Are .net domain names any good?

by icun
43 replies
Hi,

I have a niche website ready to go. The .com domain name is gone but is available as a .net. The first part of the domain matches a google search term that I dont think there's much competition for.

I was just wondering, does the fact that the domain name matches a search phrase make much of a differance and if so, does it matter much if it's .net, .com or whatever?
#domain #good #names #net
  • Profile picture of the author WebMarketeer
    To my knowledge .net domains are fine, its the .info and the other generic ones that you want worry about. .com,.net,.org are the three that I go for, the others, the cheap ones usually have a reputation of spam. I have heard this from many different sources, so i would stay away from any besides those 3.
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    • Profile picture of the author howinfo
      Originally Posted by WebMarketeer View Post

      To my knowledge .net domains are fine, its the .info and the other generic ones that you want worry about. .com,.net,.org are the three that I go for, the others, the cheap ones usually have a reputation of spam. I have heard this from many different sources, so i would stay away from any besides those 3.
      If you know what you are doing and you know how to do SEO then you do not need to worry about any domain extension.
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      • Profile picture of the author WebMarketeer
        Originally Posted by howinfo View Post

        If you know what you are doing and you know how to do SEO then you do not need to worry about any domain extension.
        Whatever you say, but if you are looking to sell it in the future, good luck.
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    • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
      Originally Posted by WebMarketeer View Post

      I have heard this from many different sources
      I have heard from many different sources that you can't make money on the internet.

      Guess I'd better stop doing it, then.

      :rolleyes:
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      "The Golden Town is the Golden Town no longer. They have sold their pillars for brass and their temples for money, they have made coins out of their golden doors. It is become a dark town full of trouble, there is no ease in its streets, beauty has left it and the old songs are gone." - Lord Dunsany, The Messengers
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      • Profile picture of the author WebMarketeer
        Originally Posted by CDarklock View Post

        I have heard from many different sources that you can't make money on the internet.

        Guess I'd better stop doing it, then.

        :rolleyes:
        How is this helping? What do you think about his question?
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      • Profile picture of the author kyhell
        Originally Posted by CDarklock View Post

        I have heard from many different sources that you can't make money on the internet.

        Guess I'd better stop doing it, then.

        :rolleyes:
        and bumble bees cant fly
        im with you on this one brother!
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  • Profile picture of the author MichaelAppleton
    In terms of SEO, your domain name extension makes no difference what so ever. The only thing with .info extensions is they look unprofessional as they are not as widely used as .com .co.uk and .net's, with the more widely used extensions you are getting the branding that comes with them.

    If your building a site to rank well then a .net will do just fine and does not come with the lesser known extension tag of a .info domain.
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  • Profile picture of the author icun
    Thats what I was thinking. Ok, I'll go ahead and buy it. The google adwords keyword tool says there is 2400 searches for the exact phrase my domain will be - is page 1 easily achievable do you think? I have 25 articles plus other content all ready to go at the minute.
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  • Profile picture of the author MichaelAppleton
    Depends completely on how much competition your keywords have. If there are 2400 searches per month there could still be another 500k websites battling for the keyword.

    Visit Google, type "your keywords here", with the speech marks and then see how many websites are trying to rank for the search term.
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  • Profile picture of the author MichaelAppleton
    By searching your desired keywords wrapped in speech marks ("") you will get only websites using your exact keywords returned. This will tell you exactly how much competetion there is.
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  • Profile picture of the author icun
    Hmmm.....not as promising! 37000 results came back but these are all random enough looking sites. The no 1 result is a World of Warcraft site which is nothing to do with this term, at a first glance anyway.

    Also, none of the page 1 sites have the term in the URL.

    So, lost cause to rank for or what do you think? I was hoping to reg domain, put it online, submit it to the search engines, write some articles, hook up some affil products and see how it goes.
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    • Profile picture of the author NicheMayhem
      37,000 results is not bad actually, in my opinion. If you have the exact keyword in your URL it may be quite easy to rank for that phrase. Look at how many of the top sites are there for second or lower level pages, do any of the top rank sites also have the keyword in their URL? In other words, are the rankings mostly for page 1 (home page)of the sites or are they like, randomsite.com/this_page/next_page.php. If your top level domain is SEO'd well with proper content and a few good backlinks I have found its quite easy to outrank other sites which are either not authority sites or not ranking for their main page in the results. The reason you can rank better with your main page URL is because in Google's eyes your site seems more relevant then the existing results, make sense?

      If the top site is unrelated to the keyword and phrase your searching, a lot of times you can go ahead and assume you just found yourself a nice little spot to curb some good traffic for free! I say go for it!

      Just my OPINION, I do not claim to be an expert, just what I have found in my experience building a ton of sites in my time.

      Best of luck!
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  • Profile picture of the author MichaelAppleton
    Without checking it out myself its hard to tell. If you want you can PM me over your search term and I can take a look for you? Don't worry I am way to busy with my current websites to even think of starting another .

    Saying that, the only way to learn is to make mistakes
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  • Profile picture of the author icun
    I've sent you a PM.

    Thanks.
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  • Profile picture of the author ozduc
    One thing you should consider when going with the .net, is what is the .com doing.
    If it is a parked page just sitting there then don't even worry about it. If it is a site that you will be competing against, where is it ranking? Check the "view source code" to see what keywords they are using, see how much content they have, do they have videos on youtube linking back to the site. etc. etc. That will give you an indication of how much work you will need to do to beat them or at least rank just below.
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  • Profile picture of the author dejoliet31
    In the tests I have run .net domains worked just fine. Like other domains, the key is driving traffic to the domain. With my .net domains, I still drive traffic with keyword targeted links and my Google rankings has not suffered.
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    • Profile picture of the author pharman
      Something Else To Make Sure Of Below!

      Avoiding Trademark Infringement When Choosing A Domain Name

      Many webmasters erroneously believe that just because their domain name registrar says a particular domain name is 'available' that it truly is. This is not necessarily so. Even if a domain name is physically available, it may not legally be open for use. Why? It's because there might already be a company that has the rights to the keywords used within the domain name.
      If this happens yet the webmaster claims the domain name anyway, they are at risk of losing it through a domain name arbitration proceeding. They could even be charged with trademark/copyright infringement if things get really ugly. For this reason it's best to make sure the keywords used in a domain name aren't protected for someone else. This article will explain how webmasters can make such a determination.
      First, webmasters need to check and see if their chosen domain name resembles any existing trademark that is on the books. They will want to do this before actually investing any money in the domain name. To search existing trademarks, webmasters can visit the website of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office which is USPTO.gov. From here they can search a database that contains current trademarks as well as those that are pending. If a domain name is similar to a registered or pending trademark, webmasters need to evaluate whether the domain name is still worth taking. Usually, if a site is not selling the same types of merchandise or services that the other business is selling and the trademark is not popular, a webmaster probably won't get into legal trouble if they decide to go on and register the domain name. To be completely sure, webmasters can run the domain name by a trademark attorney. It shouldn't cost too much for an hour consultation.
      Of course, if a webmaster would prefer zero percent risk, they can simply try to think of another domain name. When they go about doing this, they need to be more generic and less creative in what they come up with. Using search engine keywords for a domain name is one such strategy. Webmasters can also look into using dictionary terms. If all else fails they can take a generic term and combine it with a term that is less likely to be taken, such as their first and last name.
      Either way, once a suitable domain name has been chosen, webmasters should consider getting it trademarked themselves, especially if they are using it to help brand their business. With an official trademark, a webmaster has more legal power should another company try to take them to court. And since there's no shortage of domain name bullies, (companies that try to steal profitable domain names from smaller enterprises), a webmaster should use all legal avenues available to protect the rights of their business.
      In conclusion, by checking whether or not a domain name has keywords that are part of a trademark, webmasters lessen the risk that they will have legal problems in the future. If there are problems, and a domain name arbitration proceeding does not rule in a webmaster's favor, they can turn to The Domain Name Rights Coalition.

      To Your Success
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      • Profile picture of the author LucindaWatrous
        Domain names cannot be trademarked... or at least that was my impression. What's your source for this information if you don't mind sharing?

        Originally Posted by pharman View Post

        Something Else To Make Sure Of Below!

        Avoiding Trademark Infringement When Choosing A Domain Name

        Many webmasters erroneously believe that just because their domain name registrar says a particular domain name is 'available' that it truly is. This is not necessarily so. Even if a domain name is physically available, it may not legally be open for use. Why? It's because there might already be a company that has the rights to the keywords used within the domain name.
        If this happens yet the webmaster claims the domain name anyway, they are at risk of losing it through a domain name arbitration proceeding. They could even be charged with trademark/copyright infringement if things get really ugly. For this reason it's best to make sure the keywords used in a domain name aren't protected for someone else. This article will explain how webmasters can make such a determination.
        First, webmasters need to check and see if their chosen domain name resembles any existing trademark that is on the books. They will want to do this before actually investing any money in the domain name. To search existing trademarks, webmasters can visit the website of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office which is USPTO.gov. From here they can search a database that contains current trademarks as well as those that are pending. If a domain name is similar to a registered or pending trademark, webmasters need to evaluate whether the domain name is still worth taking. Usually, if a site is not selling the same types of merchandise or services that the other business is selling and the trademark is not popular, a webmaster probably won't get into legal trouble if they decide to go on and register the domain name. To be completely sure, webmasters can run the domain name by a trademark attorney. It shouldn't cost too much for an hour consultation.
        Of course, if a webmaster would prefer zero percent risk, they can simply try to think of another domain name. When they go about doing this, they need to be more generic and less creative in what they come up with. Using search engine keywords for a domain name is one such strategy. Webmasters can also look into using dictionary terms. If all else fails they can take a generic term and combine it with a term that is less likely to be taken, such as their first and last name.
        Either way, once a suitable domain name has been chosen, webmasters should consider getting it trademarked themselves, especially if they are using it to help brand their business. With an official trademark, a webmaster has more legal power should another company try to take them to court. And since there's no shortage of domain name bullies, (companies that try to steal profitable domain names from smaller enterprises), a webmaster should use all legal avenues available to protect the rights of their business.
        In conclusion, by checking whether or not a domain name has keywords that are part of a trademark, webmasters lessen the risk that they will have legal problems in the future. If there are problems, and a domain name arbitration proceeding does not rule in a webmaster's favor, they can turn to The Domain Name Rights Coalition.

        To Your Success
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        http://lucindauncensored.com
        http://itsfoodtastic.com

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        • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
          Banned
          Originally Posted by LucindaWatrous View Post

          Domain names cannot be trademarked... or at least that was my impression. What's your source for this information if you don't mind sharing?
          While a domain name cannot be trademarked, company names are so you cannot register a domain name (or should not anyway) that contains a company's trademarked name. For example:

          NO TO:
          GoogleCash
          EbayKilling
          FacebookDollars

          etc.

          Occasionally, you can do it under Fair Use, but that's generally for fan pages or review sites that are non-commercial.
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  • Profile picture of the author icun
    Thanks for the replies everyone.

    I'll give it a try anyway. The top site for this search term doesn't have the name in the URL and is for a computer game which has a feature that is the same name as the target niche my site will be going for.

    Also, the .com of this domain is just a parked domain so hopefully the chances will be good.

    I'll post back any results I get.

    Thanks.
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  • Profile picture of the author icun
    .com is already gone, thats why I went for .net
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  • Profile picture of the author raycowie
    .com is best, but I would use a .org extension before I used a .net, having said that, .net would be next on my list. Stay away from .info or .biz though.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jon Tees
    .Net or .org domains seem to work fine for me if the .com is taken or is listed as a premium domain for several thousands of dollars. Even for local or temporary promotions, I try and stay away from .info extensions as they are often seen as a cheap tool that is often used by spammers and scammers.
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    • Profile picture of the author bgmacaw
      Originally Posted by Jon Tees View Post

      Even for local or temporary promotions, I try and stay away from .info extensions as they are often seen as a cheap tool that is often used by spammers and scammers.
      You mean people like Noam Chomsky or organizations like the New York Transit Authority? Or maybe sites that provide a service like a pagerank checker or info on craft ideas, regular expressions or Roman coins?

      Yeah, whatta a bunch of scammers. :rolleyes::rolleyes:

      (hint for the lazy regurgitators in this Groundhog Day thread. Google on the bold terms above and see what you find.)
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      • Profile picture of the author NicheMayhem
        Originally Posted by bgmacaw View Post

        You mean people like Noam Chomsky or organizations like the New York Transit Authority? Or maybe sites that provide a service like a pagerank checker or info on craft ideas, regular expressions or Roman coins?

        Yeah, whatta a bunch of scammers. :rolleyes::rolleyes:

        (hint for the lazy regurgitators in this Groundhog Day thread. Google on the bold terms above and see what you find.)
        Geez, sum1 needs a lil nappy poo. TLDs (Top Level Domains) which are most worth your while IMHO are definitely .com first, .net second, .org third. As it may be true that a .info domain is currently being used by reputable people for trustworthy sites, it doesn't change the fact that in many places all over the net there is a bit of a stereotype being associated with .info, so if you have the choice it may be a good idea to stick with the top three.

        What the heck is a Groundhog Day thread? oh... and The New York Transit Authority? TOTAL SCAM!
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        • Profile picture of the author bgmacaw
          Originally Posted by NicheMayhem View Post

          it doesn't change the fact that in many places all over the net there is a bit of a stereotype being associated with .info
          Only with regurgitators in IM, Webmaster and Domainer forums.

          Originally Posted by NicheMayhem View Post

          What the heck is a Groundhog Day thread?
          A question that gets asked over and over again because people are too freakin' lazy to use the Search function. It comes from the movie, Groundhog Day

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          • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
            Banned
            Originally Posted by bgmacaw View Post

            Only with regurgitators in IM, Webmaster and Domainer forums.
            Which gives you a fair idea of the value of infos. Not much. Domainers and webmasters are sensitive to the value of the domain in and of itself. If you want junk domains with your keywords, get info. Just be aware that in a year from now, you're going to be charged full price for that junk info. It won't be on sale for $1.99 any longer. If you're just using it to rank for keywords, go ahead and register it, but if you might want to someday down the road, unload that site for a profit ... as in flip it, you're better off with a .com, .net or .org.
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            • Profile picture of the author bgmacaw
              Originally Posted by sbucciarel View Post

              Which gives you a fair idea of the value of infos. Not much. Domainers and webmasters are sensitive to the value of the domain in and of itself.
              And are also allow themselves to be sensitive to a lot of cargo cultism like ".info domains are spammy", "don't build too many links", "duplicate content is bad" and all of the other baggage they pick up from listening to what other people say without testing and verifying anything for themselves.

              Yet, while they wring their hands worrying about domain name, links and so forth, worrying about what the great god Google will do to them, people who don't worry about this kind of stuff go out and build authority sites and make money.
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            • Profile picture of the author Black Hat Cat
              Banned
              Originally Posted by sbucciarel View Post

              Which gives you a fair idea of the value of infos. Not much. Domainers and webmasters are sensitive to the value of the domain in and of itself. If you want junk domains with your keywords, get info. Just be aware that in a year from now, you're going to be charged full price for that junk info. It won't be on sale for $1.99 any longer. If you're just using it to rank for keywords, go ahead and register it, but if you might want to someday down the road, unload that site for a profit ... as in flip it, you're better off with a .com, .net or .org.
              Yes, let's take advice from a guy who is worried about paying an extra $9 to renew a year later, lol. If you can't make that $9 in a year to cover the additional renewal cost, you probably shouldn't register ANY domain. And I guarantee you if I want to unload a .info domain a year from now that makes a thousand dollars a month, I'll have no problem doing so, and get a good price for it.
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              • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
                Banned
                Originally Posted by Black Hat Cat View Post

                Yes, let's take advice from a guy who is worried about paying an extra $9 to renew a year later, lol. If you can't make that $9 in a year to cover the additional renewal cost, you probably shouldn't register ANY domain. And I guarantee you if I want to unload a .info domain a year from now that makes a thousand dollars a month, I'll have no problem doing so, and get a good price for it.
                Good for you. Glad you make $1,000 per month from your infos. I can sell that domain that doesn't make a dime for a big profit as long as it isn't an info.
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                • Profile picture of the author WebMarketeer
                  Originally Posted by sbucciarel View Post

                  Good for you. Glad you make $1,000 per month from your infos. I can sell that domain that doesn't make a dime for a big profit as long as it isn't an info.
                  I agree with sbucciarel, .info, .biz or whatever the generic .whatever is, it just doesnt have the same stance as a .com, people can argue that until they are blue in the face, wont make a difference, its just fact. So in the long run, just depends on what you want to do with it.
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          • Profile picture of the author NicheMayhem
            Originally Posted by bgmacaw View Post

            Only with regurgitators in IM, Webmaster and Domainer forums.



            A question that gets asked over and over again because people are too freakin' lazy to use the Search function. It comes from the movie, Groundhog Day
            Ahh, lol that was a good movie, think I'll go watch it!

            Roger that on the reference, I see what your saying now. I guess I just fell into being a regurgitating IMer, crap. So, whats the best way to make money online? Anybody? Nobody? lol...all in good fun :p

            Seriously though, the search function on this site should always be the first resource for new members. Perhaps it would help for me to remember that and refer an OP to an existing thread with a simple link instead of answering myself, thanks for the advice bgmac
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  • I think it all depends what you make of it. There are many .net sites which are very reputable.
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  • Profile picture of the author icun
    Apologies if it's a groundhog day thread, my forum search on the topic didn't find anything.
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  • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
    Banned
    I use .net and .org all the time ... occasionally an .info if it's a site for me to keep. I don't like .info for resell/flipping. Customers don't value them as much as net, com and org.
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  • Profile picture of the author sambavammi
    .com is still my pick
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  • Profile picture of the author neodarth
    Depends on what you want to do with your site, if you are expecting to setup your site, and then go to flippa and sell it, then .com .net .org in that order.

    If you are looking for a quick buck doesn't matter. I used to have some humble .info and .biz in first page of google outranking a .com for the same keyword.

    Now they are all dead, but when they live, gave me enough money to say Hooray!
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  • Profile picture of the author ChrisBa
    Originally Posted by icun View Post

    Hi,

    I have a niche website ready to go. The .com domain name is gone but is available as a .net. The first part of the domain matches a google search term that I dont think there's much competition for.

    I was just wondering, does the fact that the domain name matches a search phrase make much of a differance and if so, does it matter much if it's .net, .com or whatever?
    This is the debate that goes over again and again, IMO .net is ok, not as good as .com but just under
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  • Profile picture of the author Kierkegaard
    37,000 results is not bad. I have a website that is #4 in google for a term with 176,000 and I have about 10 backlinks.

    If you market your site as an information site, especially a non-commerical one (written by a fan, for example) then you'll have no problems with a .info

    These sites can sell well because visitors think you're giving genuine reviews and opinions and not just trying to sell ebooks etc.
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  • Profile picture of the author matrix1989
    .net .com .us .org .info .biz .tv ...........

    makes no difference, just throw some backlinks and you're good to go
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  • Profile picture of the author GregGarrison
    Yes, you should always try to have the domain name match the keyword search phrase if you are doing SEO, but it is a good practice anyway. I never use .info, but .net from what I have seen is second best to a .com. Just remember to register your domain for a minimum of 2 years if doing SEO.
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  • Profile picture of the author BBBB
    if you don't plan to build a brand out of it... just to sell ebooks or something, you don't care whether it is .com or .net people go there through some link.
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