Getting a website name is hard

[Mike Edge]

I checked when you posted it and it said available.... all of a sudden, someone has it lol

Must have been some sort of API error as that domain has been registered for a long time now.

Updated Date: 18-sep-2012
Creation Date: 23-jan-1996
Expiration Date: 24-jan-2016

 

[jadmperry]

Wait, since when does Google care about the extension of a domain?

I am not speaking from anything but pure speculation here. So, my assumptions/guesses may be dead wrong. The caveats aside, I can see why the extension would make a difference.

I am thinking that there is a hierarchy of more popular extensions (or perhaps, more trusted extensions). Everything else being equal, I think it is safe/non-controversial, that if someone is searching on a search engine, they are more likely to go to a .com extension than, say, a .info. This hierarchy is probably quantifiable (but, not by me). I think, for example, seeing a .ru extension may not be trusted unless you are from that country.

My point is that if you are not already searching for a specific site, if you put in search terms, you are likely to get .com extensions in results before other extensions (except, perhaps, for very specific sites that already are well known- like wikipedia.org...but, back to my point, you don't search for that site based on terms, you search on the URL portion of the name...like "wiki"). If I am not way off base here, I think that you end up with a "chicken or the egg" type of problem. If you have a .com extension, I think people would be more inclined to go there in the first place. More eyeballs, more members, more posts, more traffic, and the result is somewhat the result of circular logic. Because you have a .com site, more people may go there...and the result is that google may tend to show .com sites more relevant because of the effect of more people going to sites with .com extensions.

I think you are right, though, that in the abstract IF more people are going to a site with another extension, then google will show that result higher than a .com site where people are not going. But, I tend to think that in reality this does not happen in most cases.

Or, I could be wrong.

 

[Carlos]

You need a short name dude. People seem to have issues remembering urls the longer they are.

This. In some cases, a long name is okay, but in most cases, the above is true.

 

[Arantor]

Just to add, Google does care about certain domain endings. .co.cc was delisted some time ago, .tk is on the brink if it hasn't been delisted already and rumour has it .info was deranked compared to other domains due to a proliferation of spam on it because .info is much cheaper than .com from most registrars.

 

[Mike Edge]

This. In some cases, a long name is okay, but in most cases, the above is true.

IMO, a full keyword name for the site URL and then a short name for members to use.. like facebook.com <==<== fb.com for example

 

[billybatz9]

can you own both urls and lead them to same website?

 

[Adam Howard]

can you own both urls and lead them to same website?

yes

Most domain registers, such as name.com include url forwarding.

 

[billybatz9]

how many websites can do you this with?

yes

Most domain registers, such as name.com include url forwarding.

 

[Adam Howard]

how many websites can do you this with?

unlimited

(1 url forward per domain name. you can own an unlimited amount of domains and thus, have as many forward to your desired domain)

 

[billybatz9]

Is it worth doing it? Does it help with anything?

 

[Adam Howard]

Is it worth doing it? Does it help with anything?

YES.

The classic term for those who are old school, call it "pulling a Microsoft". Because Microsoft was the first company to register every possible domain name.

For example, Microsoft.info will bring you to Microsoft.com

It will prevent others from confusing or competing using the name.

 

[billybatz9]

Thanks @Adam Howard

 

[Adam Howard]

Thanks @Adam Howard

You're welcome

 

[TPerry]

how many websites can do you this with?

Let's see... I have apple4me.net, apple4me.us, apple4me.org, sayapple.com/net/org/us and justsayapple.com/net/org/us all pointed to one... it's unlimited.

 

[Carlos]

IMO, a full keyword name for the site URL and then a short name for members to use.. like facebook.com <==<== fb.com for example

Oh, you mean like this: www.mvscf.com > www.marvelvscapcomforums.com ?

 

[TPerry]

can you own both urls and lead them to same website?

Yeah, but good luck on getting any 2/3 letter ones that make sense without paying out a bundle. My Apple site using sayapple.com and justsayapple.com. Looked at namecheap and for jsa.com they want $58,696 and for jsa.net a tad over $8000. For sa.com, it's already taken and the domain doesn't expire until 2022 - so pretty good bet they want to keep it.