.net vs - .com

[computerbarry]

Hi all

I'm after a domain, yes domain squatters got there before me... anyway.

I'm debating on whether to get the .net or settle for -.com

Example:

mydomain.com - has been taken
but
my-domain.com - is available
but
mydomain.net - is available

What would you suggest? Or does it really matter? Reason being, I've never seen a .net domain ever get a PR1 or even separated-domain get ranked well.

So my problem is... do I buy:

mydomain.net
or
my-domain.com

Any suggestions or have you had this problem yourself?

Thanks

[felgall]

Dashes are far more likely to be forgotten when someone is trying to remember a domain name.

[computerbarry]

Thanks felgall, might go with the .net then. I realized a similar post discussing .net / .com below this thread plenty of good views.

Just wondering though, has anybody ever seen a .net rank well?

Thanks

[datadriven]

a) Check search engine results page, to see if and how the term(s) are currently contributing to results (whether it is a noun, a modifier, etc) in the closest way comparable to the way you plan on using the terms [For example, I've noticed some abbreviated secondary terms don't get picked up when followed by a number, which may change when adding the hyphen for seperation. But again, opinions may vary.] and, ...

b) Make sure your planned page tags are workable and will be picked up when split/for foldered phrases if possible. Some say this doesn't matter between to hyphen or not, but I would look into it.

I do have a hyphenated domain getting top results for some pages.

[felgall]

Since the search engines ignore the TLD whether the TLD is .com or .net will not affect your search engine rankings. It only affects people typing in the address directly who try to guess what it is (where typing .com is slightly more likely than typing .net and typing without hyphens is a lot more likerly than typing with).

[czissis]

it's really doesn't matter whether you choose net or com
but if it were me, and com of my domian is availble , I will defintely choose .com
when people type URL, com flow naturally

[ldcdc]

I think I'd go for the .net, or choose another domain name altogether, with .com available.

[felgall]

it's really doesn't matter whether you choose net or com
but if it were me, and com of my domian is availble , I will defintely choose .com
when people type URL, com flow naturally

Leaving out the dash in that situation would be even more natural and then they definitely end up on the wrong site. At least with .net they are more likely to remember the correct TLD and end up on the right site.

'dash' is far more forgettable than 'dot net'.

[Linkoroo]

Finding the right domain name is a pain in the @$$. Everything is taken so you really need to be original. Unless you really really like the one you found I would go with net instead of dot com and having "-" in the name. But try to figure something else for a com.

Remember that the name can be anything at all. Look at fatcow, it's a hosting company and it has nothing to do with fat cows

[felgall]

Just remember that for web site traffic coming to your site through links from search engines and other sites it doesn't matter what address you have since the link will hide that from the people following it anyway. What follows that last dot also doesn't matter except for if you are relying on people remembering your domain in order to type it in (in which case what is most memorable depends on your target audience). Also an easier to remember name in front of the dot will work better with a less common TLD than a more obscure .com name will.

[jonathon4x]

i would try to find some other dot com domain, the has/slash and dot net will stop some people from typing in your domain name.

[computerbarry]

Finding the right domain name is a pain in the @$$.

don't get me started

Thanks for all the input guys and thanks felgall, I've bought the .net, seems like the best solution, like you say it's about the links, but always nice if you can get the .com maybe next time.

Cheers

[abercrombie]

i think everyone runs into the same issue. i prefer to go for the .ORG or .NET in that order which one is available without the dash. unless it's a highly sought over keyword, then i might go for the dash. btw, i've used dashes in my domains in the past and it has no affect on Google in getting page 1 results. i don't really care for people trying to remember my site and returning. i'm more concerned about Organic traffic from search engines.

[SiberForum]

The domain name choice is personal. Two main rules I offer to follow are:
1. Domain name should be as short as possible
2. Domain name should be memorable.
But only you make decision. If you think that domain name with dash is memorable and short go ahead.
But as for the domain name extension I suppose that .com is being typed by many people by default

[rhysboy84]

Buy both

Dashes can be useful in the domain name. Two examples are when words begin with the last letter of the previous word (eg ecommerce-electricity works better than ecommerceelectricity) or when words can be spelt between the two (I will cite the fact that experts-exchange changed it's name from expertsexchange ).

However, I'd buy both, build the site on the .net, and forward through the .com to it.

[DutchVillage]

I say both, if you are only getting one, then do it net and no dashes

[SiberForum]

I say both, if you are only getting one, then do it net and no dashes

I support that as well. I suppoe that is not cost the fortune to have both domain names with you

[czccdomains]

depends on the keyword but in general com is better choice

[SiberForum]

depends on the keyword but in general com is better choice

What does it mean: depends on the keyword? Do you want to say that might depend on keyword and on the extension at the same time or what? Sorry but it seems that is quite difficult to get what you are talking about

[Dr_J]

You should get mydomain.net as mydomain.com is not available.

[SiberForum]

both are okay
i don't see much difference
and if u ant return user
then maybe u could just prefer the one without hyphens

I suppose their main difference is in the domain name extension. .COM is domain name extension which is being typed by default by many people

[roudybush]

If I own the dot com and not the net but the net is for sale should I also own it?

[dklynn]

rb,

If the question is whether you have the $10 to "protect" your domain name or not, WHY ASK? If you do, by all means, JUST DO IT!

Regards,

DK

[SiberForum]

If I own the dot com and not the net but the net is for sale should I also own it?

Depending on the price that is being sold on. If that costs fortune: better wait for the better price or leave the idea

[jmccormac]

Hi all

I'm after a domain, yes domain squatters got there before me... anyway.

I'm debating on whether to get the .net or settle for -.com

The .net may well leak traffic and e-mail to the .com. (I've seen this effect to an extent with a .com that I own and a ccTLD.) The best solution would be to come up with a unique name in .com and register it. As for domain squatters getting to the domain before you, just because a domain is parked does not mean that it is not in use. I've noticed a trend with some large hosters to park the domain on Sedoparking or their own PPC programme. The website of such a domain may well be parked with PPC adverts but that does not mean that the domain is not in use for some other purpose such as e-mail or brand protection.

Regards...jmcc