A Simple Guide to Analyzing All Those Web Traffic Ideas - Part 1

Are you ready to take your business online? The first step is sleuthing out a few ideas for your website name.

It doesn't matter whether your company is a technology startup or an institute for the performing arts, there are four main types of domain extensions to choose from: ".com," ".net," ".org," and "country code."

.coms are the most common, and many companies will make their best guess with this extension in mind. But it's worth checking out the other possibilities — especially if you're looking to target customers outside of North America.

The ease of registering a .com at GoDaddy.com means you can do so immediately, without waiting for approval. The company even offers a free domain name while you go through the application process.

Pros: .coms are usually more popular than their short-form counterparts and have a drop-dead simple system of management and administration. Many businesses that choose this extension receive an immediate boost in credibility because they're associated with mainstream brands such as Cisco, Dell, Microsoft, or Apple. Plus, these sites will be found quicker if you're search engine marketing your products or services online.

Cons: .coms can cost more to register than other extensions. Also, if you're building a blog or making an online purchase, .coms will be harder to find in search results because many Internet users equate the extension with shopping and selling and don't look for .biz or .com sites.

.net is another option for companies without roots in the U.S., especially when they plan to sell products outside the country. But this extension requires both an e-mail registration and a physical address for local authorities to process the domain name license.

Pros: .net will get your site registered quickly — usually within two days. Even with those short processing times, most applications are approved within one business week of the application's receipt date. .coms are often registered within one business day. However, once approved, .coms have much faster turnaround times than .net sites.

Cons: Unless you're selling products or services out of your home office, a physical address will be harder to come by than with a .com. Also, if you plan to sell products for a living and want to use your company's name for online transactions, it's best not to register with the ".net" extension because that tends to lend an air of commercialism that might turn off consumers.

If the product or service you offer is unique enough and has good name recognition in your target market (think: iTunes), then ".org" can be a good choice.

Pros: .org will allow you to keep your company's name and contact information intact. Also, many companies will find that .orgs are easier to find in search results than .net extensions.

Cons: There are few disadvantages for companies with an established presence online. You could have issues with obtaining a physical address if you're not an official nonprofit or established entity; however, if this is your situation, you might still be better off with a .com domain over the ".org" alternative. Also, there doesn't appear to be much support for .orgs in search engines — at least according to data from Alexa (www.alexa.com).

If you're popular with consumers in your country, a ".cc" (country code) domain may be the perfect fit. But these extensions have been slow to gain international recognition.

Pros: If your company has a well-known name in your country, this extension can be the most efficient way to get a site online since .cc sites can be registered in one business day and often within minutes of purchase. Also, if you're trying to reach buyers in your country, it will be easier for them to remember your site's extension than .org or .net.

Conclusion: .cc domains are a good choice if you plan to sell products or services for more than your own home country.

Tips: You can register .cc domains using any of GoDaddy's domain registration options, so this choice isn't limited to a single provider. Plus, you won't have any trouble finding these sites in search results.

Cons: The popularity of .orgs and .coms means that consumers will often use these extensions when searching for your product or service's name. Also, because many Europeans use English as their primary language, it may not be an inclusive extension for people living outside of Europe.