SEO: a choice between two TLDs - Coming back to an old question

[Tribulatio]

I am not at all a SEO expert, although I have managed to get good rankings for some websites, but primarily through original content and backlinks from reputed websites. Here I have a question for our SEO experts, on an often discussed issue, but applied to a specific situation.

I am planning to launch soon a new website. The purpose of the website is to rank high for a specific expression (not just a single word), which is feasible, since I have already other websites ranking among the first ten results for that expression (but I need more, in order to push down another website that is intruding among the top ten results with conflicting statements).

For that purpose, I have bought two domain names (both dropped this month), and I am hesitant about which one to use. None is a generic name related to the topic, but both are pronounceable and have a meaning.

- The first one is a six-letter .COM, a rare but pronounceable name, that has never been used as a website, but has been registered since 2009.

- The second one is a five-letter .LI (Liechtenstein), a nice and attractive name. It was used until it dropped, it has dozens of backlinks, and gets some 30 unique visitors a day (on topics totally unrelated to the use I have in mind). The project I have in mind has nothing to do with Liechtenstein.

What would you do? Go for the .COM, or choose the .LI, considering that it is already indexed, has backlinks and has been parked only for a few days?

I like the .LI, but what should come first are SEO issues. I have - in other fields - .INFO names that are ranking well, also a .IM well-ranked (used for something unrelated to the Isle of Man), so I know work can bring any TLD high. But for this project, the first goal is to rank high as fast possible.

Thank you for your comments and advice!

 

[raubin]

If the .LI is already indexed in the SERP's is it / or was it optimised for the search terms you are looking to do SEO for? What about the quality of the backlinks from both domains? Signup to Majestic SEO and take a look at both the domains and the backlinks both of them have, it will give you a small drilldown on the two domains links.

How old is the .LI? Another you might want to think about is why these names were dropped? Did the company go out of business or was there some bad business conducted by the ex-owner? I fell into that trap once before, thought I had a great domain, only to find out that the guys that owned it before me had spammed everyone and they were known as a bunch of scam artists! You live and learn!!!

I have a few .si domains that I am going to start a few projects on soon which are great generic one word domains, I would much rather have what I have here than a TLD that doesn't mean anything and is only a couple of years old.

My 2 cents ...

 

[Tribulatio]

Thank you for your remarks, Raubin. You have made some good points here. You are entirely correct, backlinks are not enough: it is a matter of quality too. And indeed, I am wondering why the previous owner let it drop (unfortunately, with .LI as well as .CH domain names, it is impossible to know registration - or expiration - dates).

The .COM domain name has never been in use and has no backlink at all. The .LI domain name definitely has backlinks and traffic - and a PR 6... Totally unrelated to what I intend to use it for, but still: starting a new website (which will be a content website, thus generating its own backlinks) with a PR 6 is quite attractive. On the other hand, I have no clear idea how such a PR was obtained, although I can guess from backlinks. After I parked the .LI domain name, I put it also on Sedo without putting a price tag, just to see... and the Sedo sales page has already had several visits, though no offer. Plus the name is a short and nice one.

It is really just the question about the advantage of a .COM.

 

[Kate]

Use the .com as the main domain, and redirect the .li to the .com to tap the traffic.

 

[Tribulatio]

Yes, this could be a solution too. Obviously, I wouldn't keept the page rank, but probably the redirected traffic would help - although the purpose I intend to use the domain name for is entirely unrelated to the previous use.

 

[Kate]

If the .li domain was used for unrelated purposes, then it might not be a good idea after all.
On the other hand, if you do nothing with it, the traffic is wasted...

 

[Tribulatio]

A good summary of the dilemma, indeed. In the meantime, the .LI domain name brings some parking income every day, but not enough to justify keeping it parked long term. I would prefer to use that traffic for boosting a new domain.