Domain Name Trends for Startups: .tech, .io, or .com? Best Choice for Businesses

Would you believe that 75% of consumers evaluate a company’s credibility by checking its website first? Not just reliable web hosting, a startup’s choice of domain name trend is also critical to its brand reputation, visibility, and success. In the rapidly changing reality of the internet, the choice of the future of domain names is equally as critical as its extension.

Even though it has become difficult to register new domains under the .com extension because of its overuse, it is still the most popular extension by far, making it the default option for businesses.

But worry not! The growth of startups has led to the popularity of other domain name trends such as .tech and .io, which are favored by startup businesses in the information technology sector.

All of these extensions have specific benefits and corresponding shortcomings. .tech is geared towards technology companies, while .io has found more favor with software and SaaS startups. However, trust in .com as a brandable domain name is still unsurpassed, even though it is certainly the most dominant and recognizable extension.

Now let’s waste no time and cover the worlds of difference within these three domain extensions. At the end of this read you will be able to make the right choice of domain name best practices based on your brand, field of work, and growth strategy.

Find a Domain Name: Understanding the Extensions

1. .com Domain Extension: The Established Standard

The .com domain extension is the best-known and most trusted domain that exists. Created in 1985 to cater to commercial business, it later became the default choice for established brands and Fortune 500 companies. Utilizing .com allows businesses to obtain credibility and extend their global reach for the future of domain name suggestions.

Thus, it is essential to secure a .com domain before it is unavailable. For higher savings, you can choose cheap domain registration or high-discounted registrars like MilesWeb .com domain offers.

Advantages:

1. SEO Benefits: Authoritative and organized websites. For Google, it is a given that .com domains are prioritized.
2. Universal Recognition: Out of all the domain hosting extensions, it is the most well-known one that is user-friendly and guarantees fewer chances of domain misspelling.

Disadvantages:

1. Limitless Availability: The lack of availability for the desired domain makes it a struggle for startups who need to have their first option.
2. High Cost: Premium .com domains are in high demand, which comes with a steep price in return. It is extremely normal for .com domains to reach thousands or millions at the peak.

Pro Tip: To save your money, you can choose free domain hosting or cheap hosting with domain plans and secure a free custom domain name. 

2. .tech Domain Extension: The Tech Industries Domain

Brands and industries that fall under the domain of technology, such as startups and innovators, can now use this extension. .tech makes it easy for the rest of the world to instantly identify it as a tech-based brand. Hence, while hosting for small businesses, it is essential to choose the best provider that offers multiple short domain names and extensions.

Advantages:

1. Industry Use: Focused on the technology field, which assists in branding.
2. Modern & Innovative: Helps position the company as forward-thinking and cutting-edge.
3. More Availability: Startups have a greater chance of getting a short, brandable domain than .com.

Disadvantages:

1. Less Familiarity: Not as recognized as .com.
2. Niche Limitation: While excellent for tech companies, it may not serve well if business expands beyond technology.

3. .io Domain Extension: The Startup Favorite

Initially assigned to the British Indian Ocean Territory, .io are popular and creative domain names with tech startups, SaaS companies, and developers. Its marketability is in its short spelling and heavy association with the tech world.

Advantages:

1. Short & Memorable: Using a short domain is a key factor in branding. .io domains are short and easy to remember.
2. Tech Industry Appeal: It is favorable for startups and developers, making it a cool domain in the tech ecosystem.
3. Greater Availability: Finding a relevant .com is a bit tricky as compared to .io.

Disadvantages:

1. Geographical Ambiguity: This creates confusion because .io is technically a country-code domain.
2. Potential Higher Cost: Due to increasing demand for a few premium .io domains, some can get a bit pricey.
3. Limited Recognition Outside Tech: While popular in startup circles, .io may not be as well-known to mainstream users.

Related Read: .ART Domain: The Need Of Every Artist

Creative Domain Names: Best Consideration Factors For Domain Extensions

Selecting a domain that captures the attention of your audience is crucial for the visibility, branding, and existence of the company. The following are the best domain name practices that a startup needs to take into account:

1. Expectations in Brand Perception

Each startup or business has its targeted audience; thus, each aimed domain extension should tailor-fit the goals and aims while looking for a precise audience. 

1. A startup will already have a target audience in mind when deciding on a .com domain because it is easily recognizable and trusted. 
2. Tech startups will appreciate the signal that .tech presents as it denotes professionals and specialists in this field.
3. For a new, innovative, and disruptive brand, a modern appeal from a .io domain would resonate exceptionally.
4. A B2C tech brand will be more recognized when associated with .com compared to a SaaS company that primarily targets developers.

2. Primary Customers

Identifying whom the business is catering to plays an important role in deciding on a domain extension.

1. Most businesses and members of the public will easily appeal to a .com domain. 
2. Implementation and innovation directed at audiences and tech communities will relate better with .tech. 
3. A .io domain extension will be mostly appropriate for early adopters, software companies, and startups.

If the core audience includes general users, .com remains the best choice. If the brand is niche and technology-oriented, .tech or .io domains may increase relevance in the industry.

3. Domain Availability and Pricing

The availability of a domain is a primary factor in the overall cost of the chosen domain extension.

1. High demand makes .com domains pricey. A premium, concise .com domain usually sells for thousands of dollars.
2. Domain names under .tech are more and more affordable while providing good availability for brandable or keyword domains.
3. The .io domain is becoming more expensive with increasing popularity among startups.

While creative domain names have no limit, it is highly important to note the renewal costs. For instance, .io and .tech domains have higher renewal costs than .com domains. Furthermore, you can also transfer your domain to affordable registrars and save your money. 

4. Considerations for Search Engine Optimization

When the future of domain names is considered, SEO plays a pivotal role. Initially, .com domains were the most ranked on search engines. However, now Google has stated that all generic TLDs are equal when it comes to search ranking. Domain extension aside, success in SEO relies primarily on content quality, backlinks, user engagement, and several other factors.

To enhance the SEO capability of the domain extension:

1. Concentrate on content and keyword use. 
2. Develop backlinks from trusted sites. 
3. Provide a friendly user experience by fast-loading pages and mobile additions.

Related Read: What is a TLD? 

5. Long-Term Vision

A startup’s domain name must enable growth for the long term, securing the future of domain names you choose. 

1. Having a .com domain gives more options if the business might venture outside of technology. 
2. For purely tech companies, .tech and .io are perfect, but they might be problematic if the company diversifies. 
3. Some partners and investors prefer companies with a computer dot com domain because it is well-known. 

Whether to go for a brand name or audience preferences and scalability, the domain extension will always depend on market position. In attempting to secure a valuable digital asset, startups must ensure that their relevance today does not compromise their growth potential in the future.

Real-World Examples and Case Studies

Domain selection always has an impact on marketing, domain name trends, and the digital image for a startup. Below is a list of successful companies showing the variety of businesses that secured .com, .tech, or .io and the reasoning behind their domain selection. 

1. .com: The Universal Standard

• Example: Dropbox (dropbox.com) 

The leading cloud storage organization, Dropbox, acquired a .com domain to give them global credibility and reach. The .com domain was significant from day one, as it fostered trust with individual users and enterprise clients, reinforcing their dependability as a cloud solution.

• Case Study: Stripe (stripe.com)

Stripe is one of the largest payment processing agencies in the world and subdued stripe.com to capture a wider audience. The .com domain denotes brand reputation and credibility, which is important for a provider of financial services.

• Why .com?

1.  Payment recognition and trust are guaranteed.
2.  Caters to individual and commercial use.
3.  Enables cross-industry scaling for the foreseeable future.

Related Read: Why You Should Invest in a .in Domain Name? 

2. .tech: The Forward Thinking Option

• Example: Shadow.tech

Shadow is a cloud-based gaming platform. It selected .tech to place emphasis on current domain name trends and advanced gaming technology. The domain fits well with the brand’s image and attracts young people who are into technology.

• Example: Intel Innovate (innovate.tech)

As a global leader in computing technology, Intel uses innovate.tech for branding. The domain further strengthens the company’s reputation as a leader in technology developments.

• Why .tech?

1.  Establishes a greater connection for technology-focused brands.
2.  Provides a more modern and innovative appeal to brand identity.
3.  Makes brandable domains much more accessible.

3. .io: The Most Popular Extension Among Startups 

• Example: Opensea (opensea.io)

OpenSea chose the .io domain as the leading marketplace for NFTs to serve the initiative of making the name memorable and being associated with a modern and technologically rich platform. The .io is not only a short domain name but is also popular among the Web3 and developer communities.

• Postman (postman.io)

Postman, which is widely known as a platform for API testing, started with postman.io, which made sense because it was aimed at developers. As the company scaled, it moved to postman.com for better mainstream recognition.

• Why .io?

1. It is highly favored by tech startups, SaaS services, and API businesses. 
2. It is short, clean, and easy to find a domain name. 
3. It connects to the developer and tech world. 

Each domain extension serves a distinct purpose based on brand strategy, industry focus, and long-term goals. For broader international exposure, .com is the safest option, while .tech and .io have become great branding extensions for new technology-based businesses.

Choosing the Perfect Domain Name

A brand’s domain name plays a vital role in online branding and visibility. Following these tips can be helpful for startups when selecting a domain name.

• Short And Easy To Remember

Always choose short domain names. A domain name that is less than 15 characters is easy to type and remember. It is best to stay away from complex and confusing words.

• Easy To Spell And Pronounce

While creative domain names are unique, make sure they are simple as well. A domain name that is complicated to pronounce or spell increases the chances of mistyping it. A simple name is a word-of-mouth marketing dream.

• Avoid Hyphens And Numbers

It is common for domain name trends to change with time. However, some rules remain the same. Using hyphens and numbers in domain names creates unnecessary confusion for users. It makes the name more complicated to remember. Stick to all-text domains whenever possible.

• Check For Trademarks

Among the domain name best practices, plagiarism is a key point. The chances of running into legal trouble over trademark violation are maximum with copied or similar domains. Hence, make sure you always check the availability of your preferred domain. US businesses can use the USPTO trademark search or registry to check domain name availability.

• Plan For Future Growth

Choosing a domain name that is not restricted to a specific niche and allows for business expansion in the future. For instance, adding years or other such time-oriented characters in your domain makes them unfit for the future of domain names.

Use Domain Name Generators

If you need help with ideas, use MilesWeb’s domain search bar or other online tools to explore available names with the use of appropriate keywords.

Choosing the correct domain name enhances credibility, helps reach out to more people online, and encourages the growth of the brand over time.