One of a startup’s first decisions is its name. I want something memorable and easy to recognize—but then I have to find a domain to match.
Many short, generic .com names are already taken, as are plenty of .net, .org, and .eu alternatives. Fortunately, there are more options.
Domain extensions
There are many domain extensions, including country-code domains. When you build a website on a .de domain, for example, search engines may associate it with Germany. That matters if you want to reach people elsewhere. Some extensions are treated as generic; Wikipedia has a handy overview. Certain country-code domains have also been treated more like generic extensions, including:
- .ad
- .as
- .bz
- .cc
- .cd
- .co
- .dj
- .fm
- .gg
- .io
- .la
- .me
- .ms
- .nu
- .sc
- .sr
- .su
- .tv
- .tk
- .ws
With a generic extension, you could once set a geographic target area in Google Webmaster Tools.
Getting creative with extensions
That opens up more naming options. If the .com is unavailable, another extension may still suit the brand. For Belong, we chose belong.house.
A successful startup might buy the matching .com later. For now, a good alternative can be more practical than paying a high price for a domain someone else owns.