The best and worst top-level domains

Modern technology companies have learned well the lesson that marketing and branding are crucial to their success. So why do so many choose wack domain names?

Industry analyst CB Insights has actually looked into this, even graphing the number of new startups getting funded with each domain name. Domains .co and .io are leading the field recently.

In a world of new and flashy domain names, Technical.ly Editor-in-Chief Zack Seward takes each in turn and instinctively breaks down the do’s and don’ts of today’s domain names:

.ly

• Number one, obviously.

.io

• This was cutting edge in 2015. Oh wow, it’s assigned to the British Indian Ocean territory. Wow, that’s tight. This was chic in 2015. This has not aged well.

.co

• That’s been kinda hot.

.tv

• That’s gotta be on the bottom.

.fm

• No, that’s gotta be on the bottom.

.ai

• Dang, that’s hot. I’m putting that as tops for 2017 with artificial intelligence everywhere.

.website

• A personal favorite.

.org

• True staying power.

.us

• I feel like that gives you some wiggle room for puns but is not deployed very often. (Well, there’s neafunded.us.) It’s alright. I’m here for puns.

.net

• I kinda feel that. It has like an old-school charm.

.careers

• I like that. Seems to frequently redirect, but I’m here for it.