Your Domain Name: Dot Com, Dot Org, Dot Net, Dot Huh?
Let’s shine a little light on what are known as ‘Extensions’ at the end of a domain name. Sometimes they are known as TLD extensions with the TLD just standing for Top Level Domain. (Not sure why, but that is what the TLD stands for.)
Primarily you’ll see a domain name ending in either ‘.com’ / ‘.org’ / ‘.net’ and also ‘.biz’ and ‘.info.’ The ‘.com’ is the most widely known as it was the first and stood for ‘Commercial.’
Now you use to hear to always try for the ‘.com’ because that is what people were familiar with. But now not only are most ‘.com’ domains taken but people are used to seeing the ‘.org’ and the ‘.net.’
My understanding from talking with a few people who really focus on this is that today Google does not penalize a site for having an extension other than the traditional ‘.com.’
Looking for a domain name with ‘.org’ or ‘.net’ gives you more of a chance to get the domain name you really want. I have been told that after the ‘.com’ the next 2 best ones are the ‘.org’ and ‘.net’ but in search results you’ll still see a few ‘.biz’ and ‘.info’ ranking high as well.
Interesting thing is with the ‘.org’ people give it a little more credibility as it stands for ‘Organization’ and I believe it used to be for non-profit organizations only. Now it can be used for a commercial site and is the one I would look to first if the ‘.com’ is not available. Keep in mind when it comes to a domain name ending in ‘.com’ that some of these sites were established early and have been built up over the years with content and a lot of good links.
