.biz Domain Meaning: Should You Use a .biz Domain?

The .com extension is the most popular top-level domain. Users have registered over 233 million domain names with the .com extension—potentially including the one you wanted for your website.

If your desired domain isn’t available with a .com TLD, it’s worth considering alternatives, including the .biz domain extension. The .biz TLD is becoming increasingly common and naturally evokes ecommerce business websites, but there are a few reasons why it might not be your best option.

What is a .biz domain?

A .biz domain is a generic top-level domain (gTLD)—the last part of a URL that helps organize websites— intended for business use. ICANN, the nonprofit that manages domains, created .biz domains in 2001 to offer businesses an alternative if their preferred .com domain name was unavailable.

Any person or organization can register a site with generic top-level domains, like .net domains, .org domains, .com domains, and the .biz extension. By contrast, domain extensions like country code TLDs (e.g., .jp for Japan) and sponsored TLDs (e.g., .edu for educational institutions), restrict usage to specific geographic areas or organizations.

While gTLDs have unrestricted usage, a .org domain carries associations with nonprofits, technical internet services often claim .net domains, and online store owners sometimes veer toward .biz domain alternatives.

Pros and cons of .biz domains

Though ICANN intended .biz domains for online commercial enterprises who may not be able to use other domains, it hasn’t become as trustworthy or recognizable as the immensely popular .com TLD. Here are some pros and cons to keep in mind as you consider a .biz extension:

Pros of a .biz extension

• Availability. Your perfect domain name may not be available with popular TLDs like .com or .net but is likely available with the less popular .biz extension.

• Pricing. The annual pricing for .biz domains is competitive with rates for other TLDs, so you shouldn’t see a significant difference between domain registration expenses.

• Logical ties to business. Compared to other extensions like the .info domain or the .xyz domain, .biz offers a clear tie to business for potential customers and web visitors encountering your brand for the first time.

• No bias from search engines. Google and other leading search engines rank .biz websites with the same metrics as other gTLDs. They can appear on search results pages alongside many other TLDs.

Cons of a .biz extension

• Lower name recognition. Most people use .com domains daily and are familiar with popular options like .org, .net, and .edu. The .biz domain may not inspire the same familiarity and trust with users.

• Association with scammers and spam. While .biz was created for legitimate businesses, its use by scammers may make users hesitant to trust it. This may even extend to email providers; Microsoft, for instance, associates .biz sites with spam in its email filtering software. As a business owner, you need to represent your brand in the best possible light, and other TLDs may inspire more trust.

• Less inbound linking. If you’re seeking a new domain name to rank higher on search engine results pages (SERPs), a .biz TLD may not be the right choice. Other websites may link to .com websites over .biz websites for perceived legitimacy, affecting your inbound linking—a key part of SEO strategy.

• Narrow use cases. Websites worldwide use .com and .net for any website, but .biz is more tied to business use. If your website isn’t an ecommerce company, .biz likely isn’t the perfect choice for you.

When to use a .biz domain

While .biz was designed for businesses, millions of business owners favor the .com extension. So, does .biz domain registration ever make sense? In some limited scenarios, yes.

Brand protection is the most common use of .biz domains. Many businesses register multiple TLDs—even if they hold a .com with the same name—to avoid losing traffic to copycats and capture mistaken traffic. You may already own a .com and .net domain, along with specific country code TLDs like .ca for Canada if you’re doing business abroad. Alternative gTLDs like .biz and .io can further safeguard your brand.

Outside of brand protection, .biz may make sense for availability and budget reasons. Say your ecommerce business’s chosen .com domain name is unavailable. You then have three primary options: try to buy the domain name from its current owner (often at a premium), change your second-level domain, or consider an alternative gTLD. As most startups have heavy budget constraints and limited access to capital, they can’t afford pre-registered premium domains. If you cannot find an acceptable name alternative with a .com TLD, you can turn to more niche options like .biz, .info, .io, .co, and .xyz.

To decide between .biz and alternatives, put yourself in the shoes of a prospective customer and ask which domain you’d likely click on. Survey your target audience to understand how potential customers might react and research formal surveys and studies to gather quantifiable statistics. For example, a 2022 GrowthBadger survey found that .biz elicited less customer trust than any other tested TLD, including .co, .io, and .us.

Overall, .biz may not be the best option for ecommerce. Still, it’s worth considering a .biz domain if you can’t find another extension for your preferred second-level domain or want to strengthen your domain portfolio.

Considerations when using a .biz domain

• Ensure credibility
• Consider public reaction
• Register additional TLDs

If you’ve decided to register a .biz domain, these steps will help your website put its best foot forward:

Ensure credibility

Some people associate .biz with low-quality sites, so it’s essential to establish trust. Obtain a secure SSL certificate to show visitors your site is safe, and rework your website design and content to create a better user experience. Use trust badges and indicators like third-party reviews, free returns, and high-quality copy and imagery to convey legitimacy.

Consider public reaction

Will a .biz domain impact your brand image? It depends on your audience. If you’re trying to reach a less tech-savvy customer base accustomed to .com domains, a .biz domain might be confusing or suspicious. For other audiences, a .biz domain with a playful brand name and design may build brand affinity.

For example, a honey company may use bees.biz to convey its playful brand personality, or an influencer may use me.biz for a tongue-in-cheek personal website. However, a niche domain name may also limit your potential customer base.

Register additional TLDs

If purchasing a less conventional TLD like .biz, consider registering additional ones like .info, .io, .co, and .xyz. You can redirect them to your .biz site, and if you later decide another TLD conveys more authority, you can make it your main web address by redirecting your .biz traffic. For example, you could redirect example.biz traffic to example.io if .io becomes more popular.