.Org

.Org names were introduced at the same time as .com, but have enjoyed comparatively limited popularity. As of October 2000, around 2,500,000 .org names had been registered, compared with over 18,000,000 .com names. So in what circumstances should you even consider registering a .org name, when .com names are obviously so much more popular? Here are a few suggestions:

When You Need a Good Unregistered Name

The relatively small number of .org names registered has positive aspects as well as negatives. In particular, it means that there are many good .org names still available, names that have already disappeared from the .com namespace. So if you don't have the time or inclination to purchase a .com name, why not investigate whether the name you want is still available in the .org namespace. It might well be.

When Your Site Represents an Organization Rather Than A Business

One important misconception surrounding .org domain names is that some people think they can only be used for non-profit organizations. This is not the case. .org domain names are available for anyone to register and can be used for any purpose. For instance, if you run a private hospital or any other type of health-related service or company, a .org name would be a good choice.

Having said that, when you run a non-profit organization, a .org name is the perfect choice of name.

In addition, if you want a domain name for your family, a .org name might sound better than .com, at least until .name domains are available!

To Protect Your Namespace

This will be the compelling reason for most businesses to invest in .org names. To put it very bluntly: if you run a business using a .org name, you don't want someone else running a business using the .com version of your name. It will simply confuse your customers. So register the .org version and keep your namespace clean!