How to Choose Which Top Level Domain to Use
By Neil Patel
Buying a domain name is exciting. It means you’re taking the first steps to establish yourself and create a professional website. But, it can also be overwhelming.
Not only do you have to find an available domain name, but you have to choose between dozens of top-level domains (TLDs) such as:
- .com
- .co
- .org
- .io
- .co.uk
- .net.
- .gov
The list goes on!
Picking the right TLD is just as important as choosing the rest of your domain name. You want the best option for your business type to establish trust with your target audience and one that’s memorable.
In this guide, you’ll learn about the different TLD types, which ones you can and can’t buy, and how to know what type is the best fit for your business.
What Is a Top-Level Domain?
A top-level domain (or TLD) is the last segment of a domain name.
For example, the TLD for NeilPatel.com is “.com.”
.com is just one of the many options available, though.
The Different Types of Top-Level Domains
The Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) officially recognizes three types of TLDs.
1. gTLD: Generic Top-Level Domains
The gTLD contains the most common top-level domains, and anyone can register most of these domain extensions.
Some of the generic top-level domains in this category include:
- .com
- .co
- .org
- .net
- .xyz
- .biz
- .info
In 2011, ICANN extended gTLDs to companies and organizations. It helps brands register their name as a domain extension.
A few real-life examples are:
- .barclays
- .cern
Some companies choose to use extended gTLDs as redirects. For instance, if you go to search.bing, it redirects to bing.com. Others, like .cern, strictly use their extended gTLDs.
Businesses can also register generic TLDs around their industry niche.
For example:
- .realestate
- .democrat
- .republican
2. sTLD: Sponsored Top-Level Domains
An sTLD are domains sponsored by a specific entity like a business, government, or other groups.
In this category, you’ll find domain extensions for:
- .gov
- .edu
- .mil
- .int
- .coop
- .museum
- .jobs
- .post
- .travel
3. ccTLD: Country Code Top-Level Domains
The last type of top-level domain is ccTLD. These domain extensions are reserved for countries, sovereign states, and territories.
These codes are two letters long and represent the country or territories’ abbreviated name.
For example:
- .us – USA
- .uk – United Kingdom
- .eu – European Union
- .ru – Russia
- .ca – Canada
However, ccTLDs are not only for countries. Businesses use ccTLDs to geotarget users in different markets.
For example:
- hm.com – USA
- hm.co.uk – United Kingdom
- hm.co.za – South Africa
How to Choose the Perfect Top-Level Domain
Think of your domain name as your brand’s search representative.
Some TLDs may hinder your branding because of spam associations, while others could improve your search result rankings.
Below, we’ll unpack some of the most common TLDs to help you select the perfect domain name for your business.
Some Top-Level Domains Aren’t Available to Everyone
Not all domain names are available for anyone …read more
Source:: Kiss Metrics Blog
