What are TLDs and why do they matter?
Every time you type a website address into your browser, you interact with a TLD (Top-Level Domain). These are the familiar letters appearing after the final dot in a domain name, with the most popular being .com, .org or .co.uk. But what exactly are they? TLDs play an important role in your online identity and how customers perceive your business.
Explaining Top-Level Domains
A TLD or a Top-Level Domain, is at the top of the internet’s hierarchical Domain Name System (DNS). It acts like the postcode of your physical home address – helping categorise or locate specific websites, within the huge address book on the internet. Managed by such organisations as ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers), TLDs are a fundamental part of navigation online.
Therefore, only one website can own a specific domain name with a certain TLD, although an existing name can be registered under a different TLD. That is why global organisations tend to purchase their domain name under a variety of TLDs, making sure they all direct to their site. Businesses can check available options using a service like the IONOS domain checker for availability. This is also where you can register and renew your domain annually to maintain ownership over it.
Different types of TLDs
TLDs go far beyond the popular .com – their different types are surprisingly diverse. Generic TLDs (gTLDs), for example, also include .org for organisations, .net for network infrastructures, .info for information sites. While many of these have been around for many years, we see an increased use of newer gTLDs, such as .app, .blog, .shop, and .xyz (the latter’s popularity has been increasing rapidly in the last few years).
Moreover, country code TLDs (ccTLDs) are also very common, with prime examples being .us for the United States, .uk or .co.uk for the United Kingdom, .ca for Canada, .de for Germany, and others. These two-letter domains designate a specific country or territory, showing the website’s geographic focus.
Sponsored TLDs (sTLDs) are also highly common, but for a different reason. These are restricted TLDs that only official bodies or particular entities are allowed to use. For example, .gov is used by governmental bodies, .edu by schools and universities, .mil by military organisations, etc. These ensure that authoritative sites are easy to recognise, safeguarding users from online scammers and untruthful sources.
Why your choice matters
As you can see from the different categories, a TLD creates a certain association or tells the visitor something about your site. If you have a specific ccTLD like .fr, people will generally assume that your website is for French audiences only, before they even click on it. So, if you are planning to sell your products or services worldwide, it’s best to stay away from country-specific TLDs.
The same goes for other types of TLDs that may have a certain niche. A .io TLD, for instance, has recently gained a strong association with software companies and gaming platforms. A business in the plumbing industry would perhaps look odd using this TLD and attract the wrong audiences.
Making the decision…
With so much to think about, it comes as no surprise that most companies stick to the generic TLDs, like .com, as those are a safe yet credible option. However, if you want to be more original, make sure to select your TLD wisely, as it will become a key part of your online presence.