What Is the Right Domain Extension For Me

Did you found a suitable name for your website? Then, only the right domain extension is missing. In addition to a significant domain name and good URLs, the domain extension, also called top-level-domain or short “TLD, plays an important role in the search engine ranking of your site. Just like the name, the ending should match your performance thematically and – especially for company websites – express seriousness.

The most popular and common extension is .com. In addition, country-specific domains such as .de, .nl, or .fr are very popular in the respective countries. These are known to users and arouse trust. Because of the increasing number of domains registered, bottlenecks can easily occur with the most popular extensions. If your first choice has already been taken, you have the opportunity of using a different TLD. The dd24 domain search automatically suggests free alternatives to your desired domain ending. Simply enter your domain name in the search field above and choose from more than 1,000 extensions.

CNOBI domain extensions

The so-called CNOBI domain extensions (.com, .net, .org, .biz, .info) are the most frequently used TLDs. Due to their wide distribution, these domain extensions also play an important role when it comes to search engine optimization. CNOBI domain extensions are country-independent. The most popular extension is .com. It is also the world's most popular TLD. The extension .net is for communities and networks and .org for non-profit or commercial organizations. .biz stands for business and is ideal for domains with a business background and .info for websites that provide information.

Country specific domain extensions

Besides CNOBI domains, country code domains are the most common. Nowadays, there is a domain extension for almost every country in the world. However, some country-specific domain extensions, also called „ccTLDs“, are subject to special registration restrictions. For some domains, it is required that the registrant has his residence in the country. With the dd24 Trustee Service, you can easily register such restricted domains. If you are not sure which extension is the right one for your own website, you are probably not wrong with a country-code domain of your country. The disadvantage of those domains: most good domain names are already taken. If your desired name has already been assigned, you can either choose a different domain name or another TLD. Or you can check on a so-called domain marketplace as your desired domain may be for sale, because many domains are registered, but are not in active use.

New domain extensions

In 2013 ICANN introduced the new generic TLDs (new gTLDs). Meanwhile, there are hundreds of new extensions on various topics. Some new gTLDs are also subject to certain restrictions, usually in form of belonging to a certain industry. SEO analyses have shown that new domain extensions can have ranking advantages. This is particularly important for TLDs with regional and local reference, such as .london, .berlin, .hamburg or .miami. Such domain extensions are locally rated by Google & Co., which brings a clear advantage to the providers. If you are locally working with your company or if you are specialized in a certain branch, a new generic domain is definitely a worthwhile investment. Thanks to the descriptive domain name, users get information about the content of a site at first glance.

What you should consider with your domain extension

• Before you start, think about your target group and whether you can reach them with a new creative domain extension or rather choose a more conservative one.
• If the country code domain of your country is still available, you should register it, even if you use a different TLD for the main domain. Many users are not aware of the existence of new gTLDs and automatically enter the country code at the end of the domain.
• Check if other relevant extensions of your domain are already taken. If not, it is recommended to register them.