When choosing between a .COM and a .ATTORNEY domain, consider several factors, including branding, SEO, and audience perception. Here’s a breakdown to help you decide:
1. Audience Expectations and Recognition
- .COM: The most widely recognized domain extension, often associated with established businesses. It’s versatile, trusted, and well-suited for a general audience. Most people instinctively search for a .COM, so if your audience is broad or includes non-legal industry viewers, .COM might be better.
- .ATTORNEY: This is industry-specific, clearly signaling that your website is related to legal services. It can add credibility and immediately let potential clients know they’re in the right place. However, it’s less common, so it might require extra promotion for people to remember.
2. Branding and Professional Image
- .COM: If you aim for a broad, professional image that can grow beyond legal services (like into consulting or other areas), .COM is ideal. It’s easier to brand and is versatile for potential business expansion.
- .ATTORNEY: This extension can strengthen a brand that’s strictly focused on legal services. It’s great for standing out within the legal field, reinforcing a specialized, professional image.
3. SEO and Search Ranking
- .COM: Historically, .COM domains are preferred by search engines simply because they’re more popular. However, this doesn’t mean .ATTORNEY can’t rank well—it just needs strong SEO practices.
- .ATTORNEY: Having a keyword-relevant domain extension like .ATTORNEY could slightly improve relevancy signals for legal-related searches, potentially giving a niche SEO boost. However, its benefits will largely depend on your content quality and SEO strategy.
4. Memorability and Marketing
- .COM: Easier to remember and trusted by most audiences. People are used to .COM, so it might lead to fewer mistyped URLs.
- .ATTORNEY: More memorable if you want to emphasize your specialization. However, you might have to remind clients about the unique extension initially.
5. Availability and Cost
- .COM: Due to high demand, finding a relevant, short, memorable .COM domain can be challenging and potentially expensive.
- .ATTORNEY: This domain is relatively new and less popular, so it’s often easier to find your preferred name available, potentially at a lower cost.
When to Choose .COM
- You want broad recognition, versatility, and an easy-to-remember domain.
- You might expand your services beyond legal offerings in the future.
- You aim to reach a general or international audience accustomed to .COM.
When to Choose .ATTORNEY
- You want to highlight your legal expertise and niche focus.
- You’re catering to clients specifically seeking legal services.
- You find a memorable .ATTORNEY domain that aligns with your brand and can help with SEO for legal keywords.
If possible, securing both the .COM and .ATTORNEY versions can protect your brand and allow you to redirect traffic from one to the other, giving you the best of both worlds.