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        4. Client Wants To Use A .io Domain Name - How Bad For Organic?

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        Client Wants To Use A .io Domain Name - How Bad For Organic?

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        • 94501
          94501 last edited by

          Hi,

          I have a U.S. client who is stuck on a name that he wants to get as a .io (British Indian Ocean) domain name for a new site.

          Aside from the user confusion/weirdness, how much harder do you think this makes this sites organic in the U.S. in the future with a .io domain name?

          FYI, the other part of the domain name he wants to use is short, meaningless and implies nothing in and of itself.

          Thanks!

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
          • julie-getonthemap
            julie-getonthemap last edited by

            How much does he plan to spend on marketing to reinforce his brand?  I believe .io will rank on Google just as easily as .net .info .us etc. but how much will it take to rank in their customer's brain?  I have a .us and 7.5 years later I still have to reinforce the domain when I am talking to a client.  It's like trying to get a client to say chartreuse instead of lime green.

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
            • SurgeStream
              SurgeStream last edited by

              Hi Michael Johnson,

              I am guessing that your client wants the .io since the keyword's .com version was already taken?  It is always preferred to go with the .com version of course.

              A .io domain extension is an odd choice, but I have seen it being used on several  tech startup sites recently where they were creating a brand around the base keyword.  In terms of rankings and seo factors to consider with an .io extension, I would personally avoid them and I have worked on any websites with that extension, but since all of these well funded startups are using them then perhaps they are on to something.  I know of one startup that went from their .io extension to the .com version, but it cost them a pretty penny.

              Not sure if this helps at all.

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
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