Buy .NL or .COM domain for your website?

Introduction

You've probably wondered which is better for your website: a .NL or a .COM domain. It is important to consider this choice when buying a domain name. It depends on your goal with your website, so in this article we will give some reasons why you should choose a NL or a COM domain (or maybe both).

Why a .NL domain:

1. A .NL domain is reliable

Consumers and businesses are buying more and more online, but just as in the physical world, they prefer to do so at a store around the corner. A .NL domain is the online equivalent of that for many Dutch people. The idea that a website belongs to a company based in the Netherlands inspires confidence.

2. A .NL domain does well in Google

Do you have a website in Dutch and do you serve a Dutch target audience? Then chances are your potential customers are also using Dutch-language search terms. How high your website appears in search results depends on numerous factors. But with a .NL domain, you do increase your chances of being seen in Dutch searches.

3. A .NL domain increases the CTR

CTR is the click-through rate, or the percentage of people who click through on a link. For example, on Google's search results page. There are several factors that determine whether or not a user clicks on a link. The domain extension is one of them, with a .NL extension being preferred by Dutch Internet users.

4. An NL domain is easy to remember

When people search for your business online, they may use Google to do so. But many will also just enter the URL that makes the most sense for them. And for most Dutch people, that will end in .NL. A domain that ends in .BUZZ is very nice, but the chances are slim that your potential visitors will type it in right away.

Why a .COM domain:

1. A .COM domain is international

If you have a website with which you want to offer products and/or services worldwide, then a .COM domain is better. A .COM domain is known among all Internet users worldwide and therefore the perfect extension for you!

2. A .COM domain is reliable just like .NL domain, but worldwide

If your website is written in English and you serve consumers around the world, chances are your potential customers are using English-language keywords. Just like how a .NL domain helps you with findability for Dutch searches, a .COM domain helps your findability for English-language searches.

3. A .COM domain can become worth a lot

In general, .COM domains have the most value. This is because the website can be used in practically every country, so the demand for it is also higher. Should you find yourself in a situation where you want to get rid of your website, selling your domain name can still earn you quite a bit of money.

Why a .NL & .COM domain:

1. All the benefits listed above

Of course, all the benefits of .NL and .COM domains apply if you buy both extensions. If the benefits of .NL and .COM fit the purpose of your website, it is an option to buy both domains

2. Dutch companies can thus properly serve its customers domestically and globally.

As a Dutch company operating internationally, you actually want to serve your Dutch target audience with a Dutch website. By buying both a .NL domain and .COM domain, you can serve both target groups well. Dutch visitors will be redirected to the .NL domain and English speakers to the .COM domain.

3. Prevent someone else from using your .COM or .NL domain

When you only have a .NL or .COM domain, it can happen that someone with exactly the same name buys the other extension. You run the risk that this person will appear in the google search results, which can confuse (potential) customers when they land on the 'wrong' website. This can cause you to miss out on potential conversions.

A .NL domain is becoming increasingly scarce

With all these new extensions, the number of possible domain names is only increasing. But of course, this does not apply to .NL domains, which are actually becoming increasingly scarce. So a good .NL domain is worth something, especially with a view to the future. So make sure you register the .NL domains that are interesting for your business. Are you looking for a suitable company name including a .NL domain? In recent years, Brandio has developed hundreds of high-quality company names. Check out the collection!

You may want to move your domain to another hosting party. This is not complicated, we will explain how to move your domain name.