Shorter .NET vs Longer .COM

[tjthayer]

Please share your insight on this, in terms of overall value of the domain name itself, as well as how the difference might affect search ranking, etc.

Let's say I want to create a minisite or similar to push house paint (completely theoretical).

I'd like "paintforhouse.com", but it's already registered - leaving these options available:

paintforhouse.net
bestpaintforhouse.com

As a domainer, which would be your choice, and why?

(Again, this is not the actual domain I'm considering, but a similar idea).

 

[garptrader]

The general public has .COM stamped in their memory so oftentimes end users will insist on .COM even if the domain is longer and has no search volume. However, for search engines, a search phrase .Net would be preferable.

 

[bmugford]

For a longer domain most traffic is from search engines, not type in traffic. Therefore I would rather develop a exact keyword match .NET than mediocre .COM

As far as your example goes, the .NET does not have enough search volume to matter.

An example would be like BestHousePaint.com (720 exacts) vs HousePaint.net (18,100 exacts). I would clearly develop the .NET in that type of scenario where it is a exact relevant keyword.

Brad

 

[Sparhawke]

I agree with Garp and Brad above, all things being equal you should look at the search volume...

A .com is best when you can get your desired name with its 1,000,000 searches but when you cannot then you go for the next best thing.

Other extensions do exist and for the most part people really do not care what they click on so long as it is near the top of the search results.

A longer domain name, unless you are specifically going for longer tail for your own development as I sometimes do looks uglier...and the example you gave for the .com would have far less resale value than the superior net.

Even though it is a com.

 

[tjthayer]

Thanks guys. That's what I was looking for...