Search Engine Optimization is the process of improving the volume and quality of traffic to a web site from search engines via “natural” (“organic” or “algorithmic”) search results (source Wikipedia).
If you’re just starting out and have plans to build yourself a website or blog, one of your goals will be to get as high up in Google and Yahoo search results as you can. After all, that’s why you’re getting online – so people can find you.
Before you even start to build your website, the first decision you most likely will need to make is choosing a domain name.
When you research online about how important a domain name is in regards to search engine optimization, you typically will find a zillion articles which talk about how you need to try and insert your very best keyword you wish to rank for in your web address.
For example, if you blog about wedding dresses and you want people to find you through Google by typing in “wedding dresses”, the person who owns the web address weddingdresses.com would probably rank pretty well.
Ok, that’s the easy SEO gem you should consider before actually starting your website, but there is another consideration you need to make which can be even more important than the example above.
What is it, you ask?
Your TLD.
TL . . . what?
The 1st SEO Decision To Consider
Before you even begin to think of a clever domain name, you need to consider where in the world your customers or readers will be. It is there you need to make sure your website shows up.
The first thing you need to consider for your web address is your TLD. TLD stands for Top-Level Domain and you can read more about them on the ICANN site and Wikipedia. In essence, a TLD is the last part of your domain name (i.e. the .com, .net, .org, .ca., .co.uk, etc.), but ironically is called your top-level domain – yeah the Internet founders I think just like screwing with us.
Why is this important?
TLDs can be country specific. For example, in the web address http://weddingdresses.co.uk, the .co.uk is telling Google this website is for UK Internet users. For http://weddingdresses.ca, the .ca tells Google this site is primarily for Canada users.
Here is a list of the different TLDs and their assigned country.
Therefore, make sure your web address has the correct country code in it if you are specifically targeting customers which live in specific countries.
What If Your Customers Are Worldwide or Live In The USA?
The TLD for the United States is .us; however, .com is also indexed very well for USA website owners whose target audience lives in the United States.
The .com extension was created as a general TLD one can use if your target audience is not country specific, as is .net. This is typical with most blogs which are not used for a commercial business (e.g. a landscape company). So if you’re running a blog and you want your blog to show up in various country search results, .com is your best bet. Just keep in mind though that the person who runs a blog in the UK and has a .co.uk TLD and blogs about the same thing as you will probably find it a little easier for the UK searcher to find the .co.uk site over yours.
Confused? Are your eyes spinning and your head hurts while trying to digest all this?
Comment below and let’s chat.
April 19th, 2009 at 11:05 pm
Hi John,
Thank you for this. When I started blogging I didn’t understand any of this kind of stuff. I just wanted a blog. I love how you’re teaching others that we really need to do our homework before we start publishing. I know I’ve made my share of mistakes because I didn’t take the time to look into the future.
Barbara Swafford’s last blog post..About Me – The Most Important Page On Our Blog
April 20th, 2009 at 5:26 am
Hi Barbara. There’s so much more to it than simply just starting a blog, isn’t there? ….. LOTS more.
All we can do as experienced bloggers is our best to try and reach out to them and help them skip a few of our learning mistakes.
April 23rd, 2009 at 8:50 pm
Hey John,
Have you had a lot of people ask you this? I haven’t ever, but I guess I don’t deal with too many people worried about any other counter than the US, even though I live in Costa Rica!!
Jim Gaudet’s last blog post..The Future of Web Design (POLL)
April 24th, 2009 at 6:48 am
Hi Jim, thanks for stopping by. No, most people don’t ask us this because either A) they have no idea about it or B) they already know about it and know what country code they need to use.
Ah Costa Rica – I hear it’s beautiful there. I live in Vegas.
April 24th, 2009 at 7:06 am
Vegas, nice. We both have legal Gambling, although I hardly ever go the casino. Costa Rica is a beautiful country, I work from my apartment with a great view of the mountains…
Jim Gaudet’s last blog post..The Future of Web Design (POLL)
April 24th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
That’s what I crave, Jim – a view. I have no view where I live. But the city lights at night here in Vegas are exquisite.
June 26th, 2009 at 5:03 pm
These are things that I didn’t even think about when I was choosing my domain name. My domain name was actually for my web store. The blog was an afterthought. I never thought I would ever put this much time and energy blogging! Knowing what I know now, I’m not sure if I would think twice about my domain name.
Carla´s last blog ..Thursday Link Love – green jobs, junk mail, vodka and more.
June 26th, 2009 at 9:36 pm
Hi Carla, thanks for stopping by.
T e l l me about it. Blogging takes up a lot of time and energy. You might have a lot to talk about at first, but try blogging for years. It’s an ever going thing and we have to always be learning new things. In fact, not just learning new things, but understanding them.
Good choice on choosing your business name for your website. That’s usually the best thing to do – usually.
September 14th, 2009 at 11:54 pm
I am palnning to build a new website and I am proud on me because I have the exact things you have suggested in your blog, its a nice post for a beginner like me, Thanks, Keep Writing
September 15th, 2009 at 6:28 am
Hi Rohit. You’re on a good start. Thanks for the comment and good luck.
October 6th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
Top level… at the end? Thanks for explaining John.
It’s something that I’ve often thought about and since I’m in the UK I bought a .co.uk.
Not because I figured it out correctly, but because they are a lot cheaper than the .com names.
Nice to have it confirmed that I got it right for once.
Any advice on using the commentLuv that you use? Is it a good thing for seo?
Keith Davis´s last blog ..easy peasy!
October 6th, 2009 at 9:03 pm
LOL now that’s a good reason! Nice that it worked out.
I’m not sure CommentLuv is good for SEO. I believe the links are nofollow links, which means you’re not giving link credit to the commentator.
It’s just nice because it gives everyone who takes the time to comment on your blog to showcase kind of what they’re blogging about. I know I’ve clicked on those links before when one catches my eye.