.net or .com

[Cameltoepro]

Hi I have a question. I have a domain that’s a .net That I have had for a while that makes money for me. I have never been able to get the .com of it, as it was owned and parked for the last 10 years. I finally was able to buy it. I know a .com has better traffic then a .net. What should I do with it? I don’t want to lose my organic search traffic to the .net.
1. Just redirect it to my .net?
2. Move everything to the .com?
Thanks

[j3rkules]

Do you know the new domain's history? It coulde be a disaster if you move your old domain to a new domain that has a bad history or a pre-exisiting Google penalty. Consider that a sites age definitely indirectly impacts rankings, so assuming your new domain is clear and have no penalty, you still can loose some rankings.


Read more on this:
Forbes Welcome
Changing Your Domain Name Without Losing Your Rankings
https://moz.com/blog/seo-guide-how-t...y-move-domains

[Cameltoepro]

That is true..so maybe just a redirect?

[gnawledge]

Yeah why not. Or do a mini site explaining your website with the .com and put a big old link to your .net. Write an article about your .net. Get some people to write reviews of it. Put social media links on the .com... Ideas are endless. Whatever helps your business for the better.

[Cameltoepro]

[Denny]

Depends on a few things but I would probably just redirect it.

[rayadp05]

I would put everything on the .com domain and redirect to the .net domain.

[Zen-]

301 the .com to the .net is the least hassle. Setting up the site as .com then redirecting the .net is more hassle, and you will see your rankings bounce about and take time to settle but I guess in the end look better.

[omgt]

"I know a .com has better traffic then a .net."

this is not true, google doesnt see any difference in them, but if 5% of the people coming to your site remembered the site as a .com, when it is a .net (because .com is the default) then that would equate to more than 5% loss of traffic over time because of referrals/recomendations etc - which is why nearly everyone chooses .com

have you any way of contacting people who came to the .net site ?
because the .com would be better as the long term site/business, and redirect from the .net

[DBS.US]

Have the main site on .com
Build a SEO entry page for the .net feeding the .com

[Cameltoepro]

Yes I agree. Make .com main and redirect .net. Thanks