Will I lose a lot?

[ApeXX]

I am about to start up a website on .net domain. I currently do not own the .com domain, however it is undeveloped and is parked at sedo.

Do you think that I will lose a lot of potential customers because they will visit the .com instead of the .net?

 

[OK]

is it developed or i is parked at SEDO? First off, check for a possible TM. You probably will get some people going to the .com first but after finding that it is the wrong site, go to the .net

 

[scrsteven]

Either way you'll lose a lot, yes.

 

[peter phillips]

You may loose a lot of traffic to the .com name as a many people do have a tendency to type in .com first while typing in a name of a site unknown to them.

 

[verbster]

yes, you will lose many, but those you get will be serious about finding you.

 

[ApeXX]

is it developed or i is parked at SEDO? First off, check for a possible TM. You probably will get some people going to the .com first but after finding that it is the wrong site, go to the .net

Sorry I meant undeveloped.

But don't you think most people, after reaching the sedo page, would remember "Oh yeah, it was .net"?

 

[OK]

yeah. That is what I said...

You probably will get some people going to the .com first but after finding that it is the wrong site, go to the .net

 

[FanCube]

Try making a bid on the .com or contacting the owner directly and ask for a price. You might get a good price.

 

[GeneCosta]

Aslong as the other site is parked, you shouldn't have too big of a problem. I would say most people serious about going to your site would realize they typed the wrong extension.

 

[Midano]

If you're planning to develop and launch the .net, and then pursue acquiring the .com - reconsider your plan.
When .net is up and running, the .com's owner will be asking a lot more. You're better off trying to negotiate the .com WITHOUT revealing your plans for the .net.

 

[Mateja]

There's an example I always use for this sort of thing, http://www.thedugout.net - it's a very popular site and has a big word-of-mouth element to it's traffic. Everytime I go to that site, I start with http://www.dugout.com then http://www.dugout.net and then finally http://www.thedugout.net

The site has remained popular despite this but has probably made a lot of money for some other people too.

In conclusion, I guess you will lose traffic, but if your site is good enough, it won't matter too much.

 

[masakanova]

I would calculate a few things here:
1. what would you/can you pay to have the .com?
2. how much revenue you could expect in X time from this endeavor with the .net?
3. how much more could make if you had the better extension in the same amount of time?
4. if 3 is much higher than 2 and within your range I would look at buying it from whoever owns it for that amount or less.

There is no right answer in so much as it is simply going to take some cost analysis on what you expect from your business and what you may lose because of the .net extension.

Also I would see how much more $$ you would need to use to adequately advertise your .net domain and see if that number is near what you have to pay to get the .com. i.e. it will cost $1000 bucks to start to drive traffic to your .net
It will cost $600 to send the same to the .com so if you pick up the .com for $400 or less you win.

Sorry for the novel. I hope it helps. I always buy the .net with my .coms so that if my idea takes off I have the backdoor domain secured. Good luck.

 

[ApeXX]

I contacted him, we'll see how it goes.

 

[ThreeD]

If you're planning to develop and launch the .net, and then pursue acquiring the .com - reconsider your plan.
When .net is up and running, the .com's owner will be asking a lot more. You're better off trying to negotiate the .com WITHOUT revealing your plans for the .net.

That's a very valid and important point to consider! You will lose traffic to the .com because the commerical domain name extension is still the most used and well known. So make sure you aquire the .com, I have a project going right now, and I have regged .com/net/org/biz/info/us, with and without the hyphen, just to make sure no one can steal our traffic

 

[ApeXX]

Thanks for the advice everyone!

I've found a better fitting domain name for my subject that has a .com extension.

 

[tmax]

Beautiful ApeXX~! .com is way to go.

 

[CrazyTech]

I think you may certainly lose some with the .net but I don't believe that it will ultimately hurt your business. I know of a business, that I use in fact, that runs the .net even though the .com is developed as well and they do just fine. It's all about branding.

Going with a .com does not hurt, though. Glad you could find one that works.

 

[faisj]

Thanks for the advice everyone!

I've found a better fitting domain name for my subject that has a .com extension.

Great news ApeXX..
I think thats a great move. (better then devp. the .net while the .com
is owned by someone else. IMO

 

[ApeXX]

Great news ApeXX..
I think thats a great move. (better then devp. the .net while the .com
is owned by someone else. IMO

Yeah I agree. I was afraid that I would develop the .net only to find the owner of the .com stealing a majority of my potential clients.

Once again, thanks for the advice everyone! :hehe:

 

[HBK216]

Good to hear you found a new name. What was the .com that was taken if you don't mind me asking?