Registering your new domain name - Part 2 of 3
Selecting a host for your new website - Part 3 of 3
What's in a domain name? A lot, in fact. It will become the platform from which you develop the awareness for your product. Your domain name is essentially being co-branded with the product that it will host. Consider that most businesses own their respective domains in the dot.com universe, and many have payed a ransom trying to take possession of what they feel is their right to own. There is tremendous value in a name that is as distinct as the product it represents.
In this article I will explain briefly the method I am familiar with and by no means is it the only method you should consider on your path to choosing the perfect name. This method is less formal than most and leaves the door wide open for you to explore the landscape of domain name theory.
Acquiring the right name may be the easiest part of the start-up process, if you have clearly stated your goals and intentions. Investing just a little bit of time now will really payoff in the future, as good names quickly become someone else's property.
There is a tired old belief which states that all the best names are gone, or out of reach, financially. Don't believe the hype! When it comes to naming a domain, the sky's the limit. While it's true that all single word domains have long been registered, multi-word combination names keep the playing field open. Now, this doesn't mean that just any fancy name will do. It's the right name that will make all the difference in the end.
Follow these 4 simple steps and you will have a domain name worth remembering.
Step 1 - Rediscover the old you
Read through some of your best work. Pick up those dusty old business plans and other communications you've forgotten about and re-read them. Mine them for keywords and phrases that you used to explain your ideas and demonstrate your skills. Many of those old ideas have not changed since you first wrote them. Or if you're new to the name game, visit a website that you admire and take special notice of the language and tone that is used that catches your attention.
Make a list of the words you find most interesting and appealing. Write down synonyms of those words too. Tech mags are a resource rich in language written for nerds. Nature mags...um... never mind. What is your competition doing that you could learn from. The signs are everywhere you look when you're tuned in. Collect a list of words that appeal to you and relate well with the website. The more words the better.
Remember getting whacked with a thesaurus by the English teacher? Use it like a road map to hidden treasure. Thank them by sending them a link to your new website.
Step 2 - Elimination round
Weed out the words that do little to describe your new websites theme. Words that don't match your sites character should be obvious, ditch'em. Just because you like a word, doesn't mean your visitors will. A words meaning can change within a population according to a variety of demographics, so find them and forget them.
Highlight the words that best describe your sites content or purpose. Alphabetize the list for God's sake, your not in kindergarten anymore. Create groups of words that you feel are similar in nature and portray related sentiments. This step should cut your list in half. If you still have 10 words on your list, you've done enough for now.
Step 3 - Shuffle, remix, record. Repeat
Start by arranging words into familiar patterns, then re-arrange them into uncommon strings that you've never used before, like technosnorkle, or electrogiddyup. Less familiar word combos stand a better chance of still being available for registration. It will take some effort to uncover new word combos that deliver a meaning inline with the websites content.
This is the perfect time to crack open a can of Portmanteau. A portmanteau is the result of blending two or more words into one. Such that the new word inherits meaning from all of its parents. This method often produces a more functional word with fewer letters.
(Spanish + English = Spanglish, spoon + fork = spork)
Concatenating syllables that still convey meaning are tricky to combine fluidly, but their performance is golden and their efficiency... legendary. Mash up syllables from different words and record slick combinations before you forget them.
(Eminem, Metallica, Telus, Verizon, Comcast)
Do any mixed words roll off the tongue or fumble when spoken? What image is generated in your mind when you say the new word out loud? Is the new meaning universal or specific to one language or group?
(tech = technology but hydro != hydrogen)
You could just invent a word, but then who would know what it means. A brand new word could fulfill the need if the product it represents is particularly unique. This would enable you to attach a special meaning to it without worry of confusion in the market. However, inventing a new word does not make you it's owner, others could copy it if you don't protect it..
Meaningless words take considerable time and effort to establish in the market, and often prevent shy customers from engaging ideas that reside outside their comfort zone. Note, that many new words have been successfully incorporated in the dot.com universe.
(Bebo, Kijiji, Ebay)
I have found value in new word combos that are derived from older languages, particularly Latin. Latin words when mixed with Ebonics can compound your potential for creative communication.
For instance, new word Synkroma demonstrates creative use of syllabic concatenation and presents little meaning to most readers. Roma is Italian for Rome, a place in Italy. Synk means relation or equivalence and is often spelled with a 'c'. If it has been used somewhere before, it's source is unknown. It has not yet been registered and remains open to interpretation. The website that takes it will give it new meaning and they will be linked forever.
Finalize your list of new words then ask your friends for their impressions on each of them. This will help you to realize why some are confusing or just nonsensical. Their review of your list can provide some much needed criticism that you can use to help nail down the best options. Know the difference before you commit.
Step 4 - Size matters
On the Internets, like in the real world, SIZE does matter! Although in the opposite direction (hint: smaller is better). Your new name should be easy to say and to remember, but mostly it should gravitate towards and revolve around your sites purpose and content.
The worst names confuse and irritate visitors by attracting them to sites with irrelevant content masked behind a name who's meaning does not match well. Like Bing for instance. No thank you, I don't play kids games.
Great word combos can be easily marketed to convey professionalism as well as demonstrate your creative aptitude. Elevate a potential names meaning above it's length in characters and avoid including dashes, that's totally nine-tees.
It would be nice to have a short name but this is no longer possible, as the cache of single words were registered some years ago. Alpha-Numeric combos only do well if already familiar (76ers, 7up).
Abbreviations are unique, but contain very little meaning outside their sphere of influence, with some exceptions.
(NIN, ACDC, GQ)
Domain names are not as unique as they appear. For some people another option is still available if the name that's been chosen is just to good to pass on. A TLD (Top Level Domain - the com in dot.com) other than dot.com may show potential if you can handle being herded into an uncommon domain space.
(myWebsite.cc, newSpotOnline.bs)
ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) regularly upgrades it's domain naming conventions by adding new TLD's to the glossary. Most countries have their very own Internationalized ccTLD like dot.ca for Canada, eh!
Registering a domain name that already exists in the dot.com name space will instantly make you a competitor for potential visitors searching for words included in the name. You could always attempt to buy the domainname.com from its current owner, good luck.
By now you have a canon full of killer names that must be checked to ensure availability. So light the fuse and point to a Registrar that will verify a names status. If a name is available and also ranks high in Google's index, you've scored. But if a name instead produces few results in a search you've won the game. Your new name is unique, legitimate, self-explanatory, and hopefully catchy too.
A good name is like having a sign on your front door, but a great name is like lifting a neon sign to a height that is visible from all directions, above everyone else that does what you do.
Selecting a host for your new website - Part 3 of 3
What's in a domain name? A lot, in fact. It will become the platform from which you develop the awareness for your product. Your domain name is essentially being co-branded with the product that it will host. Consider that most businesses own their respective domains in the dot.com universe, and many have payed a ransom trying to take possession of what they feel is their right to own. There is tremendous value in a name that is as distinct as the product it represents.
In this article I will explain briefly the method I am familiar with and by no means is it the only method you should consider on your path to choosing the perfect name. This method is less formal than most and leaves the door wide open for you to explore the landscape of domain name theory.
Acquiring the right name may be the easiest part of the start-up process, if you have clearly stated your goals and intentions. Investing just a little bit of time now will really payoff in the future, as good names quickly become someone else's property.
There is a tired old belief which states that all the best names are gone, or out of reach, financially. Don't believe the hype! When it comes to naming a domain, the sky's the limit. While it's true that all single word domains have long been registered, multi-word combination names keep the playing field open. Now, this doesn't mean that just any fancy name will do. It's the right name that will make all the difference in the end.
Follow these 4 simple steps and you will have a domain name worth remembering.
Step 1 - Rediscover the old you
Read through some of your best work. Pick up those dusty old business plans and other communications you've forgotten about and re-read them. Mine them for keywords and phrases that you used to explain your ideas and demonstrate your skills. Many of those old ideas have not changed since you first wrote them. Or if you're new to the name game, visit a website that you admire and take special notice of the language and tone that is used that catches your attention.
Make a list of the words you find most interesting and appealing. Write down synonyms of those words too. Tech mags are a resource rich in language written for nerds. Nature mags...um... never mind. What is your competition doing that you could learn from. The signs are everywhere you look when you're tuned in. Collect a list of words that appeal to you and relate well with the website. The more words the better.
Remember getting whacked with a thesaurus by the English teacher? Use it like a road map to hidden treasure. Thank them by sending them a link to your new website.
Step 2 - Elimination round
Weed out the words that do little to describe your new websites theme. Words that don't match your sites character should be obvious, ditch'em. Just because you like a word, doesn't mean your visitors will. A words meaning can change within a population according to a variety of demographics, so find them and forget them.
Highlight the words that best describe your sites content or purpose. Alphabetize the list for God's sake, your not in kindergarten anymore. Create groups of words that you feel are similar in nature and portray related sentiments. This step should cut your list in half. If you still have 10 words on your list, you've done enough for now.
Step 3 - Shuffle, remix, record. Repeat
Start by arranging words into familiar patterns, then re-arrange them into uncommon strings that you've never used before, like technosnorkle, or electrogiddyup. Less familiar word combos stand a better chance of still being available for registration. It will take some effort to uncover new word combos that deliver a meaning inline with the websites content.
This is the perfect time to crack open a can of Portmanteau. A portmanteau is the result of blending two or more words into one. Such that the new word inherits meaning from all of its parents. This method often produces a more functional word with fewer letters.
(Spanish + English = Spanglish, spoon + fork = spork)
Concatenating syllables that still convey meaning are tricky to combine fluidly, but their performance is golden and their efficiency... legendary. Mash up syllables from different words and record slick combinations before you forget them.
(Eminem, Metallica, Telus, Verizon, Comcast)
Do any mixed words roll off the tongue or fumble when spoken? What image is generated in your mind when you say the new word out loud? Is the new meaning universal or specific to one language or group?
(tech = technology but hydro != hydrogen)
You could just invent a word, but then who would know what it means. A brand new word could fulfill the need if the product it represents is particularly unique. This would enable you to attach a special meaning to it without worry of confusion in the market. However, inventing a new word does not make you it's owner, others could copy it if you don't protect it..
Meaningless words take considerable time and effort to establish in the market, and often prevent shy customers from engaging ideas that reside outside their comfort zone. Note, that many new words have been successfully incorporated in the dot.com universe.
(Bebo, Kijiji, Ebay)
I have found value in new word combos that are derived from older languages, particularly Latin. Latin words when mixed with Ebonics can compound your potential for creative communication.
For instance, new word Synkroma demonstrates creative use of syllabic concatenation and presents little meaning to most readers. Roma is Italian for Rome, a place in Italy. Synk means relation or equivalence and is often spelled with a 'c'. If it has been used somewhere before, it's source is unknown. It has not yet been registered and remains open to interpretation. The website that takes it will give it new meaning and they will be linked forever.
Finalize your list of new words then ask your friends for their impressions on each of them. This will help you to realize why some are confusing or just nonsensical. Their review of your list can provide some much needed criticism that you can use to help nail down the best options. Know the difference before you commit.
Step 4 - Size matters
On the Internets, like in the real world, SIZE does matter! Although in the opposite direction (hint: smaller is better). Your new name should be easy to say and to remember, but mostly it should gravitate towards and revolve around your sites purpose and content.
The worst names confuse and irritate visitors by attracting them to sites with irrelevant content masked behind a name who's meaning does not match well. Like Bing for instance. No thank you, I don't play kids games.
Great word combos can be easily marketed to convey professionalism as well as demonstrate your creative aptitude. Elevate a potential names meaning above it's length in characters and avoid including dashes, that's totally nine-tees.
It would be nice to have a short name but this is no longer possible, as the cache of single words were registered some years ago. Alpha-Numeric combos only do well if already familiar (76ers, 7up).
Abbreviations are unique, but contain very little meaning outside their sphere of influence, with some exceptions.
(NIN, ACDC, GQ)
Domain names are not as unique as they appear. For some people another option is still available if the name that's been chosen is just to good to pass on. A TLD (Top Level Domain - the com in dot.com) other than dot.com may show potential if you can handle being herded into an uncommon domain space.
(myWebsite.cc, newSpotOnline.bs)
ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) regularly upgrades it's domain naming conventions by adding new TLD's to the glossary. Most countries have their very own Internationalized ccTLD like dot.ca for Canada, eh!
Registering a domain name that already exists in the dot.com name space will instantly make you a competitor for potential visitors searching for words included in the name. You could always attempt to buy the domainname.com from its current owner, good luck.
By now you have a canon full of killer names that must be checked to ensure availability. So light the fuse and point to a Registrar that will verify a names status. If a name is available and also ranks high in Google's index, you've scored. But if a name instead produces few results in a search you've won the game. Your new name is unique, legitimate, self-explanatory, and hopefully catchy too.
A good name is like having a sign on your front door, but a great name is like lifting a neon sign to a height that is visible from all directions, above everyone else that does what you do.
A short list of popular Registrars would be handy.
ReplyDeleteA link which relates to "ranks high in Google's index" - or does that just reference a search for particular words... I seem to recall an evaluator like this:
https://adwords.google.com/o/Targeting/Explorer?__u=1000000000&__c=1000000000&ideaRequestType=KEYWORD_IDEAS#search.none
which ranks how strong word searches are.