All About .org: History, Usage, and Advantages

.com, .us, .tk, .edu – these are just a few of the many top-level domains (TLDs) that you can use at the end of your domain names when creating websites. .org is one of the best-known TLDs. In fact, it’s statistically the second most popular TLD of them all, accounting for over 4% of all websites.

However, in spite of its popularity, there are still many misconceptions about how .org sites work and the unique benefits they provide. This guide sheds light on the matter, taking a deep dive into the .org TLD to explore why it was created and how it’s used, along with the pros and cons of using it.

The History of .org

First, a quick history lesson: .org was actually one of the original TLDs, released back in 1985 alongside several others that most internet users will recognize instantly, like .com, .net, and .edu. The “org” in .org stands for “organization”, and as the name suggests, this TLD was created for organizations of various kinds that didn’t otherwise have an obvious TLD to reflect what their sites were about.

The very first .org address was attributed to the Mitre Corporation, a not-for-profit organization, and many more non-profits have since followed suit and created .org sites of their own. Indeed, over the years, .org has almost become synonymous with non-profits and community organizations, even though it doesn’t have any specific, strict restrictions in terms of who can use it.

Who Uses .org?

The main users of .org web addresses tend to be:

• Not-for-profit (non-profit) organizations, like charities.
• Open-source projects.
• Community groups and initiatives.

However, these aren’t the only owners of .org addresses. As touched on earlier, anyone can technically start a .org site. That includes for-profit businesses, startups, or even individuals, though the nature and history of .org mean that it lends itself best to non-profits and the like.

The Pros and Cons of a .org Address

Let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons of using .org for your own website.

Pros

Trust and Credibility

Across the world, .org is seen as one of the most trustworthy of all TLDs. That’s because so many .org sites tend to be established charities, non-profits, or other organizations offering information, educational content, or helpful services. So, having .org at the end of your website may help give the average person the right impression of what your site is about.

Ideal for Non-Profits and Other Organizations

Certain TLDs are a perfect fit for certain types of businesses or organizations. .edu, for example, is ideal for schools and colleges, and .shop is good for online stores. In the case of .org, it’s simply the best choice for the likes of non-profits, open-source software, and communal organizations. If you’re making this type of site, .org is undoubtedly the way to go.

Better Availability Than .com

One of the issues with making a website nowadays is that there are already so many sites out there, meaning a great many site names have already been taken. Particularly if you’re trying to set up a .com address, you may well find that the name you wanted is already in use. Since .org isn’t as widely used as .com, it’s usually easier (and often cheaper) to get a .org address for the name you want.

Cons

Certain Usage Associations

As mentioned earlier, there aren’t any official rules about who can use a .org website. However, there is a sort of “unwritten code” about how this domain name is used. If a for-profit business or online store sets up a .org address, for example, it can look a little strange or even shady, as people generally expect charitable or non-profit content when they click on a .org address.

Can Be Harder to Market

Another potential downside with .org is that it’s often harder to market effectively compared to .com. You may find it a little trickier to bolster your SEO scores and acquire organic traffic with a .org site. Because .com is so widely used, it’s usually seen as the best TLD from a branding perspective.

Consider .org for Your New Site

To sum up, .org is one of the most trusted and credible of the entire range of TLDs. It has many upsides and is of particular value to non-profit organizations and open-source initiatives. But it also comes with some caveats, and isn’t a good fit for everyone. Consider both the pros and cons of this TLD to decide if .org domain registration is right for you.