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.com vs .net domain

by IMPromocoder
16 replies
There's a domain name I'm looking to buy, thing is the .com is priced at about $3,000 whereas the .net is just $10.
Now, I'm obviously not going to spend 3K on a domain name, but wondering whether I should settle for the .net or keep looking for a .com that I like.
Would love hearing some.com vs .net info in terms of seo, brand awareness, and etc. from your previous experience.
Thanks!
#domain #net
  • Profile picture of the author tdanz
    for seo .com .net and .org are equally easy (or hard) to rank..
    in terms of branding .com looks a bit better..but honestly, i would recommend you not spending a minute more on this, just go for .net.
    Remember to focus on the 20% of things that will bring you 80% of results!
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  • Profile picture of the author Gene Pimentel
    It doesn't matter at all for ranking. It DOES make a difference when you lose a significant amount of traffic and potential customers to whoever owns the .COM version of the domain.
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  • Profile picture of the author ronrule
    Originally Posted by IMPromocoder View Post

    ...Now, I'm obviously not going to spend 3K on a domain name...
    Why not?

    If it's a good name and you plan to go anywhere with this business, it's worth every dollar more than the .net. When I was doing infomercial products, we would actually rename the product if we couldn't own the .com for the original name.

    If you don't plan on being successful, don't worry about it.

    But if you do ... what happens if someone else buys that domain before you get there, and sets up a similar business to yours? Now all of your brand recognition that you've been working to build could potentially end up going to straight to them.
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    • Profile picture of the author newxxx
      Originally Posted by ronrule View Post

      what happens if someone else buys that domain before you get there, and sets up a similar business to yours? Now all of your brand recognition that you've been working to build could potentially end up going to straight to them.


      i hadn't thought of that either
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      • Profile picture of the author Steve B
        IMPromoCoder,

        Given the fact that there are millions of wonderful dot coms still available, it makes no sense to "settle" for anything less. Once you have your chosen domain, no one is going to know that it might not have been your original first choice. I would buy the dot com, dot net, and dot org for a new web site that I wanted to brand . . . then set up your main site on the dot com and use the dot net and dot org for promoting and driving traffic to the dot com.

        If you need assistance in finding a great dot com, let me know. I have some automated tools that will find what you want very quickly.

        The best to you.

        Steve
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        Steve Browne, online business strategies, tips, guidance, and resources
        SteveBrowneDirect

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        • Profile picture of the author MyNewMama
          Steve B is correct. There's no need to just "settle" for a domain name. There only reason you should go ahead with it is if you are heads over hills in love with that that domain name.

          You'll still have to do a great deal of SEO work anyway, so you might as well get a domain that you can live with.

          Remember: You should always think long term.
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  • Profile picture of the author kraeng
    Originally Posted by IMPromocoder View Post

    There's a domain name I'm looking to buy, thing is the .com is priced at about $3,000 whereas the .net is just $10.
    Now, I'm obviously not going to spend 3K on a domain name, but wondering whether I should settle for the .net or keep looking for a .com that I like.
    Would love hearing some.com vs .net info in terms of seo, brand awareness, and etc. from your previous experience.
    Thanks!
    For SEO only I prefer to choose .com than the other, this is universal domain, and I think most of domain that index from google are .com..CMIII
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  • Profile picture of the author Dennisknows
    It's more personal preference. Google doesn't care what the ending is but rather what content is on it.

    I know this because I've gotten .info domains ranked higher than some .com domains.
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    "May the optimism of your tomorrow fuel your drive for today"
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  • Profile picture of the author ronrule
    Google doesn't care, you're right. If you're running a purely search-driven business where no one will ever type or need to remember your name it doesn't matter.

    It's when you're trying to build a brand that it matters.

    Remember, Facebook used to be called "The Facebook" and operated from "TheFacebook.com" because Facebook.com was taken.

    But think about this; What if the owner of facebook.com hadn't agreed to sell it to Zuck? Or what if someone else had bought it, and capitalized on "TheFacebook"'s growing popularity before it became big?

    Can you honestly say with 100% certainty that TheFacebook would have overcome?

    Owning your brand matters.
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    Ron Rule
    http://ronrule.com

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    • Profile picture of the author RobinInTexas
      If it's for sale for $3k, that probably means it's parked and someone thinks the name has potential. If you build up some good business on the twin .net, somebody could come along and cannibalize your traffic with the com.

      If you believe in the potential, grab them both and go for it. Otherwise move on and build the brand around another name.
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      Robin



      ...Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just set there.
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    • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
      Banned
      For me, it would make no sense at all to build a business on a domain-extension of which the .com version already belongs to someone else.

      It makes no difference whether or not it's used/unused/parked/marketed/for-sale: if I don't own it, I have no way of knowing or controlling what will end up on it in future.

      The only certainties are that I'll lose some traffic to it, that my resale value will be very low, and that I might regret it.

      However you look at it, it's all potential downside, and no advantages at all.

      Nothing to do with SEO at all, and not much to think about, here. Move along, please ... :p
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  • Profile picture of the author seobro
    Tell people to go to BIGREDPOX and they will go to the .com version. Please do get a dot com domain name. Other wise you will be putting money into the pockets of your sworn enemy. Most people forget the extension, but remember the name. Also, non com domain names can make you look low rent or appear spammy.
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    http://www.seobro.com
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  • Profile picture of the author Radium
    In my opinion, owning a .net only is not professional enough to be worth building a brand on. There are several reasons for that and most of them are already mentioned in above posts. However, it's a good addition to have a .net if you own the .com domain for the same name. For SEO purposes, the domain extension does not matter at all.

    Get a .com if you are serious about your business.
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    Web Design & Digital Marketing || I am not afraid of failure. I fail every day. My goal is simply to have more wins than failures. Failure is often one of the first parts of success.
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  • Profile picture of the author Meharis
    Originally Posted by IMPromocoder View Post

    There's a domain name I'm looking to buy, thing is the .com is priced at about $3,000 whereas the .net is just $10.
    Now, I'm obviously not going to spend 3K on a domain name, but wondering whether I should settle for the .net or keep looking for a .com that I like.
    Would love hearing some.com vs .net info in terms of seo, brand awareness, and etc. from your previous experience.
    Thanks!

    IMPromocoder,

    Better to be a big fish in a small pond than a small fish in a big pond.

    Look for a .com alternative.

    Meharis
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