Selecting your domain name in today’s online marketplace can sometimes prove to be more challenging than you’d initially expect. The reality is that with all the websites out there today, there is fierce competition among domain name selection. This means that the domain name you want may not be available, or it may be too similar to another larger site’s name to really make for a logical choice.
In reaction to the short supply of domain names, many organizations have developed domain locations beyond the traditional “dot com.” You may have seen some of these new additions recently:
- .biz
- .net
- .info
- .home
But should you choose one of these domain locations just to ensure you get the domain name you want? It may seem like a harmless decision, and some might even argue that it can differentiate your business name, but in reality, these dot com alternatives don’t hold up to the power of the original dot com.
Top Reasons Why Dot Com is King:
Searchability.
Search engines give more value to .com’s than any other domain locations. The power of a .com is still unrivaled by any other domain location by consumers and search engines alike.
Familiarity.
People know and trust .com’s. They remember them and connect with them. Asking your customer to remember your company’s URL can be a challenge in itself, but changing it to a .biz or .net can make your site hard to find or forgetful, both of which decrease your traffic rates.
Staying Power.
As with a lot of tech fads, these domain names may prove to be here today and gone tomorrow. We know that .com’s will be around for at least somewhat longer, making them a worthy investment.
And here’s something interesting to consider: some online forms that ask for your website URL may not recognize those other domain extensions unless specifically programmed to do so.
Default Settings.
When you can’t remember an exact domain name what do you do? I know I simply type the name of the company into the address bar at the top of my favorite browser. And whether it’s Google’s Chrome or Microsoft’s Internet Explorer, today’s smart and intuitive browsers simply redirect you to the company’s .com.
Your domain is one of the single most differentiating elements to your website, but even if you just can’t get the URL of your dreams, it’s still important to understand your options and choose the domain name that works for your website (your business investment) in the long run.
To get more tips and advice on choosing the right domain name, click here and watch a video by the Technology Therapist!
