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.net versus .us

how are they viewed outside the United States?

         

lorax

1:57 am on Nov 16, 2002 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member Top Contributors Of The Month



I'm working out the details for a new website venture and one of my partners and I disagree on which TLD to use for branding. My partner says .net and I say .us. The .com version is available and we will buy that soon (to catch those who automatically to typing it instead). What are your thoughts?

korkus2000

2:58 am on Nov 16, 2002 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member



Depends on the focus. If it is going to be a high tech website or offer blogging or other user content abilities I would say .net. Almost any other US focused site I would say .us.

lorax

6:48 am on Nov 16, 2002 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member Top Contributors Of The Month



korkus2000,
Well that's part of the issue - it's not a US focused site. The topic is practiced in nearly every country and each one is very patriotic when it comes to this topic.

CHC

10:38 am on Nov 16, 2002 (gmt 0)

10+ Year Member



If "each (country) is very patriotic when it comes to this topic." then that totally rules out the .us tld.

This might come as a surprise to some of the Stars and Stripes waving Stateside members on the board, but not everyone on this Earth loves the USA. You want to be seen to be totally non country specific with your branding and therfore a .net or particularly a .com would be highly preferable.

No one likes any domain more than that of their own country. I would suggest that you use the local domnain for each country that you are marketing to and have a "localised" version of the site's front page to specifically appeal to each country's nationalistic feelings. This would also give one an advantage in that country's search engines, as many country specific engines give heavy precedence to sites utilising their particular cctld, if not actually excluding any site that doesn't use it.

korkus2000

1:22 pm on Nov 16, 2002 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member



I would go .net definitely. I have had great success branding .net domains.

IanTurner

2:21 pm on Nov 16, 2002 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Administrator 10+ Year Member Top Contributors Of The Month



Depends on what the market sector is

.net is seen as being more techie focused

.org is for global organisations

.info is for informational sites

Personally I would look at .info if your target market is non-techie.

lorax

3:21 pm on Nov 16, 2002 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member Top Contributors Of The Month



CHC
This might come as a surprise to some of the Stars and Stripes waving Stateside members

LOL - no surprize here. While I'm guilty of thinking in terms of the US marketplace often (but not always) when I interact with folks on this Board, I do try to keep in mind there are other countries represented here. I expect/hope that when a topic like this comes up, and I forget I'm a member of a global community, I get a gentle reminder!

No one likes any domain more than that of their own country.

Understood and is one of the approaches I was after by choosing the .us TLD. If we begin here in the US then let's brand it for US audiences and then if we're lucky enough to be able to market to other countries, then puchase appropriate TLDs for those efforts. This allows us to play into the patriotism behind the topic.

rober62

2:57 pm on Nov 18, 2002 (gmt 0)

10+ Year Member



Hello all.
CHC:
This would also give one an advantage in that country's search engines, as many country specific engines give heavy precedence to sites utilising their particular cctld

Would you care expanding? I couldn't find any informnation/research on the advantages of cctld.

Thanks.

xbase234

5:56 pm on Nov 19, 2002 (gmt 0)

10+ Year Member



This is a no brainer - if the .com is available and you will buy it soon, by all means, use it.

If you have to choose between .net and .us, go with .net.

dauction

7:46 pm on Nov 19, 2002 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member



lorax,

you may very well want to consider .US
Congress just approved Kids.US!

[boston.internet.com...]

The president is expected to sign it into law on Thursady.

.US has less to about "patriotism" than owning an domain with an address that represents the largest free market in the world. A lot of asian company's (with US presence) are registering them also.

It does not limit you in any possible way.. if it was .TV then yes, thats limiting but having your business reflect an US address is a major plus!

2nd with kids.us being implemented you will see millions of american kids immediately associate .US with the internet.. they will be "imprinted" with .US the same way we were imprinted associating .com ..

I think from a marketing stand point it represents a fresh vital company ..unlike the old stogie .com! or .net which everyone still assciates with "2nd best"

web_india

8:00 pm on Nov 19, 2002 (gmt 0)

10+ Year Member



If you are not going for .com, then .net sounds better