I got my hands on the incredible .co domain and it's at the forefront of my mind.
Despite my lack of experience with this domain, I wonder what its SEO potential could be.
However, what are the drawbacks that come with this choice?

On the positive side, Google recognizes these domains as commonly used zone domains.
However, there is a slight downside in that users are more likely to type in .com handles instead of .co ones, but with the rise of auto-complete features, manually typing in domain names is becoming increasingly rare.

Let's consider a scenario where three identical sites exist in a vacuum, with no discernible differences. In this hypothetical world, there is a chance that the .co domain could be ranked higher than the .com domain in Colombia. However, it's important to note that this hypothetical scenario is unlikely to occur.

It's important to prioritize the domain name's impact on SEO when making a decision.

Furthermore, if your domain name is straightforward and memorable, users are likely to enter it directly into their search engine without needing to manually type it out.

When considering your website's domain, it's important to understand your target audience, the topics you'll cover, and your website's goals.

In many cases, a website's address isn't necessary, particularly if the website is only being promoted through online advertisements like contextual ads or banners.

It's important to note that search engines don't differentiate between domains, so any can be used.

While manually entered domains may be easier for users to remember and type, it won't necessarily impact your website's SEO.

The .co domain is an appealing choice for several reasons:

1. SEO Potential: While .com remains the dominant top-level domain (TLD), Google does recognize .co as a commonly used and legitimate extension. This means that, all else being equal, your .co domain is unlikely to be penalized in search engine rankings compared to a .com domain. In fact, the unique nature of the .co TLD may even give you a slight advantage in terms of brand recognition and recall.

2. Branding and Memorability: The .co extension can be appealing from a branding perspective, as it can help your domain name stand out and be more memorable for your target audience. This can be particularly beneficial if the .com version of your desired domain is already taken.

3. Availability: The relative scarcity of high-quality .com domain names means that .co can be an attractive alternative, especially if the .com version of your preferred domain is unavailable or prohibitively expensive.

However, there are also some potential drawbacks to consider:

1. User Familiarity: As you mentioned, many internet users are still more familiar with the .com TLD and may be more inclined to type in a .com version of a domain name, rather than a .co extension. This can lead to higher rates of misspelled or incorrect entries, potentially resulting in lost traffic and conversions.

2. Trust and Credibility: Some users may be less familiar or comfortable with the .co TLD, potentially associating it with less reputable or less established websites. This could be a concern if you're trying to build a highly trusted and authoritative online presence.

3. Confusion with Country-Specific TLDs: The .co TLD is also used as the country-code top-level domain (ccTLD) for Colombia. This could potentially lead to some confusion or misunderstandings, especially among international users.

To mitigate these potential drawbacks, I would recommend the following strategies:

- Invest in a strong and consistent branding and marketing campaign to educate your target audience about your .co domain and build trust and recognition.
- Ensure that your website and online presence are highly professional, well-designed, and provide a seamless user experience to overcome any initial skepticism about the .co TLD.
- Consider implementing robust search engine optimization (SEO) practices to maximize your visibility and ranking in search results, which can help offset any potential biases towards .com domains.
- Monitor your website analytics closely and be prepared to adapt your strategy if you notice any significant issues with user behavior or engagement.