Choosing a domain extension

Building a website is a lot of work but once finished you feel wonderful. Singing from the rooftops wonderful. BUT don’t forget the domain. The domain is the www. address that you key into a search bar.

First you must make sure that the name you list after the www. is not already taken. Once you figure out that you must choose the extension.

There are many extensions but let’s talk about the three most popular extensions for small businesses and nonprofit organizations.

• .com

• .org

• .net

What does each extension mean?

1. .com

   This simply means commercial so it’s appropriate for businesses to use this extension. This extension lets the visitor to your website know that you are a for profit company. The .com is the most widely used extension and is thought to increase credibility and reliability for a business. With that said, it is a catch all for website extensions and does not have to be used for commercial purposes.

2. .org

   This simply means organization and is mainly used by nonprofit organizations. This extension lets the visitor to your website that that you are a nonprofit website. The same way .com means a for profit company look creditable the .org makes a non profit organization look credible.

3. .net

   This simply means network and is used for websites that have many other smaller websites, like an umbrella.

There are many extensions and when purchasing a domain, you can view what is offered in terms of names and extensions. Choose the appropriate extension for your website. Keep in mind that when people hear these extensions you are already telling them about your business.

May Web Design, LLC refreshes and creates affordable websites that enable clients to take ownership and update themselves on a Squarespace platform. I enjoy helping clients increase customer engagement with a website and improve their overall web presence. The most important part of my business is that when I have completed and reviewed the website with a client, I teach the client how to update their website so that they can keep it fresh and new. A website offers a 24/7 welcome to prospective members, showing them what your business or organization has accomplished and what you plan to do. If built correctly it should welcome people to the site and show them around in a comfortable way.  

If you are interested in discussing the needs of a website for your business or nonprofit organization contact May Web Design, LLC. Starting out with a basic brochure website may be all that your business or organization needs. Your website should grow with you and change as needed.