.co what is it? Do I need it? Does Google hate it?

[EGOL]

.co is the top-level domain for the country of Colombia.

I would get the .com if you are trying to target the USA.  Otherwise you will lose valuable type-in traffic to careless people who don't understand .co and have .com fixed in their mind.

[StalkerB]

Depends if you're targeting Columbia or not (.co is the Columbian TLD, which I think is a bit tricky considering all the .co.CC domains out there, though I guess you get .com.CC addresses too).

If you're not targeting Columbia specifically then I'd definitely go with a .com address over a .co TLD.

[StalkerB]

Yeah, I refuse to believe .co is going to become a gTLD rather than a ccTLD. Do people still try and sell .ws as dot website?

I bought one as well to use as a URL shortener

[SteveOllington]

It's on here somewhere that I read it... no idea who was commenting but perhaps findable by search.

[SteveOllington]

Ahem: http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/359704/google-approves-co-domain-for-international-use 

[StalkerB]

Oh, I've seen it being marketed as such, I just don't think it will ever get the traction required to be treated as a gTLD by search engines.

It's all just marketing spiel - http://www.cointernet.co/frequently-asked-questions/general-co-faqs#q5

I'll do a search but I don't think I'm wrong (though have been proven otherwise before :D).

[SteveOllington]

Found it... http://www.seomoz.org/q/co-domains-any-thoughts

[StalkerB]

Then I shall eat my words and go back to finishing that article

[SteveOllington]

haha don't worry, if you get proven wrong as much as I do, you get used to it

[AdoptionHelp]

Bottom line: Google is treating it as a valid global TLD, but it will be a while (if ever) before people accept it as authoritative as a .com.

[StalkerB]

Correct. Getting into the public consciousness will be a much harder task than simply getting people to target the right territories in WMT.

I imagine this'll be more like .asia which is just a bit too generic to have really stuck with anyone.

.co.uk for example is well ingrained into the UK public's mind, but for just a .co ... I just don't see it happening. .xxx on the other hand.

[christinarule]

Thanks to EVERYONE who gave me their 2 cents. I first heard of the ".co" when I saw a commercial for Overstock.co. It's interesting that they would start using this. I think that that says something. Now I'm not saying it will replace the .com but it's something to consider when a company like OverStock makes a .co purchase and campaign. Thanks to everyone! I'll be sure to post anymore info I read about it!