Five Advantages of Using Short TLDs

As the domain space continues to expand and new domains under various domain extension are registered by the minute, it’s important to take a step back and look at the advantages some top-level domains (TLD) provide over others. Of which, is the not so obvious benefits of using a short TLD for your website. Short TLDs, such a .CO, offer many advantages that should play an important factor when considering and registering your domain names.

What is considered a 'short TLD'?

For those unaware, a TLD (top-level domain - also referred to as a domain extension) is the letters/characters featured after a domain name (such as .com, .net etc.). All TLDs have a perceived meaning or characteristics that make them unique for positioning a brand (beyond their combination of characters). For example, some TLDs will tie the domain to a specific industry, location, or even a topic. Now, what constitutes as a short TLD?

A short TLD is typically a domain extension that is only two characters in length.

What is interesting about all TLDs that fall into this two-character category is that they all are also ccTLDs (country-code top level domains). This means that these domain extension are all tied to a specific country or location. For example, .CO is the ccTLD for Columbia.

What is important to keep in mind is that, while these short TLDs are connected to certain countries, that doesn’t not limit their uses. Many ccTLDs have alternative meanings attached to them and can be registered by anyone around the globe. .CO is a great example, not only representing websites for businesses in Columbia but also representing communities or companies online (as that is what ‘co’ often represents).

Now that we’ve covered what short TLDs are, let's jump into the many advantages!

How do short TLDs help your online presence?

1. Memorability

One of the most beneficial aspects of a short domain is the ability to make your domain names even more memorable. While you’re only removing typically one or two characters compared to other TLDs, having a shorter extension can help keep your domain concise and succinct. When a short domain name is combined with a short TLD, you’ll have a very memorable domain, which makes it all the easier for users to both find your website and return to it. This goes hand-in-hand with the next advantages as well.

2. Accessibility 

Availability plays a huge role when looking to register a domain. Many of the extremely popular extensions (such as .com) don’t have many shorter domain names ready to be registered (as they're likely already taken), but these short domain extensions will certainly have more opportunities. This ultimately makes it much easier to register a shorter domain name. Acquiring one of these short names will improve the memorability of your website, which can help improve site traffic through acquisition sources (such as type-in traffic). A made-up example could be that your business is named thundercorp, but thundercorp.com is taken. So, to register under .com, you’d have to add keywords that make your domain more complex and less memorable. Instead, you could potentially get thunder.co and suddenly your online presence will be much better situated.

3. Advertising

Memorability and advertising are a perfect match. The shorter your domain, the more memorable it will be with your target audience. When it comes to advertising, having a shorter, memorable domain can be the difference between no leads and getting a conversion - every point of optimization makes a difference. Having a concise URL on your ad creative will assist with keeping your online presence top of mind!

4. Domain Hacks

What's great about these short ccTLDs is that they can be used to create fun combinations to build words or phrases (otherwise known as a ‘domain hack’). Some examples could include: food.ie, fias.co, bron.co etc. Being creative and thinking outside the box will help build that memorability with your audience, as well as unlocking unique advertising ideas/opportunities that could help your online presence excel.

5. Dual Meaning

Two letter TLDs have the advantage of representing both a country and having an alternative meaning, which makes them perfect for multiple use cases. Expand your online presence to represent a specific country (which is perfect for global businesses) or utilize the alternative meaning of the ccTLD to distinguish your brand’s identity directly through your domain name.

When registering a new domain name, it’s important to consider which domain extension you’re registering and why. There are many choices available, each with their own unique advantages which you can utilize for your website. Based on the benefits of short TLDs outlined in this article, consider making your domain name more concise by registering a short ccTLD such as .CO!