Is it better to have a .ie or a .com?

The answer to this question used to be far easier to answer.

In the past, “.ie” indicated that you were a legitimate entity with a real presence in Ireland and “.com” implied you could be a foreign entity that was not supporting Irish or even a fake entity.

This has all changes since artists, entrepreneurs and brands started taking more control over their own enterprises.

A social media presence creating authentic relationships with followers is now far more likely to create an impression of authenticity as opposed to simply having a “.ie” at the end of your website.

Most Irish artists, entrepreneurs and small independent shops can easily get away with a “.com” these days, without risking any loss of business or engagement.

A “.com” might be the best option where budget is a consideration because they are significantly cheaper than a “.ie.”

In either case, while domains are cheap to buy for the first year, the price goes up exponentially in year two.

There are cases where a “.ie” might be an obvious choice. Major brands and corporations, for example, use “.com” along with a plethora of other domains like “.ie, .co.uk, .fr” etc.

They need to compartmentalise their operations in each jurisdiction and create an impression that they support the particular country they are operating in.

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