Common Website Domain Extensions: What Should You Know?
Most individuals understand just how important technology is for business and the multiple ways modern companies use online tech in their operations. A great example of this is websites. If you run your own company in the UK now, it is fair to say a smooth, responsive and professional-looking website is a must. This will not only help you establish a positive online presence and make it easy for consumers to find you but will also deliver the best user experience to them.
One key aspect of designing any business website is thinking about the domain extension you will use. But what are website domain extensions and what are the most common ones to consider?
What are website domain extensions?
When setting up a website, the very first thing to think about is the domain name it will have. Domain names are basically the URL which people type into their web browser when searching for you online. They can sometimes be best thought of as your online address. A good example of a domain name is google.com or bbc.co.uk.
Choosing the right domain extension can be important
The crucial thing for any business is choosing the right domain name to build their website on. While this needs careful consideration, the domain extension is also something to mull over. This extension is the last part of the domain name after the dot. In the examples above, it would be .com for Google and .co.uk for BBC.
Choosing the right extension is important because it can influence how people feel about your website, how likely they are to visit it and also how relevant they might believe it is for them. But what are the most common domain extensions?
.co.uk
For businesses working mainly in the UK, .co.uk is usually the best domain extension to choose. This is only natural when you consider the presence of UK in the extension and that this is the country code top-level domain extension for the UK. But what else makes it such a great choice of companies operating mainly in the UK?
To begin with, it clearly shows you are a UK-based firm and this might attract consumers looking to buy from UK businesses. In addition, it could attract people in the UK who want fast, local delivery. This extension is also a trusted domain prefix and consumers will feel confident in visiting your website as a result. It can also be easier to pick up the domain name you want for your website in this extension because competition is not as fierce as in other prefixes.
.com
If you ask most people involved with domain names, they will tell you that .com is king. This is easy to understand when you consider its presence as the best-known top-level domain name still. But when might .com be the best option?
For businesses that trade internationally, .com can certainly be viable. This globally recognised extension does not tie you to one country geographically and is not a country code extension. As a result, you can find clients/consumers/partners around the world more willing to engage with a .com website. This extension has also been around for a long time and carries a high level of trust. Most people, therefore, feel more than comfortable visiting/spending money on a .com website.
.net
One domain extension you might come across when setting up a website is .net. This is similar to .com in that it is not a country-level domain extension but more of a general, top-level extension. This prefix is often associated with businesses in the tech/computing sector.
As a result, it can be a good choice if you operate in this industry yourself - especially if you are not just trading in the UK. As with .com and .co.uk, .net is a respected domain prefix which is trusted by consumers. It can also be easier and cheaper to find the exact domain name you want in a .net extension, compared to .com.
.org
Another top-level domain prefix which is not tied to one country specifically is .org. This is a trusted domain extension which has been around for a long time and has a high level of trust with the public. .org names can also be relatively cheap and come with less competition.
This extension is often used by charities, non-profit organisations and charitable ventures. If your company falls into these sectors, then it is probably the best choice. This is because people will instantly know what area you are based in from looking at the .org prefix and know what they are getting before visiting your site.
Other country code top-level domain extensions
We have talked about .co.uk earlier in this piece but that is not the only country code top-level domain extension. Pretty much every internet-connected country has their own code in which you can register a domain name in. This includes:
.de for Germany
.au for Australia
.fr for France
.es for Spain
.it for Italy
.in for India
As with .co.uk. registering a domain in these kinds of prefixes only makes sense if you are trading mainly in that country. It can also be worthwhile if you are a global operation with a heavy presence or a major base in a foreign market.
Let it'seeze Websites advise on the right domain prefix
As you can see, there is a lot of choices out there when it comes to deciding on the domain extension to use, and this is only a small selection. If you need more help with this or a professional, responsive website design in the Milton Keynes, Banbury, Bicester or Buckingham area, get in touch on 01908 978891 today.
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