{"id":17306,"date":"2022-02-28T09:25:47","date_gmt":"2022-02-28T09:25:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mailinvest.blog\/index.php\/2022\/02\/28\/six-domain-name-misconceptions-that-can-hurt-your-business\/"},"modified":"2022-02-28T09:25:47","modified_gmt":"2022-02-28T09:25:47","slug":"six-domain-name-misconceptions-that-can-hurt-your-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mailinvest.blog\/index.php\/2022\/02\/28\/six-domain-name-misconceptions-that-can-hurt-your-business\/","title":{"rendered":"Six Domain Name Misconceptions That Can Hurt Your Business"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Starting, owning, or rebranding an online business all contain their own unique challenges. In today\u2019s digital environment, domain names are intertwined with many facets of these endeavors \u2013 which is why choosing domain names can be difficult as well. Generating brand name ideas, considering marketing applications, evaluating long term viability, and considering audience perception can all be important components when registering a domain.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately for business owners, domain names themselves have many common misconceptions that make establishing or building an online presence needlessly more complex. In this article, I\u2019ll be going over common domain misconceptions so you can be more informed about how domain names and top-level domains (TLDs, the extension at the end of a domain name) relate with your brand.<\/span><\/p>\n

Misconception #1: Newer TLDs have a negative effect on your website\u2019s authority<\/b><\/h2>\n

It\u2019s no secret that .COM dominates the online playing field, and should be no surprise that approximately <\/span>43% of websites online use it<\/span><\/a>. With this popularity, a new issue has become apparent: as more businesses and individuals acquire .COM domains, less .COM domains are available to register. This issue has resulted in a rising intrigue of alternative domain extensions. With almost <\/span>1500 total top-level domains now available<\/span><\/a>, there are many great options for brands \u2013 though some businesses are apprehensive to take the leap.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Top 10 Largest TLDs in Sept 2021<\/span><\/p>\n

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Newer generic TLDs (not to be confused with country-specific TLDs like .UK, .DE etc.) have received a bad rap over the years, being touted as detrimental to a sites\u2019 SEO. Specifically, website authority and page rankings are commonly mentioned due to the misconception that search engines don\u2019t prioritize them the same as the popular extensions (like .COM, .NET, and .ORG). If your business is considering an alternative TLD but you have this concern, you\u2019re in luck.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When asked how gTLDs affect search placements, <\/span>Google said the following<\/span><\/a>: \u201cOur systems treat new gTLDs like other gTLDs (like .com and .org).\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Domain extensions are not evaluated when Google crawls and assesses a site, which means your .NINJA or .MAKEUP site can live on without fear of SEO ranking penalties.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In fact, many businesses and entrepreneurs are utilizing alternative TLDs \u2013 whether it be for advertising purposes, identifying their brand within a niche, preventing others from registering their name, or even creating their own TLD. Some great examples would include:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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  1. abc.xyz \u2013 Google\u2019s parent company, Alphabet<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. github.blog \u2013 The software coding management site uses .blog for their blog website<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. global.canon \u2013 Corporate presence of Canon technology<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    So, while .COM does represent a large portion of all domain registrations, other TLDs options have <\/span>continued to grow year over year<\/span><\/a>. If you\u2019re not afraid to step outside the box, it\u2019s best not to discount them!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Misconception #2: If your desired domain name is taken, you need to start from scratch<\/b><\/h2>\n

    Coming up with a great brand name as a business or entrepreneur can be a challenge, but struggling to generate a domain name can be just as difficult. If your desired domain isn\u2019t available, starting the domain search from ground zero seems like the logical next step. Fortunately, there are some other avenues you can pursue.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Spend time going through the following when checking a taken domain name\u2019s availability.<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u00a0 \u00a0 1) Visit the domain name\u2019s URL<\/b><\/h3>\n

    By visiting the domain you\u2019ll get an indication on the possibility of acquiring the domain through alternative methods. If you see a <\/span>parked domain<\/span><\/a>, there might still be an opportunity to contact the owner to see if they\u2019re willing to negotiate. Keep an eye out for any contact information on the parked domain. If you see the website is being used by an established brand, unfortunately the chances of acquisition shoot down.<\/span><\/p>\n

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    Example of a Parked Domain<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a02) Check the domain through a Whois Lookup<\/b><\/h3>\n

    A whois search tool can provide some key details about your domain of interest. When searching, keep your eyes out for the following:<\/span><\/p>\n