Domain Names- Things You Should Know Before Setting Up A Site

When you look at most website links, there’s usually an extension separated from the website name by a dot. For instance, a website like www.robiweb.me.ke. In this example, .ME.KE is the domain in this website. Other common domain extensions are .COM, .ME, .ORG, .CO.KE and so on. In today’s issue, we’ll see the main domain categories and factors that affect their usage so that you can easily determine which one to use for your site and why. Read on.

Main Categories of Domains

While there are so many examples of domain extensions, they’re usually categorized into two major groups: free domain names and paid ones. What’s the difference?

Free domains are usually provided by free-hosting service providers. A good example is in the case of a website that is hosted freely by GitHub Pages. Suppose your website name is Topnotch Insurance, then your site url may be https://topnotchinsurance.github.io. In this case, .GITHUB.IO is a free domain. Later in this article, I will explain the downside of these domains.

Bought domains, also known as top-level domains (TLDs), are domain extensions someone has to subscribe for at a fee- monthly, yearly or any chosen interval. The .COM domain is the most widely used TLD today.

Factors To Consider Before Choosing Your Domain Name

1. Relevance.

The domain extension chosen for a particular site should match its type. If for example, if you want to set up a hotel website, a domain like .ORG will be irrelevant because a hotel isn’t an organization. .ORG will be relevant to a charity organization website or any related kind. However, .COM applies to any type of website and is therefore considered a universal TLD. If an irrelevant domain is used, it’ll definitely affect your SEO. Some domains are industry-specific, for example .SHOP for online shops, .NET for internet related sites, .ART for arts like poetry and music, .EDU for educational sites and so on.

2.Audience Considerations.

The scope of your audience will matter. For example, if you want your site to be grounded in a Kenyan market, then .INFO.KE, .KE, .ME.KE or .CO.KE will work for you. For those seeking to bag an international audience, something like .COM will be ideal.

3. Type of Website.

It matters a lot of the website is personal, organizational or a government site. Personal websites like portfolios may use freely given domains like in the case if GitHub Pages as I have explained earlier on. However, there are also TLDs for these kind of websites like .ME.KE or .ME.

For organizational sites like charity organizations or NGOs, .ORG will be suitable.

4. Budgetary Considerations

If you’re just starting up something online and just finding a low-budget entry, you may opt for a free hosting platform before you upgrade for a TLD. However, these types of domains have a downside. For example, websites hosted for free by Google will all have a .GOOGLE.SITE domain extension. In other words, freely hosted sites will always market the hosting provider alongside a brand name. In addition, these types of websites are usually not accepted by ad networks like Google ads in case you consider earning ad revenue. It's worth noting that some of these free domains are likely to be interpreted as scam by website visitors and therefore some people won't dare open them.

Given these disadvantages, free hosting service providers are a good point to start from. Free hosting service providers include Webwave, Google Sites, Netlify among others.

Some domains are industry-specific and will do quite fine with SEO. Examples include the ones I’ve mentioned under factor #3. However, as specific as they may be, they’re quite expensive for some startups. The .COM domain has a great advantage in that it is usually moderately-priced, has universal usage and is the most popular. 

Some domains like .GOV.KE are  dedicated for the government and should not be used by individuals.

5. Renewal Price

When you access websites of hosting service providers, some domains may be considerably cheap to buy. Before you opt for them, it’s important to check how much it renews for the subsequent year. For example, it’s not surprising to see a domain priced at KES 200 and find out that it renews of KES 2000 the following year. This is not the problem itself but whether you’re braced for it or not.

FINAL WORD

Now you’ve known what these extensions at the end of website names mean. You’ve also seen the factors we consider before buying a domain for your website. It is vital to internalize this information so that your site ranks at the top on search engine results and also wins trust from website visitors. All the best.

About Me

My name is Robert Musila. I'm a frontend web designer, Google-certified internet marketer, writer, environmental enthusiast and French language enthusiast based in Machakos, Kenya. Learn more about my services from my website.

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