Domain Name Extensions

All research agrees, the right domain extension for your or any business is the dot-com domain name.  The right domain extension for any startup or business online, is the dot-com. Dot-com domains are king for a reason.  To be clear, the only extension to use for any business is the dot-com extension. 

While the dot-com domain extension is king, it’s important to realize that there are other domain extensions out there. Our domain experts have designed this article specifically to show what other domain extensions there are. Moreover, why they even exist.

(Be sure to check the bottom of the page for an update by the Brandings Team)

Currently, there’s a lot of talk within the domain industry about the new domain name extensions. However, this talk has left many confused as to what exactly these domain extensions are.  The Brandings Team has developed this article specifically to demystify these domain extensions. This article will walk any entrepreneur through the basics of these new and domain extensions in general.

Let’s start at the very beginning, what is a “domain name extension?”

When looking at a full domain name, the right-most section from and including the “.” and what follows is the domain name extension. For example it’s the “dot-com” in www.brandings.com.  Additionally, in this case, dot-com is the “extension” but also a “TLD” but that’s a discussion for another time.  Dot-com is often referred to as a “top-level domain” or TLD.  This simply means that it’s one of the most widely used and excepted “extensions” on the market.

Beyond just domain extensions, there are “country code” extensions as well. Here the extension represents the country where the name is registered.

Over 240 countries and territories have been granted these “country-code” TLDs.  These can be abbreviated as “ccTLDs.”  For example the “dot-us” in  brandings.US for, you guessed it, the United States.

Moreover, TLDs with three or more characters are referred to as “generic” TLDs.  These can be abbreviated as “gTLDs.” An example of this is the “.info” included in www.brandings.info.  Unquestionably the most popular extension is dot-com. Specifically, dot-com is the right and accepted domain extension for business.  The dot-com extension is used by virtually every size business throughout the U.S. and abroad.

The dot-com suffix is the default setting on virtually every browser. 

Selecting the Right Domain Extension for Business

For one, search engines direct people to the site that ends in dot-com.  Google, Yahoo, and virtually all the other major search engines prioritize dot-com domains.  They first put the dot-com followed by all other non-dot-com extensions.

Above all, the dot-com extension is globally recognized.  Even though each country has their own country code TLD, dot-com is still the business standard.  Dot-com has emerged as the global standard and is the extension of choice for the fastest growing countries.

Our Company Naming experts advise all our clients (with very rare exception) to always secure the dot-com TLD.  If a firm cannot secure the dot-com extension, our team strongly advise to move on to adopting another name.

Most importantly, if you register your business with the dot-net, dot-org or and your competition owns the dot-com, you’ll likely send a lot of business to your competitor.

We can’t stress this enough, the dot-com extension is the blue-chip standard and is required of growth-driven firms.  After securing the dot-com, we advise securing select extensions and have them redirected to your dot-com site.

We’ve identified the major gTLDs and ccTLDs and their primary uses:

Other Generic Top Level Domains (gTLD)

.aero – For use primarily in the air-transport industry.

.asia – For use by companies, organizations, and individuals based in the region of Asia, Australia, and the Pacific.

.biz – A little used extension for business.

.cat – A little used extension for web sites in the Catalan language or related to Catalan culture.

.com – The global standard for commercial use.

.coop – Used by cooperatives.

.edu – For use by accredited postsecondary institutions.

.gov – Limited to U.S. governmental entities and agencies.

.info – A little used extension for information.

.int – A little used extension limited to organizations, offices, and programs which are endorsed by a treaty between two or more nations.

.jobs – Designed to be added after the names of established companies with jobs to advertise.

.mil – Limited to use by the U.S. military.

.mobi – Used for mobile-compatible sites.

.museum – For use by verified museums.

.name – Primarily used for individual names.

.net – Originally developed for networks, now open for general registration.

.org – Primarily used for non-profit organizations, but can be used by any person or entity.

.pro – A little used extension reserved for licensed or certified lawyers, accountants, physicians and engineers in France, Canada, UK and the U.S.

.tel – A little used extension used by internet communication services.

.travel – For use by verified travel-related entities.

Final Thoughts on Domain Name Extensions

Still worried about finding a targeted name for your startup? Don’t worry, the Brandings Business Naming Team is here to assist you.  The right name with the right TLD extension is close at hand. Our Brand Development Team is just a click.

Update: Interested in learning more about domain extension?  We’ve developed a more in depth article that will help answer any final questions you may have.

Since this blog was written, ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) has released even more extensions.  ICANN is the international group in charge of domain names and their extensions.  Some of the extensions ICANN has since released include, dot-hotel, dot-xxx, dot-newyork and there are even more.

Given that the new extensions dilute the market, the dot-com has been cemented as the must have extension.  Simply stated, domain extensions have become so confusing that people are clinging to the .com.

Lastly our team wants to know if you have any questions about this blog or brand name extensions.  Simply let us know by posting whatever question you do have below.  Also, if any of the above available legal company name fit your startup we’ll be glad to help you acquire one.