Google attitude to .net extensions

.net domains rarely feature in top 20 results

[jimmydubs]

I've noticed that in our industry (recruitment) there are still some domain names freely available which appear to have very good potential. In particular there are an abundance of decent looking .net domains. (eg. jobsinneverland.net - just an example!). However it is clear to me that Google has little regard for .net extensions. Searches using general recruitment-related keywords yield results which are 99% dominated by .com and .co.uk extensions. The question is, will this always be the case, or will Google gradually recognise the less mainstream extensions, and elevate them up the rankings accordingly.

[Napoleon]

Nah..... you're suffering from a healthy paranoia Jimbo. Nothing wrong with that of course, as I share it. However, there is no Google conspiracy against .Net or any other suffix.

I have plenty of weird and wonderful extensions, and all are pretty much on a par as far as Google ranking goes.

[soapystar]

yup..i have .net number one on a 2 million serp..i see no difference..but i do see it for others..like .info

[rfgdxm1]

Google has no bias against extensions. The explanation for what you are seeing is that you are checking commercial SERPs. Businesses on the Net have a strong aversion to using anything but a .com. The reason you don't see that many .nets is that few are using them for what you are searching on.

[EliteWeb]

:D No worries mang I have all my .Net sites at the top, yes even toping the .coms :D Anything is possible its how you go about achieving it. //my fortune cookie of the day

[jimmydubs]

"Businesses on the Net have a strong aversion to using anything but a .com"

Am I right in thinking that this is now a little irrational? Your average B2B customer knows full well that there are now many different extensions available, so just because your business is a .net and not a .com, it shouldn't have much of an adverse affect on branding(especially outside of the USA). Maybe 5 years ago, but surely not now? So, given that G shows no bias towards .coms, is there not a golden opportunity for more enlightened B2B's to grab some 'high potential' .nets, develop them, and do some serious marketing. My guess is that the potential advantages (ie. marketing opportunities around core keywords) outweigh the disadvantages (possible slight dilution of brand).

Make sense?

[rfgdxm1]

The biggest problem with using a non dot com is that is the extension most people try first. There would be no reason to get the .net unless someone else already had the .com. This could mean the competition would get some of your traffic.

[mayor]

Also, if you snap up a great .net URL and start promoting it you might find yourself in trademark infringement hot water the the .com URL owner.