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Domain hacks turn your TLD into part of your brand name. Instead of example.com, you get exam.ple where the extension completes the word. When done right, they're unforgettable.
Famous Domain Hacks
| Domain | Reads As | Company | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| bit.ly | Bitly | URL shortener | Active, major brand |
| del.icio.us | Delicious | Social bookmarking | Sold to Yahoo for $30M |
| last.fm | Last FM | Music streaming | Acquired by CBS |
| instagr.am | Photo sharing | Original domain, later moved to instagram.com | |
| about.me | About Me | Personal pages | Active |
| youtu.be | YouTube | Video shortener | Google-owned |
Del.icio.us (2003) pioneered creative domain hacking, using the .us ccTLD to spell "delicious." Joshua Schachter's bookmarking site sold for $30 million to Yahoo in 2005, proving domain hacks could build serious value.
How Domain Hacks Work
Find Your Word
Start with the complete word you want (e.g., "notify")
Identify the Ending
Look at the last 2-3 letters. Could they be a TLD? (noti.fy → .fy)
Verify TLD Exists
Not all letter combinations are TLDs. Check that it's available for public registration.
Check Registration Requirements
Some ccTLDs have residency or business requirements
Popular TLDs for Domain Hacks
Country Code TLDs (ccTLDs)
| TLD | Country | Common Hacks | Registration |
|---|---|---|---|
| .ly | Libya | bit.ly, short.ly | Open to all |
| .io | British Indian Ocean | stud.io, portfol.io | Open to all |
| .me | Montenegro | about.me, name.me | Open to all |
| .tv | Tuvalu | twitch.tv (originally) | Open to all |
| .fm | Micronesia | last.fm, plug.fm | Open to all |
| .co | Colombia | angel.co, t.co (Twitter) | Open to all |
| .to | Tonga | go.to, link.to | Open to all |
| .is | Iceland | this.is, what.is | Open to all |
| .it | Italy | do.it, buy.it | Open to all |
| .us | United States | del.icio.us, foc.us | US persons/entities |
| .am | Armenia | stre.am | Open to all |
| .es | Spain | nam.es, not.es | Open to all |
| .in | India | jo.in, log.in | Open to all |
Generic TLDs (gTLDs)
| TLD | Hack Examples | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| .app | your.app, my.app | Apps |
| .dev | my.dev, web.dev | Developers |
| .ai | get.ai, try.ai | AI companies |
| .gg | lol.gg, op.gg | Gaming |
Creating Your Own Domain Hack
Good Domain Hacks
Read naturally, intuitive pronunciation, memorable
Bad Domain Hacks
Forced splits, confusing pronunciation, obscure TLDs
Words That Work Well
| Ending | TLD | Example Domain | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| -ly | .ly | quick.ly, friend.ly | Most popular |
| -io | .io | stud.io, portfol.io | Tech-friendly |
| -me | .me | hire.me, call.me | Personal brands |
| -is | .is | what.is, this.is | Clean splits |
| -it | .it | do.it, share.it | Action words |
| -in | .in | log.in, plug.in | Tech concepts |
| -am | .am | stre.am | Clean phonetically |
| -to | .to | go.to, link.to | Action verbs |
| -co | .co | start.co | Business-friendly |
| -fm | .fm | pod.fm | Audio/music |
Pros and Cons of Domain Hacks
Pros
- ✓ Extremely memorable when done well
- ✓ Unique brand differentiation
- ✓ Often shorter than .com alternatives
- ✓ Great conversation starters
- ✓ Can work without .com
Cons
- ✗ Some ccTLDs have political/stability risk
- ✗ May confuse some users
- ✗ Harder to type accurately
- ✗ Email deliverability can be affected
- ✗ SEO historically favored .com (less so now)
Important Considerations
Country code TLDs are controlled by their respective countries. Policy changes, political instability, or sanctions can affect your domain. Consider this for long-term brand building.
Risk Assessment by TLD
| TLD | Country | Risk Level | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| .ly | Libya | ⚠️ Medium | Political instability history |
| .io | British Indian Ocean | ⚠️ Medium | Sovereignty discussions |
| .co | Colombia | ✅ Low | Stable, widely adopted |
| .me | Montenegro | ✅ Low | EU-aligned, stable |
| .tv | Tuvalu | ✅ Low | Major revenue source, protected |
| .fm | Micronesia | ✅ Low | Stable, music industry adopted |
| .gg | Guernsey | ✅ Low | British Crown dependency |
| .is | Iceland | ✅ Low | Stable democracy |
Best Practices
Consider Also Getting the .com
Protect your brand and catch typos. bit.ly also owns bitly.com.
Keep It Natural
The best domain hacks read naturally. If you have to explain the split, it's too forced.
Test Verbal Communication
Say "bit dot ly" vs "bitly"—it should flow naturally in conversation.
Consider Email Implications
Some corporate email systems flag unusual TLDs. Test deliverability.
Real Success Stories
Bitly (bit.ly)
- Founded: 2008
- Domain hack: bit + .ly (Libya)
- What they do: URL shortening
- Why it works: "Bit" is short for binary digit, "ly" completes the word. "Bitly" reads naturally.
- Outcome: Became standard for link shortening, later acquired bitly.com
Last.fm
- Founded: 2002
- Domain hack: last + .fm (Micronesia)
- What they do: Music discovery and scrobbling
- Why it works: FM = radio frequency, perfect for music brand
- Outcome: Sold to CBS for $280 million (2007)
About.me
- Founded: 2009
- Domain hack: about + .me (Montenegro)
- What they do: Personal landing pages
- Why it works: "About me" is exactly what the service provides
- Outcome: Acquired by AOL
Domain Hack Ideas by Industry
| Industry | Potential Hacks | TLD |
|---|---|---|
| Music/Audio | stre.am, pod.fm, tune.in | .am, .fm, .in |
| Tech/Dev | stud.io, log.in, api.io | .io, .in |
| Personal Brand | hire.me, about.me, find.me | .me |
| Media | wat.ch, pho.to | .ch, .to |
| Gaming | pla.gg, win.gg | .gg |
When to Skip Domain Hacks
Domain hacks aren't always the answer:
| Situation | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Enterprise B2B | .com usually safer |
| Highly regulated industry | Conservative TLD choice |
| Targeting older demographics | .com more recognized |
| International SEO priority | .com or country-specific |
| Building for acquisition | .com adds perceived value |
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