How Do I Choose Between A .COM, .ORG, OR .NET Domain Name?

A .com domain name is the most common extension and still generally carries more significant value for companies.

That’s because most of your customers are going to assume your website is your business name. That is unless the extension is part of your trademarked business name (more on this later).

The big question is: does a .com extension have any direct impact on your search rankings?

While it seems that .coms are Google’s preferred extension, it’s probably not the case.

Google’s only reason to prioritize one extension over the other is that Internet users default to .com domains. People expect sites to use the extension – many associate real businesses with .coms, and Google tends to play on user assumptions.

In fact, more than 50 percent of all websites on the web use the .com extension.

So one could say that a .com extension helps your rankings because users are more likely to click on abcd.com than abcd.anythingelse. Additionally, .coms are easier to remember, and a person is more likely to type in the wrong URL with other extensions. 

When to Use a .org Extension

Using other TLDs can be beneficial in some situations. In particular, the .org extension is well-known and trusted.

.org stands for ‘organization’ and is the primary choice for charity or non-profit websites. The extension is also one of the originals established in 1985, so it’s been around for decades. It was created for anything that wasn’t commercial (aka non-profit entities).

However, restrictions were removed in 2019 after the registry changed ownership, allowing for-profit companies to use the extension. If you use .org correctly, it can give you a bump in social credence or validation. Many users perceive .org sites as more authoritative and credible than alternatives.

If you choose to use a .org, you’ll need to brand your company with the .org tied directly to your name. That’s because, as previously noted, most users assume companies use the .com extension. Tying the .org to your brand decreases the likelihood that people will visit other sites by accident.

As far as search rankings go, the extension performs well but has less sway than a matching .com.

When to Use a .net Extension

A .net extension is a popular option that’s often recommended to buyers whenever the desired .com domain is taken. The .net stands for ‘network’ and was originally designed for umbrella websites that serve smaller sites, such as web hosting companies.

If the .com name you want isn’t available, find out if the current owner is in the same industry before settling for a .net. That’s because you don’t want your customers becoming there’s.

In general, the .net extension is trusted and perceived as authoritative by consumers. It’s also been around enough that people can easily remember it.

From the SEO end of things, .net is better than other specialty extensions. But since it isn’t quite up there with .com and .org extensions, you might not get the same benefits as using those alternatives.

If your ideal .com name isn’t available, .net is typically a strong second choice.

Are Specialty Names Worth It When You Can’t Even Get a .org or .net?

There are hundreds of domain extensions (from .aaa to .zw)  that can be very tempting to get whenever the top 3 extension types aren’t acquirable.

Indeed, some companies do choose one of these extensions to be extra creative with naming conventions. Sometimes, companies may believe that a .crazyname will actually be more memorable.

If you have the time and ability to promote that kind of name, associate it with your brand, and work harder on the associated SEO tactics. That’s certainly an option. Otherwise, stay away from such domain names.