Does size matter? It just might when it comes to the new domain name extensions

I was talking to another startup founder today about the new domain extensions, and yes, like most startup founders this is someone very far removed from the domain name industry. He said something that got me thinking,

“I would only buy short domain extensions, I like the two character extensions the most.”

This isn’t the first time I’ve heard this from a startup founder but still my data set is relatively small so I’m not going to say this is some universal way of thinking. It does get the gears turning and begs the question, does the length of a new domain name extension matter?

I personally think that many companies will choose to brand around a new domain extension because it gives users a better idea of what they will find on the site. If I go to Mint.com, it could be anything, a company that sells mints, a directory of mints, or maybe personal finance software. If instead I go to Mint.lawyer, I would expect to find a law firm. I might not know what I would find on book.com, but I could imagine finding a book club on Book.club.

So in my mind the additional information the extension has just gives the user more information about what they are going to find on the site. Rather than having to visit a site you can tell instantly and I do think in many ways these will be a lot easier to remember than the random made-up words people use when the .COM is taken.

What do you think? Does size matter when it comes to the new domain extensions?

Morgan Linton

Morgan Linton