Domains, Business

A Definitive Guide to Different Types of Domains

by Lisa Baltes

You probably don’t think too much about domains. But it’s one of the first few things that your website visitors notice. Even before they enter your virtual store or blog.

By choosing what comes before and after the dot, you can shape the image of your company. Before diving towards the classic .COM domain, you may want to consider other domain extensions to choose from.

Ok let’s get on with them then:

Generic Top Level Domains (gTLDs): .COM, .NET, .ORG
(aka the Popular Ones)

Generic domain extensions are the oldest and most popular extensions. .COM is the best-selling domain worldwide and is used by more than half of all websites. It’s closely followed by .ORG and .NET. 

They were originally targeting the below types of websites but can be registered by anyone.

  • .COM stands for “commercial” businesses.
  • .NET is for network & technical companies.
  • .ORG is commonly used by organisations, charities, and non-profit organisations.

Since these domain extensions are as old as the internet itself, it’s no wonder that the majority of ‘good’ names are already taken. We mean those dictionary words or one-word domain names.

Not all hope is lost. Since 2015 we have had new generic domain extensions like .ONLINE, .BLOG, .XYZ. These give you more choice and often better quality names to choose from.

Who Should Register a Generic Top Level Domain?

A generic domain extension is a default option for many. Suitable for almost any organization, personal website, or blog, visitors will recognize them as very credible.

3 Types of Domains

Country Code Top Level Domains (ccTLDs) – .NZ, .UK, .AE & .AU
(aka the Local Heroes)

From .UK to .AU, almost all countries have their own domain extension.

These are mostly two-letter extensions such as .NZ, .UK, .AE and are the perfect match for local businesses. Some of these need you to have a local presence in the country. They build a foundation of trust among the local community.

Being local can influence your site visitors and positively impact your SEO rankings in the region.

Who Should Register a Country Code Top Level Domain?

These are a good fit for anyone targeting domestic audiences like a local grocery store and pet groomers.

If you are in New Zealand looking for an interior designer, you want to go with someone based in New Zealand vs. another country. A .NZ website is a clear signal.

Country code domains are also great for international brands looking to expand or focus on a specific geography.

Undecided between .COM and a country-specific domain? Here’s a little something to help you decide.

BONUS: Repurposed Country Code Top Level Domains – .ME, .CO, .AI & .GG

Think of these as shapeshifters (ok maybe that’s a bit too much).

Certain country-code domain extensions have been repurposed and are popular around the globe. This demand and popularity have little to do with their actual origin. These make great domain hacks. 

  • The .AI domain extension for Anguilla fits like a glove to tech companies focusing on artificial intelligence.
  • .GG (country code for the Bailiwick of Guernsey) is repeatedly used in the gaming scene (Why? Find out here).
  • .ME the local domain of Montenegro is great for personal and portfolio websites.

Probably the most famous repurposed country domain is .CO. Introduced in 2010 as Colombia’s official domain name, it is now often used by companies and corporations as an alternative to the sought-after .COM domain.

unique domain extensions

Industry Specific Domain Names – .TECH, .ART & .SHOP
(aka the Creative Ones)

The same wave that gave us domains like .ONLINE gave us hundreds of trendy new domain extensions for artists, engineers, yoga teachers, and beauty bloggers.

Descriptive like .BEER, .ART, or .TECH showcase your profession and what matters to you. Modern industry-specific domain extensions often have a high recall value.

Who Should Register an Industry Specific Domain?

If you want to stand out of the crowd and tell your site visitors what you do (even before they’ve visited your site), go for these. They do a good job of positioning your brand and website as someone modern and forward-looking.

This little snippet can say a lot about you and your brand if used in the right way. The choice is vast and the possibilities endless. Here is the full list of domains if you are curious, just use the search bar on the top right.

 
Don’t be afraid to get creative, play around, and have fun with it.