An essential pillar for any business is its brand. Brand presence on the Web is a key factor in a business appearing in Internet searches and being found by existing and prospective customers.

For small business owners, the essential ingredients for building a strong brand are:

o A memorable business name o brand identity elements: o domain name o logo o email address o business card o social Web presence ( Linkedin, Facebook, Twitter, et Generic Top-Level Domains (gTLD)

The following table represents the generic top-level domains (i.e. including .com, .org, etc).

Domain Purpose / Sponsoring Organization Generic top-level domain .COM VeriSign Global Registry Services Generic top-level domain .INFO Afilias Limited Generic top-level domain .NET VeriSign Global Registry Services Generic top-level domain .ORG Public Interest Registry (PIR) Generic-Restricted Top-Level Domains

Generic-restricted top-level domain names are similar to the generic top-level domains, only eligibility is intended to be restricted and ascertained more stringently.

Domain Purpose / Sponsoring Organization Restricted for Business .BIZ NeuStar, Inc. Reserved for individuals .NAME The Global Name Registry Ltd. Restricted to credentialed professionals and related entities .PRO Registry Services Corporation dba RegistryPro Sponsored Top-Level Domains (sTLD) These domains are proposed and sponsored by private agencies or organizations that establish and enforce rules restricting the eligibility to use the TLD. IANA also groups sTLDs with the generic top-level domains.

Domain Purpose / Sponsoring Organization Reserved for members of the air-transport industry .AERO Societe Internationale de Telecommunications Aeronautique S.C. (SITA SC) Restricted to the Pan-Asia and Asia Pacific community .ASIA DotAsia Organization Ltd. Reserved for the Catalan linguistic and cultural community .CAT Fundacio puntCAT Reserved for cooperative associations .COOP DotCooperation LLC Reserved for post-secondary institutions accredited by an agency on the U.S. Department of Education's list of Nationally Recognized Accrediting .EDU Agencies EDUCAUSE Reserved exclusively for the United States Government .GOV General Services Administration Attn: QTDC, 2E08 (.gov Domain Registration) Used only for registering organizations established by international treaties .INT between governments Internet Assigned Numbers Authority Reserved for human resource managers .JOBS Employ Media LLC Reserved exclusively for the United States Military .MIL DoD Network Information Center Reserved for consumers and providers of mobile products and services .MOBI mTLD Top Level Domain Limited dba dotMobi Reserved for museums .MUSEUM Museum Domain Management Association Reserved for businesses and individuals to publish their contact data .TEL Telnic Ltd. Reserved for entities whose primary area of activity is in the travel industry .TRAVEL Tralliance Registry Management Company, LLC. Country Code Top-Level Domains (ccTLD)

Country code top-level domain names are those that are generally used for a specific country or dependent territory. All ccTLD identifiers are two letters long, and all two-letter top-level domains are ccTLDs. Some countries use a second-level domain to represent the entity type (for example, .com.cn for Chinese companies, or .org.cn for Chinese organizations).

Domain Purpose / Sponsoring Organization A

Ascension Island .AC Network Information Center (AC Domain Registry) c/o Cable and Wireless (Ascension Island) Andorra .AD STA Servei de Telecomunicacions d'Andorra .AE Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (TRA) Afghanistan .AF Ministry of Communications and IT Antigua and Barbuda .AG UHSA School of Medicine Anguilla .AI Government of Anguilla Albania .AL Electronic and Postal Communications Authority - AKEP .AM Internet Society Netherlands Antilles .AN University of The Netherlands Antilles Angola .AO Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade Agostinho Neto Antarctica .AQ Mott and Associates Argentina .AR MRECIC (Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, Comercio Internacional y Culto) American Samoa .AS AS Domain Registry Austria .AT NIC.AT Internet Verwaltungs und Betriebsgesellschaft m.b.H Australia .AU .au Domain Administration (auDA) Aruba .AW SETAR Aland Islands .AX Ålands landskapsregering .AZ Azerbaijan Domain Purpose / Sponsoring Organization A

IntraNS B

Bosnia and Herzegovina .BA Universtiy Telinformatic Centre (UTIC) Barbados Government of Barbados .BB Ministry of Economic Affairs and Development Telecommunications Unit .BD Ministry of Post & Telecommunications Bangladesh Secretariate Belgium .BE DNS BE vzw/asbl Burkina Faso .BF DELGI Delegational Generale Informatique .BG Register.BG Bahrain .BH BATELCO Burundi .BI Centre National de l'Informatique Benin .BJ Offices des Postes et Telecommunications Saint Barthelemy .BL Not assigned Bermuda .BM Registry General Ministry of Labour and Immigration Brunei Darussalam .BN Jabatan Telekom Brunei Bolivia .BO Agencia para el Desarrollo de la Información de la Sociedad en Bolivia Brazil .BR Comite Gestor da Internet no Brasil Bahamas .BS The College of the Bahamas Bhutan .BT Ministry of Information and Communications Bouvet Island .BV UNINETT Norid A/S Domain Purpose / Sponsoring Organization A

Botswana .BW University of Botswana .BY The State Centre of Security Information of Belarus Republic Belize .BZ University College of Belize C

Canada .CA Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA) Autorite Canadienne pour les Enregistrements Internet (ACEI) Cocos (Keeling) Islands .CC eNIC Cocos (Keeling) Islands Ltd. Pty, d/b/a Island Internet Services Congo, The Democratic Republic of the .CD NIC Congo - Interpoint SARL Central African Republic .CF Societe Centrafricaine de Telecommunications (SOCATEL) Congo .CG ONPT Congo and Interpoint Switzerland Switzerland .CH SWITCH The Swiss Education & Research Network Cote d'Ivoire .CI INP-HB Institut National Polytechnique Felix Houphouet Boigny Cook Islands .CK Telecom Cook Islands Ltd. Chile .CL NIC Chile (University of Chile) Cameroon .CM Cameroon Telecommunications (CAMTEL) .CN Chinese Academy of Sciences The Computer Network Center Colombia .CO Universidad de Los Andes NIC Colombia Costa Rica .CR National Academy of Sciences Academia Nacional de Ciencias Cuba .CU CENIAInternet Domain Purpose / Sponsoring Organization A

Industria y San Jose Capitolio Nacional Cape Verde .CV Instituto Superior de Engenharia e Ciencias do Mar Christmas Island .CX Christmas Island Internet Administration Limited .CY University of Cyprus Czech Republic .CZ CZ.NIC, z.s.p.o D

Germany .DE DENIC eG Djibouti .DJ Societe des Telecommunications Internationales de Djibouti (STID) Denmark .DK Dansk Internet Forum Dominica .DM DotDM Corporation Dominican Republic .DO Pontificia Universidad Catolica Madre y Maestra Recinto Santo Tomas de Aquino .DZ CERIST E

Ecuador .EC NIC.EC (NICEC) S.A. Estonia .EE National Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics .EG Egyptian Universities Network (EUN) Supreme Council of Universities Western Sahara .EH Not assigned Eritrea .ER Eritrea Telcommunication Services Corporation (EriTel) Spain .ES Red.es Ethiopia .ET Ethiopian Telecommunications Corporation Domain Purpose / Sponsoring Organization A

European Union .EU EURid vzw/asbl F

Finland .FI Finnish Communications Regulatory Authority Fiji .FJ The University of the South Pacific IT Services Falkland Islands (Malvinas) .FK Falkland Islands Government Micronesia, Federated States of .FM FSM Telecommunications Corporation Faroe Islands .FO FO Council France .FR AFNIC (NIC France) - Immeuble International G

Gabon .GA Gabon Telecom United Kingdom .GB Reserved Domain - IANA Grenada .GD The National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (NTRC) .GE SANET Ltd. French Guiana .GF Net Plus Guernsey .GG Island Networks Ltd. Ghana .GH Network Computer Systems Limited Gibraltar .GI Sapphire Networks Greenland .GL TELE Greenland A/S Gambia .GM GM-NIC Guinea .GN Centre National des Sciences Halieutiques de Boussoura Domain Purpose / Sponsoring Organization A

Guadeloupe .GP Networking Technologies Group Equatorial Guinea .GQ GETESA .GR ICS-FORTH GR South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands .GS Government of South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI) Guatemala .GT Universidad del Valle de Guatemala Guam .GU University of Guam Computer Center Guinea-Bissau .GW Fundação IT & MEDIA Universidade de Bissao Guyana .GY University of Guyana H

Hong Kong .HK Internet Registration Corporation Ltd. Heard Island and McDonald Islands .HM HM Domain Registry Honduras .HN Red de Desarrollo Sostenible Honduras Croatia .HR CARNet- Croatian Academic and Research Network Haiti .HT Consortium FDS/RDDH Hungary .HU Council of Hungarian Internet Providers (CHIP) I

Indonesia .ID IDNIC-PPAU Mikroelektronika Ireland University College Dublin .IE Computing Services Computer Centre .IL Internet Society of Israel .IM Isle of Man Domain Purpose / Sponsoring Organization A

Isle of Man Government .IN National Centre for Software Technology British Indian Ocean Territory .IO IO Top Level Domain Registry Cable and Wireless Iraq .IQ National Communications and Media Commission of Iraq , Islamic Republic of .IR Institute for Studies in Theoretical Physics & Mathematics (IPM) Iceland .IS ISNIC - Internet Iceland ltd. Italy .IT IIT - CNR J

Jersey .JE Island Networks (Jersey) Ltd. Jamaica .JM University of West Indies .JO National Information Technology Centre .JP Japan Registry Services Co., Ltd. K

Kenya .KE Kenya Network Information Center (KeNIC) Kyrgyzstan .KG AsiaInfo Telecommunication Enterprise Cambodia .KH Ministry of Post and Telecommunications Kiribati .KI Ministry of Communications, Transport, and Tourism Development Comoros .KM Comores Telecom Saint Kitts and Nevis .KN Ministry of Finance, Sustainable Development Information & Technology Korea, Democratic People's Republic of .KP Korea Computer Center Domain Purpose / Sponsoring Organization A

Korea, Republic of .KR National Internet Development Agency of Korea (NIDA) Kuwait .KW Ministry of Communications Cayman Islands .KY The Information and Communications Technology Authority .KZ Association of IT Companies of Kazakhstan L

Lao People's Democratic Republic .LA Lao National Internet Committee (LANIC) Science Technology and Environment Agency Lebanon .LB American University of Beirut Computing and Networking Services Saint Lucia .LC University of Puerto Rico Liechtenstein .LI Hochschule Liechtenstein .LK Council for Information Technology LK Domain Registrar Liberia .LR Data Technology Solutions, Inc. Lesotho .LS National University of Lesotho Lithuania .LT Kaunas University of Technology Information Technology Development Institute Luxembourg .LU RESTENA Latvia University of Latvia .LV Institute of Mathematics and Computer Science Department of Network Solutions (DNS) Libyan Arab Jamahiriya .LY General Post and Telecommunication Company M

Morocco .MA Agence Nationale de Réglementation des Télécommunications (ANRT) Domain Purpose / Sponsoring Organization A

Monaco .MC Gouvernement de Monaco Direction des Telecommunications Moldova .MD MoldData S.E. Montenegro .ME Government of Montenegro Saint Martin .MF Not assigned Madagascar .MG NIC-MG (Network Information Center Madagascar) Marshall Islands .MH Cabinet Office Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of .MK Ministry of Foreign Relations Mali .ML SOTELMA Myanmar .MM Ministry of Communications, Posts & Telegraphs .MN Datacom Co., Ltd. Macao .MO University of Northern Mariana Islands .MP Saipan Datacom, Inc. Martinique .MQ SYSTEL Mauritania .MR University of Nouakchott Montserrat .MS MNI Networks Ltd. Malta .MT NIC (Malta) Mauritius .MU Internet Direct Ltd Maldives .MV Dhiraagu Pvt. Ltd. (DHIVEHINET) Malawi .MW Malawi Sustainable Development Network Programme (Malawi SDNP) Domain Purpose / Sponsoring Organization A

Mexico .MX NIC-Mexico ITESM - Campus Monterrey .MY MYNIC Berhad Mozambique .MZ Centro de Informatica de Universidade Eduardo Mondlane N

Namibia .NA Namibian Network Information Center New Caledonia .NC Office des Postes et Telecommunications Niger .NE SONITEL Norfolk Island .NF Norfolk Island Data Services Nigeria .NG Nigerian Government c/o National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) Nicaragua .NI Universidad Nacional del Ingernieria Centro de Computo Netherlands .NL Stichting Internet Domeinregistratie Nederland Norway .NO UNINETT Norid A/S Nepal .NP Mercantile Communications Pvt. Ltd. Nauru .NR CENPAC NET Niue .NU Internet Users Society - Niue New Zealand .NZ InternetNZ O

Oman .OM Telecommunications Company P

Panama .PA Universidad Tecnologica de Panama Domain Purpose / Sponsoring Organization A

Panamanian Academic National Network Peru .PE Red Cientifica Peruana French Polynesia .PF Ministère des Postes et Télécommunications et des sports, chargé des nouvelles technologies de l'information Papua New Guinea PNG DNS Administration .PG Vice Chancellors Office The Papua New Guinea University of Technology Philippines .PH PH Domain Foundation .PK PKNIC Poland .PL Research and Academic Computer Network Saint Pierre and Miquelon .PM AFNIC (NIC France) - Immeuble International Pitcairn .PN Pitcairn Island Administration Puerto Rico .PR Gauss Research Laboratory Inc. Palestinian Territory, Occupied Ministry Of Telecommunications& .PS Information Technology, Government Computer Center. Portugal .PT Fundacao para a Computacao Cientifica Nacional Palau .PW Micronesia Investment and Development Corporation Paraguay .PY NIC-PY Q

Qatar .QA Telecom (Q-Tel) Q.S.C. R

Reunion .RE AFNIC (NIC France) - Immeuble International Romania .RO National Institute for R&D in Informatics Domain Purpose / Sponsoring Organization A

Serbia .RS Serbian National Register of Internet Domain Names Russian Federation .RU Coordination Center for TLD RU Rwanda .RW NIC Congo - Interpoint SARL S

Saudi Arabia .SA Communications and Information Technology Commission Solomon Islands .SB Solomon Telekom Company Limited Seychelles .SC VCS Pty Ltd .SD Sudan Internet Society Sweden .SE The Internet Infrastructure Foundation .SG Singapore Network Information Centre (SGNIC) Pte Ltd Saint Helena .SH Government of St. Helena Slovenia .SI Academic and Research Network of Slovenia (ARNES) Svalbard and Jan Mayen .SJ UNINETT Norid A/S Slovakia .SK SK-NIC, a.s. Sierra Leone .SL Sierratel San Marino .SM Telecom Italia San Marino S.p.A. Senegal .SN Universite Cheikh Anta Diop NIC Senegal Somalia .SO World Class Domains c/o Monolith Innovation Group Suriname .SR Telesur Domain Purpose / Sponsoring Organization A

Sao Tome and Principe .ST Tecnisys Soviet Union (being phased out) .SU Russian Institute for Development of Public Networks (ROSNIIROS) El Salvador SVNet .SV Col. Medica Dr. Emilio Alvarez Syrian Arab Republic .SY Syrian Telecommunications Establishment (STE) Swaziland .SZ University of Swaziland Department of Computer Science T

Turks and Caicos Islands .TC Melrex TC Chad .TD Société des télécommunications du Tchad (SOTEL TCHAD) French Southern Territories .TF AFNIC (NIC France) - Immeuble International Togo .TG CAFE INFORMATIQUE ET TELECOMMUNICATION .TH Thai Network Information Center Foundation Tajikistan .TJ Information Technology Center Tokelau .TK Telecommunication Tokelau Corporation (Teletok) Timor-Leste .TL Ministry of Infrastructure Information and Technology Division Turkmenistan .TM TM Domain Registry Ltd .TN Agence Tunisienne d'Internet Tonga Government of the Kingdom of Tonga .TO H.R.H. Crown Prince Tupouto'a c/o Consulate of Tonga Domain Purpose / Sponsoring Organization A

Portuguese Timor (being phased out) .TP - Turkey .TR Technical University Department of Computer Engineering Trinidad and Tobago .TT University of the West Indies Faculty of Engineering Tuvalu .TV Ministry of Finance and Tourism .TW Taiwan Network Information Center (TWNIC) Tanzania, United Republic of .TZ University of Dar Es Salaam U

Ukraine .UA Communication Systems Ltd Uganda .UG Uganda Online Ltd. United Kingdom .UK Nominet UK United States Minor Outlying Islands .UM Not assigned United States .US NeuStar, Inc. Loudon Tech Center Uruguay .UY SeCIU - Universidad de la Republica Uzbekistan .UZ Computerization and Information Technologies Developing Center UZINFOCOM V

Holy See (Vatican City State) .VA Holy See Secretariat of State Internet Office of the Holy See Saint Vincent and the Grenadines .VC Ministry of Telecommunications, Science, Technology and Industry Venezuela .VE Centro Nacional de Tecnologias de Informacion .VG Virgin Islands, British Domain Purpose / Sponsoring Organization A

Pinebrook Developments Ltd Virgin Islands, U.S. .VI Virgin Islands Public Telcommunications System c/o COBEX Internet Services Viet Nam .VN Ministry of Post and Telematics Vanuatu .VU Telecom Vanuatu Limited W

Wallis and Futuna .WF AFNIC (NIC France) - Immeuble International Samoa .WS Government of Samoa Ministry of Foreign Affairs Y

Yemen .YE TeleYemen Mayotte .YT AFNIC (NIC France) - Immeuble International Yugoslavia (being phased out) .YU Serbian National Register of Internet Domain Names (temporary caretaker) Z

South Africa .ZA ZA Domain Name Authority Zambia .ZM ZAMNET Communication Systems Ltd. Zimbabwe .ZW Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ