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FYI: Why .com doesn't matter

by Derek_Thomas
48 replies
In my opinion, keyword research is the foundation to a successful website. It's the difference maker in your site ranking on page 24 of Google or page 1. By targeting the right keywords and simply being intentional, you stand the best chance of getting regular, targeted traffic to your online content.

One of the most important steps in "optimizing" your content for high ranking in the search engines is to have what's been called a "keyword rich domain". By having your targeted keyword in your actual domain, you've already given your site a big push forward.

Most people here in the Forum know this already, so no big shocker yet. Here's the deal though, and here's where many people miss out on valuable opportunities...

They get stuck on trying to find a domain name with a .com extension (or at least a TLD of .org or .net).

Why?

Because Google gives .com domains priority? I used to think this myself. It's just not true though! Let me say it again...

Google places no priority on .com, .net, or .org over any other domain extension. None.

So when you're doing your keyword research and you find that elusive "golden" keyword phrase, don't fret when the all the "good" domain extensions are already taken. Instead, try your hand at one of the many others available...and yes, that includes .info (which I love because it saves me between $6 and $8 per domain!).

If you need more convincing, here's the information straight from the horse's mouth:

DomainName TLD Types : gTLD, ccTLD / Global & Country specific / .com .net .info .co.uk .fr etc. ::: Auto-Response ::: - Webmaster Central Help

What I hope is this little tip opens the doors for a lot of people struggling to really get started online. Don't let the lack of .com hold you back.

Best,
Derek
#.com #domain extensions #fyi #keyword research #matter
  • Profile picture of the author DrewClement
    lol believing what comes out of Google's mouth lol
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    • Profile picture of the author Derek_Thomas
      Originally Posted by DrewClement View Post

      lol believing what comes out of Google's mouth lol
      What I believe Drew are more than a dozen of my own .info sites ranking in the top 3 of Google....several even outranking their .com counterparts.

      Hard to argue with that.

      Derek
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      • Profile picture of the author DrewClement
        Originally Posted by Derek Thomas View Post

        What I believe Drew are more than a dozen of my own .info sites ranking in the top 3 of Google....several even outranking their .com counterparts.

        Hard to argue with that.

        Derek

        Google

        http://www.something.com/

        first in google for years for the term "something"

        Fact remains that of course you can rank a .info or .net higher than a .com, based onthe work and time you invest.

        However if xxxxxxxxx.com has 500 backlinks from the same place as the 500 backlinks that xxxxxxxxx.net has, the .com will outrank it.

        Sure you shouldnt neglect starting a site if the .com isnt available, but having a .com will cut your work down substantially.

        And direct type ins have to be taken into the equation. Hence why domains like sex.com can sell for $13 million no matter what is on them
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        • Profile picture of the author Derek_Thomas
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          • Profile picture of the author brendan9971
            this is very interesting i would love to see the other reponses this gets... I see what your saying but I believe there are a lot of people who will disagree. I think the case maybe that .com's get a bit of a boost but not much compared to .infos, .me etc...
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          • Profile picture of the author Frank Donovan
            I've never been too bothered by whether there's any SEO disadvantage in not using a .com tld; I've found that other extensions can rank just as easily.

            However, a lot depends on your plans for the site.

            If you intend to build a brand out of your domain and the .com is taken, it's vital, IMO, to check out the .com site first. If it's established and operating in the same market as you are (or plan to be) and chasing the same visitors, I'd move on to another domain name entirely.

            Even if the .com had yet to be developed, I'd still be wary.

            The .com remains the default type-in tld of most web users. If you spend time and money building your non .com site via branding campaigns, social media marketing etc., you'll just be sending a great chunk of business to your main competitor.

            Frank

            EDIT: I see William made a similar point as I was typing
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        • Profile picture of the author Derek_Thomas
          Originally Posted by DrewClement View Post

          Something.

          first in google for years for the term "something"
          Domain Age is a pivotal factor, yes. And the fact that site has 200+k backlinks doesn't hurt either.

          Originally Posted by DrewClement View Post

          However if xxxxxxxxx.com has 500 backlinks from the same place as the 500 backlinks that xxxxxxxxx.net has, the .com will outrank it.

          Sure you shouldnt neglect starting a site if the .com isnt available, but having a .com will cut your work down substantially.
          Why?

          Derek
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        • Profile picture of the author MikeFriedman
          Originally Posted by DrewClement View Post


          However if xxxxxxxxx.com has 500 backlinks from the same place as the 500 backlinks that xxxxxxxxx.net has, the .com will outrank it.
          Proof please?
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  • Profile picture of the author havplenty
    Very insightful, thanks. This should help people out there digging through the registrars trying to find that .com gem.
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  • Profile picture of the author DeadRooster
    I'm not sure if Google gives a bonus to .com, .net or .org, but the reason I like to get the .com is so when I verbally tell someone to visit my website it's easier to remember the address.
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    • Profile picture of the author Derek_Thomas
      Originally Posted by DeadRooster View Post

      I'm not sure if Google gives a bonus to .com, .net or .org, but the reason I like to get the .com is so when I verbally tell someone to visit my website it's easier to remember the address.
      This is true, and a legitimate reason to prefer .com...brandability.

      For my "main" website(s), I do use .com. It's when you get into creating Adsense sites and the like that it becomes a lot less important as most people click through as opposed to directly inputing your URL.

      Good point though.
      Derek
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  • Profile picture of the author InternetMarketingIQ
    And the follow up "Why your opinion is entirely wrong" will be reflected in how much you earn.
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    • Profile picture of the author Derek_Thomas
      Originally Posted by InternetMarketingIQ View Post

      And the follow up "Why your opinion is entirely wrong" will be reflected in how much you earn.
      I'm pretty sure I agree.

      Mind elaborating?

      Thanks,
      Derek
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      • Profile picture of the author pjones
        I have tested this extensively and have found no difference between .com/.net/.org extensions. As google evolves it will level the playing field across all domain extensions. Just because you have a .com domain it doesn't mean the content will be better than a .tk or a .cm or whatever else. And google is all about the quality of the content.
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        • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
          Banned
          There are several valid and legitimate reasons why some people might prefer .com domain-names, but SEO isn't one of them.

          Top level domain extensions don't affect SEO at all.

          This thread will perhaps be interesting to anyone concerned about this subject.
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  • Profile picture of the author JSProjects
    Should be an interesting thread. Most people that absolutely swear by .com domains. Me? I'd rather go for the keyword rich .info. I have personally never noticed it more difficult to rank a well-researched and keyword rich .info domain.
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  • Profile picture of the author Fazal Mayar
    Good points but I dount any kind of premium domains (.biz,.com.net) will be affected on SEO but only free domains will be affected by SEO.
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    • Profile picture of the author cjreynolds
      While we're on this subject...

      I have asked this before, but never got a definitive answer: How do subdomains compare to top-level domains concerning SEO?

      ie: would MyKeyword.MyDomain.com rank anywhere near as well as MyKeyword.com? It seems like it would be better than MyDomain.com/MyKeyword, but is it worth using a subdomain in lue of a top-level?

      joe
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  • Profile picture of the author Lee Belch
    Google classes .org and .com domains as "top level domains" those are google's words not mine. Read through the webmaster guide about domains found on Google's website.
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    • Profile picture of the author Derek_Thomas
      Originally Posted by Lee Belch View Post

      Google classes .org and .com domains as "top level domains" those are google's words not mine. Read through the webmaster guide about domains found on Google's website.
      Are there any others?

      Top-level domain - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

      Derek
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    • Profile picture of the author fitz10
      Originally Posted by Lee Belch View Post

      Google classes .org and .com domains as "top level domains" those are google's words not mine. Read through the webmaster guide about domains found on Google's website.
      I think you need to look at the meaning of top level domain. .com and .org are top level domains but so are .net, .de, etc. It's not a "Google term" it's a term to refer to the root name space.

      In fact in the webmasters guidelines Google suggests that using a country specific top level domain is preferable when dealing with country specific topics.

      "Use top-level domains whenever possible to handle country-specific content." -Google

      It'd be kind of odd for Google to suggest people use country specific domains in their webmaster guidelines and then penalize them because they're not a .com or .org, don't you think?
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  • Profile picture of the author Lee Belch
    I did enjoy your post and it's true it doesn't matter which domain extension you use as long as you are preparing to but in the extra work. I was trying to find the page where google state this, as far as i can remember i found it when i was searching what the best domain names are for country specific searchers.

    Best Regards

    Lee
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  • Profile picture of the author PPC-Coach
    [QUOTE=Derek Thomas;3922453]In my opinion, ...

    Google places no priority on .com, .net, or .org over any other domain extension. None.[/google]

    Fixed that first post for you. You don't own Google and nobody knows how much weight they put on anything. You can extrapolate whatever you want, but nobody except the few insiders at Google know the answer. Everything else is just an opinion of how things work.

    You can test as much as you want too, but I can rank for "rankforthiskeyword.info" easily by buying the exact matched domain, doesn't mean google loves .infos. It does mean I think they like exact matched domains. I can't say THEY DO AND THAT'S A FACT.

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    • Profile picture of the author Derek_Thomas
      Originally Posted by Derek Thomas View Post

      In my opinion, ...

      Google places no priority on .com, .net, or .org over any other domain extension. None.[/google]

      Fixed that first post for you. You don't own Google and nobody knows how much weight they put on anything. You can extrapolate whatever you want, but nobody except the few insiders at Google know the answer. Everything else is just an opinion of how things work.

      You can test as much as you want too, but I can rank for "rankforthiskeyword.info" easily by buying the exact matched domain, doesn't mean google loves .infos. It does mean I think they like exact matched domains. I can't say THEY DO AND THAT'S A FACT.
      Well, thanks for setting me straight.

      All I know is what "Google" has said. I guess ultimately it's a question of whether you "believe" them or not.

      Derek
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      • Profile picture of the author PPC-Coach
        You will never get a straight answer out of google. So basing opinions on inaccurate responses is fine, but it's not going to give you the right answer. The only way to figure things out is to test it and come to your own conclusions.

        Also, the link in your first post is just a link to a guy named "Autocrat" who does not identify himself as a google employee, so now you're taking the word of someone else who is just posting their opinion. Just because he posted it on a google support forum doesn't make it true.

        That's the problem with forums anybody can post anything and most of the herd will believe it without questioning the source or how reputable the person posting it might be. For all we know "Autocrat" could be a 12 year old kid in his parents office pretending to be an expert on google. (I guess we could all be that though...)

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        • Profile picture of the author Derek_Thomas
          Originally Posted by PPC-Coach View Post

          The only way to figure things out is to test it and come to your own conclusions.
          ...
          That's the problem with forums anybody can post anything and most of the herd will believe it without questioning the source...
          I completely agree, which gets to the heart of why I posted in the first place: much of the "herd" has bought into the myth that other domain extensions are inferior in terms of SEO to .com which in all actuality they are not...at least not in regards to what I'm talking about.

          You said in an earlier post...

          Originally Posted by PPC-Coach View Post

          You can test as much as you want too, but I can rank for "rankforthiskeyword.info" easily by buying the exact matched domain, doesn't mean google loves .infos. It does mean I think they like exact matched domains. I can't say THEY DO AND THAT'S A FACT.
          My point was never that Google loves .info. In fact, it was much the opposite. My point was that domain name extensions don't matter all that much, and instead keyword relevancy was the key. Seems to me like we're saying the same thing on this point.

          Derek
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  • Profile picture of the author doorkicker13
    In a few years it won't matter anyway. There won't be any .com, .net, .org, .info, .biz, .me, .co, etc... just .google
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  • Profile picture of the author GuruGazette
    For me, there has to be profit on the back end as well as SEO power. Read: exit strategy. Dot com has better resale value, period. Everything else is either throwaway or research.

    With that said I do own a few very old .coms that I don't ever expect to let go of
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  • Profile picture of the author O0o0O
    That was some interesting information given by the autopost. Perhaps that will clear some of the air for those of us who are considering buying exact match keyword domains.
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  • Profile picture of the author Mike McAleer
    I agree that non .coms work for some things but for domaining purposes .com is best.

    you just have to know the context.
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  • Profile picture of the author enterpryzman
    I agree in part and agree completely that you need a .com for creating of a serious brand. At the end of the day, " most " individuals when trying to remember a website from an ad will go directly to .com, end of story.

    That has nothing to do with ranking directly BUT....a highly branded site, visited often, commented on often which creates content and increased popularity........wait, it just might effect it directly in the long haul.

    Enterpryzman
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  • Profile picture of the author timpears
    Google doesn't care what the TLD is, but if you want to sell it, you will always get a better price for a .com than anything eles, because people like .coms better.
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    • Profile picture of the author Dan C. Rinnert
      Facebook.COM
      Google.COM
      YouTube.COM
      Yahoo.COM
      Twitter.COM
      Bing.COM
      eBay.COM
      Flickr.COM
      Amazon.COM
      IMDb.COM
      PayPal.COM
      Microsoft.COM
      Apple.COM
      CNN.COM
      DrudgeReport.COM
      HuffingtonPost.COM
      NYTimes.COM
      LinkedIn.COM
      Match.COM
      Blogspot.COM
      Ask.COM
      Tumblr.COM
      digg.COM
      Reddit.COM
      StumbleUpon.COM
      Technorati.COM
      TechCrunch.COM
      TVGuide.COM
      ABC.COM
      NBC.COM
      CBS.COM
      Zedo.COM
      MediaFire.COM
      Go.COM
      Adobe.COM
      CNET.COM
      LiveJournal.COM
      MySpace.COM
      DailyMotion.COM
      Weather.COM
      eHow.COM
      Answers.COM
      FOXNews.COM
      Reference.COM
      Mashable.COM
      Skype.COM
      Scribd.COM
      WSJ.COM

      These are among the most popular websites on the Internet (in the English-speaking world).

      Sure, there's Craiglist.ORG and Wikipedia.ORG, but for every one of those, there are probably 30 .COMs.

      True, it doesn't matter to Google, but .COM is what sticks in people's minds. You tell them your website is something like YourWebsite.net, and a fair amount will end up going to YourWebsite.com or YourWebsiteNet.com.

      Consider a week or so ago, someone in here posted a link to a news story that basically told people they can't trust their credit card info to a site that's not a dot Com! It's not necessarily true, but it makes it easy for a newsperson to say, hey, avoid non-dotComs, rather than go into detail.

      At any rate, given the current dominance of dot Com, it's going to be a while before people really get used to, and maybe trust, non dot Com domains.

      The dot Com domain is still king. Maybe it might one day be toppled, but, until then, I really don't want to risk people going to my competitors because they have the dot Com version of my dot SomethingElse.
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      • Profile picture of the author Derek_Thomas
        Originally Posted by Dan C. Rinnert View Post

        At any rate, given the current dominance of dot Com, it's going to be a while before people really get used to, and maybe trust, non dot Com domains.

        The dot Com domain is still king. Maybe it might one day be toppled, but, until then, I really don't want to risk people going to my competitors because they have the dot Com version of my dot SomethingElse.
        Very true.

        The point though: when you find a "golden" keyword (however you may define it), don't pass on it based on the myth you can't rank well with a domain another than .com, .net, or .org. You can.

        Me for instance... I build a lot of sites. Most sites I'm not concerned with branding (as a Facebook or Google or Skype might be). I'm not even really concerned with being memorable as the vast majority of my traffic will come from click throughs rather than word-of-mouth or direct input.

        My only focus is organic ranking in the search engines.

        Now if the .com is available, I'll usually grab it. Often times though it is not. In that case, I'll gladly take the .info. In either case, my rankings do just fine.

        Does .com rule the web. Sure. Is it necessary or essential? Not necessarily.

        Let me summarize it another way, and maybe combine the thought process that a few others have shared throughout this thread:

        Does .com matter? To people? Yes. To Google? No.

        So it's really a relative thing, based on how you're going to advertise or get your traffic. If you're building a brand...go for the .com. If (like me most of the time) you're just accumulating virtual real estate, building a multitude of Adsense sites, etc. ... then don't be afraid of what some have considered "inferior" or "spammy" domains.

        Derek
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  • Profile picture of the author UMS
    I find these days so many people access a website not by typing in the URL, but by typing the name into Google.

    For a lot of people, Google is the first port of call for any type of query or access to websites. For them, a .com is pretty meaningless.
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  • Profile picture of the author axus_auto
    puuhllease .... google doesn't have a clue about what might rank and what might not
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  • Profile picture of the author darman82
    For me, i never thought that .info is worse then .com, .org or .net.

    As a marketer, i need my domain easy to remember and bring thrust to my visitor so they can buy from my site. Since there so many negative issue for the .info site.
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  • Profile picture of the author jskarthik1
    Originally Posted by Derek Thomas View Post

    In my opinion, keyword research is the foundation to a successful website. It's the difference maker in your site ranking on page 24 of Google or page 1. By targeting the right keywords and simply being intentional, you stand the best chance of getting regular, targeted traffic to your online content.

    One of the most important steps in "optimizing" your content for high ranking in the search engines is to have what's been called a "keyword rich domain". By having your targeted keyword in your actual domain, you've already given your site a big push forward.

    Most people here in the Forum know this already, so no big shocker yet. Here's the deal though, and here's where many people miss out on valuable opportunities...

    They get stuck on trying to find a domain name with a .com extension (or at least a TLD of .org or .net).

    Why?

    Because Google gives .com domains priority? I used to think this myself. It's just not true though! Let me say it again...

    Google places no priority on .com, .net, or .org over any other domain extension. None.

    So when you're doing your keyword research and you find that elusive "golden" keyword phrase, don't fret when the all the "good" domain extensions are already taken. Instead, try your hand at one of the many others available...and yes, that includes .info (which I love because it saves me between $6 and $8 per domain!).

    If you need more convincing, here's the information straight from the horse's mouth:

    DomainName TLD Types : gTLD, ccTLD / Global & Country specific / .com .net .info .co.uk .fr etc. ::: Auto-Response ::: - Webmaster Central Help

    What I hope is this little tip opens the doors for a lot of people struggling to really get started online. Don't let the lack of .com hold you back.

    Best,
    Derek
    Thank you for opening my eyes . You're the real Google Guru.
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