New domain question: .com and .net

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Jack Swift

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Jun 25, 2006
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www.dailystarlet.com
I know that a .com is always what you ideally want. But what if you are doing a small niche site that is primarily going to get traffic from search engines. The .com is taken by a domain squatter and doesn't rank for the term at all. The .net is available. I really like the domain name but I've never bought a .net. So... is that going to seriously work against me? Or should I go for it?
 


.net should be fine... I think the top 3 (.com, .org, .net) still hold a higher place in people's minds than all the new extensions that are out there now
 
.com is just nice for direct type-ins because that is what everyone thinks of. If most traffic is coming from SE's, you should be fine.
 
What is your long term strategy? If your are going to have the kind of site that people will return, tell their friends about, etc. then you should have the .com, or else your sending free traffic to someone else.
 
So you would advocate getting a .com over the domain name that you really want?
 
Payton said:
So you would advocate getting a .com over the domain name that you really want?
Click to expand...

For direct type in sites and "brandable" sites, .com is your best bet. Just think when you direct type in a site, do you use .com automatically? I know I do, and I've been taken to different sites occasionally because of the wrong ending.

If you anticipate all your traffic from SEs, it doesnt matter since people will be clicking through to your site, and not directly typing it in.
 
.net is fine. I usually give myself a while longer to think of domain names if I've found a good .net, but if I can't think of anything better, I'll get the .net
 
Here's a tip: Buy 10 years worth of registration. Google loves domain owners that are committed to their online presence.
 
RedMatrix said:
Here's a tip: Buy 10 years worth of registration. Google loves domain owners that are committed to their online presence.
Click to expand...

Unless you're dirt poor.
 
Okay, in that case, buy the minimum one year, raise some money during that year (monetize it) and then get the 10+ year registration. I could only help you in the long run.

Although, If you have been renewing your domain yearly for the past 3 years, that also shows dedication.
 
Why would Google care how long a domain name is registered for?
I'm sure that firstly: they don't care who the domain name's registered to,
and secondly: they realize that people can be just as committed, but don't like wasting $90 extra bucks.
 
i'm for going to the next best .com rather than going to a .net if you're trying to build any type of brand name at all.

but i'd also rather a .org rather than a .net
 
Jack Swift said:
But what if you are doing a small niche site that is primarily going to get traffic from search engines
Click to expand...
Then a .net is as good as a .com.
 
I've heard it before, found it on a couple of respected SEO sites, but haven't found anyone mentioning any proof.
 
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