| So - yet another domain name extension has come | | | | won't be applicable, such as.gov and.edu which apply |
| to the market. I had an email from my internet | | | | to government and educational departments.) |
| service provider telling me that they are now offering | | | | There is also some debate as to whether Google |
| the.co extension, and urging me to register my | | | | over.info (some people aver that.info is used more by |
| company's name with the new.co domain. | | | | spammers) but the consensus seems to be that - so |
| Which set me thinking - does the extension really | | | | long as the content and optimization is right - both |
| matter nowadays? Do people really notice the | | | | domain extensions do as well as each other. |
| difference .org?.net? and so on? | | | | So what about the.co domain? Should you go for |
| Here are my thoughts. | | | | it?.co is positioned to be the Web's next big top level |
| First, it depends greatly on what you are intending to | | | | domain, which would make it the first truly |
| do with your website. If you are planning on | | | | recognizable domain to come along in years. |
| registering a domain name to sell it on, I will still | | | | It's meaningful (as an abbreviation for "Company", |
| outsell all other top level domains by quite a factor. | | | | "Corporation" or "Commerce") and memorable, even |
| Why? is deeply ingrained in the consumer's mind. If | | | | though - wait for it - the.co extension is the |
| you're registering a popular domain name late in the | | | | extension for the country of Columbia, just as.tv is |
| day and can only get.biz or.net, and your competitor | | | | the extension for Tuvulu (in the South Pacific.) |
| already.com, expect to lose customers to him. | | | | Me? There are two reasons why I'm not rushing into |
| That said, if your goal is just to have a domain name | | | | the landgrab market. For one thing, the domain name |
| that ranks well in Google, then any domain name | | | | is way more expensive than others. It'll come down, |
| -.biz,.com,.org - will accomplish that, other factors | | | | but right now my ISP is offering at at a multiple of |
| being equal. | | | | five or six over the extension. And, secondly, I'm not |
| Second, if you are targeting specific geographical | | | | convinced that it is going to carry the cachet the |
| visitors, however, it may well be worthwhile | | | | domain sales factory are hyping. |
| registering domain extensions such as.co.uk. I wrote a | | | | Finally - I've still got too many domain names lying |
| series of travel info products specifically for Australian | | | | around my hard drive that I've not done anything |
| travelers, and the site was registered under the.au | | | | with. I don't want any more! |
| extension. | | | | My best to you. |
| (Of course, some extensions aren't available and | | | | |