<h3>Is there a Difference? - .com vs .co</h3>
In 2010, GoDaddy introduced the .co domain extension and they make a huge push to make this a mainstream extension. The main reason behind the extension is to offer more possibilities for the same domain name, with a different extension. For GoDaddy, this means the possibility of selling another type of domain name to their customers.

The end consumer now has the ability to get their domain name with a .co extension instead of the .com extension. However, it's important to understand the difference and how one may benefit you more than the other.

<h3>.com vs .co Differences</h3>
<img src="https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/com-vs-co-meanings.jpg" alt=".com vs .co meanings" width="930" height="300" style="margin-bottom: -30px;" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6528" /><div style="text-align: center;">[one_half]<h4>What is a .com Domain Extension?</h3>
As the most recognizable domain extension, .com stands for commercial. Some may say it stands for computer or for commerce, but it was created with the intent or representing commercial websites.[/one_half][one_half_last]<h4>What is a .co Domain Name Extension?</h3>
The .co has been rumored to stand for "District of Columbia", but this is just a rumor. It was actually created with the intent of representing the word, "Company."[/one_half_last]</div>

<h3 style="font-size: 26px">The Major Differences Between the .com and the .co Domain Extensions</h3>
There are some key differences you must consider when looking at a domain name with either the .com or the .co extension. Both provide benefits, but they are quite different.

The .com extension is the most popular and the one most internet users default to. When advertising a company offline and online, you don't have to be quite as creative with advertising your website if it's a .com. Most people will assume you're using this extension and will try to find you by typing in your company name and the .com extension.

However, if you're using the .co extension, you may have to place more emphasis on this. O.co has done a great job of branding the .co extension and it just makes sense their company. O.com doesn't have the same ring to it as O.co.

Another key difference is the way the domain name will rank. There has been quite a bit of debate about how the .co ranks in search engines compared to the .com.

Google doesn't place any priority on the .co domain extension and still prefers the .com. However, it's still possible to rank high with a .co extension, with good SEO. Just don't expect to outrank the same domain, with the same SEO and a .com extension.

When looking at country domain extensions, the .co is often used, such as with .co.uk and .co.in. These extensions are used to tell the internet user that the website belongs to a company in that specific country.

However, this also causes some confusion. The fact that over 20 countries use the .co extension and the Canada extension, .ca, is very close to it, many people confuse .co as a different country. This can be a disadvantage when using the .co.
<div style="text-align: center;">
[one_half]<h4>Why Choose the .com Domain Extension?</h4>
The most widely used and recognized, the .com is the legacy of domain extensions. Whenever possible, you want to use the .com for your website. It provides the most value in marketing and in monetary value, as well.[/one_half][one_half_last]<h4>Why Choose the .co Domain Extension?</h4>
The main reason you may choose the .co extension is availability. It's also a short domain extension and provides a bit of a cutting-edge appeal.[/one_half_last]</div>

<h3>Why is the .co more Expensive?</h3>
The .co domain extension is more expensive than the .com, but they are both very affordable. The reason for the higher price is to deter domain name buyers from purchasing domains with the .co extension in bulk and not using them. This has become a problem with .com domain names and the higher price helps to make more .co domain names remain available.

<h3>Buying Your Domain Name and Starting Your Website</h3>
Whether you choose to buy the .com, the .co or both, you need hosting to start your website. A parked domain name won't do much for you, but with the right hosting, you can turn it into a functional website.

At ITX Design, we provide a variety of hosting packages to fit your needs once you decide between .com vs. .co. Our team of hosting experts provides 24/7 support with a 99.999% uptime guarantee. We are available to answer any questions you might have and you can contact us for hosting recommendations today.

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