6 ms·

Ask HN: next viable domain suffix after .com

5 points by alexro 14y ago

The domain I'm after is already registered, unsurprisingly. And there is no business there, it just sits on the default GoDaddy parking. I'm looking to register the domain with .co suffix, and later see if I can grab the .com one as well. Is that a good route to go? What is the "best" domain suffix after .com?

aymeric 14y ago
Why not .net or .org?
- alexro 14y ago
  I'm building a commercial product, so .org isn't a good fit here. And .net to my understanding has been greatly abused and doesn't relate to anything specific at all. It might be not that bad for a hobby but in my case the product targets enterprise users.
  - jfoster 14y ago
    You realize .org can be used by for-profit organizations, right? In my opinion it's the one that users find least surprising after .com.
    - caw 14y ago
      HN-centric example: Patio11's appointmentreminder.org
    - pasbesoin 14y ago
      I've had a few clients go with .org or .net . My impression is that the general public is "aware" of .org -- there's enough of it in use -- although they may not immediately remember that your site uses it instead of .com . I think .net is more unusual and so perhaps confusing, for the general public. I do wonder whether your registering a variant means that the desired .com domain will remain renewed/tied up, gambling that you -- or a competitor -- will want to acquire it.
  - narad 14y ago
    As you said that you are targeting enterprise users, I would suggest to negotiate with the owner of .com domain. Have you contacted them?
    - alexro 14y ago
      The domain has been registered 5 years back, so I don't have any hope to get it cheap. Besides, I'm still going through idea validation and as such don't want to spend any additional money on the project that might not fly or will change direction
nadinengland 14y ago
The major country that you operate in: .co.uk, .us, .it, etc.
- alexro 14y ago
  But do Google treat country level domains specifically, it gives them a boost when a local search is performed, but lows them in the global search context? http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/359704/google-approves-co-domain-for-international-use http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/359704/google-approves-co-domain...
  - nadinengland 14y ago
    I wasn't aware of this, although it does make sense. Going of the list: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Internet_top-level_domains http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Internet_top-level_doma... it doesn't appear like you have much choice.
adrianwaj 14y ago
Whatever you choose, aim to get the twitter account too.
verganileonardo 14y ago
If you are aiming tech people or startups, the .co and .io TLDs are great and trusty. :)
keiferski 14y ago
Unfortunately, there really isn't one. If you're targeting tech people, .io or .co might be okay. But if you're targeting anyone else ("regular people") you need a .com, no questions asked. Either change your name, buy the .com, or add a prefix or suffix to your name (GoName.com, NameHQ.com, etc.) (I run a naming company)

5 points by alexro 14y ago

aymeric 14y ago

Why not .net or .org?

alexro 14y ago
I'm building a commercial product, so .org isn't a good fit here. And .net to my understanding has been greatly abused and doesn't relate to anything specific at all. It might be not that bad for a hobby but in my case the product targets enterprise users.
- jfoster 14y ago
  You realize .org can be used by for-profit organizations, right? In my opinion it's the one that users find least surprising after .com.
  - caw 14y ago
    HN-centric example: Patio11's appointmentreminder.org
  - pasbesoin 14y ago
    I've had a few clients go with .org or .net . My impression is that the general public is "aware" of .org -- there's enough of it in use -- although they may not immediately remember that your site uses it instead of .com . I think .net is more unusual and so perhaps confusing, for the general public. I do wonder whether your registering a variant means that the desired .com domain will remain renewed/tied up, gambling that you -- or a competitor -- will want to acquire it.
- narad 14y ago
  As you said that you are targeting enterprise users, I would suggest to negotiate with the owner of .com domain. Have you contacted them?
  - alexro 14y ago
    The domain has been registered 5 years back, so I don't have any hope to get it cheap. Besides, I'm still going through idea validation and as such don't want to spend any additional money on the project that might not fly or will change direction

nadinengland 14y ago

The major country that you operate in: .co.uk, .us, .it, etc.

alexro 14y ago
But do Google treat country level domains specifically, it gives them a boost when a local search is performed, but lows them in the global search context? http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/359704/google-approves-co-domain-for-international-use http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/359704/google-approves-co-domain...
- nadinengland 14y ago
  I wasn't aware of this, although it does make sense. Going of the list: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Internet_top-level_domains http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Internet_top-level_doma... it doesn't appear like you have much choice.

adrianwaj 14y ago

Whatever you choose, aim to get the twitter account too.

verganileonardo 14y ago

If you are aiming tech people or startups, the .co and .io TLDs are great and trusty. :)

keiferski 14y ago

Unfortunately, there really isn't one. If you're targeting tech people, .io or .co might be okay. But if you're targeting anyone else ("regular people") you need a .com, no questions asked. Either change your name, buy the .com, or add a prefix or suffix to your name (GoName.com, NameHQ.com, etc.) (I run a naming company)