value of a .name extension

#1

Hi I have a new online business selling astrology reports.I have
identified the keyword terms "astrology reports" as the number 1
keyword focus for me.I have found that the I can purchase the domain
name: www.astrologyreports.name for very cheap. What is the value of
a .name url on Google vs. a .com ?

Also, I am considering the domain name www.astrologyreports.net for a
fair sum of money. What is the value of of .net extension vs. a .com?

#2

On Thu, 24 Apr 2008 16:31:10 -0700 (PDT), pixiemoxiegirl (AT) hotmail (DOT) com
wrote:

Quote:

Hi I have a new online business selling astrology reports.I have
identified the keyword terms "astrology reports" as the number 1
keyword focus for me.I have found that the I can purchase the domain
name: www.astrologyreports.name for very cheap. What is the value of
a .name url on Google vs. a .com ?

Also, I am considering the domain name www.astrologyreports.net for a
fair sum of money. What is the value of of .net extension vs. a .com?

Aren't .name for names?

I think anything outside the normal range of endings (.com and .co.uk
for UK) looks bizarre.

In fact they should have .madeup and .silly
--
http://www.freedeliveryuk.co.uk
http://www.holidayunder100.co.uk

#3

pixiemoxiegirl (AT) hotmail (DOT) com wrote:

Quote:

Hi I have a new online business selling astrology reports.I have
identified the keyword terms "astrology reports" as the number 1
keyword focus for me.I have found that the I can purchase the domain
name: www.astrologyreports.name for very cheap. What is the value of
a .name url on Google vs. a .com ?
Also, I am considering the domain name www.astrologyreports.net for a
fair sum of money. What is the value of of .net extension vs. a .com?

astrologyreports and astrology reports are not quite the same thing.

'name' is for personal sites, and there may be some disadvantages in
misusing that domain.

In general, .com trumps all - so don't buy a domain if you cannot get
the .com

I'm sure there's plenty of other possibilities for your site; brainstorm
with a friend or two and bottle of wine, then - the following day -
arrange the names you came up with in order of preference and start
trying to buy.

You'll be amazed - I've never got beyond three searches.

Good Luck, and "Cheers!"

Andrew

#4

On Thu, 24 Apr 2008 16:31:10 -0700 (PDT), pixiemoxiegirl (AT) hotmail (DOT) com
wrote:

Quote:

Hi I have a new online business selling astrology reports.I have
identified the keyword terms "astrology reports" as the number 1
keyword focus for me.I have found that the I can purchase the domain
name: www.astrologyreports.name for very cheap. What is the value of
a .name url on Google vs. a .com ?

Also, I am considering the domain name www.astrologyreports.net for a
fair sum of money. What is the value of of .net extension vs. a .com?

People are more likely to assume .com if they can't remember what it
actually is. I never heard of .name. It may well exist though, just to
make money for registrars. They'll be introducing .wonga extensions
next. In .net vs .com .com is better. Values are things you need to be
enquiring after on a domaining forum, not here. If you want us to
answer from an SEO POV, you can SEO a .name just as well as a .com.
BB
--

http://www.kruse.co.uk/
http://www.fat-odin.com/
http://www.here-be-posters.co.uk/

#5

On Apr 24, 6:31*pm, pixiemoxieg... (AT) hotmail (DOT) com wrote:

Quote:

Hi I have a new online business selling astrology reports.I have
identified the keyword terms "astrology reports" as the number 1
keyword focus for me.I have found that the I can purchase the domain
name:www.astrologyreports.namefor very cheap. What is the value of
a .name url *on Google vs. a .com ?

Also, I am considering the domain namewww.astrologyreports.netfor a
fair sum of money. What is the value of of .net extension vs. a .com?

It seems that a lot of people get confused by domain name extensions.
Most TLDNE are logical and self-explanatory.

A chart describing what the top-level domain name extensions (TLDNE)
mean:
http://seowebmarket.com/domain-name-extensions.shtml

I use a .name for personal use ...
http://brettsyverson.name/music/kings-of-rock.shtml

but I sure wouldn't waste my time marketing a .name

Andrew was right on when he wrote "there may be some disadvantages in
misusing that domain (.name for commercial use)" - but Glenlivet on
ice will produce much better results than the wine.

http://www.theglenlivet.com/

#6

On Apr 25, 12:31*am, pixiemoxieg... (AT) hotmail (DOT) com wrote:

Quote:

Hi I have a new online business selling astrology reports.I have
identified the keyword terms "astrology reports" as the number 1
keyword focus for me.I have found that the I can purchase the domain
name:www.astrologyreports.namefor very cheap. What is the value of
a .name url *on Google vs. a .com ?

Also, I am considering the domain name www.astrologyreports.net for a
fair sum of money. What is the value of of .net extension vs. a .com?

.name not a good idea for a business, they are for personal names.

Nothing wrong with a .net domain (not the one above, but generally),
but from an SEO perspective the above is a poor choice because as
Andrew said (but didn't explain in enough detail for the OP to
understand) astrologyreports is not the same as astrology reports to a
search engine.

When Google parses www.astrologyreports.net it sees-

www astrologyreports net

Do people wanting to buy yor product mostly search for the word
astrologyreports because that's what that domain says to Google, it
can't see the words you want it to see (does not see "astrology
reports").

If you use a hyphen (-) as a word separator Google can parse the words
you want it to 'see' in the domain name. This means you want a domain
along the lines of-

www.astrology-reports.tld Since Google sees this as-

www astrology reports tld

See http://www.seo-gold.com/seo-tutorial/domain-name-choice for more
details.

Fortunately there are quite a few options available (.biz for example)
without having to spend a small fortune on a worthless domain like the
one you considered buying above (not worth the registration fee I'm
afraid).

If your UK based even better as the .co.uk is available. Being UK
based I tend to go for .co.uk if I can, they tend to do well in
google.co.uk for me.

David
--
http://www.google-adsense-templates.co.uk/

#7

On Apr 27, 8:04*pm, SEO Dave <seo-d...@search-engine-optimization-
services.co.uk> wrote:

Quote:

When Google parseswww.astrologyreports.netit sees-

www astrologyreports net

Do people wanting to buy yor product mostly search for the word
astrologyreports because that's what that domain says to Google, it
can't see the words you want it to see (does not see "astrology
reports").

If you use a hyphen (-) as a word separator Google can parse the words
you want it to 'see' in the domain name. This means you want a domain
along the lines of-

That is generally correct - WHEN pertaining to text content - NOT
domains ANYMORE.

The recent black-hat tactic of using hyphenated domain names recently
flopped. Those of us that read SEO forums know that many hyphenated
domains recently lost ranks after algorithm updates near the end of
2007.

Quote:

www.astrology-reports.tld Since Google sees this as-

www astrology reports tld

Either way, "astrology-reports" or "astrologyreports" will be BOLDED
in Google SERPs - proving this black-hat technique to be nothing more
than a waste of time and productivity.

By HYPHEN the HYPHEN way HYPHEN, what HYPHEN is HYPHEN your HYPHEN
website?

Quote:

google-adsense-templates.co.uk/

Don't count on black-hat techniques,
if you care about your company's future.

#8

On Apr 28, 3:21*am, "SEOwebMarket.com" <webm... (AT) seowebmarket (DOT) com>
wrote:

Quote:

On Apr 27, 8:04*pm, SEO Dave <seo-d...@search-engine-optimization-

services.co.uk> wrote:
When Google parseswww.astrologyreports.netitsees-

www astrologyreports net

Do people wanting to buy yor product mostly search for the word
astrologyreports because that's what that domain says to Google, it
can't see the words you want it to see (does not see "astrology
reports").

If you use a hyphen (-) as a word separator Google can parse the words
you want it to 'see' in the domain name. This means you want a domain
along the lines of-

That is generally correct - WHEN pertaining to text content - NOT
domains ANYMORE.

The recent black-hat tactic of using hyphenated domain names recently
flopped. Those of us that read SEO forums know that many hyphenated
domains recently lost ranks after algorithm updates near the end of
2007.

www.astrology-reports.tldSince Google sees this as-

www astrology reports tld

Either way, "astrology-reports" or "astrologyreports" will be BOLDED
in Google SERPs - proving this black-hat technique to be nothing more
than a waste of time and productivity.

So your evidence is Google bolds the words in a Google search right?

That's not proof, show me some SERPs that could have ONLY been gained
through non-hyphenated words within a domain name. You have to rule
out those words found within the content and from the anchor text of
incomming links.

You also have to rule out misspellings like

musicR ed

http://www.google.com/search?num=100...ed&btnG=Search

Which Google treats as Music Ed (ignored the R)

http://www.google.com/search?num=100...sic+ed&spell=1

So you have to find a non hyphenated domain name which is made of
multiple words like

bestrockband.tld

which lacks those words in the content (best rock band) and lacks
links using those words as anchor text and Google doesn't treat the
search (best rock band) as a mis spelling.

If you can find that domain listed for a search like this you have
some evidence. I've not seen a search like that yet, though not looked
for a few months so you never know.

Have fun with that little task.

Quote:

By HYPHEN the HYPHEN way HYPHEN, what HYPHEN is HYPHEN your HYPHEN
website?

google-adsense-templates.co.uk/

Don't count on black-hat techniques,
if you care about your company's future.

OMG using a hyphen is blackhat, what next adding content isn't
whitehat, the content should grow all by itself after a liberal
sprinkling of pixie dust :-)

Care to explain-

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...ense+Templates
http://www.google.com/search?num=100...&btnG=Sear ch
http://www.google.com/search?num=100...ogle+templates
http://www.google.com/search?num=100...es&btnG=Search
http://www.google.com/search?num=100...ense+Templates
http://www.google.com/search?num=100...Adsense+Themes

David
--
More blackhat Tom foolery http://www.free-recipes.co.uk/ (over 10K
visitors a day)

#9

SEOwebMarket.com wrote:

Quote:

That is generally correct - WHEN pertaining to text content - NOT
domains ANYMORE.

The recent black-hat tactic of using hyphenated domain names recently
flopped. Those of us that read SEO forums know that many hyphenated
domains recently lost ranks after algorithm updates near the end of
2007.

www.astrology-reports.tld Since Google sees this as-

www astrology reports tld

Not true.
Google can parse nonhyphenated domain names, but can also see the
*difference* between nonhyphenated and hyphenated.

So there's a good chance that the hyphenated will do better, as it is
*exactly* the term that is searched for, so will tend to feature above a
secondary match.

Also there is absolutely nothing black hat, dihonest or cheating about
hyphens; that's fear talking.

But all things in moderation:

Remember Quadrille's Oft-Quoted 14th Law

"More than one hyphen is international shorthand for idiot webmaster;
More than two hyphens is Galaxy-wide shorthand for 'I'd be a spammer if
only I knew how' "

Who's counting? Not me. But it's the look of the thing; would you really
spend money at
http://my-wonderful-domain.info/my-s...ring-file.com?
- http://www.seo2seo.com/articles/quadrilles-law.shtml

Good Luck

Andrew

http://www.seo2seo.com/
http://www.sick-site-syndrome.com/*

*And idiot webmaster ;o)

#10

SEO Dave wrote:

Quote:

OMG using a hyphen is blackhat, what next adding content isn't
whitehat, the content should grow all by itself after a liberal
sprinkling of pixie dust :-)

Don't worry, he's alone in his urban myth.

There's no doubt that the .info brigade have given it a bad name, but
that'ss not quite the same thing.

Remember the days when it was 'cool' to use under_score.com?

As we cannot use spaces%20yet, a hyphen is much more 'natural' - and
readable - thanrunningitallintogether

Tragically, that's still 'kewl' to some folk.

Andrew