The Relationship Between Domain and Domain Extension and SEO
One of the issues that bothers users who will open a new website and do SEO work is the relationship between SEO and domain extension, which is more noticeable in these times when there is a lot of information pollution. So, does the domain extension have any importance in SEO work? Which domain extension should we prefer?
SEO is the key to the success of sites. The success level of SEO work is equivalent to the success of the site. Naturally, all work that will affect this situation is critically important for site owners. There are many criteria that affect SEO. So, is the domain extension included among these criteria? Does the choice of domain extension affect SEO work? What is the relationship between domain extension and SEO? We have clarified the answers to these questions for you. You can find the answers to these questions in the rest of the article.
What is a domain?
Domain, is an identity that acts as a mask and allows access to websites by typing certain words instead of typing an IP address. Translated as a domain name in Turkish and a structure that must exist in order to be on the internet, domain is the most basic building block of millions of sites today.
Domain, in the most general sense, is the name and address of a website. The domain, which is the Turkish equivalent of the domain name, performs the function of connecting to the IP address belonging to a site. Each site has an IP address. IP addresses are the identity of the sites. However, IP addresses have a combination of characters that are difficult to remember. For this reason, a domain name is defined for the sites to facilitate the connection step. Each domain extension It is specific to a site and is singular.
The domain names used direct the IP address in the background. Thanks to the domain, the necessity of entering the definitions given as IP addresses one by one is eliminated. In this way, the user can reach the desired site without having to memorize a complex sequence.
Site owners who will do SEO work may be indecisive at first, especially when setting up a new site. Site owners who are unsure about the extension of the domain they will purchase, com, net, organ are hesitant to choose domain extensions such as. So how does the domain extension affect SEO work? Let's examine...
Domain age and SEO
The contribution of domain age to SEO efforts is quite positive. Domains that have existed in the internet sector for a long time gain Google's trust due to their experience and expertise. Domain age is an important element in terms of reputation, and it provides and image of an experienced site in terms of age.
Sites that have been open for many years can get better results in SEO studies than newly opened sites. At the same time, the domain age criterion can be checked in the backlinks received to the site. Getting backlinks from experienced sites that have been open for a long time will earn you +1 point.
Does Domain Age Affect SEO Efforts?
Domain age It is the process from the moment the domain name is acquired to the present day. The age of the domain name can positively affect the site authority in the eyes of the search engine. It can be stated that the domain age is evaluated as a criterion in search engine queries. The older the domain age, the more effective it is in terms of reliability.
SEO work on the site Google It affects the rankings. The effect of the domain on SEO also comes into play at this point. Both factors exist for the same purpose. SEO studies can be supported by the benefits of the domain age. This also positively affects the success of the site.
Which domain extension should I choose for SEO?
Let's touch on the first issue that has been misunderstood by many people for a long time: No domain extension is more advantageous than another in SEO efforts. Google does not look at the domain extension in its index ranking, but there are some criteria regarding the domain. When choosing a domain, it would be beneficial to include the following criteria, not the domain extension, among the criteria you should pay attention to;
- Including the keyword in the domain: Including your keyword in the domain will put you one step ahead of your competitors. For example, if you have a news site, it is recommended that you buy a domain with the word “news” in it. However, domains that include your keyword can be both expensive and hard to find.
- Domain length: The shorter the domain, the shorter your URLs will be in this context, and this will return to you as a plus point. As it is known, the proximity of the URLs to the domain is also among the Google SEO criteria. In the domain sector, 3-4 character domains are sold at expensive prices and are difficult to find.
There are many important criteria in choosing a domain extension. However, the idea that the selected extension makes SEO work more successful is not true. One of the most important criteria in choosing a domain is the presence of a keyword. It is important to choose a domain that contains a keyword that is related to the sector to be addressed.
Another point is the domain length. The shorter the domain, the site URL will be in the same criteria. This can be seen as a plus point for search engine bots. Choosing a short, memorable and meaningful domain will increase the success rate. As a result, this situation has a positive effect on both the user and the search engine.
Most used domain extensions
Domain extensions have become more and more important every day. It can be easily observed that the variety has increased with the high demand. When it comes to domain extension types, the first things that come to mind are “com” and “net”. In fact, while the desired domain extension is “com” in the first step, if this option is full, the “net” extension is used as an alternative. In some cases, if both extensions are full, there may be times when the registration process is abandoned. In addition, the most demanded extensions globally can be listed as follows:
- .com
- .net
- .organ
- .edu (given exclusively to public institutions and educational institutions, cannot be purchased)
- .gov (given exclusively to government institutions, cannot be purchased)
It is in the form of. Com The domain extension is preferred for sites that appeal to a global audience and is the most well-known domain extension. When opening a new site, site owners prioritize memorability, especially .com prefers the extension. Other .net And .organ domain extensions -if there is no generic situation- If the .com extension is full, it is preferred.
The extensions listed above are the most preferred extensions worldwide. Each of these extensions has a different target audience. The .com extension, which is at the top of the list, is the preferred option for those who appeal to a global audience. If the .com extension is full, then the .net and .org extensions come next. When it comes to public and educational institutions, the .edu extension comes to the fore. When an extension belonging to government institutions is needed, .gov is specifically preferred. In addition, .gov and .edu, which are given to private institutions, are extensions that cannot be purchased.
Is the price difference between domain extensions due to SEO advantage?
The price differences that we encounter when purchasing a domain name also make some users nervous. Considering the price differences between domain extensions, buying the most expensive one thinking that it is SEO compatible is a big mistake and ignorance.
In SEO studies, the domain extension does not matter. Considering this, it will be in your best interest to choose the domain extension that best suits your brand name. Choose your domain name accordingly for memorability and so that your visitors do not forget it.
The price difference between domain extensions is entirely due to popularity. The most used .com extension always .net And .organ extensions. However, this cost or price difference should not be associated with SEO suitability in any way.
There are differences in prices as well as diversity in domain extensions. When this is the case, users may be worried about the reason for the difference. One of the misconceptions is the belief that the most expensive extension provides definitive results in terms of SEO. As mentioned in the first part of our article, SEO and domain selection support each other. However, the idea that the choice of domain extension definitely affects SEO is not true.
In short, it is recommended to focus on the domain name in order for it to be useful for your site in general. A domain name that is more memorable, reminiscent of the brand name and associated with the sector would be the right choice. In addition, it can be stated that the differences in domain prices change depending on the demand density. For example, if the first choice of users is .com, this means that the density is directed towards this extension. In this case, price differences can be seen in the .com extension. However, this price difference has nothing to do with SEO suitability.
