Remember the days when .com and .net were the only domains you needed to worry about? Today there’s a plethora of domain names on offer, including .io, .biz, .local, .tips and even .guru. As your business’s online presence becomes increasingly important, part of your branding – and what makes your company stand out – is your choice of domain. We flesh out the top domain name trends you need to know about, and weigh up whether your business should experiment with the trends or stick with the traditional.

Domain name trends in 2015

Like Australia’s recent housing bubble, .com domain names have either become unavailable or just plain unaffordable. Traditional gTLDs (generic top-level domains) such as .com and .net are becoming relics of the early internet age, first pushed aside in the 2000s by country code top-level domains such as .com.au (Australia) and .co.nz (New Zealand), and now by a new wave of domains such as .nyc, .digital and .apps.

And we’ll likely see more unique domain names appear in the future as companies experiment to find the perfect one to represent their brand. While there are literally hundreds to choose from, including .diet, .bank and .sucks (yes, you read that correctly), here are the ones set to make waves:

•          .(local): Although the world is more connected than ever, there has been a trend in recent years to shift focus back to local communities. Domain names such as .sydney, .melbourne and .kiwi are putting emphasis on a company’s location, and are becoming increasingly popular with brick-and-mortar businesses or companies targeting a local area.
•          .(industry): Ever wanted to communicate exactly what your business does before clients even arrive at your website? Industry domain names are perfect for getting the message across in a short amount of time. From .app to .deals, .engineer and .creditunion, there are countless ways to express your business’s purpose through your domain name.
•          .guru: When clients are researching companies, often it’s about who is the most trustworthy – and who doesn’t trust a guru in their respective field? This domain is a fun way to communicate your business’s position as a thought leader.

Which domain should you choose?

With so many possibilities, it’s easy to get overwhelmed when choosing a domain – should you follow trends or stick to tried-and-tested methods?

The answer is both. With a domain name strategy in place, you can get the best of both worlds.

First of all, if it’s possible to get your company on a .com domain at a reasonable rate, do it. After all, clients who don’t find you via Google will most likely search a .com URL for your company.

Next, make sure to purchase as many other relevant domains with your business’s name as possible, including .net, .biz and any .(local) or .(industry) domains to prevent confusion with other businesses with similar names.

Finally, set up redirection to one primary URL. This way, you can use any of your purchased domain names on business cards or on your social media channels without fear that clients will get confused or that you are missing out on the latest domain name trends.

Interested in developing a domain strategy for your business? Contact Netregistry for more information.