Difference between .com, .net, .org, ....

[joatsaint]

Is there a reason to purchase one domain extension over another?

Should you buy up all the extensions available for your domain name?

If the .com is not available, is there a hierarchy in choosing the extension?

Thanks,

Randy

[Tel]

It depends what you want to use the domain for. A .com is for commerce and I believe a .net is for network, .org for (non-profit) organization, .info for information, .biz business, .tv well TV! Etc.

A .com or .net should be your main targets, with .com being more re-saleable and carrying more credibility but for building flagships sites a .org is ok.

[ram2009]

is it worth buying a .com.au or a co.uk if the .com has gone?

if you are targeting a geographical market eg australia - would you suggest buying .com.au as opposed to .com?

[Tel]

I'd still go for a .com wherever possible mainly because it is the most easily resellable domain extension. I have that in mind as an alternative or back-up plan for down the road as cyber real estate is marketable and for now, .com is the high end of the market!

But depending upon what you want the domain for - if you're geo targeting locations like the UK, then naturally a .co.uk is best for a UK business as is a .com.au for Oz etc.

Again, I can only speak from my own personal point of view, but I target the US simply because they are the biggest online market at present. Of course some big changes are on the horizon with countries like India, China, Japan, the Philipines and other heavily populated Asian countries that will soon move ahead, but for now the money is in the US.