lv, com, eu… Which domain extension to choose?
Anyone who has ever launched a website online is familiar with the process of registering a domain name, or website address. However, not everyone has paid enough attention to choosing a domain name, which in fact plays a vital role not only in achieving good website rankings in Google search results but also in building corporate identity. A domain name is just as important as a company name – it should be easy to remember, representative, and ideally reflect the industry, products, or services it represents. But do you know how it all began? What was used before domains, how and why did they come about? Why are there so many different domain extensions today (.lv, .com, .eu, .org, .net, etc.), what sets them apart, and how do you choose the most suitable one? More on that in the continuation of the article!
The origins of domains?
In the very early days of the internet, domain names didn’t exist, and website addresses were designated by simple numerical sequences – unique IP (Internet Protocol) addresses that identified a specific computer, server, or website on the internet, such as 208.65.153.238 (one of YouTube’s IP addresses). However, as internet infrastructure developed and the number of websites rapidly increased, there arose a need to find a convenient way to manage them effectively and make them easier for people to remember. Thus, in 1983, a special Domain Name System (DNS) was introduced – a technology we use today that assigns a specific name to each IP address. It works on the same logic as adding contacts to your phone today – assigning a person’s name to their phone number so you don’t have to memorize long strings of digits.
The first domain name – symbolics.com – was registered in 1985. It belonged to a computer systems manufacturing company, “Symbolics Inc.,” in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. To date, more than 360 million domain names have been registered worldwide (!).
Domain extensions – what do they signify?
A domain name consists of two parts. The first part is a name chosen by the user, such as Hostnet, while the second part, which comes after the dot, is the domain extension or top-level domain (TLD), which is just as important as the domain name itself. It can either be a country code, such as .lv, .ee, .lt, or a generic top-level domain (gTLD), with the most recognizable ones being:
– .com (short for commercial) – for international commercial companies (one of the most popular domain extensions worldwide, known to every internet user),
– .org (organisation) – for non-commercial organizations,
– .net (network) – for network projects,
– .edu (education) – for education-related organizations,
– .mil (military) – for military organizations,
– .gov (government) – for government institutions,
– .biz (business) – for businesses,
– .co (company, commerce, community) – for companies, commerce, communities,
– .info (information) – for informational websites.
Since 2014, new generic top-level domains (new gTLDs) have been increasingly used, such as .xyz, .design, .photography, .shop, .store, .science, .travel, and others. These were created due to the rapid development of the internet, with the goal of expanding options so that anyone today can find a domain extension suited to their industry or website theme. By the way, such domain extensions can also serve as an effective marketing tool, attracting audiences interested in something new and different – like the younger generation. These extensions also allow for short, original, and catchy domain names.
Which domain extension to choose?
The domain extension is no less important than the domain name itself. Choosing the right one not only ensures better website discoverability and helps target your desired audience but also creates an impression of a professional, trustworthy website. However, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to which domain extension to choose, as the decision depends on many factors – the company’s location, specifics, target audience, website theme (e.g., art, science, entertainment, brand protection, marketing, etc.), and more.
Regional and sub-regional TLDs
For Latvian companies, organizations, or brands targeting the country’s residents, it’s recommended to use the .lv extension – it’s friendlier and more familiar to local users and also provides better rankings in Google search results among local websites. Similarly, if the target audience is in another country, such as Russia, Estonia, or Lithuania, it’s better to choose that country’s respective TLD. If the audience is narrower, such as residents of a specific city, you can opt for a sub-regional domain, like .riga.lv. A logical choice of domain extension helps successfully position your website for both clients and search engines.
International TLDs
If a company plans to operate not only in a specific country but also in the European Union or international market, good choices include domain extensions like .eu or .com. For international non-profit organizations, the .org extension is suitable.
Thematic TLDs
If it’s important to emphasize your website’s theme, you can choose one of the new generic TLDs, such as .photography for photography or photo editing, .blog or .me for blogs, .design for design work, and so on. You can select a domain extension for any field based on this principle, but the key condition is that the website’s content must strictly match the chosen extension.
In short, the larger the company and its target audience, the more carefully the domain name choice should be considered. Often, to reach a broader audience, it’s highly valuable to register multiple different domain names across various TLDs and set up a redirect to guide users to the main website.
Find and register your desired domain now! If you have any questions, feel free to ask our specialists for advice!