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Ask HN: How do you feel about .io ccTLD used for US web-app?

2 points by TallboyOne ↗ HN
I have spent a good year developing a great web app for programmers (in the US). I asked a few SEO 'experts' if a .io domain would have an effect on my ranks. I got a unanimous reply: "no." So I bought a really great name. After all is said and done, and I do some research myself, (naturally) I see that it DOES in fact affect rankings, as it's not considered a gTLD.

I've tried doing some googling, and it's difficult due to the short "io" keyword, but I have a few questions.

I'm wondering how this will affect me trying to make my app popular in the US (ranking wise). I find it frustrating because .io is so popular among 'tech apps' due to its input/output connotation.

1. Do you think theres any hope for this being moved to a gTLD?

2. Do you think in general I should just stick it out and try to keep going? (I have already designed my logo, and everything about my app, around this domain)

3. I read the following on a blog post I found. Can anyone shed some light on if this is relevant?

"Here's to hoping that Google adds .io to their list of blessed domains soon.

Also, aren't TLDs going to be opened wide-up soon? So, that makes gTLD, rTLD and gccTLD stuff less relevant?"

2 comments

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thruflo
On the pure SEO front, sounds like you've answered your own question - it is affecting results right now. It would be interesting to see the test data that proves this.

As to what you should do, I'd suggest focus on value / utility and driving a narrative, which will lead.to links, which will outweigh any tld/gtld considerations. Worry about the fatness of the pig, not the glossof the lipstick.

debacle
I think it was a good idea initially - socket.io is a great domain - but now that everyone is doing it, it feels cheapened.