gTLD - Our guide to choosing the right domain name for your business

Just when you thought all the best website addresses were taken, there are now more than 1,300 new generic top level domains to choose from. These names are currently being released onto the market, and we could be delighted to help you choose the perfect gTLD to complement your existing website or to use to build a new website.

What are Generic Top Level Domains?

The term 'generic top level domain', or gTLD, as it is also known, is really just a fancy industry term for the suffix that follows a website address, for example .com or .co.uk. The problem today is that many domain names using these suffixes are already taken, and this means new businesses are restricted to choosing names that may not reflect their company name or type of business. The good news is that the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (they control and maintain domain name publication) is releasing hundreds of new generic top level domains into the public domain. No longer are you confined to choosing a .com, .co.uk or .org domain name. You can now choose exciting domains ending with .london, tech, and even .food! Just think about the possibilities for your business.

These domains are being released right now and registering a new domain name really couldn't be easier. We can help you to choose from the hundreds of domains on offer and with everything from domain hosting to website design and optimisation.

What are the benefits of registering a new gTLD?

There are many reasons why a new or existing business or organisation might want to register a new gTLD. Here are just some of them, and we would be delighted to answer any further questions you may have:

• A gTLD gives you a short and memorable domain that not only matches your business name, but also your industry. This can really help you to set your brand apart from rival brands
• Increase visibility online, build a strong identity and gain customer trust in your brand
• Use a new gTLD alongside your .co.uk, .com or .org domain as a modern and catchy alternative

It only costs a few pounds to register a new gLTD so why not get in before your competitors to register a memorable and sought after domain name that could really take your business further? If you have an existing website, you don't necessarily need to create a new website to accommodate your new gTLD. We can forward your new domain name to your existing website very easily.

Can a new gTLD boost my search engine rankings?

If you are thinking about opting for one of the new gTLDs, you might be thinking that it will have a positive effect on your search engine rankings. Unfortunately, Google won't show preference to a gTLD unless it is optimised in the usual way, but choosing a gTLD could still be very beneficial to your business. These domain names are going to be snapped up very fast and grabbing one today could help you to create a more memorable presence online and capture lots more business. Any domain name, or more specifically website can be optimised to bring you more traffic and ultimately more business. Speak to us today to find out more about the new gLTDs and how you can choose a domain name that will really take your business places.

Which gTLD is right for me?

There are too many gTLDs for us to list here, but we think you will have a lot of fun selecting the right one for your business. Here are just some ideas to get you started:

• Get creative - create a buzz about your brand by choosing gTLDs like .ninja or .rocks
• Choose a name for your industry - if you are a fashion designer, you can now choose a domain name with .fashion as a suffix. If you own a shop, there is a .shop suffix, and if you are running a luxury brand, there is also a .luxury suffix available. The new gTLDs offer so much more when it comes to branding your business and making it unique
• Choose a location based name - if you want to market your business to local business, why not select a gTLD like.london?