Opinion: Should I use .NET if .COM is too pricey for now?

[kbweb]

What's your opinion?

The .COM version of the name I want is out of my budget. If I get the .NET version and make a (hopefully) successful business out of it, how would this affect the seller of the .COM version?

Will the high price stay the same? Increase?
If the name becomes a successful brand, will the seller let it go for cheaper?

 

[wwwweb]

Only issue is you create traffic for the .com owner, and increase the value of his .com, but if you have no choice not much else you can do.........

 

[bmugford]

I would take a great .NET over a mediocre .COM any day. If it is an exact match keyword it will have much more power indexing for the term.

The traffic bleed to the .COM is not as significant as many domainers think it is.

Brad

 

[snoop]

Would look for a weaker .com first.

 

[kbweb]

Thanks for the response so far.

A side question: If a name is trademarked would that in any way affect the seller of domain of the same name? (If it becomes successful)

 

[snoop]

Thanks for the response so far.

A side question: If a name is trademarked would that in any way affect the seller of domain of the same name? (If it becomes successful)

Trademarked by who?

If it is a fanicful term that is already trademarked by the owner then avoid the other extensions. If you hope to trademark it and relieve the other owner of his rights then get ready for a wasteful legal bill and bad publicity.

 

[bmugford]

Well, from what I am reading it sounds like you might be trying to acquire the .NET because you can't afford the .COM, launch a successful website, then basically strong arm the .COM owner into selling it because it is a TM issue at that point?

Brad

Trademarked by who?

If it is a fanicful term that is already trademarked by the owner then avoid the other extensions. If you hope to trademark it and relieve the other owner of his rights then get ready for a wasteful legal bill and bad publicity.

 

[kbweb]

Well, from what I am reading it sounds like you might be trying to acquire the .NET because you can't afford the .COM, launch a successful website, then basically strong arm the .COM owner into selling it because it is a TM issue at that point?

Brad

I'm saying if in the future it becomes a successful brand (then I would probably have the money to buy it outright) and may or may not trademark it. All the same, if it is a strong brand, regardless of trademarks, how do you think this would affect other TLDs with that name, .COM or otherwise? Mind you, this is unlikely, but what if.

 

[pvkrox]

i think you should prefer .com
bcoz max. ppl after getting site name..
open .com only..

 

[SpareDomains]

I would take a lesser value .com domain and build on it over taking a stronger .net, if your lesser .com site turns into something successful then go grab the stronger .com later with your profits as building on the .net will just make the .com owner charge you more when you inquire.

 

[AndyR]

I'd buy the .net anyway if this is your chosen term, whether you develop that or another similar .com which mirrors or forwards to it. This gives the option to have your chosen domain in commerce from the start and a good chance of a TM being granted on it. You can then buy the .com in the future. You can legitimately advertise your term, use it as a keyword etc. in your chosen niche.

andyr

 

[enlytend]

Depends on how MUCH weaker the alternative .com is. If there's a huge difference in quality between the .net and any other .com you can dream up, go with the .net. Traffic bleed shouldn't be anything to lose sleep about, especially if the .com's parked.

If it was a weaker extension, I'd say go with the .com, but .net IS well-established and familiar to nearly everyone.

IF your business becomes successful (and IF the name can be tm'd or considered a common-law tm, i.e.assuming it's not not purely generic or descriptive), you get into an interesting situation: The .com owner most likely WILL raise the price if you ask about buying it, however their usage of the name may become limited - confusion with your brand or approaching you to sell it to you would constitute bad faith on their part. It may lower the name's value to other would-be buyers for the same reason. Kind of a stalemate.

 

[Spade]

Personally, I would never opt for the .net if I plan on putting any real effort into the site. You would only increase the value of the .com, and likely pay obscene amounts of money for it in the long run. Its always best to acquire the domain you intend to build around first. Dont settle.

 

[Damion]

In case you have a brandable domain and you're making it a primary business venture you're better off buying a .com

You don't want to be in the same position these guys where.

If it's a keyword domain, I would go for the .net, because strong search rankings outweighs the potential traffic bleed from direct type ins.

 

[kbweb]

Depends on how MUCH weaker the alternative .com is. If there's a huge difference in quality between the .net and any other .com you can dream up, go with the .net. Traffic bleed shouldn't be anything to lose sleep about, especially if the .com's parked.

If it was a weaker extension, I'd say go with the .com, but .net IS well-established and familiar to nearly everyone.

IF your business becomes successful (and IF the name can be tm'd or considered a common-law tm, i.e.assuming it's not not purely generic or descriptive), you get into an interesting situation: The .com owner most likely WILL raise the price if you ask about buying it, however their usage of the name may become limited - confusion with your brand or approaching you to sell it to you would constitute bad faith on their part. It may lower the name's value to other would-be buyers for the same reason. Kind of a stalemate.

This is basically what I needed to know, although it probably depends on the seller. There should be no difference in a .COM and .NET, but many by default type .COM (like many type "WWW.", even though there's usually no need). I would not have a problem with .NET if it weren't for this. Search engines do not prefer (so they say) .COM.

Also, whoever said that the business NEEDS a .COM? If a business becomes successful to the point of even trademarking, what's the seller of the possibly expensive .COM to do? Who would want it?

 

[snoop]

Also, whoever said that the business NEEDS a .COM?

But starting with a .net is starting without a problematic domain, even though the .com isn't essential. Personally I think going with the extension that visitors/customers will expect you to have is very important. Of course a business could use any extension, .info, .cc, even a sub domain but it is along way from ideal.

If a business becomes successful to the point of even trademarking, what's the seller of the possibly expensive .COM to do? Who would want it?

The obvious buyer is the big business, and I think most domainers would have dollar signs in their eyes at that point. The topix.com example is a good one in my view.

 

[mrjohn]

If it is a good name and the .com is just being parked, sure.

Where .com vs .net becomes an issue is if the .com has strong link juice and SERP cred with Google. Then purchasing the .net is almost pointless, unless you're planning on rating for search term in an entirely different sector than the .com.

In fact, Google does not favor .com over .net. So, if the .net emerges as the stronger actual site, it wins.

 

[DubDubDubDot]

If the .com is so strong that affording it is based on a fantasy that your .net is going to make you a lot of money, then just come up with another idea for a .com that you can afford now or is even available for regfee.

 

[domainbartender]

If this is going to be your one best site, and you are planning to eventually switch over to .net, I would recommend going with .com from the very start. It takes time to build traffic and you don't want to lose that when you switch over.

 

[enlytend]

Lots of different opinions - I think the MOST important thing is that if you want to start this business, don't go all "deer in the headlights" agonizing over which name is better to the point where your business plan never gets off the ground! Weigh the opinions, pick a name and run with it.