Just recently, I tried to look for some great domain for my new website ideas. I wanted a strong keyword domain name because this website is highly dependent on search engine ranking. Usually I would use Ajax Whois because the response is much faster.
When I am searching for great domain names, like always, most dot Com are no longer available. Therefore, the next question is “Would you settle for a .Net domain?”, or maybe .Org/.Info/.Us. I am concern about losing some of my traffic to dotCom because people tend to just include .Com in their url address. Here is my evaluation:-
Advantage
- Usually available for 2 letter keyword (not highly competitive keyword)
- Equally strong for search engine (except for regional domain / country domain)
- You get a domain that tends to be shorter and easily remembered
Disadvantage
- Traffic leak to .com
- When the similar .com does a website that is better but tailor to the similar visitor, your website may seem more like a duplicate of the .com
- Less value for your domain
I have actually did my conclusion and finally bought a .com domain that is longer. But would you do the same?
I have purchased a couple of .net’s but I really try to stick with .com’s. I am usually willing to sacrifice .net domain keywords for a .com that is more creative.
not at all! and you’ve already answered your question.
if your site will be really big and popular, you’ll lost a lot of traffic which get .com competitor
I own about 40-50 domains, but I never though about .net
I’ll better add some small word like “my” “just” or before keyword, than get a .net domain
just my 2c
Ryan: I do have one myself, but I purchase it long ago….luckily until now the .com is still parking
Sardinia: wow …. 40 – 50 domains with all .com…….hey..i did add “my” before the keyword….hopefully it will rank good….weird that you are thinking of the same method too…
Those are some awful disadvantages. It would have to be a great niche or opportunity for me to take the .net address.
Yup I would settle for a .net if the domain name was just too good ro put down. But otherwise, a dot com is always the best. People relate to it better and for some reason they find it easier to remember.
I’ve also been meaning to try a .me domain. I wonder if it would work out well?
if you could afford it why not buy both and have one redirect to the other?
William: very true indeed…like anyone would buy blog.net or blog.me
E-Guitar: but the problem is when there is no longer a .com, you will not be able to buy both