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February 09, 2010

Explaining Domain Name Extensions – Do You Need a .COM?

Domain names are the identities of the internet. Without a solid and memorable domain name your business will not thrive, it is that simple. In fact, finding a good domain name is actually one of the most difficult parts of starting an online business. Unlike most other aspects of building the business, deciding on a domain name is decision critical, meaning once you have begun building a site, it is not going to be easy to change your mind and redo everything with a different domain. Many people assume that choosing a .com domain is the best way to have a successful website, however this simple is not true. There are plenty of other top level domain names that end in different extensions.

Alternate Top Level Domain Extensions

Some other domain extensions that are commonly seen in top level domain names are .NET, .ORG and  some region specific domains such as .US or .CA. Although domain name extensions may seem like their only purpose is to appeal to visitors, they actually do have an important meaning, and each one is ideally to be used for a certain kind of website. .NET websites are to be used with a site that represents a network, while .COM sites represent commercial websites that are used for business purposes. .ORG domains represent organizations, and are usually used for non-profit organizations.  Some other domain extensions such as .info, .biz and .cc are usually not considered top level domain names. If you're going to start an online business, then ideally you should choose at least one site that uses the extensions .COM or .NET.

Claim Your Brand

Many times you'll find out that the name you want is not available with the .COM extension. If this is the case then don't give up on your idea just yet. First enter in the name of the .com domain in your web browser. If the site is parked and there is no business using this name, then you may want to use the same domain name with a different extension such as .NET. By creating a business with the domain name of your choice and trademarking that name,  you are assuming the brand. This means that even though another person or company may own a domain name that is the same as yours with a separate extension, the business is yours. In the future you may be able to snatch the .com extension of your domain, and assume all of the extensions for your brand. Therefore, in some instances, it may be beneficial to garb the domain name you prefer with an extension other than .com.

Region Specific Domain Extensions

Region specific domain extensions are a great way to target certain audiences. Domain name extensions such as .US, .CN, and .CA are used to represent sites that are based in certain locations. If you own an online business that caters to the needs of a specific demographic, then you may want to consider using a region specific domain extension.

Tags: trademarking domain,  top level domain names,  region specific domain,  parked domain,  Domain Names,  domain name extensions,  domain extensions