In the past, the options were limited and the decision was relatively simple. But in recent years, prices for ‘.com’ are rising and more and more gTLDs are being opened (1090 as part of ICANNs new gTLD program). So the decision of which gTLD to choose has become increasingly difficult.
Keywords in a TLD do not give any advantage or disadvantage in search.” And with no shortage of non-’.com’ successes (search the word last and last.fm is the top result, for example), it certainly seems like that statement is true.
While it’s nice to think that there is a revolution on our hands, relieving site owners of the need to overspend on the pricey ‘.com’, 39 percent of domains are registered to ‘.com’ and it’s continuing to grow. Then there’s the crowd favorite feeling that.
Ultimately, .com still reigns supreme and if you can find a short domain for a good price on the world’s most popular TLD, you probably should take it. But the need for a ‘.com’ is quickly disappearing.
Read MoreIn most cases, ‘.com’ is either significantly more expensive or significantly longer and more obscure than just securing the name under a new gTLD. With all of the successes of sites using new gTLDs and the lack of SEO impact, focusing on your site’s UX and choosing a new gTLD that’s easy for users to remember is probably the right way to go...
