What is .YOU?

The .YOU extension is a modern gTLD built for personal branding, online portfolios, creator pages, and lifestyle content. It puts the focus on you – your identity, your message, and your presence online.

Who can register a .YOU domain?

Anyone can register a .YOU domain. It's especially popular among influencers, freelancers, content creators, bloggers, and individuals building a personal website.

Why businesses choose .YOU

  • Perfect for personal branding and creator identities
  • Friendly, memorable, and expressive
  • Great for blogs, bios, portfolios, and link pages
  • Makes your website feel more personal and approachable

History and Background of the .YOU Domain

The .YOU domain extension was delegated in the mid-2010s as part of ICANN's new generic top-level domain program. Delegation refers to the point when a domain extension is officially added to the global domain name system and becomes technically active.

After delegation, the extension typically went through standard launch phases, including a sunrise period (which allows trademark holders to register names first) before becoming available to the general public. Today, .YOU is commonly used for personal branding and audience-focused platforms.

Why you might not choose .YOU

While .YOU is warm and expressive, keep the following in mind:
  • Niche appeal: Best suited for personal or creator sites, not formal business pages.
  • Less traditional: Some visitors may be more familiar with standard extensions like .COM.
  • Limited corporate use: May not fit larger companies looking for a professional tone.

Because of its personalised nature, Website.com recommends .COM, .NET, or .ORG for more formal or long-term business branding.

Similar alternatives available at Website.com

For broader or more versatile branding options, consider:
  • .COM – globally trusted
  • .NET – popular for online services
  • .ORG – ideal for community-driven or personal projects
  • .INFO – great for sharing knowledge and resources

FAQs

Is .YOU only for personal websites?

Not entirely. While it's most popular for personal and creator branding, small businesses can also use it for storytelling or culture-focused pages.

Can I transfer a .YOU domain to Website.com?

Not right now. You will need to manage your .YOU domain through a registrar that supports it.

Is .YOU good for SEO?

It can work well for personal branding, but overall SEO still depends on your site structure and content quality.