How Important is Owning the .com Domain?

When I first started building companies in 2006, it was universally believed that the .com extension was the only commercially viable domain extension. So we searched for a name that had an available .com for registration.

I am now working with new entrepreneurs on new ideas and this time I am questioning the importance of the .com domain. I would rather have a great company name and a different domain extension than a nonsensical name and the .com.

Also, so many new domains have opened up since 2006 that it is becoming standard practice. For instance, the .guru extension is a new one. The stronghold on .com squatting is being disrupted.

If the .com is important to you and taken, it can be negotiated sometimes using services like sedo.com.

What do you think about the importance of owning .com domains for your business?

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