Website owners in Nigeria, like those in any other country, have to decide whether to use their country’s top-level domain (ccTLD) or a more widely-used domain extension like .com extension. In Nigeria, the main options are .ng and its subdomains, such as .com.ng, .org.ng, .edu.ng, and .gov.ng, as well as other generic TLDs like .com, .net, .org, .biz, and .info. The choice between these options can affect a website’s visibility, SEO, and credibility, so it’s important for website owners to consider their needs and goals before making a decision.
From a technical standpoint, both .com and .ng domain names function in the same manner and can be utilized for various applications such as websites, email, and social media.
The .ng domain extension is the country-code top-level domain (ccTLD) assigned to Nigeria. In addition to registering directly under .ng, website owners looking to target Nigeria also have the option of using one of the 10 other .ng subdomains such as .com.ng, .org.ng, .name.ng, .mobi.ng, .i.ng. However, the next five subdomains .edu.ng, .gov.ng, .mil.ng, .sch.ng, .net.ng are only available to qualified Nigerian entities and institutions.
Why choose a .NG Domain name?
Choosing a .ng domain name is ideal for website owners looking to target a Nigerian audience. It serves as a strong representation of a website’s connection to Nigeria, and can potentially improve search engine rankings for keywords relevant to Nigerian users.
Why choose a .COM Domain name?
In contrast, .com is considered to be a global domain extension. As the most popular domain extension, it has a significant number of registered domains, as of 2021, there were over 150 million .com domains. This makes .com ideal for targeting a global audience or marketplace. It is used by a wide variety of entities and individuals for various applications and is often considered the default international domain extension.
Benefits/Similarities: .com vs .ng domains.
For businesses or individuals targeting the global market, the best domain extension is .COM. this is because international agencies and organizations have more trust in .com than the. NG.
Aside from this, for business reasons in the global market which is outside Nigeria .COM is certainly appropriate.
However for businesses or individuals targeting to win the Nigerian market or who want their product to have the Nigerian face or picture then .NG OR .COM.NG is appropriate for them.
Conclusion
Both “.com” and “.ng” domain names have their own advantages and disadvantages. “.com” is a widely recognized and accepted domain extension, making it more attractive to a global audience. However, “.ng” is the country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for Nigeria, making it more relevant for businesses or individuals targeting the Nigerian market. Ultimately, the choice between the two will depend on the specific needs and goals of the website or business.
