. Other organizations like sports teams, community groups, and religions will often use .org.
• .edu – “Education.” Most schools, universities, and other learning centers will use this TLD.
• .gov – This is a restricted TLD used by the U.S. government. Any government site must have a .gov domain extension.

For a long time, these sorts of top-level domains were considered sufficient for covering all the subsections of the internet. But, of course, as the internet expanded, so increased the necessity for new TLDs.

It all starts with a great domain. Get yours at Domain.com.

ICANN and its Role in New TLDs

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (or ICANN) is a non-profit that helps maintain the Domain Name System (or DNS). ICANN is the organization responsible for the decision to expand the internet domain space, by allowing new TLDS to operate.

Back in 2012, ICANN decided to allow businesses to apply for new top-level domains to promote growth. Some of the earliest applied TLDs included:

• .art
• .app
• .love
• .shop
• .baby

Since then, more than a thousand new TLDs have entered the public domain. Now the question is, which one should you choose?

6 Considerations For Choosing a New TLD

While these new TLDs are unconventional compared to the standard .com or .net, they have many benefits. Maybe you’re looking to stand out creatively from the other websites in your competitive space. Or maybe every domain idea you’ve had has already been taken. However you want to use them, new TLDs have incredible potential to boost your web presence.

• Modernized TLDs

Every so often some new technological advancement will come along that shifts the way something is done. In this case, what’s changed is the possibility of a new and innovative web address. Businesses have always evolved and by using these new TLDs, companies can stay ahead of the curve.

New TLDs — A Fresh Take

Therefore, it’s important to have perspective. Sure, right now certain traditionalists consider anything but the core group of gTLDs to be less desirable (.com, .net, .org, etc.). But as these new TLDs become more commonplace, this view is changing and having an up-to-date domain will save time. Companies who lag might later change their opinion too late and find out their desired domain has already been taken.

Of course, use this perspective with caution. How a business is perceived is always essential. Be sure to understand your audience and take them into account when registering a domain.

• Knowing Your Audience

Not all businesses are created equal. Different demographics will be attracted to different facets of a company. Marketing strategies toward senior citizens, for example, will be much different than marketing toward millennials.

Understanding your audience can help push you toward the right TLD. As a yoga center, one option is to register a .com domain extension. However, it would also be appropriate to register a .yoga TLD. This would generate authority within the yoga space. Some other new TLDs that fit a niche market are:

• .coffee
• .tennis
• .pizza
• .toys
• .photography

Each of these domain extensions hits their target market with a certain exactness.

• Specificity

Knowing what sort of business you run or what kind of service you are providing can help narrow down the TLD you want. The perfect domain extension indicates precisely what to expect when users stumble upon your website. Not only this, using a more specific domain extension can reduce the length of the website URL.

Some new TLDs that can help specify your web address are:

• .tech – With the increasing number of tech start-ups out there, having a .tech TLD can set your website apart from the pack.
• .design – Spice up an artist portfolio page with a .design URL. Or use this new TLD for any number of design professions like interior decorator, web designer, graphic designer, and more.
• .luxury – Fashion brands, high-end accessories, car companies, furniture, these are all services that can succeed under the .luxury domain extension.
• .restaurant – This TLD can separate your restaurant from all the other .com eateries. It allows the name of your restaurant to exist as the domain name and leave the “description” for the domain extension.

These are just a few of the numerous TLDs available on Domain.com. Each has its own space where it provides value. It’s all a matter of finding the right one and getting creative.

• Increased Creativity

With the sheer number of available TLDs nowadays, it’s possible to use them to upgrade your web address and boost it to the next level. Some examples of new creative web addresses include:

• [Your Name].cool
• [Clothing Brand].fashion
• [Cooking Site].recipes
• [Anything].pizza

As you can see, these are just a few examples of possible combinations. With over a thousand of these new TLDs, it’s hard to imagine not finding the perfect domain that is both creative and descriptive.

• Brand Protection

For those companies who already have their generic TLD domain name, it can be beneficial to scoop up similar TLDs that are available on the market. If a coffee business owns its brand name with the .com domain extension, they might also wish to purchase the .coffee domain extension as well.

The Necessity of Brand Protection

Unfortunately, with each new TLD, it becomes harder to protect a brand from those trying to benefit off of it.

• Brandjacking – Individuals will purchase relevant domains based around a popular website and use its popularity to drive traffic away from the intended website. An example of this would be trying to register starbucks.coffee before Starbucks does in order to exploit them or drive traffic to an opposing site. (In this case, Starbucks is a trademarked entity, so this would not be possible. It is more of a problem for smaller companies.)
• Typosquatting – Another form of brand protection that becomes harder to manage is typosquatting. This is when individuals will purchase web domains based on common misspellings of certain words. If enough traffic is driven away from the main site, companies are often forced to buy out that individual for the rights to the web address.

More companies are having to purchase additional domains despite already owning their business website.

• Availability

With each additional TLD available, the domain space grows and more companies can purchase a short, memorable and descriptive web address. This is incredibly useful as almost half of all domains are registered under the .com domain extension while the next few TLDs don’t quite scratch 5% usage.

With Availability Comes Variable Pricing

Because there are so many TLDs available now, there are multiple organizations who monitor different domain extensions. This means that there is no one standard price for registering a domain name. Which is great for those domains that happen to be cheap. Others, however, can be quite expensive depending on how in-demand they are.

New TLDs vs Old gTLDs

So far, the focus has been on new TLDs, but how do they compare with the old, standard gTLDs?

• Benefits of gTLDs – Traditional TLDs are tried and true. There’s a reason .com still reigns supreme in terms of how many sites are registered each year. Having a domain extension .com, ensures a certain quality and reliability. Everybody knows and understands what’s involved when accessing a .com site.
• Downside of gTLDs – That being said, it is much harder to generate a desired web address with a gTLD. It’s then equally difficult for your website to stand out among other websites.
• Benefits of new TLDs – New TLDs are creative and fun. With new TLDs, it’s possible to express more than with the older gTLDs. The level of specificity achieved is more significant than what can be provided by standard gTLDs like .com and .net, and there are a lot more domains available.
• Downside of new TLDs – Because of how many new TLDs are being created, the demand for particular domain extensions can be significantly high. This pushes the prices up in an unpredictable way. Those who happen upon a popular TLD might end up paying considerably more than a traditional gTLD (whose prices stay relatively even throughout time).

It all starts with a great domain. Get yours at Domain.com.

Registering New TLDs

With each new TLD, there is a procedure they go through before they’re available to the general public. Domain.com does offer their members to be a part of the early access group and pre-registration groups which is great for businesses and individuals seeking out highly-contested domain names.

Here are a few different methods of registering for new TLDs:

• General Availability (GA)– This is the list of new TLDs and gTLDs that are currently available to the general public. Of course, these can be purchased if no other entity has secured the domain already. You can search by domain name on Domain.com to see if the desired name is available.
• Early Access – The Early Access Period (EAP) is usually during the first week that a new TLD is available. As the week progresses, domains with this extension decrease in cost. This allows individuals and businesses to spend more in order to purchase a domain earlier. The time length generally doesn’t exceed a week.
• Pre-Registration / Priority Pre-Registration – There is another way to gain a new TLD earlier than general availability. This is by pre-registering (or paying a premium with priority). This gives users the best chance to acquire hotly-contested web addresses.

Trademarks and the Sunrise Period

The earliest possible time to register a domain under a new TLD is known as the sunrise period. This is a period of 30 days where an entity with a registered trademark can register early for a new TLD (trademarks must be registered with the Trademark Clearinghouse—an international trademark database).

By trademarking part of a business and incorporating it into the web domain, companies can further protect themselves against brandjacking.

Other Types of TLDs Available

There are some other types of top-level domains available that cover a different angle of web addresses. These include:

1. ccTLDs – These are known as “country-code top-level domains.” They signify websites that are associated with a specific country. Common examples include:
   • .us – United States
   • .uk – United Kingdom
   • .eu – Europe
2. gTLDs – These are generic top-level domains. There are over twenty of these common gTLDs (.com, .net, etc.).
3. sTLDs – Or “sponsored top-level domains.” Private organizations manage these, and in general, are not available to the public (.edu, .gov, etc.).

Conclusion

New TLDs are a fun, creative way for businesses to express their identity with the perfect website address. By sprinkling in some spice with a new domain extension, companies can upgrade their website and stand out among the countless number of sites around today.

With how many new TLDs are available, the options are starting to seem unlimited. If you’re looking to use the perfect new TLD for your web address, know that Domain.com has over 300 new TLDs from which to choose!

Sources:

LinkedIn. (2017, Jan.). Brandjacking: What It Is and How to Avoid It. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/brandjacking-what-how-avoid-wink-faulkner/
Domain Name Stat. Domain name registration’s statistics. https://domainnamestat.com/

ICANN. (2011, June). ICANN Approves Historic Change to Internet’s Domain Name System | Board Votes to Launch New Generic Top-Level Domains. https://www.icann.org/news/announcement-2011-06-20-en

Have you been thinking about starting your own business? There’s no time like the present. But where should you start?

Your business and domain names are some of the first things potential customers see, and can influence their perception of you, so let’s start there. You’ll want to make sure that the business name you choose is also available to register as a domain name. This way, your physical and digital small business presence is consistent and you won’t confuse any potential customers.

In honor of small businesses and entrepreneurs everywhere, our friends at Radix created the infographic below with 10 tips to help you choose the perfect domain name.

It all starts with the right domain. Get yours today at Domain.com.

10 Tips to Find the Perfect Small Business Domain Name

1. K.I.S.S. — Keep it short & simple.

People are busy and deal with constant distractions; be memorable with a short and simple domain name.

2. Avoid using hyphens and numbers.

When it comes to choosing a domain name, err on the side of caution and avoid using lots of numbers and hyphens. Those characters are harder for people to remember, and you may lose out on website traffic.

3. Refrain from unique spelling.

Much like with #2, keep your customers in mind. Chances are they’ll type your domain name the way they believe it should be spelled and never end up on your website.

4. If you already have a business name — use it!

If you’ve already decided on a business name, use it for your domain name. There are many domain extensions, like .store or .tech, that increase the likelihood of you getting the perfect domain name to match your business.

5. Be descriptive.

Don’t leave potential visitors guessing as to what they’ll find on your website. Make your domain name descriptive and creative so they’ll know exactly what to expect from your site.

6. Be relevant.

Going all in on a tech startup? Use .tech. Diving into the world of e-commerce? Consider using a .store domain name extension.

7. Do your homework.

Getting caught up in legal red tape isn’t a lot of fun — don’t use a domain name that’s trademarked.

8. Avoid slang to leave room for growth.

Certain slang might be “in” today and passé tomorrow. Plan for longevity.

9. Don’t ignore Artificial Intelligence.

We live in an age of Artificial intelligence, though you might call it “Alexa” or “Siri.” If automated assistants can’t spell or pronounce your domain name, there’s a problem. Hearkening back to #3 — spelling matters.

10. Plan on being social.

Before hitting “Purchase,” take a few minutes to see if your desired domain name is available across different social media platforms.

It all starts with the right domain. Get yours today at Domain.com.

What other tips and tricks do you know that can help others find the perfect domain name? Share them with small business owners in the comments!

Have an idea for a business or just a really great idea? Are you ready to take it online?

Well, it all starts with a great domain. 

So we’ve gathered all of the essential information you need to find a domain name that stands out, looks professional, and attracts the right audience. Bookmark this page to keep it as a resource for the future.

Ready to get started? Domain.com makes it easy and inexpensive to get the domain name you want, fast.  

Glossary of Domain Terms 

Words and phrases you need to know when researching and purchasing the right domain for your business or brand. Find the definition you need here. 

Domain name vs. URL, what’s the difference?

A domain name is like your website’s address and it’s what leads people to your site, whereas the universal resource locator, or URL, includes more specific information like the location of documents or pages on your website. Discover more here. 

What is a domain extension or top-level domain (TLD)?

In the domain name “Domain.com,” the letters after ‘Domain’ represent the domain extension. While .com may be the most well-known extension, there are thousands of others like .co, .tech, .online, .live, and more.

How to choose a domain name

How do you select a domain name that is relevant to your business or brand and that’s also catchy, short, easy to spell, and easy to say? Check out our best tips in this article. 

How to buy a domain name

Find a registrar, like Domain.com, for access to all of the major TLDs available, and choose the one that best fits your needs. Find out what to expect when you start searching for yours.

The difference between new domains vs existing domains

Whether you’re buying a new domain name, adding to your domain name portfolio, or purchasing an existing domain, Domain.com is here to help. Not sure what the difference is between new and expired domain names? We can help with that, too. 

What if your domain is already taken?

Find out what your options are for securing an alternate domain name, or learn how to find the owner of the domain that’s perfect for your business so you can attempt to purchase it from them.

I bought a domain name, now what?

Once you’ve secured your domain name, it’s time to start establishing your brand and attracting an audience from around the world. Here’s a rundown of what you should do post-domain name purchase. 

How to maintain your new domain

Domain names require some maintenance. Don’t worry, it’s nothing too extreme. Here’s what you need to know. 

It all starts with the right domain

Find the best domain name for your business by first doing a little research. Read the in-depth articles we’ve linked to above and learn how to find a domain name that stands out, looks professional, and attracts the right audience.

Any questions? Let us know in the comments below.