Topic: .com vs .org vs .net

[bestofour]

Johnny has decided he wants a business website.  The man has more work than he can do in a week and it's  getting on my nerves because we can never go anywhere but he's keeps talking about a website.   A few of his friends told him he ought to have one and since he doesn't even know what a website is I'm in charge of doing it.  I barely know what a website is but I do know how to look up How to Build a Business Website, which I did and the 2nd thing he said is to choose your domain name and register it as www.name at .com or .org or . net but he didn't say why to choose one or the other.  Help please.

[Tina]

dot org is for charitable/nonprofits. I am not sure if there is much difference between net or com. Maybe Jim could help you out in a bit.

[bayou girl]

sheri, tina is right.  .org is generally a non-profit such as lions clubs or red cross or whatever.  like the website for the library i work at is liveoakpl.org

.com is usually a profit making entity.  cnn.com  or walmart.com or such as that.  johnny's plumbing.com

.net is usually things that are just that.  a network.  like phone companies or cable companies, who provide a network of services.  bellsouth.net, comcaset.net, and so on.

they have some new extensions out now as well.  .tv is for television shows/series.  and i can't remember the rest of them.  i know there was talk about a .xxx for porn sites.  but don't know if it went through.

i hope this helps!

[Jim]

It's really a personal preference. There were some guidelines when all of this was originally thought about, but no one really follows it. Tina is right on about the .org sites. Originally the .com was for businesses and the .net was for Internet providers. These days there are t really any restrictions. Just pic one that suits you and go with it.

A really good place to register the domain name is GoDaddy.  They are cheaper than some other host providers.

[wimc]

http://www.namecheap.com is were I buy domains. Last few years+ just getting my domain/hosting needs under one company, not through Namecheap.

.com = commercial (geared towards business, anyone can purchase them)
.net = network (alternative if .com is taken)
.org = organization (anyone can get them, some sites use them as an alternative to .com/.net)
Or .us = United States (again an alternative to others above or just to show country)

Do not get private domain or what ever it may be called elsewhere, not good for business, people will think you are hiding something. Use for personal site, NOT for business.

My domain is .net only becuase the .com was taken.

[wimc]

Also .biz (geared towards businuss, may be more $ than others). I think its corny and/or stupid myself.

Correction, still trying to wake up, called private registration, thats what its called where I have my domain or Namecheap goes by WhoisGuard.

I have no use for Godaddy anything (personal preference), went with Namecheap years and years ago, easier to use control panel to manage domains.

[Jim]

I recommend GoDaddy for the domain registration William, not as a host. 

[wimc]

I recommend GoDaddy for the domain registration William, not as a host. 

Best move I ever did was going with Namecheap.

Never had hosting through Namecheap nor Godaddy, just domains.

Getting back on track. bestofour, when the time comes, have a business name, when sure about name, search for a domain that reflects that.

[bestofour]

What is a private domain?

So Jen, johnny'splumbing.xxx   

[wimc]

What is a private domain?

So Jen, johnny'splumbing.xxx   

Depends on registrar, will be named differently, but serve same purpose.

Through our partnership with WhoisGuard, keep your contact details safe by subscribing to privacy protection services.

In other words, information like address, phone number, email address are hidden from public, they put in phony information, this would not be good for a business, how else would you become accessible/active to potential customers.

Actually .xxx are available, but strictly for porn sites.

Add: I've been doing web stuff since March 2002, not professionally, just as a hobby.

[bayou girl]

What is a private domain?

So Jen, johnny'splumbing.xxx   

just don't tell bonnie

[Jim]

I usually shop around and found that Namecheap and GoDaddy are both higher than my hosting company on a new domain registration.  NameCheap is $10.69/year, GoDaddy is $12.99, CyberLynk is $9.99.  Of course GoDaddy has a deal on 3 (.net, .org and .info) all for $17.00. 

So it definitely pays to shop around.