If you stop any random person on the street and ask them to name a site they use on the regular, chances are good that they will say something that ends with .com, and it won’t be surprising if they do. The .com name has dominated the internet for decades; it is almost synonymous with the internet. This is because, for most of the internet’s history, the .com extension has been used by businesses to maintain a presence online. However, that is changing fast.
The .co TLD is quickly gaining steam among business enterprises around the globe, and in this article, we will shed light on why exactly this is happening.
Understanding the Competition
The co vs com debate has an interesting background. Along with other well-known alternatives like .org and .gov, .com was one of the initial TLDs introduced in 1985. It has become virtually associated with the internet itself and is by far the most popular option for websites.
However, the origins of the .co extension are murkier. The name “.co” is Colombia’s official TLD. In other words, it was intended for usage only by sites and companies physically located in that country. That did not stick for long. Due to many ownership shifts and years of use, this TLD is no longer as limiting as it once was. Since then, it has become delinked from Colombia and is available for use worldwide.
In fact, “company” or “corporation” is typically shortened to “.co” these days. While still significantly less common than .com, its use has increased in recent years to account for over 1% of all websites. Seeing as how there are more than a billion websites on the internet, this is a huge number.
What Are the Advantages of .co?
Numerous new businesses are adopting the .co TLD. Because modern trends are shifting away from the traditional .com extension, it works best with a more tech-savvy audience.
With a user base of under two million, the .co TLD is an excellent alternative to the more popular .com. Using .co instead of .com can save you a lot of trouble if you don’t want to have to come up with a different version of your business name just to get the .com.
The .co extension is also more compact. You can still achieve stellar search engine rankings if you employ the right SEO strategies. Since it’s likely that the .com version of your TLD is already taken, you can get the exact username you want with little to no competition by moving to the .co extension instead.
How to Buy a Domain
A domain registrar is a company that facilitates the purchase of site names. Organizations like this handle the business end of selling site names online. A genuine domain registrar will have earned ICANN’s seal of approval.
Google Domains is a great option because it’s dependable, easy to use, and has many other advantages. However, it is not necessary for you to go through this route.
A .co name can be purchased from virtually any company. Don’t forget to stock up on a few necessities first: Domain privacy protection, automatic renewals, and flexible registration terms are all features you should expect from a reputable registrar.
So, .com or .co?
Since most businesses are run for profit, it makes sense to get a .com site if you want to establish an online presence. People will know what you’re about right off the bat. In addition, consumers tend to view companies with a .com TLD as being more credible. This could lead many people to believe that sites with this TLD can be relied upon more than others.
A .co domain is an acceptable alternative if the .com form of the desired domain name is already taken. Also, if you happen to be starting your online business in Colombia, you can’t go wrong with this option.
Keep in mind that the actual domain name is more crucial than the extension you choose. Any widespread TLD should do well so long as it fits with the brand and is easily remembered. Don’t forget that you can buy numerous domains (with different extensions) and simply forward traffic to the primary one.
Conclusion
Times are always changing, and successful managers adapt to succeed. There is nothing wrong with going for either .co or .com, so you should choose whichever extension best suits your business interests and budget. Now you are aware of the basics of why these extensions come into play and are important. By sticking to the information in this article, you will be able to make an informed decision about what is the best direction for your website.
Continue Reading:
What is DNS (Domain Name System)?
What’s the Difference Between .Com and .Net Domain Extensions?
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