The .com domain extension has been the clear leader, and honestly, always will be. For new businesses, finding an exact-match .com domain that matches their business name often becomes a very difficult task. Many new startups will secure a domain prior to finalizing their name for this very reason.
Recently, there has been a flood of new TLDs (Top Level Domains) to hit the market, providing business owners with several options when looking for the perfect domain name. Here are five reasons to consider a new domain extension.
There is no shortage of new domain extensions -- according to GoDaddy, there are 347 available right now, four available for pre-register and 288 coming soon -- 639 in total. This provides you with almost-endless possibilities.
The new extensions aren't any more difficult to register than a traditional .com, and most large domain registrars have access to them. If you are struggling to find the perfect .com, spend some time exploring all of the available options. If you search for a .com and it's not available, most websites will kick back a bunch of suggestions -- often featuring the new TLD extensions.
2. Unlimited branding potential.
The new domain extensions provide businesses with excellent branding opportunity -- you can really get clever, especially if your business name happens also to share the extension name. "The .center extension was a perfect match for us, allowing us to create an easy-to-remember domain name that we felt could be well-branded," explains Alec Duncan, Director of Marketing for Transformations Drug & Alcohol Treatment Center, a South Florida alcoholism treatment center.
With so many extensions available, take some time to research everything available. Sometimes you will see one that just makes sense. If you are short on time, consider consulting with a domain brokerage to assist you in locating the perfect extension.
3. More affordable than .com's that are already registered.
Just because a .com is registered that doesn't necessarily mean it's being used. Domain investing is a huge business, and there are countless individuals and corporations that scoop up .com's and park them, waiting for someone that wants it to make them an offer.
In some cases, a business might really want the .com and be willing to spend some extra money to acquire it, but the majority of new businesses don't have extra money to toss around.
There are plenty of new extensions that can be registered at a very affordable price. For example, you can register a .store extension for $9.99 for the first year.
When the new extensions began to surface, there were whispers of .com's having an SEO advantage, but Google has addressed how they treat new TLDs, and they are treated just like any other domain, including .com's.
So, don't worry about SEO -- instead, pick a domain extension that fits your business, has excellent branding potential and won't set you back a small fortune. We are already seeing more of these new TLDs being used, and it's a trend that will continue as the internet expands in size.
5. Large inventory of short URLs.
You want to have a domain name that's easy to remember, hence the reason why short URLs command so much money. It isn't uncommon to see three letter domains, regardless of the letters, sell for high $XX,XXX at auction.
Let me give you a completely made up example. Imagine your business name was "The Healthy Natural Super Food Superstore." Now, even if www.thehealthynaturalsuperfoodsuperstore.com was available, that would be a complete nightmare of a domain -- much too long. Instead, something like www.superfood.store could be used, which is not only shorter, but much easier to brand.
Jonathan Long is the Founder & CEO of Market Domination Media®, an online marketing agency that provides SEO coaching and online marketing consulting. Jonathan also created EBOC.co (Entrepreneurs & Business Owners Community), a private business forum. Follow him on Twitter.
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.