How do I decide which extension to use for my domain name? This is a very common question I get asked whenever a client is setting up a new domain for the first time. The simple answer is really that any extension is acceptable nowadays. Originally, the extensions were meant to denote whether the domain was being used for a commercial business (.COM), a charity or non-profit organization (.ORG), or for a network related company (.NET). But now, many businesses register all three domains, and possibly more, for their business in order to cover all bases. A little information about each extension will be discussed today so that you can make a better decision about which to use for your domain.

The three most common extensions are .COM, .NET, and .ORG. All three are unrestricted open extensions, meaning anyone (individual or company) from any country may purchase this extension. While each has it’s own representation, they are often used in any circumstances these days. All three are perfect for search engine submittal and have both global and local appeal alike.

.COM extensions represent the word “commercial” and are most widely recognized as a business symbol, which is why most businesses strive to obtain a .COM extension for their business’s website. .COM extensions are also the most widely used extension, used by businesses and individuals alike.

.NET extensions represent the word “network” and are most commonly used by internet service providers, web hosting companies, and other businesses involved in the internet industry. Some businesses use a .NET extension for their intranets as well.

.ORG extensions represent the word “organization” and are most widely used by non-profit organizations or trade associations.

Two other common extensions are .INFO and .BIZ. Both are second in line for the top three choices for domain extensions, but can be just as important for a well-rounded business marketing plan. Many businesses use a .INFO or .BIZ extension for specific marketing purposes or products. Both are perfect for search engine submittal and have both global and local appeal alike.

.INFO extensions represent the word “information” and are most widely used by businesses and individuals to convey information to the public. They are the fourth most commonly used extension and are currently popular in Europe and North America. .BIZ extensions represent the word “business” and are most widely used for small business websites. They are commonly used for the same purposes as the .INFO extension.

Two other extensions that are not open to the general public are .EDU and .GOV. .EDU was formerly reserved only for four-year, degree-granting colleges and universities, but now eligibility is limited to regionally-accreditted, degree-granting institutions of higher education. Each institution may only hold one single name in the .EDU domain. .GOV extensions are reserved for official government organizations in the United States including Federal, State, and local governments, and Native Sovereign Nations.

There are many other domain extensions available, but they are not available to all members of the world. Some are reserved for only certain parts of the world, such as .UK.COM for the United Kingdom or .EU.COM for the European Union. To determine which domain extensions might be appropriate for your part of the world if you live in a country outside of the United States, please do a little research before obtaining your domain or hosting. Many times your hosting company will be able to provide you with a domain name at a small fee or even no charge, so it is definitely worth checking into.

As stated earlier, many businesses tend to purchase their domain name with several extensions in order to cover all bases. In many cases, the main reason for this is because they want to eliminate the confusion that could arise if someone forgets their main domain name. This way, they can type in .COM, NET, or any of the other extensions that they purchase, and they will still be directed to the same company or website. If they only purchase one of these extensions, a user might type in the .NET extension instead of the .COM extension, for example, and they may be directed to a different website and company completely. And if they don’t notice and redirect themselves immediately, chances are they could become distracted and end up staying on the newfound site! Not only that, but some businesses are afraid of impostors trying to impersonate their business and scamming or cheating customers by making them think they have found the right site and providing products or services not endorsed by the original company. This often can result in unhappy customers and possible lawsuits, depending on the situation, and most smart companies want to try to avoid this at all costs.

Today, many hosting companies even allow you to host unlimited domains on your hosting plan as long as you pay for each domain name separately. This means, if you purchase a .COM, .NET, or any other extension for your domain, you can simply purchase one hosting plan and have them all hosted at the same place. Each one will have its own web address and you can either have the additional domains redirect to the main website, or you can have each one have either a different website or a similar website. The choices are all up to the business owner.

Call me old fashioned, but I kind of still prefer to use .COM and .BIZ for business purposes, .NET for internet-related business (such as hosting or internet providers), .ORG for non-profit organizations, and .INFO for informational sites. I do agree, however, that .INFO extensions are a great way to market new bits of information for your site or a new product. I do see the benefits of using multiple extensions to help eliminate confusion and to help people arrive at your website promptly, but I feel the choice is up to the business owner. Just knowing the differences between the different extensions greatly helps new business owners decide on which extension(s) to use for each purpose. The benefits also help to aid in this decision.