The domain name is a strategic decision to be made as part of any web project. It serves as an identifier for a website and allows Internet users to identify it in the vastness of the web. It is in a way the online postal address of its owner. This crucial element is preceded by a “www” prefix and is followed by an extension. In this article, O2 web design company in Abu Dhabi will focus on the impact of domain name extensions on your website.
What Is A Domain Name Extension?
Otherwise known as TLD (top-level domain), an extension is the last segment of the domain name assigned to a website. In plain English, it is the part that is placed at the end of a URL. Let’s say the domain name of your website is “www.my-company.ae”. In this address, the extension is “.ae”.
There are several hundred domain name extensions on the web. ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) divides them into three distinct categories. The first is generic top-level domains or gTLDs. Here are some examples:
- .com
- .org
- .net
- .store
- .xyz
- .name
- .info
- .dev
- .biz, etc
The second group includes sponsored top-level domains or TLDs. These are more specifically managed by private organizations. Examples include .gov (reserved for US government departments), .edu (for academic institutions), .mobi (for web platforms for mobile products and services), .museum (for museums), etc.
It also includes national domain name extensions or ccTLDs, each of which relates to a particular country. Examples include .ae (United Arab Emirates), .ch (Switzerland), .be (Belgium), .us (United States), .de (Germany), .jp (Japan), .cn (China), .nl (Netherlands), .es (Spain)… We can add to all this the new top-level domains or nTLDs which are popular with entities that want to stand out from the crowd. These are less well-known and are more personalized.
A domain name extension therefore allows Internet users to identify the website objective, its geographic location, and its owner, without even exploring its content.
How To Choose The Right Extension For Your Website?
Choosing a domain name extension should never be done randomly. It is indeed a decision that must be made strategically. A multitude of factors must be taken into account and our web design company in Abu Dhabi is here to guide you throughout the process. First of all, the purpose of your website. For example, it is more relevant to register a .com domain name if you wish to use it for commercial purposes.
In case you are a non-profit organization, the .org domain name extension is more appropriate. The .store TLD is ideal for online stores. Note that you can choose a specific top-level domain to represent your industry or the theme of your web platform.
Your target audience is the other element that you need to consider. If your business only targets the UAE population for example, then it is a question of registering your domain name in .ae. On the other hand, in the case where your reach is international, it is better to choose a generic top-level domain that best matches the objectives of your website. Otherwise, if you target a few foreign markets, you can opt for the corresponding ccTLDs.
When choosing a domain extension, you should also consider search engine optimization. It is therefore more appropriate to prefer standard TLDs to atypical ones. The reason is that the former generates more clicks than the latter. Most Internet users tend to favor addresses with a common extension when searching on search engines. You should also think long-term. Therefore, make sure to opt for a TLD that can suit your entity in the long term. Beyond all these criteria, you must take into account the availability of the desired domain name extension as well as its cost.
What Impact Will Domain Name Extention Have On Your Website’s Visibility and Ranking?
It must be admitted that a domain name extension has no impact on the natural referencing of your website. All top-level domains are indeed equal from Google and other search engine’s perspective. So no matter which one you choose, it will not influence your ranking in the SERP (Search Engine Results Pages).
However, it can impact it indirectly. Internet users trust known extensions more and some of them consider new TLDs as spam. What’s more, users may have a hard time remembering you if you opt for an unknown extension. This may minimize the number of inbound links and, ultimately, your e-reputation. It has been found that more than 94% of Internet users remember websites using a popular TLD.
After seeing a recommended website with a URL ending in a new domain extension, 81% of users later assumed it was a .com address. So unless you have a good reason to go with an unusual top-level domain, you should stick with one of the TLDs that everyone knows so here is the advice of a web design company in Abu Dhabi with more than a decade and a half of experience.
How To Buy a Domain Name?
Once you have chosen your domain name (including its extension), check its availability. You should use the verification tool offered by domain providers to do this. All you have to do is enter the domain name you have previously selected and then start the search.
If the address has not been yet registered or taken, the online tool confirms its availability. You can then proceed to purchase the desired domain name. You must then create an account and log in to proceed with the payment. This customer area allows you to subsequently easily manage all registered domain names.
To Wrap Things Up
According to the factors we mentioned, it is clear that the process of choosing a good domain name is not complicated, but it only requires determining the needs as accurately as possible. Also, try to take these factors into account to obtain an effective website domain name that guarantees the quality and efficiency of the website’s work and allows the possibility of upgrading smoothly without getting into unnecessary complications.
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