Domain names are hot commodities in today’s world. Virtual real estate can be obtained quickly and inexpensively. Because of the incredible ease and low cost of registering a domain, domains are scooped up quickly and it can be hard to find an available domain name that fits your needs.
It’s no secret that .com names are the best to have, because they are the ones that Internet users have become accustomed to. They receive the most type-in traffic of any top level domain, and they are the “standard” for a URL. But with memorable and keyword-rich .com names in short supply, it’s time to start considering other top-level domains (TLDs).
The second most recognizable TLD after .com is .net. It is one of the original top-level domains, and was created for use by network providers. But its registration was never formally restricted, so it’s become a logical alternative to .com. Although most of the shorter .net names have already been taken, there is still a good chance of getting the domain name you want with a .net extension if you can’t get a .com.
Getting a domain that has relevant keywords in it is helpful for search engine positioning, and the search engines don’t care what your extension is. So if the keyword-packed domain you want is unavailable in .com, getting it in .net can give you the same search engine benefits.
Instances in which the .com you want is unavailable aren’t the only reasons for buying a .net domain, though. Here are some more situations in which you might want a .net:
- When registering a .com domain name, site owners who wish to protect their brand often register the same name with a .net extension as well. This will prevent copycats or competitors from getting the .net version and exploiting it. You can set up a redirect so that any traffic from the .net goes to the .com address, or you could create a separate site for it.
- A .net extension can be used to come up with clever domain names that might not be available on a .com. One good example that is already taken is fishing.net.
- A .net domain name might be a good fit for a social networking site, or for a firm that provides Internet-specific services such as search engine optimization or web hosting.
Although .com has become something of a default TLD due to its widespread use, .net has a great deal of potential. It is much more recognizable than many of the newer TLDs, and it’s easier to get the domain you want in a .net than a .com. For most website owners, if the domain they want ending in .com is taken, .net is the automatic second choice. But in some cases, it makes a fine first choice.
But what about .org?
One of the original top-level domains, .org is most commonly associated with non-profit organizations. The .org top-level domain (TLD) was created back in 1985, at the same time as .com, .net, .edu, .gov, and .mil. The .edu, .gov and .mil TLDs were reserved for use by educational institutions, the U.S. government, and the U.S. military, respectively. Although .org was created for use by organizations that didn’t fit under any of those categories, its use was never restricted. So along with .com and .net, it became available for registration by any person or entity.
.org is the Internet’s fifth most popular TLD. Contrary to popular belief, there is no law that says a .org site has to be run by a non-profit. The .org TLD is good for a number of purposes other than non-profit organizations, including science sites, educational sites, political groups, religious groups, art and culture sites, community groups, special events sites, or open-source projects.
Is It Acceptable for a Business to Use .org?
It’s debatable whether or not a for-profit company should use a .org domain. There are no legal restrictions, but some would consider it a poor choice. Since .org is associated with charities and other non-profits, visiting a .org domain and finding a site that was created to make money could turn a lot of visitors off.
There are some circumstances in which a business could feasibly use a .org domain. If your business does charity work, for example, you might find that a .org domain is ideal for information about that.
If you choose to use a .org for your main business site, it’s important to be up-front about the fact that it is run for profit. Be transparent. If you do, you can maintain the sense of trust that is critical for your reputation. Make sure there is absolutely no confusion about the purpose of the site.
My recommendation would be to first try to get a .com that fits your mission, and get the .net to go along with it. Unless you’re clearly running a not-for-profit site, I’d stay away from .org. As the internet continues to grow, some of the lesser known extensions will become more mainstream.
