Does a Domain matter

Does a Domain matter!

Does having a real domain boost your site in the search engines. And whats the difference between a .co.nr domain and a .co.uk domain. They look the same and work the same. So whats the point of buying a domain when you can get one for free.

Apparently it does. There are levels of domains and .com is top level. If you can't get one of them get a .net, .org or .biz. I think they are the top level. The shorter the better.

I would class a .co.uk as a better option than .co.nr.

I have a couple .com, .co.nz, .net and a .geek.nz (believe it or not). The hardest one to do anything with is of course the .geek.nz. There are places I can't list the .geek.nz one, because it is not a top level domain. I bought it when I was fresh and starting out and hoped people would look at it a wonder, then click. But listing it in most places is a hassle.

Unless you have the best content out there, a free domain is going to be overlooked by search engines, same as a free website, as a serious, online forever website.

A domain name should be short(shorter the better), easy to remember, recognize, and spell. All of which I have done wrong, because i was learning and didn't have a clue.

A domain name is worth its weight in gold. Its one of the most important things you can do for your website. A website about pink cadilacs and having a domain name "blueray.co.nr" just won't be good for the website. That name has nothing to do with the content.

You can also be penalised for registering your domain for 1 year, that too is not taken seriously by search engines. They like ones that are registered for something like 5 years. Tells them you are here to stay, or at least are going to be there for some length of time..

I havn't spent much time on domains. I stuffed up when I started out and are stuck with the ones I have, because changing my domains would be like starting again, search engine wise.

Registering a domain can be cheap really. Best to go buy one.

Just a little dig... like everything else, buy American. Back in 1970(or whenever) they were giving out domain extensions. Americans got the .com, New Zealand took .co.nz, Britain took .co.uk and blah blah blah. Monopoly says get a .com(top level) extension.

In saying that trademe.co.nz(the website) got sold for $700million + extras, which is a site like ebay.com.

So if you buy a domain name its yours for life?

Nope if you fail to pay the renewal fees it goes to anyone who may have backordered your name. The domain is only yours as long as you pay for it.

Costs anything from $10 to thousands $$.
It works like personal number plates, its yours while you register it, lol www.sedo.com