Ecommerce shop: use .ie when .com is out there?

Tipp man running

Hi There,

Currently developing an ecommerce shop for plumbing supplies. I have found a name i like and all the domains are available such as .ie and .co.uk etc except the .com. Checking the web i can't see the .com version at all so I'm pretty sure its parked up. Question is should I proceed and buy the .ie, get the designers working on the site, in the hope that whoever has the .com never uses it. For the record its showing up to be registered to a network solutions company, one of those company that owns premium names and gives hosting etc.

Also if anyone has a good idea for a plumbing supplies online shop name I'd love to hear it. From an SEO point of view all the good ones seem to be long gone.

Kind regards for any replies......Tipp man

Zonua

Hi Tipp Man, personally I would choose a domain with both the ".com" available as well, because the ".com" domain is just so widely used, and potential customers may search for "Plumbing Supplies" and end up on www.plumbingsupplies.com instead of your site, www.plumbingsupplies.ie

Even if the domain isn't in use at the moment, it doesn't stop someone using it in the future - maybe it was even bought last week, for use soon!

If your business really takes off, and the business name becomes really well known, a competitor could use the ".com" version, and potential visitors looking for you could unwittingly end up there.

For my own site, I bought the ".com" and ".ie" versions, I simply have the ".com" rerouting to the ".ie" site.

MrMatisse

Get em both if you can

Chet Zar

Try contact the hosting company and see if it's for sale - as mentioned it's good to have them both. However, if it proves tricky/expensive and you don't plan to export from Ireland (or if you are just going to do Ireland and UK) then the .ie and .co.uk is all you really need anyway.

TheCostumeShop.ie: Ronan

Go for it, the .com will likely be aimed at the US where it has most value and therefore not rank well in Ireland. For this product it's all about the ie's in my opinion.

mneylon

If you've no intentions of ever expanding outside the Irish / UK market then stick with the .ie and grab the co.uk as well.

If you are planning to expand outside Ireland / UK you should try to acquire the .com

If you want to acquire the .com don't try doing it yourself and don't contact the hosting provider. Use an acquisition agent. Chances are they might know the domain holder and if they don't they'll know how to get the domain at the best price based on a realistic value.

91011

One of my stores is a .ie, someone else has the .co.uk and someone else has the .com

If you search for the product in Ireland, I always come up first whereas the .co.uk & .com don't appear in the first few pages.

Also, I always prefer to buy from a .ie and it just has that image of being safer.

Alos from a seo point of view, a .ie hosted in Ireland will get ahead of a .co.uk / .com

btw - a well priced plumbing supply business is needed!!!

Tipp man running

Thanks very much for all the replies, gives me plenty of food for thought. I've had a look around for another name but think i'll go with my original idea. Because of the nature of the business it will be solely aimed at Ireland to be honest as plumbing fittings are different abroad, we're the only country to still use the imperial system.

Must register the business name with CRO straight away and get onto Blacknight and book it. Point of sale will be the price. I've sold to the trade/retail for a lot of years in my previous employment, now I'll be selling retail at trade prices from the site.

Tipp Man..

91011

Tipp man running wrote: »

I've sold to the trade/retail for a lot of years in my previous employment, now I'll be selling retail at trade prices from the site.

Tipp Man..

hurrah!

do post a link when its up and running.