New domain - register .com .net and .org?

[krnl]

Hi all,

I'm getting ready to register a couple of new domains and all of the main TLD's (.com, .net and .org) are available. I'm trying to decide what I want to do.

a) Register the .net alone and create a keyword rich site that will stand in an empty genre of its own (very little keyword competition)

b) Register all of the domains and redirect the .org and .com to .net which reserves the other TLD's if I decide to use them later (and keeps someone else from using them against me)

c) Register all three TLD's - set up the .net as in option 1 and set up the .com and .org with PPC and either leave them that way or develop them someday.

So, what do you think?

Beyond that - what about if I register a couple of domains that are just variations on the keywords and redirect them? Something like...

floridasomething.net
flsomething.net
floridasamething.net
flsamething.net

...or should I just leave that alone as well and concentrate on the single domain and rank it for the keywords that I plan to use?

Thanks for your input!
Rick

[NetMassimo]

I'd say b) or at least that's what I did: actually I registered the .info as well.

[cw1865]

Why wouldn't you focus on the .com?

Typically I just take one, but if its successful and you leave the other ones open somebody will grab them. At some point you have to draw the line, I think .net and .org is reasonable, but even then you would still eventually have to defend .biz, .us, .info, etc.

[SnerdeyWebs]

Originally Posted by krnl

...or should I just leave that alone as well and concentrate on the single domain and rank it for the keywords that I plan to use?

If your domain is a normally typed in search that people will try I'd focus on the .com

I've purchased many misspelled worded domains and and really there was just not enough traffic from those to renew. These were for many other sites we operate as well.

I'd have to call this a personal comfort choice on your part. As for the other extensions it's cheap enough to just buy them and redirect to main site.

[geoffreygag]

RK,

Be serious, don't use the word develop very loosely.

From Google perspective.. I would take all that money you are mentioning in domain registration = Just buy one domain, but register it for 10 years...

Then develop it.... then little by little add.. some satellite sites around it.

You don't need the .net and .org

[deepsand]

As to which TLD, i.e. .com, .net or .org, is the most appropriate depends on the nature and purpose of the site.

Aside from that, I'd follow the advice given at New domain - register .com .net and .org? .

Other than registering various TLDs for the DN in question, I'd not put much time & $$$ into registering variants absent a strong reason to believe that they are sufficiently valuable such that they will be almost certainly taken by a competitor.

Park the TLDs not being used, and re-direct them to the active one; there's no point in diluting yours efforts by spreading your content across multiple sites.

[dwells87199]

Register all of the domains you can afford to (Godaddy is really cheap). Only devlop one domain (prefer the dot com for type-ins)

[copywriter39]

.com is good enough unless your an organization or a non-profit. Its a waste of time to register the others as most people automatically type in .com when looking for a site.

[Niche]

Golly, you make it sound so involved.

I tend to go for dot com and nothing else. It's what people type in instinctively.

Multiple domains for the same website? Sounds like an overkill to me

Get the dot com domain. Build a website that is well optimized and get it up there in the bookmarking sites

[deepsand]

Originally Posted by Niche

Golly, you make it sound so involved.

I tend to go for dot com and nothing else. It's what people type in instinctively.

Multiple domains for the same website? Sounds like an overkill to me

Get the dot com domain. Build a website that is well optimized and get it up there in the bookmarking sites

Well, many of those who use portals, such as Yahoo, tend to not use the address bar, but rather type as DN, sans TLD, into the search bar. What, then, if another party has taken the same DN with a TLD of .net or .org?

Protecting ones DN against usurpers is neither "involved" or "overkill," but simply a matter of prudence.

[ContactUSA]

I would definitively go with choice B, but I would make the .com as the primary domain.

[InfoHQ.us]

krnl,

You wrote "c) Register all three TLD's..."

I had read all the replies and noted that nobody had suggested that you should register all 3 types
of domains (.com, .net & .org) - not just only one.

Since 1994 I had been buying and selling hundreds of domains. Initially Netword Solutions allowed
domain registrations and payments within 3 months. I used to send bank drafts since I was worried
about giving my credit cards particulars.

I'm not a Guru about domains but I'm of the view that you should buy all 3 because there is a possibility
that in the future a better site using the domain (you don't want to buy now) would be built by
another registrant.

I'm sure you had heard about rent.com and rent.net

[deepsand]

Originally Posted by InfoHQ.us

I had read all the replies and noted that nobody had suggested you to register all 3 types of domains (.com, .net & .org).

Did you perhaps read the posts of a different thread?

[BluePlanet]

There are a few different ways to look at it.

First, if you have a really distinctive name and you plan for it to be a major destination or brand, then register the com, net and even org. Personally, I would forget about all the other johnny come latelys. Direct the net and org to the com until you have some other use for them. A lot of it has to do with budget.

Years ago I would register the com and net domains, but after other TLD's came out it got a bit pointless, especially when I have lots of domains. I have domains more than 12 years old and used to have 3 letter domains too, though I sold those.

The important thing to protect your domain brand name is to register it as a trademark and also file a copyright on your site. Also come up with a logo, preferrably incorporating the domain name in some way, and register that as a trademark.

On the other hand, if you have a name such as the examples given, that use abbreviations for a state or other things, then I would not bother with net and org. Stick to dot coms, but register common variations on your name. One problem with using abbreviations that have variations possible (i.e. FL, FLA, FLORIDA) makes trademark registration and enforcement much more difficult.

I personally do not use abbreviations at all. I prefer longer domain names that are easy to remember, trademark and protect. Also, I have certain brands that I have registered domains for that use the brand root and then other variations for business activities I plan or might want to do in the future.

[krnl]

Thanks for all the great input everyone. I have registered a total of eight domains for this effort. The main angle of the site is for a PHPBB forum at this time. So, I'll be using .net as the main and I'll redirect everything else to it for now. This will help with the "catch-all" .com that browsers add when a TLD is absent from a user's address bar.

Maybe I'll swing by and introduce it to everyone when it goes live.

Thanks again for your feedback!

[deepsand]

Good luck. And, if the content is in any way related to the fare here, do give us a link when it's ready.

[godivarides]

In 2001 when pondering this exact scenario with all the . e x t e n s i o n s and name configurations, it added up to costly registration fees and maintenance fees.

As a result, I selected "dot com" as most have already stated - it is primary and preferred.

Next, I filed for a trademark, once confirmed or registered ~ 1 year, it is protected and renewed every 10 or 15 years (?).

1. conduct search to see if a TM exists or has been filed (check USPTO I believe)
2. submit registration paperwork - wait for review
3. Speak with a Patent, TradeMark or IP attorney - it is money well spent.

IF your ™ is issued, or confirmed ® you can protect your name from being registered with the other dot extensions without registering them - but you would have to be vigilent in checking or advising the registeries of your ®.

good luck!

[deepsand]

Originally Posted by godivarides

IF your ™ is issued, or confirmed ® you can protect your name from being registered with the other dot extensions without registering them - but you would have to be vigilent in checking or advising the registeries of your ®.

True; but, which is the easier, quicker & less costly method of both obtaining protection & defending against future assaults?

[thai_guy]

I see you have made your decision and I think multiple domains is a wise choice, yes it is cheap and you can let them drop in the future if you should decide .com and .net are adequate (which has been the case with me in the past).

We have a client that went with .net only (started her site in 2000). She never thought to grab .com and now her main competitor is hername.com. They believe a lot of 'mis-spelled' traffic reached the competition site and it is making her crazy with frustration. She has talk to lawyers and they say that she has strong grounds but will be costly and no guarantees. I am not clear on all the details so won't tell any stories out of school here.

For domain registration I want counter the vote for GoDaddy with a strong vote for Name.com. Name.com is much more intuitive/professional, far less commercial, and MUCH easier control panel and navigation. I just moved more than 150 domains from GoDaddy to Name. Nothing personal against GoDaddy, they are just too flashy and aggressive on the sales.

Cheers from Chiang Mai...

[confettiguru]

Originally Posted by deepsand

True; but, which is the easier, quicker & less costly method of both obtaining protection & defending against future assaults?

1. I agree, register all three extensions. The peace of mind you get for under $10.00 a year is worth it.
2. Register the main extension for 10 years or more. Trust me, the time goes fast and it's ridiculously cheap. Google aside, it's prudent.
3. When in doubt, always start with .com.

My two cents!
Linda

[godivarides]

Originally Posted by deepsand

True; but, which is the easier, quicker & less costly method of both obtaining protection & defending against future assaults?

It goes without saying, if you have the cash - knock yourself out and register all.

However, from a strategic and financial perspective the ® provides extra-ordinary coverage, that protects your name, brand and investment.
That's what part of the original question was and this is what I too have reviewed.

AMEX a few years ago forgot to renew theirs and it went undiscovered for over a yea.

Bottom line is, whatever your decision: a domain or parking fees or ® you must be vigilent - if you don't pay to renew it - the results are all the same - someone else can take it.

Cheers!

[SEOWebHelp]

What I would do -
get the com for 1 year
get the net for 1 year

What I wouldn't do -

• purchase .org unless I was a non-profit
• purchase .info unless it was a premium name like shoes.info
• purchase .biz unless I was a sales person with a online store
• purchase .name unless I was popular and it was my name
• purchase any domain for 10 years. What if the idea doesn't work out and you decide not to do it after 1-2 years. In 5 years someone could invent a site where domain registration is free. Internet is ever changing and I wouldn't let someone else hold my money for me while I could use that money to help fund my business.
• Buy a trademark name unless your invention or software is going to make lots of money, and I mean millions. But, you do what you want. Just my opinion.

[simonm]

I would only register multiple TLDs to stop somebody else getting them. For SEO, (imho) your inbound links are best going to a single domain.

With regard to copyright, unless you are registering a clear and totally original company name, don't rely too much on protection of the 'name'. Even then, its unlikely that you can protect it.

Two real cases from two clients, both creating new companies, both neglecting to check availability online, in these cases calling themselves Swan Group and True Energy. Just like many other's!

[BluePlanet]

Last message is a bit muddled.

Copyrights do NOT protect names, that is why there are trademarks and servicemarks. I thought that was already clear.

A copyright will protect the content of the site and registering it provides greater protection and recovery.

Depending upon the nature of a site, and other factors, one thing alot of people overlook are STATE registered trademarks. Some states are only $10, though most are $50 to $100 or so. This gives you the option of defending a trademark in a state court rather than federal. Sometimes domain names are not considered used in interstate commerce, you usually need a bit more than that, like at least printing it on packaging that is shipped in interstate commerce. Of course, this is where a trademark attorney comes in real handy.

Big companies often have federal and state registrations. You can of course bring the state causes of action in the federal trademark case too. It can help.

As for your clients... morons. They really should have talked to an attorney or done some research first. They are just asking for trouble and a befuddled identity.

[tombstoneweb]

My 2 cents,

Register all three (.com .org .net) and concentrate on the .com while redirecting the others to the .com.

[innominds]

I think it is better to register all the three TLDs (mainly .com, .net .org) for a minimum of 3 years and concentrate on one.

[deepsand]

Originally Posted by BluePlanet

Depending upon the nature of a site, and other factors, one thing alot of people overlook are STATE registered trademarks. Some states are only $10, though most are $50 to $100 or so. This gives you the option of defending a trademark in a state court rather than federal.

An excellent point; and, quite correct in that State protections are frequently overlooked.

As for my earlier reply to you, I should perhaps clarify by way of pointing out that I was not dismissing the value of Trademarks, Servicemarks, etal.. Rather, it is my position that one should first establish de facto ownership of the DNs to be protected, and then address the matter of de jure ownership as warranted.

[BluePlanet]

I of course agree that registering the domains that will represent and thus protect your brand is the first step. That is exactly what I do after extensive research to make certain there are no conflicts.

One other piece of advice to be legal. Most states require that all DBA's be registered. Some might be at the county level still, but most are at the state level, such as here in Florida.

If you are doing business in a name other than your own, it must be registered as a DBA. I for instance have a Florida corporation, but do business in several names, so they are all registered with the Secretary of State as DBA's.

In Florida it is a criminal offense to conduct business with a DBA that is not registered. Check in your state what the requirements are.

[Natural Weight Loss]

Can any kind of site use a info or org tld? Sometimes when I register a new domain I want to use a info or org tld, but I'm not sure if that's ok for a commercial site.

[deepsand]

Yes, you can; in fact, many site owners register their DN under several or all of the major TLDs, so as to prevent others from using them.

[Natural Weight Loss]

Are there any variations of a dn that you should only use with com or net and not with org or info? Com or net tld's have every kind of dn out there. Another way to ask is, can info or org tld's be used with any dn just like com or net, or are there some guidelines on when you can, should, or should not use them with dn's?

[deepsand]

No true guidelines here, only that most people are more familiar with the com extension than the others, and are therefore more likely to type that one when they aren't sure of the correct one. Additionally, many use various portals' tool bars, and are in the habit of using the tool bar's search field rather than the Address/Navigation bar, with the result that they're sometimes offered a choice of DNs to go to.

Where possible, I recommend registering com, net, org & biz, choosing the most appropriate one for active use, with the others parked & forwarded to the active one.

[Feydakin]

I used to do the same thing.. Not so much any more.. I've found that the people that tend to buy the .net .org etc after a .com has been built are in it hoping to either sell it to the .com owner or try to live off of the type in traffic.. If you build a quality .com site it should always outrank a squater with a holding page.. In that case I recommend getting name variations over multiple TLDs..

Pick up the plural, and common mispellings if you can.. All .com.. Then, if you still have money left that you want to blow, the remaining TLDs can be useful..

All this assumes that you have no use for the .net etc.. Many companies buy the .com for their public commercial use and the .net for their internal use, or like companies like comcast, .com for themselves, and .net for customers..

[deepsand]

While I do concur re. outranking squatters in the organic listings, such does not necessarily follow with regards to other forms of presentation, such as PPC ads. And, for commercial sites, paid advertising is frequently not merely more effective than a reliance on organic placement, but, owing to high degrees of competition, absolutely necessary in order to gain visibility.

For example, within the secondary market for tickets for entertainment events, there are literally thousands of brokers. And, while a minority have web sites, with the majority consigned to doing broker-to-broker business via various ASPs' publishing systems, only a fraction of those who have thriving sites can and do appear on the 1st page of organic listings. Those that succeed best rely on paid advertising in general, and PPC in particular.

With paid advertising, it is quite easy for another to trade off the brand of another by using an extension that went unclaimed by the rightful owner of the brand. And, while it may be relatively easy in principle to legally wrest that extension from the impostor, in practice such is not nearly so inexpensive as is registering the additional extension(s) immediately. With registrations running under $10/yr., buying the additional extensions can be very cheap insurance indeed.

This is not to say that such is always the case. If one is in a market sector for which there is relatively little competition, and/or where a would be impostor faces a steep and costly barrier to entry, such that there is a relatively low probability of another making such an attempt, then there may be little to no need for taking such a precaution.