From the first moment we started hearing "Visit our website at: "ourbusiness.com" we've been trained to think all domain registrations end in ".com". Then as time progressed, we started hearing ".net" ".biz" ".org" ".ca" (or any other country's abbreviation) and a variety of others.
How do you know what the proper domain extension should be for your website?
In the beginning, as long as you got an extension for your domain name, it really didn't matter what it was as long as you got one, and ".com" has been the preference. However, this is changing. The Internet is becoming standardized, and in some cases regulated, so while you can still use just about any domain extension you want to, the time is near when it will be required that existing website owners correct their registration, possibly having to change their domain name completely because the one they originally should have registered as has been taken.
Here are common domain extensions, and a description of when they should be used:
How do you know what the proper domain extension should be for your website?
In the beginning, as long as you got an extension for your domain name, it really didn't matter what it was as long as you got one, and ".com" has been the preference. However, this is changing. The Internet is becoming standardized, and in some cases regulated, so while you can still use just about any domain extension you want to, the time is near when it will be required that existing website owners correct their registration, possibly having to change their domain name completely because the one they originally should have registered as has been taken.
Here are common domain extensions, and a description of when they should be used:
- .com - If you own a commercial business, IE: a building on land from which you sell items or provide services, your website should be registered as a ".com".
- .biz - A second choice for a commercial business which qualifies to be a ".com".
- .net - If your business will generate income from the Internet only, then you should use this extension. Examples of this are webdesigners, internet classified ads, domain registration and hosting services, and other Internet-related businesses
- .org - If your website will be for a non-profit organization, this is the domain extension you should use. Often domain registrars and hosting companies will give a reduction in annual domain registration and hosting fees to organizations
- .ca; .us; .eu and others - These are reserved for websites which relate to the country in some way and do not operate business outside of it. Governments, school & school divisions, radio & television stations, hospitals, and public services fall under this category.