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Discussion on: Advice on .ly domains.

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tux0r profile image
tux0r

Why would you want to have a Libyan domain?

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ben profile image
Ben Halpern

The .com is taken?

We have a Tonga domain.

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tux0r profile image
tux0r

I find the unwritten rule that web developers absolutely must not have a normal TLD quite boring, to be honest.

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terabytetiger profile image
Tyler V. (he/him)

I don't think it's just some unwritten rule, so much as a variety of factors. Some of the reasons I could see for someone wanting a unique domain include:

  • Creative freedom
  • Improves marketing
  • .com availability
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tux0r profile image
tux0r

It's not "creative freedom" when everyone does it. Also, people usually forget that ".com" is for "commercial" - ".net" is much more logical in many cases.

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terabytetiger profile image
Tyler V. (he/him)

I don't think that creative freedom inherently means doing something unique, so much as having the ability to create something in the way that you choose to express yourself.

You're welcome to have your own view on exactly what creative freedom means to you, and I understand that from a certain logical perspective, sites should fit into a specific top-level domain. Using the same logic, I would propose that it's most logical to use a domain that fits your brand well since I suspect that many Internet users don't consider that site.com means commercial use and site.net is for networking.

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tux0r profile image
tux0r

I suspect that many Internet users don't consider that site.com means commercial use and site.net is for networking.

The logic of "they don't know better, so we'll cater their misinformed needs" violates my standards.

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terabytetiger profile image
Tyler V. (he/him)

"they don't know better, so we'll cater their misinformed needs"

While I think it's great that you have standards about this, this is very much not the point I was trying to make here. Namely, in the text you quoted you'll notice I used the wording "consider" not "understand".

For example, when I go to dev.to, I'm not thinking about what the TLD means and if it's the correct classification for the site, I'm thinking about the content and community that I want to experience once I'm on the site.

I don't intend to continue this conversation since it seems clear to me that you're barely taking the time to read my responses before responding, but thanks for taking the time to encourage me to sit back and really think about what creative freedom means to me. I found it to be quite an enjoyable thought exercise :)

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yechielk profile image
Yechiel Kalmenson

I thought it was a reference to the DEV.TOgether stickers? 😜

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conist profile image
Conist

From the question, it sounds like the ly ending will fit nice.ly with their site. Quite like.ly even.

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imthedeveloper profile image
ImTheDeveloper

Yes - seen this quite a few times one that worked really well was countly which bought count.ly nice and easy to remember.

I think if it forms part of the brand / name then these domains whilst vanity are really memorable. Its not quite the same impression that I get when someone just registers mywebsite.ly which looks like you are just uber cheap!