Cheap .com Domain Registration

Where Can You Get A Cheap .com Domain Registration?

Right here! You can purchase a discounted .com domain at Domain Name Sanity, as we are a domain registration company.

Your first year registration or transfer is just $12.95. Ready to find the perfect domain name for your next project? Use our Instant Domain Search now.

About the .com Domain

The .com domain is the most popular domain extension in the world today. According to the latest statistics published by Verisign, there are over 350 million registered domains, and 51%  of them use .com domain extensions. We’re not saying the crowd is always right, but in some cases, it makes a pretty good point.

While many other domains have become well known over the years, the value of the .com domain has not wavered for a second. From the moment of its “birth” in 1985 to the widespread usage it enjoys today, .com has only grown in popularity and recognition.

So why is the .com domain so popular? Who uses it? Why should you use a .com domain for your website? We’ll answer these questions and much more, as we discover the history and growth of .com and what it means to website owners today.

What Are Domain Extensions?

Every domain name is composed of two parts: a second-level domain (SLD) and a top-level domain (TLD). The SLD is the name of your website, or business, which comes before the domain extension. So for instance on our website, domainnamesanity is the SLD.

The TLD, the second part of the domain, is also known as a domain extension. This is the part that comes after the dot (.). So the part that follows domainnamesanity is .com, which is the domain extension used for our website.

Top-level domains are the final level of fully qualified domain names. There are two categories of top-level domains: generic top-level domains (gTLDs) and country-code top-level domains (ccTLDs). gTLDs are generally used for businesses and blogs that are aiming to reach a global audience, so regardless of which country you’re in when you Google something, you’ll be just as likely to receive a gTLD-based website in your SERPs. Some examples of popular gTLDs are .com, .org, .info, and .net.

ccTLDs, on the other hand, will pop in the SERPs in relation to your country-code or geographical location. So for instance, when you search for something – like news or services – that are based in your geographic location, you’ll get results of websites that use ccTLDs. Examples of ccTLDs are .uk, .fr, .us, and so on. Each extension refers to a certain country. There’s also the .eu extension, which is a ccTLD standing for the European Union, so not quite a country but rather a region. Anyway, you get the point.

To make matters slightly more complex, there’s also ccTLDs that act as gTLDs and are regarded as such by search engines. This is generally due to their popularity and international use. Some examples are .io, .tv, .me, and so on. Each extension belongs to a country (British Indian Ocean Territory, Tuvalu, and Montenegro, respectively), but due to their global appeal, they are treated as gTLDs.

So out of all these different extensions you can opt for, why are 51% of website owners choosing .com? Why is it still the most recognized domain you can choose?

The .com Domain Extension

Symbolics.com was the first-ever registered domain, on March 15, 1985. It was also the first .com domain ever to be sold. The appeal of the .com domain has all but diminished over the last 35 years, and over half of all registered domains today use this extension.

.com stands for “commercial,” so it’s a favored choice for just about any business – eCommerce store, blog, portfolio, or any website that aims at profiting in some way. Other gTLDs have different aims:

– .org stands for “organization” and is generally used by nonprofits.

– .net stands for “networking” and is generally used for networking websites and various network providers (ISPs, database service providers, tech sites, and so on).

Naturally, .com represents the best choice for most website owners, as most websites are for-profit, even if it’s just ads that come alongside good content.

Why You Should Use the .com Domain Extension

There’s a good deal of recognition that comes with the largely popular .com domain. From its credibility to its widespread use, here are some reasons why using the .com domain can help your business.

1. 51% of Websites Use It

Most of the big websites and businesses you can probably think of use the .com domain. It’s a go-to for nearly all major brands, so using it for your website, in a way, puts you in league with the giants.

2. .com Domains Give Your Brand Credibility and Recognition

Other domains crop up in popularity over time. The domain extension .io, for instance, has become quite popular with startups and tech companies. Still, it’s mainly used by a smaller niche, so unless you’re targeting a limited audience, .com is often the way to go.

This is because most people aren’t as familiar with alternative domains, but everyone knows .com. Even folks that use their laptops just to browse and send emails know what .com is. They know where it goes – after every SLD they’re familiar with. 

When a person sees the .com extension at the end of your domain, it gives them a sense of familiarity, and it gives your brand credibility and recognition. .com domains always seem more legitimate to users than other alternatives.

3. People Will Assume You’re Using a .com

One of the drawbacks of using other domain extensions is that people will instinctively put a .com at the end of your SLD, or website’s name. If a visitor or potential client tries to type in your domain in their search bar, they’ll most likely add a .com at the end. The unfortunate thing about using other extensions is losing potential clients, as they may not be able to track down your website.

4. Using .com Makes Your Brand Seem More Established

Anyone who’s tried to buy a .com domain containing a popular name or word, has found out that it can be quite costly. So when a visitor sees that you’ve been prepared and able to pay up the money necessary to get your own .com domain, they’re more likely to assume that you’re successful and capable of providing them with the service you’re offering. 

The .com domain is associated with commercial presence and success. Cheap domain extensions, on the other hand, such as .biz and .xyz will not do you any favors. They’re commonly used by faltering, cheap businesses and spammers without the budget necessary to launch a legitimate company and get a .com domain.

In other words, a .com domain gives you perceived value. In the world of marketing, perceived value means that customers analyze and evaluate a product or service before they deem it worth purchasing. Your brand will seem more established due to the .com domain’s value and popularity.

While a lot of the time .com domains cost almost $20, at Domain Name Sanity, you can get the first year of your new .com domain for only $12.95.

5. The .com Extension Isn’t Tied Down By Geography

We already talked about the difference between ccTLDs and gTLDs. As .com falls in the latter category of gTLDs, you’ll be able to reach a worldwide audience without regional limitations. This can help you expand your business, even if your target audience is initially local.

In fact, there’s a good deal of rules that come with ccTLDs and other gTLDs. In terms of ccTLDs, for instance, if you wanted to register a .us domain, you’d have to provide proof that you actually reside in the US.

.com, on the other hand, is one of the most unrestricted gTLDs you can come across, so you can use it for a plethora of online profiting purposes.

Conclusion

Alas, .com remains the most popular domain extension 35 years after its conception. From major newspapers and niche magazines to big brands and minor businesses, .com is the foolproof way to go about launching your business website or blog. If nothing else inspired you to opt for this domain extension, simply knowing that most visitors will expect it from you should mean something.

The extension’s popularity and its widespread use are a sort of a what-came-first-the-chicken-or-the-egg sort of story. It’s a good choice because it’s popular, and it’s popular because it’s a good choice. If you want to get better rankings in search engines, make your brand seem more established, gain credibility with your site visitors, and give the impression of a successful business, you should certainly consider using a .com domain.

Of course, in the end, it’s your business and your vision, and we hope you make the best of it, no matter what domain extension you choose. We have a wide variety that you can choose from and register here at Domain Name Sanity.