| Editor’s note: This blog was previously published August 31, 2012, and it has been updated on May 4, 2020 with more current information and republished to meet the ongoing interest in this topic. |
The simplest, most direct answer to the question in the title is to say that you generally always want to go with a .com domain name.
Of course, every company and every website has individual needs and is facing unique challenges, so it may not always be as cut and dried as that. So, let’s take a closer look at each of these options and then dive into the world of top-level domains (TLDs) even further.
For the most succinct description, be sure to check out this video. (It’s a bit old but the information is still solid.)
Why We Recommend a .com Extension
A .com domain name is by far the most common extension, and the one that still carries the most significant value for most companies.
Why? Because most of your customers are going to simply assume that your company’s website is going to be “[your business name].com” (unless, of course, your extension is part of your trademarked business name – but more on that a little later).
Still, the question has to be asked: does a .com extension have any direct impact on your search rankings?
While it does seem that .coms are still Google’s preferred extension, it may not be for the reasons you think.
When you really think about it, the only reason for Google to prioritize one extension over the other is because we as internet users simply default in our minds to the .com domains. We expect it to be that way – and we associate real businesses with .coms – and so Google likes to play to our assumptions.
So, yes, we can say that a .com will help your rankings, because more users will click on abcd.com than they will abcd.anythingelse.
When to Use a .org Extension
Of course, that doesn’t mean other TLDs don’t have their place. A .org, domain, in particular, is well-known and well-trusted.
This extension is the normal choice for charity or non-profit sites. That being said there are successful for-profit sites that use the .org extension, and if you use it correctly the .org can give you a bump in social credence or validation (many users tend to look at a .org as a more benevolent site).
However, you will need to brand your company with the .org tied directly to your name since, as mentioned earlier, most users will otherwise just assume that your company’s domain includes the .com extension.
As far as rankings go, .orgs still do fine, though for most profit-targeted categories they won’t have as much sway as a matching .com.
When to Use a .net Extension
A .net extension is the second most popular extension, but it doesn’t really provide either of the same benefits of the other two. Still, it is generally accepted as a trusted or authoritative extension by customers, and it’s around enough that if a customer hears it, they’ll probably remember it when they look up your website later.
From the SEO end of things, .net is better than other specialty extensions, but since it isn’t quite up there with .com and .org extensions, you may not get the same benefits of using a .com name.
However, if your ideal .com name is not available, a .net can be a solid second choice.
Are Specialty Names Worth It When You Can’t Even Get a .org or .net?
There are a number of specialty domain extensions that can be very tempting for companies when they can’t acquire one of the top 3 extension types.
There are hundreds of different extensions available, from .aaa to .zw.
Sometimes, companies might go this route to be a little extra creative with their naming conventions. Sometimes, companies may believe that a .crazyname will actually be more memorable.
If you have the time and ability to promote that name, associate it with your brand, and work harder on the associated SEO tactics, it is certainly an option.
What If the Specialty Domain is Highly Relevant?
There are some highly relevant extensions that may seem like a great idea for your business, even though they’re not a traditional top-level domain.
For example, a few years ago it was announced that law firms could apply for a .law domain name.
The simple fact that you have to apply for the name is important here. That means there are restrictions on it, and it will require information like the bar registration numbers and the state or jurisdiction where the lawyer is licensed to practice.
These types of regulated domains (like .edu and .gov) can be very valuable, and could have an impact on your SEO, but you are still looking at a lot more work to rank the name in the search engines and make sure it sticks in your clients’ minds.
Is .co Close Enough?
A .co domain name could be both better and worse than a .net domain name. It is really close to a .com domain, which is something of a double-edged sword.
On the one side, it looks very close to .com, so customers will naturally associate it with the same types of COMmercial activities. However, they’re far more likely to remember it as a .com and type .com into their web browser.
So, simply put, if the .com is available, go with that. You can use the .co as a fallback plan.
Choose Reliable Over Trendy
Remember when companies would get really creative with country code top level domains. (A few that come to mind include Bit.ly, About.me, and del.icio.us. They looked cool, they were fun, and they started a trend of companies using .ly and others to create some unique names.
And, of course, the trend didn’t last. And if you tried it today, it would probably seem pretty old fashioned.
Stick to what you know works before committing to a trend that may not be so trendy in a year.
Domain Names are More than Their Extension
The .com/.org/.net question is just the first one you need to consider when you begin building your brand online. Your domain name is about to become a critical asset in your business and marketing efforts, so it’s important to make an informed decision.
So, beyond the extension, what else do you need to know about domain names?
For starters, it should be:
- Memorable
- Short
- SEO-friendly
- Typeable
- On-brand
How is your domain helping your online marketing efforts? Is it time to make a change? Are you rebranding to get more business?
We can help.
Interesting post any thoughts on the .co etc and country specific like
.co.uk.
I have used a few .info but would agree that the main three are to date
the best options but when you are limited by budget or choice it is sometimes
very difficult to find a good domain.
I understand google is moving away from the importance on the exact URL name?
Mike
Excellent question. The country specific domain extensions will work excellently in the countries they belong too, but will have less seo sway in the US and other countries.
The .co.uk extension is a good choice if you are a uk entity and does have quite a bit of search engine sway, but your best bet will always be a .com if you want to have a global site (and especially if you want to do business in the US).
Many new startups are using the different domain extensions available, but this seems to be more to have a creative name (and they probably don’t want to shell out the cash for a quality .com).
Yes, Google is definitely starting to give less clout to exact match URL’s, although they do still have a decent amount.
Great post there Nate, I am not too SEO savvy, sjust to ask, what about custom domain names like .ML .Me etc? Do they have lower SEO grounds? Because am about to kickoff a new project but all other extensions seem hijacked already, can i go with mycompany.ml without fear of SEO dropouts? Because .ML quite blends with my brand.
My suggestion is to buy .com, org and net and set up a 301 redirect to the main TLD, which is the .com.
The value doesn’t necessarily weigh in the .com but what kind of names and keywords you use in the URL itself.
However, .com simply looks way better than any other TLD.
very informative but i am still confused. What about .info extension please write back about it. Thank you
What if I havea great .com, but someone else is the owner of the .net version and is just parking the domain? Is it a great risk to build a brand for my .com?
Daniel,
No it is not risky for you to build your brand on the .com. Most likely, the owner of the .net will never do anything with that site and even if they do, just build a better site/business and you won’t have to worry about it.
Even if they do a good job with their brand, unless their visitors remember specifically to type in .net, they will type in .com by default and go to your site.
You have the edge because you own the .com.
Conflicting information on the net regarding the .Net and .Org. It depends upon which site you read is giving out their opinions. It would be nice to have documented research in the pecking order of positions 2 and 3 for the top level domains.
Actually it is better to use. Com because of the domain that .net .org and others as well as .com but better and faster readable in the search engine is .com
. Com is better if your site is for global level but if you want to target your country traffic only then country level domain is also good.
I am currently using a .org for my website, although I see nothing wrong with it. Currently it is just a blog, but in the future I do plan on selling website hosting services. I believe that it does not matter if it is a .org, .net or .com, as long as the content is good. When one searches for you at google, one with .ILikeCookies could rank at the top if that website is the most relivant. I have seen many cases where a .org or .net ranks higher than the .com competitor.
Is .US or .Com better for SEO for a US based company without sales in other countries?
My age is showing here with this comment. You are correct that at one time .com inferred commercial sales sites. If you had a business this is your choice. Dot org was for charities and non-profits. So you have those two right. But .net? To use .net, in my day, meant you had backbone network connectivity. You had huge speeds available, like T1. Sprint was touting this, and when you opted for a dial-up company you wanted the best speeds, so you looked at .net. So now you have it.
Cleared all of my doubt. com is best to choose.
I have a question I would like to know if I want to have .aaa without any extension of other things how can I make it happen?
Thanks for sharing these wonderful tips for choosing a domain extension. Well, .com domain is best as it is used for every purpose whether it is a blog, business website or anything else.
I firmly believe org extension is a very good choice for charity or non-profit sites, this is its most common use. … From the SEO end of things, .net is better than other extensions, but has lower google rankings weight than the matching .com and .org extensions.
what do you advise on starting a how-to or computer tips tech blog. .com or .net
Can a SM-LLC use .com or should it use .org
My business will be coaching and consulting services centered.
Thank you.
The problem is that most of .com domains are already taken. .Org is not really good for business. The only choice out of these 3 is .net. Just my suggestion.
Is it beneficial and worth the cost to pay the annual fee to hold the .net, .org (and other domains) if you have the .com address?
Actually, it’s better to use. .Net depends on .org and others, as well as the .com domain, but a better and faster way to read search engine is .com.
suppose I have a domain with .com and same domain name is taken with .net or .org!
is there any conflict or impact of choosing .com over .net or .org.. please answer back
Interesting topic! In my experience using country specified TLD’s doesn’t matter anymore because you can easily use a general TLD and change target country in Goolge Search Console.
In my country (Iran) webmaster’s prefer to use general TLD’s because it’s more trustworthy in people’s eye
Of course .com domain is the best option and ranks very well in all countries. If you have a local business, then you can purchase a local domain. For example, we have the UAE region, and almost always in the SERP we see .com and .ae domains.
Very rarely observed .org, .co, .net domains. Therefore, I advise you to purchase .com or the local domain of your country.