How Useful is a .info Domain?

Banned 13 years ago

If you are using it as a web property and you know what you are doing, it can rank top on Google. I have seen .info domains that outrank .com domains but they are mostly .info owned by those that are updating their blog/site regularly.

Google likes fresh content.

If you want to get it so that you can flip it on Flippa or sell it as a domainer, sorry you might not get more than the registration fee.

Thanks
2 replies

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2739767].message }}

fated82

13 years ago

Originally Posted by King Shiloh

If you are using it as a web property and you know what you are doing, it can rank top on Google. I have seen .info domains that outrank .com domains but they are mostly .info owned by those that are updating their blog/site regularly.

Google likes fresh content.

If you want to get it so that you can flip it on Flippa or sell it as a domainer, sorry you might not get more than the registration fee.

Oh, so say if I use .info to run auto blogs, would be good?

Thanks

Signature

Get 50% Recurring Commissions Promoting Football Betting Tips!

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2739802].message }}

Vusal

13 years ago

Originally Posted by King Shiloh

If you are using it as a web property and you know what you are doing, it can rank top on Google. I have seen .info domains that outrank .com domains but they are mostly .info owned by those that are updating their blog/site regularly.

Domain extension doesn't play any role when it comes to SERP.

[ 2 ] Thanks
1 reply

Signature

+

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2739896].message }}

alextuder 13 years ago

Originally Posted by Vusal

Domain extension doesn't play any role when it comes to SERP.

He's correct and rightly said "its an urban myth". Nothing has been proved till now.
Baclink profile, content, on page and off page is what matters.
- Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2780774].message }}

King Shiloh

Banned 13 years ago

I don't think there's anything wrong with using it to run autoblogs inasmuch as you know how to monetize or do whatever you want to do with it so that it gives you desired return on investment.

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2739812].message }}

Daryl Lim

13 years ago

[DELETED]

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2739903].message }}

Alexa Smith

Banned 13 years ago

Originally Posted by Vusal

Domain extension doesn't play any role when it comes to SERP.

Correct indeed! It's all an urban myth of internet marketing. But a very widely (and entirely mistakenly) believed one.

Originally Posted by Daryl Lim

Never resort to .info if your desired .com s have been taken. Not suitable for SEO.

.info s should only be used to redirect affiliate links, in the case where article directories like EzineArticles refuse full-blown, ugly affiliate links.

Nonsense: people just see others saying this so often that they end up assuming it must be true, and eventually even repeating it themselves for others to "learn". :rolleyes:

The two real issues about .info domain-names are:-

(i) So many people wrongly imagine that there's some SEO disadvantage that it can make them hard to sell, so the comments above about not flipping such sites are quite right;

(ii) There's clearly a potential disadvantage in using the .info domain-name if the .com version belongs to someone else, because at some point you're going to lose traffic to them.

I use many .info domain-names, and prefer them to .com's for some "informational" sorts of sites. They rank just as easily as a .com, of course. (In my case, I'm using them from choice and typically own the .com myself anyway, to avoid traffic-loss).

[ 4 ] Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2739966].message }}

steveshills 13 years ago

I agree with alexa, myth myth myth, you can rank an info domain with good seo and backlinks, .com's .org and nets are easy to get ranked quick, but since the mayday update you've really got to put the work in for any domain in my opinion. Because you get a site ranked quick, thats no guarantee that its going to be profitable.

Build a site with a good amount of pages/post 20 plus, and the .info will work, forget micro niche sites, there just crap again in my opinion and experience.
- Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2740038].message }}

Alan Petersen

13 years ago

Originally Posted by Daryl Lim

Never resort to .info if your desired .com s have been taken. Not suitable for SEO.

.info s should only be used to redirect affiliate links, in the case where article directories like EzineArticles refuse full-blown, ugly affiliate links.

Daryl, you're way off there. Not good advice at all. As others have already pointed out there is a lot more to SEO than the domain.

If you build a real website that adds value to the end user Google doesn't care.

I'm using a .info to sell book templates and I haven't even finished putting the site together. I haven't done any marketing. And I'm already making sales from folks that found the .info site on Google.

Thanks

Signature

The Asset - My CIA Thriller Fiction Book For Your Kindle
Fictive Universe - Internet Marketing for Fiction Writers

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2740987].message }}

GeorgiaB

13 years ago

Domain extension play a small role when it comes to SERP. If you have a site like abc.info and there is another site abc.com, the .com site will go!

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2739910].message }}

dmadnani

13 years ago

What's with all the .info hate? I hope most people realize that it's just another extension. The domain costs just about the same (if not more) than a .com when you renew anyways.

For SEO purposes your on-page and off-page optimization matters more than anything else, particularly the high PR keyword relative backlinks.

Thanks

Signature

Check out my latest blog post...

>>> 55 PBN Footprints You're Missing Right Now! <<<

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2739980].message }}

FSchmieder

13 years ago

The only "bad" thing about an info is people think website.com so they might type that in the browser instead of website.info

That's it

Thanks

Signature

Article Marketers: Instantly Leverage Your Work And See An Explosion In Traffic And Sales

Click Here to discover how

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2740094].message }}

shuvo

13 years ago

I dont know exactly whats going on googles mind.I have heard that google take .info domains in spam.But i saw lots of .info domain in the first page of google.I would like to use that for a sales page.

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2740138].message }}

Superior Content Creation

13 years ago

I've been wondering the same thing and personally I'm not convinced. I'm going to buy a .info tonight and SEO it just to see what happens.

cheers,
James

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

[SALES COPYWRITING] "$80,000 in Just One Email!"
REVIEWS & LOTS OF EXAMPLES!

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2740179].message }}

JustinDupre 13 years ago

Originally Posted by dru-man

I've been wondering the same thing and personally I'm not convinced. I'm going to buy a .info tonight and SEO it just to see what happens.

cheers,
James

Awesome dude! Let us know how it go with the .info.. I personally would like to look into it as well.
- Thanks
- 2 replies
Signature
I offer CPA coaching and investment opportunities for those SERIOUSLY interested in making money directly or indirectly with affiliate marketing. PM me for details.

Read More about CPA/Affiliate Marketing on my Blog
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2740187].message }}
- Superior Content Creation 13 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by JustinDupre
  
  Awesome dude! Let us know how it go with the .info.. I personally would like to look into it as well.
  
  Will do, Justin. Now that I think about it, I should probably do some research and test it on a worthwhile moneymaker if I'm going to spend time on it. So may actually take a couple days to get the site up and running. I'll let you know.
  
  Cheers,
  James
  
  Thanks
  
  Signature
  
  [SALES COPYWRITING] "$80,000 in Just One Email!"
  REVIEWS & LOTS OF EXAMPLES!
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2740245].message }}
- Superior Content Creation 13 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by JustinDupre
  
  Awesome dude! Let us know how it go with the .info.. I personally would like to look into it as well.
  
  I found a great .info with "for sale" in the keyword string. 8100 exact searches per month and already located an affiliate program offering $400 per average sale (over $1k possible).
  
  91,000+ in quote competition in Google, and without quotes the number one ranking site is the amazon page for the product. I read somewhere that this is a good sign when it comes to ranking, but I'm no expert.
  
  The .org version is at position # 5 with 0 links showing in SEO quake. The .net is in position #9 with about 32 links. Page Rank is 0.
  
  Looks like a winner to me. I'm going to give it a go. I realize it doesn't really "prove" anything, per se, but sounds like fun to me. Wish me luck.
  
  Cheers,
  James
  
  Thanks
  
  Signature
  
  [SALES COPYWRITING] "$80,000 in Just One Email!"
  REVIEWS & LOTS OF EXAMPLES!
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2740668].message }}

bgmacaw

13 years ago

Originally Posted by fated82

Can .info domains rank top on Google?

Answer this for yourself by Google-ing the bold terms in the paragraph below:

This does beg the question, have you ever searched for info on Noam Chomsky? How about regular expressions, roman coins,craft ideas, or how to check your page rank? Maybe you've never needed to do some research to find out if New York was a sanctuary city or to find out something about New York transit. Oh, and have you thought about moving your money to a local bank before you go shopping on Black Friday?

Originally Posted by Daryl Lim

Never resort to .info if your desired .com s have been taken. Not suitable for SEO.

What led you to this erroneous conclusion?

[ 6 ] Thanks

Signature

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2740249].message }}

dv8domainsDotCom

13 years ago

bgmacaw, why are you giving relevant examples like "page rank" where dotInfo is number 1? I mean really, that's non-sense, who searches for "page rank" anyway. Please, it's more helpful if you can stick with relevant examples, this forum needs that. Thank you!

(don't mind the sarcasm, humor in voice has no way of coming through online unfortunately

I'm a bit off this morning and sense of humor is weird anyway. Terrific examples and thank you.)

Thanks
2 replies

Signature

Support a Warrior, Save Money!
Rock Bottom Prices on Domains and Website Hosting

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2740304].message }}

madison_avenue

13 years ago

Originally Posted by dv8domainsDotCom

bgmacaw, why are you giving relevant examples like "page rank" where dotInfo is number 1? I mean really, that's non-sense, who searches for "page rank" anyway. Please, it's more helpful if you can stick with relevant examples, this forum needs that. Thank you!

(don't mind the sarcasm, humor in voice has no way of coming through online unfortunately

I'm a bit off this morning and sense of humor is weird anyway. Terrific examples and thank you.)

Search for: Rome travel - 40,800 searches.

Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2740358].message }}

rosetrees 13 years ago

I did an experiment recently. I have a .info site in a particular niche that is no1 for it's search term. When I set up the site I gave no thought to the extension.

Recently I decided to set up more sites in the same general niche. I have 14 of them. Initially, two of them were .info domains. Those two have not done as well as the .com, .co.uk or .net ones.

A few weeks ago I purchased the .com version of one of the .info sites.

I took down the .info site and transferred the content to the .com site. As soon as the .com version was indexed it appeared on p5 of Google - whereas the .info site which had been a few weeks old never got above p7.

My conclusion was that .info sites might be harder to rank.
- [ 1 ] Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2740402].message }}

warcher

13 years ago

Originally Posted by dv8domainsDotCom

bgmacaw, why are you giving relevant examples like "page rank" where dotInfo is number 1? I mean really, that's non-sense, who searches for "page rank" anyway. Please, it's more helpful if you can stick with relevant examples, this forum needs that. Thank you!

In answer to your question, "who searches for 'page rank,'" I don't know WHO searches for it, but there are 22,400 searches for it every month, Global Search, using Exact Match, according to Google's External Keyword Tool. So lots of people must not think it's nonsense.

Thanks
2 replies

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2780495].message }}

generaleet 13 years ago

IMHO .info (.information) should be used to setup purely informational sites with no advertisements or monetization of any kind.

.com (commercial) sites should be used to promote products or services.

A good example of this is the official website of the MTA in NYC. They use mta.info to provide commuters with transit information.

The MTA also has a museum shop (transitmuseumstore.com) where they sell memorabilia, tshirts, mugs, etc.

I think their approach just makes sense to me.
- Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2780726].message }}
davezan 13 years ago

And how can anyone forget...saltydroid? Heh.
- Thanks
- 1 reply
Signature

David
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2780735].message }}
- jb854791 13 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by davezan
  
  And how can anyone forget...saltydroid? Heh.
  
  That is an ok example I suppose. I really do not know where I stand on .info domains. I have had 2 or 3 rank high but they were mostly affiliate related sites. I can pop up a .com or .net and it gets indexed over night. I am still waiting on a .info to get indexed using the same indexing method and it has been 2 weeks. .Info has all unique content as well. So I would say it all depends but I have had a harder time getting "my" .info sites to rank even for low competing keywords. So I do not dog on .info's but they are definitely not my first choice.
  
  Thanks
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2780804].message }}

Superior Content Creation

13 years ago

Have any of you run experiments on .biz?

Thanks

Signature

[SALES COPYWRITING] "$80,000 in Just One Email!"
REVIEWS & LOTS OF EXAMPLES!

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2740423].message }}

miafawlos

Banned 13 years ago

[DELETED]

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2740450].message }}

bgmacaw

13 years ago

Originally Posted by miafawlos

I find info sites harder to rank thank .com as well. I haven't done any testings but it's a feeling I have from the sites I've made that .com always outrank .info

SEO by 'feeling'. Wonderful. :rolleyes:

[ 3 ] Thanks

Signature

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2741235].message }}

Randy Daugherty

13 years ago

All kinds of domain works on the net it just a matter of how you market it..

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2740534].message }}

Hugh

13 years ago

"But everybody KNOWS......"

Hugh

Thanks

Signature

"Never make someone a priority in your life who makes you an option in theirs." Anon.
"Some see private enterprise as a predatory target to be shot, others as a cow to be milked, but few are those who see it as a sturdy horse pulling the wagon." -- Winston Churchill

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2740536].message }}

Chris30K

13 years ago

Ehh, for the most part I see .com's, .net, and .org's rank high, but .info's take alot more work. It's not just my myth, it's what I've actually seen; keyword domains of those types tend to rank higher than .info.

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

Chic Fil A > McDonald's

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2740734].message }}

Barry Unruh

13 years ago

Originally Posted by Chris30K

Ehh, for the most part I see .com's, .net, and .org's rank high, but .info's take alot more work. It's not just my myth, it's what I've actually seen; keyword domains of those types tend to rank higher than .info.

Not picking on you in particular Chris..

When anyone makes this type of comment on domain extensions it is missing one important factor. Did you compare on page optimization, backlink quality and quantity, and other normal SEO factors?

I agree, I see more .com, .net. and .org ranked highly, but when you compare them by what has been done with the domains it usually becomes very apparent why. Those names often have more domain age, more links, and better on-page factors. They will of course win if all of those factors are in their favor. But if the reverse is true, the .info will win.

The only factor I have seen negative to a .info, they are given a higher weighted score in email Spam Engines. This might be true for domain rankings, too. But the factor appears to be so small it can be overcome with a couple extra backlinks.

I'd prefer having the optimized domain name on .info and get a few extra backlinks than an ugly hyphenated name on a .com

Back to the original question:

I use .info's for blogs, squeeze pages, sales pages, and for redirects to CPA offers. It just depends on what names are available. I'll take .com over a .info if available, but I will take a .info over a .org just from a personal standpoint.

Thanks

Signature

Brain Drained...Signature Coming Soon!

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2740920].message }}

Alexa Smith Banned 13 years ago

[DELETED]

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2741299].message }}
- howinfo 13 years ago
  
  Every domain extension has its own best use. For some project .com is the best choice and for other projects maybe .net or .org, it all really depends on what sort of website you are running.
  
  If your website provides information on something then .info would be most suitable and would make lot of sense as an extension.
  
  What some people say, that .info's are not ranking well or are harder to rank then some other extension or that Google thinks they are spammi or it confuses people, I don't think anybody would believe that sort of stuff anymore.
  
  Thanks
  
  1 reply
  
  Signature
  webhow.org
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2741826].message }}
  
  Selfish 13 years ago
  
  OK. And what about such extensions as .name, .bz, .ws etc. etc.?
  
  ( Judging by the above conversation, buying a domain like sex.bz, for example, not even worth trying... )
  
  Thanks
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2746075].message }}

tmauto

13 years ago

Definitely they are harder to rank. In fact much harder. I have infos in first position but it took so much more effort.

Recently I did a test on a few sets of domains. My net domain ranked no:5 for a keyword with no content, only a title, whereas the info with content and seo work done was something like no:30. I tested on a few domains and got similar results.

[ 1 ] Thanks

Signature

child custody andi mother's blog

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2741017].message }}

cma01

13 years ago

You can use .info's and get them to rank. It will just take longer.

I've launched sets of domains with a variety of extensions. .Info's take about a week longer to get indexed and they take a lot longer to start ranking for keywords.

If you're not in a hurry, they're fine.

[ 1 ] Thanks

Signature

"Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something."
~ Plato

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2741033].message }}

Keyword Prodigy

13 years ago

They can be seen as spammy .info domains. Always use a .com, .org or .net.

.info domains won't rank well for competitive keywords.

Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2746082].message }}

Alexa Smith Banned 13 years ago

Originally Posted by Keyword Prodigy

.info domains won't rank well for competitive keywords.

Have you actually read any of the thread at all?!
- Thanks
- 1 reply
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2747197].message }}
- BethWilliams 13 years ago
  
  I routinely use .info domains for redirecting affiliate links, but I always use .coms for gathering traffic. That being said, I've never really put any effort into getting one of my .infos ranked, so who knows?
  
  Thanks
  
  Signature
  
  Quality Niche PLR Content at a Nice Price
  *****
  Just Released! Cat Care PLR Article 5-Pack
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2747471].message }}

yaotfeng

13 years ago

There is absolutely no difference between a .info site and a .com site in googles eyes.

HOWEVER, to a normal human being a .com site is easier to remember if they want to find your site again after the initial visit and forgot to book mark it.

Also .info sites are notorious for being the main extension hackers/crackers/viruses/malware/phishers use to operate with.

Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2746123].message }}

bgmacaw 13 years ago

Originally Posted by yaotfeng

Also .info sites are notorious for being the main extension hackers/crackers/viruses/malware/phishers use to operate with.

Actually .com sites are notorious for being the main extension hackers/crackers/viruses/malware/phishers use to operate with.
- Thanks
Signature
Product Reviews | Earn Online Cash | Free HTML Templates
Free WordPress Themes: Boring Memo | Dateless Mini-Site | Info Magazine | 100 Twenty-Ten Niche Headers
Discount Templates, Graphics and Scripts: Templates for Website
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2747188].message }}

oinky222

13 years ago

infos are awesome imho. i buy most of my domains as info cause you can save hundreds of dollars that way. dont let any fool tell you that theres a SEO disadvantage to infos, the only disadvantage is that people tend to automatically type in com when they are trying to get to a site so you would lose direct traffic with infos, but for sites that rely solely on search engine traffic, infos are the way to go

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2780756].message }}

Rich Struck

13 years ago

I love my .info sites. I use them to give information about the .com versions. Usually these small sites are only a few pages but they are text heavy and Google seems to like them. I wouldn't use one as a primary site but as a feeder, yeah, they are awesome.

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2780788].message }}

businessmaninboots 13 years ago

I use them for redirects and other direct sales. I have never tried to seo one so I do not know if they really have an effect on that or not.
- Thanks
Signature

Allen Daniels
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2780811].message }}

Bo Mill

13 years ago

To me personally, a .info domain sounds very unprofessional. If I saw two companies offering same/similar service and one had .com domain while the other had .info , I'd go with the .com one (provided that other variables are the same of course)

[ 1 ] Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2780822].message }}

How Useful is a .info Domain?

Trending Topics

Summer vacation for anyone ??

For those who own two sites or more: Do you have an LLC for Each?

How to improve my SEO

2023 NBA Finals...

Copywriting and it's Challenges