Post by PickyChicky on Jun 21, 2014 10:15:56 GMT -6
The following is in response to SharGifts's post in another thread. I'm posting it here since it's a good topic to discuss in its own thread as it comes up rather frequently, particularly since good .COMs are becoming less and less available.
@shargifts...A .NET domain is the second most popular, but .COMs still have a leg up on them because it was the first extension used, so that is what everyone is trained to remember. As good .COMs become less and less available, more people will use other extensions, exposing them to the public to REtrain them to start making note of the extension rather than expecting it to be a .COM. So it's not Google that's giving them less attention -- it's just a matter of what people are used to.
They're even creating all sorts of new extensions like .BLOG, .SHOP, etc., due to the already slim pickings when it comes to .COMs. BUT the current pricing for those is too high simply because they're a novelty and some people are willing to pay the big bucks to have a unique address of their choosing that they couldn't get with a .COM. Some aren't even available to use, yet, but can be reserved. So, if and when they ever do become available to use, you will have dibs on them, but it's difficult to say how that will work since several people might have reserved the same domain.
Some domain registrar companies are really pushing the .NET extension, so that's a sign of how overused the .COMs are. For example, whenever I do domain check on 1&1, they always put .NET in the extension box by default. Then, to the right of that section, they have the option to buy one (or reserve) one of the newer extensions (I'm not sure if they're available to buy yet).
So, while a .NET site might suffer a bit now, in the rather near future, people will be exposed to all sorts of site extensions. Over time, they will get used to there being more than .COMs and start making it a point to remember the extension of a site. So, I would say go for it and buy up several different variations of your main domain, whether a .COM, .NET, or .BIZ (the top three). When the newer extensions start rolling out and people start getting exposed to them, the top three extensions may become unavailable (although, you do have a rather unique business name).
If you have a blog, .INFO is currently available for a good price. I bought one for my VPS business's blog and paid the same rate as I did for the .COM. If .BLOG were currently available and at a good price, I'd buy that up, too, but a major role of VPS will be to provide info to netpreneurs, so the .INFO is perfect for the purpose of that blog where I'll be posting all sorts of helpful internet business-related articles.
I've also bought several .COMs for my Purple Iris business. Not only so I could do some testing to see which draws in the most traffic, but also to use for various promotions (ie, purpleirisgifts.com for the holiday season, purpleirisdecor.com for when I'm promoting decor, etc.). They all point to my main domain at purpleirisplaza.com, but in the case of the decor.com, it will point directly to the category of decor items I'm promoting.
Something rather important to note is that instead of parking a domain, point it to one you're using, particularly if you've used it in the past so people who've made note of that URL can find you. Even if you buy multiple other domains that you currently don't have publicly posted anywhere, point them to the store you want to take them to. Then start using them in various places for promotional and testing purposes. You should also post them in your directory listings, like on EveryPlaceISell.
So, no matter which extension you buy, try getting creative with the domains you buy. You could even veer from including your name to target a broader audience and test what works best. For example, focus on your biggest categories, a holiday, a group of people, like I did with the gifts.com and decor.com domains.
Unfortunately, you will find that the most common domains will not be available as a .COM. However, I wouldn't let that hinder you from branching out and buying up other more available extensions because the time of the .COM's domination is quickly nearing an end.
@shargifts...A .NET domain is the second most popular, but .COMs still have a leg up on them because it was the first extension used, so that is what everyone is trained to remember. As good .COMs become less and less available, more people will use other extensions, exposing them to the public to REtrain them to start making note of the extension rather than expecting it to be a .COM. So it's not Google that's giving them less attention -- it's just a matter of what people are used to.
They're even creating all sorts of new extensions like .BLOG, .SHOP, etc., due to the already slim pickings when it comes to .COMs. BUT the current pricing for those is too high simply because they're a novelty and some people are willing to pay the big bucks to have a unique address of their choosing that they couldn't get with a .COM. Some aren't even available to use, yet, but can be reserved. So, if and when they ever do become available to use, you will have dibs on them, but it's difficult to say how that will work since several people might have reserved the same domain.
Some domain registrar companies are really pushing the .NET extension, so that's a sign of how overused the .COMs are. For example, whenever I do domain check on 1&1, they always put .NET in the extension box by default. Then, to the right of that section, they have the option to buy one (or reserve) one of the newer extensions (I'm not sure if they're available to buy yet).
So, while a .NET site might suffer a bit now, in the rather near future, people will be exposed to all sorts of site extensions. Over time, they will get used to there being more than .COMs and start making it a point to remember the extension of a site. So, I would say go for it and buy up several different variations of your main domain, whether a .COM, .NET, or .BIZ (the top three). When the newer extensions start rolling out and people start getting exposed to them, the top three extensions may become unavailable (although, you do have a rather unique business name).
If you have a blog, .INFO is currently available for a good price. I bought one for my VPS business's blog and paid the same rate as I did for the .COM. If .BLOG were currently available and at a good price, I'd buy that up, too, but a major role of VPS will be to provide info to netpreneurs, so the .INFO is perfect for the purpose of that blog where I'll be posting all sorts of helpful internet business-related articles.
I've also bought several .COMs for my Purple Iris business. Not only so I could do some testing to see which draws in the most traffic, but also to use for various promotions (ie, purpleirisgifts.com for the holiday season, purpleirisdecor.com for when I'm promoting decor, etc.). They all point to my main domain at purpleirisplaza.com, but in the case of the decor.com, it will point directly to the category of decor items I'm promoting.
Something rather important to note is that instead of parking a domain, point it to one you're using, particularly if you've used it in the past so people who've made note of that URL can find you. Even if you buy multiple other domains that you currently don't have publicly posted anywhere, point them to the store you want to take them to. Then start using them in various places for promotional and testing purposes. You should also post them in your directory listings, like on EveryPlaceISell.
So, no matter which extension you buy, try getting creative with the domains you buy. You could even veer from including your name to target a broader audience and test what works best. For example, focus on your biggest categories, a holiday, a group of people, like I did with the gifts.com and decor.com domains.
Unfortunately, you will find that the most common domains will not be available as a .COM. However, I wouldn't let that hinder you from branching out and buying up other more available extensions because the time of the .COM's domination is quickly nearing an end.
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