If hosting is your apartment, then the internet domain is the exact address where you can be found.

That is also how it is most often called and perceived – as the website address.

For example, www.google.com.

Now, Some Knowledge.

Computers see the above Google website address as follows: 142.250.189.196

[Copy and paste this string of digits into your browser window or type it in and check where it leads you.]

Where Do These Differences in Notation Come From?

Digits are the "language" of computers. It would be difficult for us, humans, to remember long strings of digits. That is why the Domain Name System (DNS) was created in the 1980s.

DNS is simply put, the translator between both notations.

Thanks to it, you can remember www.google.com instead of 12 digits separated by dots.

Every domain is unique, which means a given name with the domain extension exists only once.

And What is the Extension?

It is a kind of label or category that helps in organizing domains.

How? It is easiest to explain with examples.

What Kind of Content Do You Expect Based Only on the Extension?

• .pl – you expect content in Polish.
• .gov – those are government websites.
• .org – these are organization websites.
• .edu – educational websites.
• .com – commercial websites.
• .store – that is presumably a store.

What Does It Mean?

Educational content can be found on a website with a .com extension; no one forbids it, but it is harder for the audience to find. They see a contradiction between the address and the content on the site, which does not build trust in such a place.

It's like finding cookbooks in the crime fiction section of a library.

There's no prohibition, but there's no sense in it either.

And Here We Move On to Choosing the Domain.

Choosing the right domain is only seemingly an easy task. Several factors need to be taken into account. Which ones?

First – the Extension.

• If you want to emphasize operating in a specific market, choose the extension that corresponds to it. Examples? National (.pl) or EU (.eu), or regional (.malopolska.pl, .warszawa.pl).

• Do you prefer to focus on defining the company's nature? Choose, for example, .com, .net, .store, .cafe, .photo, .eco, .pizza, .flower, .taxi – our own extension, .marketing, points to the marketing industry.

The Next Factor is the Domain Name.

It should be short and easy to remember. It should be associated with the company, industry, service, or product. Preferably without Polish characters, although they are permissible (these are so-called IDN domains). You can read more about Polish characters in the website address on the NASK website.

What about a situation where the best domain for your company is already taken?

Możemy próbować przechwycić ją na giełdzie domen, jeżeli ktoś zapomni ją opłacić na następny okres.

Czasami można w ten sposób dostać domenę, na której był ruch, były linki. Często jest to opłacalny zabieg, bo taka strona jest już widoczna w Google, a to ma wpływ na pozycjonowanie.

Do you want us to help you choose the best domain for your company?