The Importance Of TLDs: What You Need To Know
From the birth of the internet to the first quarter of 2016, there have been 326.4 million domains registered. If you’re looking to register one for yourself, here’s what you need to know.
Types Of TLD
1.Generic Top-Level Domains(gTLD):
The most common top-level domains are called gTLD. These include .com, .org. , net etc. Basically, they’re the domains that you see all the time.
TLDs are decided by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). This organisation picks three or more characters to be assigned as TLDs.
These TLDs can be sponsored or unsponsored. Some common sponsored TLDs are, .jobs, .tel, .aero. Some examples of unsponsored TLDs are, .com, .org, .net etc.
The difference is that sponsored TLDs aren’t open to all. They’re backed by a community. It’s only meant for a closed group who share a common cause. For example, the .jobs is a domain only for the use of HRs. Unsponsored TLDs are open to all. Anyone can use them.
Make sure you ensure your site will get great traffic, by tapping into Professional SEO Services to optimize the site.
photo/ Jireh Gibson via pixabay
2.Country-Code Top-Level Domains (ccTLD):
As the name suggests, this is a regional domain classification. It’s a two letter domain and symbolises the country or territory that the domain belongs in.
For ex: .us(United States), .in(India), .au(Australia), .jp(Japan)
3.Internationalized Country-Code Top-Level Domains (IDN or ccTLD):
These are domains that are written in the country’s respective native language. Currently, 45 ccTLDs have been approved by the ICANN.
Ex: .рф (Russia), 中国 (China), 台灣 (Taiwan),
TLD’s Are Not Search Engine Optimisation(SEO) Tools
A website ranks high on Google search if the link and content are both relevant. That’s why TLDs shouldn’t be mistaken to be an SEO tool or keyword.
For example, a .gov or .edu are seen as authoritative or educational links by Google. But just having these domain names won’t get you ranked higher. The content has to back up the domain name. That’s how it’ll rank high.
New TLDs Aren’t Advisable For Higher Rankings
A new TLD is advisable only if your business is local or caters to a certain regional population. Ideally, you should choose a country-specific TLD.
Some businesses use new TLDs to sound different. They also use it a branding tool. This must be done with caution, so you can remain relevant and trustworthy. But nonetheless, SEO doesn’t really count this strategy when it ranks links.
Common TLD Gives Best SEO Results
If your business is generic and you want as much traffic as you can get, then don’t use unusual TLDs. Stick to the most common TLDs, .com, .org and .net. Getting a higher rank should be an organic process, so don’t use a TLD to get traffic through SEO.
Choosing a domain name is a creative task, but choosing a TLD is not. Make sure you remain as open-ended and universal as possible. Use safe and trusted domain registrars like Shopify to ensure seamless and safe domain hosting. At a higher level, getting .com is best, unless you have specific requirements or an unusual target audience.
Author: Rudra Singh
