Country code top-level domains in Trinidad and Tobago
Domains with ‘.tt’ extensions are not very common as Trinis naturally gravitate to the very comfortable ‘.com’. Even the availability of literally hundreds of new extensions get the cold shoulder. The local extension is relatively more expensive, but there are reasons to consider using.
The Trinidad and Tobago Network Information Centre (TTNIC) manages the registration of domain names within the TT (Trinidad & Tobago) Top Level Domain.
What’s
Under the
Hood
Our own .TT extension can only be obtained from our local registrar which has the sole authority for our country extension in Trinidad & Tobago.
Domains registered are both Second Level Domains (e.g., a.tt and companyname.tt) and Third Level Domains under co.tt, com.tt, org.tt and a few other third level names are also available.
On This Page
.TT Domain in Trinidad & Tobago- Overview
Few Trinis entertain the notion a .tt extension for their website, it’s like they don’t exist. That’s partly due to the fact that it’s not actively marketed, so it’s out-of-sight-out-of-mind. The only time we use ‘tt’ is to slap it on a .com domain when the name we want is already taken and voilà we have a ‘local’ domain!
There are many inherent advantages of using a local extension, but it all boils down to your website objectives and your preferences.
The only time Trinis use the ‘tt’ is to slap it on a .com domain when their name is already taken and voilà they have a localized domain!
It’s a fact that search engines differentiate between country code top level domains (ccTLDs) and generic top level domain names (gTLDs). Generally, we would recommend a .tt domain to client if their site needs to project a ‘national’ vibe, and if only it would helpful to its branding.
Did you know that schools in T&T can get their domains for free?
Local and registered educational institutions can take advantage of free domain registrations (ending .edu.tt) AND free hosting courtesy TTNIC.
Regular companies pay for registration for Second Level Domains (e.g., a.tt and companyname.tt) and Third Level Domains under co.tt, com.tt, org.tt, net.tt, biz.tt, pro.tt, info.tt, and name.tt.
See an example of a school website in our portfolio:
STSTEPHENSCOLLEGE.EDU.TT – Visit Site
Using .TT for branding for local and international visitors
Our local extension could be very helpful for websites that need to project a distinct Trinidad & Tobago positioning, for example tourism sites, or sites that have a national appeal like organizations, associations, schools and non-profits. People would normally expect that these sites would be .tt, and perhaps have more confidence in them because of the impression that the site is really speaking to them.
Examples of .tt sites in our portfolio:
- MAMAEARTH.TT – Visit Site
- AUDITORIUM.CENTRALBANKARTS.ORG.TT – Visit Site
- MUSEUM.CENTRALBANKARTS.ORG.TT – Visit Site
Using .TT for a creative 'Domain Hack'
It’s probably the first time you’re seeing the term ‘domain hack. In this case, it’s where you use the extension as the ending part of your domain to creatively spell out a name or phrase that ends in ‘tt’. You probably don’t know this, but literally the founder of WordPress, Matt Mullenweg has used our own .TT domain extension for his personal website in 2008 www.ma.tt. YES OUR .TT EXTENSION!
Of course you’ll have to get creative as not many words end in TT.
Using .TT for Search Engine Optimization (SEO) edge
Search engines call it ‘geotargeting’ and Google says “Use of a ccTLD is generally a strong signal for users since it explicitly specifies a single country in an unmistakable way.”. This also means that it will rank higher in Google’s country-based result, namely Google.tt— in theory, because the .tt extension is but one factor considered when calculating your site’s final ranking.
This means a high rank is not a foregone conclusion nor automatic by simply having .tt, i.e., you still have to do the work… BUT any edge is still helpful, especially in competitive industries.
Fortunately, there isn’t much competition in the short term, but in the long term there’ll definitely be. And if you’re thinking long term, there’s no time like the present.
Conclusion
Forward Multimedia has always had good interactions with TTNIC. The CEO, Patrick Hosein has always been very professional and helpful, and resolves issues very quickly.
The site is pretty utilitarian but gets the job done; it’s intuitive and easy to navigate. Prices may seem high when compared head to head with a .com domain. It all depends on your budget and how much you are willing to pay, and that’s your call. See the full price list on their website.
Still Have Questions?
If you still have any questions about .TT domains, send us a message or check out our knowledgebase.