Domain Extensions – Which is the Right One for Me?
If you’ve been paying attention, you may have noticed web addresses are starting to change. While most of us are familiar with .com and .co.uk domain extensions, there is now a growing number of options such as .london, .news, .ninja, and .solutions. These new extensions can be tailored to the type of business or website and even the location it operates from.
With the number of available domain extensions set to grow significantly, choosing the right one for your business is vital for maintaining your brand’s integrity. It also helps ensure you cover all the bases and prevent others from taking a domain that could leverage your brand’s success.
What Are Domain Extensions?
There are two types of domain endings you can use:
- First-tier extensions such as .com or .uk.
- Second-tier extensions such as .co.uk.
The increasing variety of extensions is particularly relevant for SMEs. Securing the most suitable domain for your business is crucial if you are looking to grow your brand. You want to ensure no one else registers a domain that could siphon off your potential customers or dilute your online presence.
The Most Popular Domain Extensions in the UK
The following are the most widely used domain extensions for UK businesses:
- .com – The most recognised top-tier extension, typically used by international commercial enterprises. It’s also the hardest to secure due to its popularity.
- .co.uk – A second-tier extension, commonly used by both businesses and individuals in the UK.
- .uk – Like .com, this is a first-tier extension. It was initially reserved for those already owning a .co.uk version, but this restriction will expire after five years—one of which has already passed since the launch.
- .net – Originally for organisations operating networks (like internet service providers), .net has since been adopted by many, similar to .com.
- .org and .org.uk – Mostly used by charitable organisations, though technically available for anyone to register.
- .business – A more recent top-tier extension, ideal for small businesses. Similarly, .biz is often used by B2B companies.
- .me – Primarily used for personal websites, such as blogs or professional resumes.
- .info – Suitable for informational websites, though businesses may use it to provide background on their services or products.
Some domain extensions are specific to industries, such as .casino for gambling or .app for software developers. Others focus on geography, like .cymru or .london for businesses based in these areas.
Choosing the Right Domain Extension
With new domain extensions being released every month, it can be overwhelming to keep track. Here is a list of potential extensions* suitable for small businesses in the UK. Be cautious of extensions like .xxx, which is used for adult content, or those that are restricted, like .ltd, which is reserved for limited companies and unavailable to others. Common sense plays a big role here – if you’re an accountant, do you really need yourbusiness.plumbing?
There is no need to purchase every possible extension for your business, as this can quickly become expensive. The key is to secure the ones that are most relevant to your brand and industry. The aim of this article is to help guide you in making an informed decision about which domain extensions suit your business needs.
Domain Extensions – Protecting Your Brand
With so many extensions available, it’s important to protect your brand by securing the domain extensions that align with your business. This may involve some groundwork, but in the long term, it’s a necessary step to protect your online identity.
To keep an eye on the latest domain extensions as they become available, Fasthosts offer a New Extensions and Release Dates page where you can even pre-order domains to secure them before they officially launch.
If you need more specific advice about domain extensions, feel free to give our helpful team a call on 01604 654545.
*Correct at the time of publishing.
