worthy post Sys..
yes the .com is the 'common' generic thought in the mainstream of consumers minds.. when they have
a) heard an ad on the radio
b) seen something in print
* their natural 1st reaction is to click to the .com
your right.
i've always said the same.. as well.
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however... over time, i've grown to realize that
a) if an net biz is not planning on doing much branding outside of just internet search engine traffic..
then the fact is..
that
b) an .net can rank as well, if not higher in the Search Engine listings as a .com
* so, my thinking is that if an .net / network service provider was plannign to solely generate visitors/customers & revenue solely from the search engines..
then.. an .net won't hurt them.. as long as they are listed well.
Majority of online biz's IMO.. do not spend excess ad dollars in offline media/promotional campaignes...
i could be wrong.. but.. i believe, if they can generate the biz from online efforts.. with good engine rank placement.. then, they don't have to resort to offline marketing..
Personally, i believe it's to any large company's advantage to capture both the .com & .net extensions in their busines prefix name... it's just safe protection..
Many.. many hosting company's choose a .net over a .com when the reg' their company name.
They are networks...
However.. if i were buying a .net for a network / hosting service provider type biz.. i would first do my research on what's going on with the .com site of that name..
Certainly no one want's to loose traffic to a .com
But if a .net has the power in search engine rank.. over the .com..
then it's a case where the .net gains the traffic over the .com.
Once a network gains a client.. ie: hosting.. etc..
That client knows that the network is a .net
They've already signed for hosting svc's.. and I don't see this customer slippN over too the .com & moving hosting or whatever.. I think they'll know to go back home to thier .net service provider.