| There is a dizzying array of domain name extensions | | | | most people reading this article, you have no need to |
| (and more will be added this year and every year for | | | | even consider this extension. |
| the foreseeable future). When you are purchasing | | | | The last two I'll mention here are .gov & .lib, |
| your domain names, it's hard to know which ones to | | | | which are limited to government agencies and |
| buy - all of them? Just .com? This article shares some | | | | libraries, respectively. Again, no need to worry about |
| ideas for you to consider when you are investing in | | | | those extensions. |
| the domain names related to your business. | | | | So, given all of this information, here are some |
| While the .com extension is certainly the most well | | | | suggestions for you when you are purchasing domain |
| recognized and the one that is the "best" to have for | | | | names (especially if some seems to have the one |
| most businesses, it's not the only one. However, | | | | you REALLY wanted): |
| always try to get that one when it is available - | | | | |
| whether for your business name, your individual | | | | 1. Find out if the person who owns it will sell it (and |
| name, a product name, or other intellectual property | | | | they might if they aren't using it). Many people buy |
| you want to have represented by a domain name. | | | | domain names 'just in case,' and may be willing to sell |
| The next most popular extension for businesses (and | | | | it to you. All you can do is ask. If you don't ask, you'll |
| the one that was supposed to take the load off the | | | | never know. |
| .com extension) is .biz. If you own ONLY this | | | | 2. Play with the domain name you want and try it in |
| extension (or any of the others besides .com) you | | | | different formats; see if one of the others is |
| have to take special care to ensure that others | | | | available. It's one thing I love about (and most other |
| KNOW your website ends with .biz because by | | | | companies that sell domains; they give you other |
| default, essentially everyone assumes when you tell | | | | suggestions if the name you want isn't available. |
| them your website that .com is the extension. | | | | 3. Try the domain name with hyphens (and when |
| The third one to consider is .info - and in some cases, | | | | you get a really good one, consider getting it with |
| fits quite well with particular domain names and | | | | hyphens, too anyway. Know that if you ONLY have |
| certain products or features of your business. Again, | | | | a domain name with hyphens you will always be |
| remember to stress the extension if you are telling | | | | telling people where the hyphens go, so try some |
| someone your URL. | | | | other alternatives instead unless you are prepared to |
| The .name extension is one that you can get if you | | | | repeat OVER AND OVER "There's a hyphen |
| are using your own name but it's not very | | | | between every word." |
| recognizable to most people as an extension. | | | | 4. When you find a domain name you truly love - and |
| An extension that is gaining in popularity for some | | | | have a sense that it is "the one," then buy it in as |
| businesses is .tv. Generally, it is limited to people who | | | | many iterations as possible. Domains are cheap. You |
| are broadcasting in some way. Look into this if you | | | | can always keep them for a year and let them |
| plan to use extensive video and other visual media. | | | | go...but once they are gone, it's much more |
| .org is limited to groups who can demonstrate that | | | | expensive and maybe impossible to secure the |
| they are an organization and not a business, so for | | | | one(s) you want. Better safe than sorry! |