Domain Length vs. Total Domain Length — Top Level

Some top level domain names are longer than we’re used to, but they can still be shorter overall.

A lot of people have questioned if some fresh top level domain names are simply too long.

Will people type in an eleven character top level domain name such as .photography when they’re used to typing in just two or three characters to the right of the dot?

While it remains to be seen how internet users react, .photography appears to be an early winner with many photographers. It has by now crossed the 15,000 domain registrations mark.

I think the reason for this is simple: for many photographers, a .photography domain name is actually shorter than what they have now.

If your domain is JoeSmithPhotography.com, then JoeSmith.photography is shorter.

It’s an issue of Top Level Domain Length (TLDL) vs. Total Domain Length (TDL).

If clients can get a shorter TDL despite a long TLDL, they might go for it.

An interesting test will be when .photo and .photos come out. Will photographers prefer these domain names since they have both a shorter TLDL and can enable a shorter TDL?

Of course, picking the right domain is a lot more complicated than just going with the shortest. Some people will even go with a longer domain if they’re right now stuck with a hyphenated .net.