- Originality.
The common .com and .org extensions are well known and widely recognized, but they’re also somewhat tired and stale. Adding a rare or new extension to the end of your URL will make your website seem more original — and more appealing to people who haven’t yet seen it. It’s a small touch that can instantly differentiate you.
- Limited competition.
Domain competition is fierce. If you search for a common word with a common extension like .com, you’ll likely find some options that are thousands, or even millions of dollars to purchase. Oftentimes, lesser known and lesser used ccTLDs are also less expensive, making them cheaper and easier to accumulate.
- Keyword optimization.
Domain hacking is also useful for search engine optimization (SEO), especially if there are a handful of important keyword targets for which you’re trying to optimize. If you can include your entire target keyword phrase across your URL, you’ll be in a prime position to rank for that term more quickly.
If you’re about to start a new business, it should definitely be on your radar. Domain hacking with clever ccTLDs can boost your brandability, memorability and even your search rankings.
-Timothy Carter
