hi
we recently had our domain name running on www.ab-cd.com but due to legal problems we have to shift to a new domain name.

we have following options
www.abcd.net
www.ab-cd.net
www.abcd.info
www.ab-cd.info

What domain name we go for ? are we going to have any problems with SEO or spidering with same ?
we will move from .com to .net or .info

Please reply.

does .net or .com domains differ in search engine ranking or spidering anyway ?

I am confused on this ?

If I were to choose a domain name, I would go for abcd.net. I don't believe major search engines have a bias towards any TLD.

All of the domain names you have listed are currently registered. How are you planning to aquire one of these domain names?

i gave an example, our real domain names are different

our business was built up on ab-cd.com (I am using example domain names)
but the domain name is taken away by the owner who is not willing to return the ownership back again. he started his own business on that domain name

we only have other alternatives like
www.abcd.net
www.ab-cd.net
www.abcd.info
www.ab-cd.info

we will have to built up entire traffic back again on those TLDs, so we were concerned which will help most to get the entire traffic back again
is there any eta for getting the traffic back properly ? after we finish with backlinks updates ?

Sorry to hear about your domain hijacking

I would go with abcd.net. Its probally not any better for search engines but it is easyer to remember, depending on what the actual name is of course.

AFAIK keywords in the domain are pretty much worthless for SEO purposes. Just like the meta tags, they've been abused too much by the webmasters. So my vote goes for a dash less domain, preferably .com. A .com domain will have a bigger value if you decide to sell the site at a later time.

Just my opinion on the matter.

I agree. Beside your visitor might attract to the .com one if you still use your .net.

IMHO try to find a new .com one without dash in your domain name, better if you buy the .net one also if available.

It's not easy to have your traffic back, but you can email your member (if you have membership feature) for it and try to modify/resubmit your site to any major search engine asap.

I agree with most posts above. Choose dashless domain, and domain extension is nothing to do with SEO