Can't find your perfect domain name with the prized .com domain extension? Join the club.

All too often, after working long and hard to come up with a perfect domain name with a .com domain extension, many people still come up empty handed. What's to be done? Turn to a .net, .org, .biz? Maybe, but don't make that leap too fast. There's are other options.

With the addition of hundreds of new domain extensions, businesses, organizations, and individuals can certainly find the domain name and domain extension that is perfect for them.

(Featured photo by Ashley Wirz, courtesy of Jeff Driver)

A Brief History of Domain Extensions

Gather round kids and grandpa will tell you about the olden days of the internet. When I was a kid, if you wanted a domain, you had to walk seven miles, in the snow, uphill, to find an ISP (internet service provider.) Okay, it wasn't that bad, but it was a bit more limited.

In the beginning (circa 1984,) there were seven domain extensions: .com, .net, .org, .edu, .gov, .mil, and .arpa. Over the next twenty-nine years, others (.biz, .info, .web, etc) became available until there was a stunning twenty-two extensions.

The Domain Extension Flood Gates Opened

On November 6, 2013, nine new extensions, also called "generic Top Level Domains," joined the family.Well, technically they were "delegated," which means that they're heading towards release.

The first batch included .camera, .holdings, and the very popular .guru. Following that initial release, every week or so, a new batch of extensions were delegated.

Hey you ... the photographer, how about a .photography, .camera, or .photos extension for your domain? If that's not what you're looking for, .photo is on its way in the near future.

Wait, you're more into cooking? How about .kitchen or .recipes? And .cooking, .restaurant, .cafe, and .pizza are just around the corner.

Are you running a business in some other specific industry? How about .clothing, .construction, .plumbing, or .diamonds?

Whatever you're into, there's a new domain extension -- either available now or coming soon -- that will be perfect for you, your business, or your organization.

The Quick Takeaway

While more are still coming, you can view the list of delegated extensions on ICANN's website. But to register yours, you'll need to head over to GoDaddy (this is an affiliate link) or your favorite registrar. If your preferred extension is flagged as coming soon, you may be able to pre-register or you may just have to wait and watch for it (most registrars allow you to "follow" news about the upcoming extensions.)