Need your opinion: which domain should I use for the blog?

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Need your opinion: which domain should I use for the blog?

Reader new to my blog might have wondered why blog lives in a .NZ domain: to make a long story short, it’s because when I started my blog I was so excited about my relocation to New Zealand that I registered a .NZ domain.

Then I came back to Italy, and started to work in Milano. Last autumn I had the chance to go back to New Zealand again, but at the same time the offer to work for an European Institution arrived. And then my .net.nz domain didn't make sense any more. And because it seems like I've a pretty good record in changing countries, I also want to change the domain of my blog to something that won’t become obsolete with my next move.

So I'm here, asking to you, all my dear readers, on opinion on the first-level domain that my blog should have. The options I thought of are:

CodeClimber.NET.NZ - let it be... changing domain is a big problem with SEO and with the brand of your blog
CodeClimber.IT - Like it or not, I'm Italian, and that will never change
CodeClimber.NET - this is the most similar to my current domain, and since I'm talking about .NET...
CodeClimber.COM - this is the main and most respected first-level domain
CodeClimber.EU - I feel more European than Italian, if I change country again I might probably stay in the continent, and I'm working for the EU

So, now time to vote:

If you don't see the voting gadget, you can vote on a stand-alone page Thinking about changing the geographic part of my codeclimber blog's domain: what do you think?

Also, please, write a comment to tell me why you prefer a domain to another. Thank you

domain, poll

posted on Wednesday, April 28, 2010 11:50 PM

Comments on this entry:

# re: Need your opinion: which domain should I use for the blog?

Left by Mahdi Taghizadeh at 4/29/2010 8:04 AM

I'm a big fan of first name as domain (This is the reason my website is mahdi.mp!). I checked and simone.ws is available to register and I think it's cool because it's easy to remember too ;-)

# re: Need your opinion: which domain should I use for the blog?

Left by Simone at 4/29/2010 9:21 AM

I'd love to keep my current brand: changing to something other then CodeClimber will be a big branding change... and people know me as CodeClimber :)

# re: Need your opinion: which domain should I use for the blog?

Left by Travis Illig at 4/29/2010 4:55 PM

If you do end up changing it, don't forget to set up a redirect to send old domain links to the new domain.

Of course, if you change it, it's SEO nightmares. I considered changing my site from paraesthesia.com to travisillig.com (easier for folks to remember, etc.) and decided against it due to the SEO thing.

# re: Need your opinion: which domain should I use for the blog?

Left by Simone at 4/29/2010 4:59 PM

Yep.
I need to send 301 redirect from the old domain to the new one... hopefully Google will not punish me badly :)
Simone

# re: Need your opinion: which domain should I use for the blog?

Left by Phil Scott at 4/29/2010 6:42 PM

Hey Simone, when it comes to SEO having the .it domain might be better depending on what your goals may be. If you are hoping to be found by more italians, Google will direct far more traffic to your site if you have a .it or .eu domain if people are searching from a localized google.

On the other hand, if you are worried about people all over the world finding you then obviously the domain name switch would impact you negatively on that front. Liberal use of 301s could help on that front though

# re: Need your opinion: which domain should I use for the blog?

Left by Simone at 4/29/2010 7:02 PM

Thank you for your opinion.

I don't care about being found by Italians, as the blog is in English and I write for a global audience....
anyway, I think that I'll go with the .NET domain