.com or .net, is there a difference?

[JodiJean]

ok, here's my dilema, my business name is Jocole (registered and everything legally) but jocole.com is already taken (some stupid history teacher named john cole, DANG!)  anyways, but jocole.net is available.  does that bother you when you have to type in .net instead of the more common .com?  or as .net is becoming more and more common, does it not matter?  i seriously am having drama about this.  i dont want to make my url too long, like customjocole.com or anything . . . so i am at a loss.  what do you craftistas think about this problem? is it a problem, am i over-reacting?  or is it a valid point, what would you do in my shoes?

[Freaky_Styler]

I don't think its a problem at all.  These days, the proper endings are not used for websites anyway.  I mean, .com is meant for commercial but its used for personal sites anyway.  .net is the same length as well so it isn't as if the customers are typing more, i say go for it

[JodiJean]

i mean do you think about it, normally i just remember the first part of the url, as in this case "jocole" and would normally type in .com (b/c that is the most common ending) and then it would take me to the wrong site, do you get what i am saying? is it confusing to ask my customers to remember the ".net"?

[badkarma_detroit]

the majority of your customers are going to get to your site in a couple ways
off your business cards (they'll type in whatever they see .net is not an issue)
from a search engine (they'll go wherever the link takes them
(and then hopefully bookmark it -again .net is not an issue)

i find the only problems you run into is when someone is emailing you...they almost always will try to email you @ a .com address.  i agree that a simple memorable name is more important than the .com extension. I would advise to bold out the .net or .biz or .us on your business cards though.


-good luck!
john