How important is a domain name?

[RMK7SledHead]

Looking to start a website/product line. The domain name that is identical to the product name is owned, but undeveloped. The guy bought it, then decided to use a different domain, BUT, he has continued to renew the other domain...

So, the domain he wants is also for sale for $1250. He basically wants $1250 for the domain I want, so he can get his for free...

The .net of the domain I want is available, I just don't feel that a .net is as good as the .com though.

What's y'all's take? $1250 too much for a domain? Would take at least a year to make that back in product sales I feel (first year will be slow). However, maybe not. I feel that the domain should match the product name exactly too.

Basically I'm either buying the .com for $1250, or the .net for $20. What say you?

 

[800switch]

had the same problem with my car club web site but there are always different ways to spell the product for a domain name
add a hyphen or such
don't give the person the satisfaction of ripping you off
just my .o2
example gigabyte the motherboard co.
their website is giga-byte
people still get there

 

[CatWoman]

I'd go with .net. Maybe when he sees he isn't going to get what he wants, he'll just let it go. If not...people can still find their way to you.

 

[MARV1]

Go with the .net domain. Domain names are bought up just to have them and then someone else comes along and wants it and ends up buying it for more then they really have to.

 

[sledfreak89]

.com is ideal but its all about your SEO. (Search Engine Optimization). If the search engines can find your website then its all good. If you need any help, PM me, i have a lot of friends that do SEO's and build websites for a living that let me in on some secrets...

-Matt

 

[hypnotoad]

i don't think .com is worth the $1250 that he wants for it. may we ask what you may be selling?

 

[christopher]

Its all a matter of HOW you will be driving people to your new site.
If the majority of your customers will be coming to your site as a result of direct solicitation that has an embedded LINK in it, then the final address doesn't matter at all.

If on the other hand, your expecting people to come to your site by directly entering in your URL, the simplicity of your address will be PARAMOUNT.

 

[sp_20022006]

I think you would be ok with .net maybe just stress the .net a little more so people have to do less searching, I sure countrycat.net does just fine with .net it might take a little bit but if you have a good product people with find it.

 

[RMK7SledHead]

The product(s) will be a lifestyle brand, based around a logo featuring the product name, if that makes sense. Easily recognizable, modifiable, and open to interpretation for what it means to you personally...

Don't worry, it will be advertised on this site (and is originally based in the snowmobiling community, but hopefully will catch on with others).

I'm feeling either the dash - for the name, or the .net. My partners don't really like the .net though, claiming it's "gay"... lol. We just can't justify the $1250 for the domain right now though. $500 I wouldn't bash an eye at, but $1250 is a lot.

 

[sledfreak89]

Tell the guy with the domain name thats all your willing to pay. Afterall, how many many people are going to come to this guy willing to buy his domain name?

 

[JSCC]

The product(s) will be a lifestyle brand, based around a logo featuring the product name, if that makes sense. Easily recognizable, modifiable, and open to interpretation for what it means to you personally...

Don't worry, it will be advertised on this site (and is originally based in the snowmobiling community, but hopefully will catch on with others).

I'm feeling either the dash - for the name, or the .net. My partners don't really like the .net though, claiming it's "gay"... lol. We just can't justify the $1250 for the domain right now though. $500 I wouldn't bash an eye at, but $1250 is a lot.

I am going through this exact thing right now. I can get the domain in a .com if I use the dash but .net if not.
I think the dash will cause more grief than the .net personally......?

 

[Mike562]

For sure .com

If this is a business you expect to make your living off of then a 1200.00 investment seems like a very small price to pay. Actually if it where me i would buy both and point them both to the .com address. Also, if your business is a huge success than the .com is going to cost a lot more in the future.