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New idea, .com unavailable

by Young Hunter
24 replies
I had an idea that I would like to pursue, however the .com domain is unavailable, but it seems the rights to it will be expiring soon. Also the site that is there now hasn't been updated for a year, so it seems the owner is uninterested. I put a bid in on it, but I have no idea how that will work out. My question is this: should I start this project using a different domain? And then use the .com one as well if I am able to secure it? Other versions are taken as well, such as .org .net and .biz, but there are some more obscure availabilities, with the least such being .info. Thanks for your time.
#domain #idea #unavailable
  • Profile picture of the author Joey Mason
    Scale from 1-100, how important is the domain name to the overall concept?
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    • Profile picture of the author Tkyles1009
      Well, I would say alter the name slightly or either go for .org or .net unless the name is absolutely detrimental to the product's success

      Good Luck
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  • Profile picture of the author Young Hunter
    I'd say 67.3 or so. I'd say centrally important to long term success. Not impossible without, but a good boost overall.
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    • Profile picture of the author Tkyles1009
      Okay, with that being said in my honest opinion the site name you choose definitely matters but if the name is changed ever so slightly I don't think it would change the outcome.

      I think this way simply because quality speaks for itself. If your product is quality and you're good at generating traffic to the page you should have no problem at all with a altered name.
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    • Profile picture of the author Joey Mason
      Originally Posted by Young Hunter View Post

      I'd say 67.3 or so. I'd say centrally important to long term success. Not impossible without, but a good boost overall.
      Can I give it to you straight? I'm not an SEO guy, which I realize is probably contrary to most other people on this board. But didn't Google diminish the value of direct match domains? Which would make it less important to be exact.

      Also, I would argue that, the more important a domain is to your money making idea, the less attractive that idea is. In my humble opinion.

      Thoughts?
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      • Profile picture of the author ExquisiteMedia
        Originally Posted by Joey Mason View Post

        Can I give it to you straight? I'm not an SEO guy, which I realize is probably contrary to most other people on this board. But didn't Google diminish the value of direct match domains? Which would make it less important to be exact.

        Also, I would argue that, the more important a domain is to your money making idea, the less attractive that idea is. In my humble opinion.

        Thoughts?
        They still work if done right.

        Source: My experience as an SEO lover and witnessing this before my very own eyes.
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        The best copy on WF is right here....
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        • Profile picture of the author Joey Mason
          Originally Posted by ExquisiteMedia View Post

          They still work if done right.

          Source: My experience as an SEO lover and witnessing this before my very own eyes.
          I believe it, I'm not an SEO. Could you talk a little more about what being "done right" means?
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      • Profile picture of the author Young Hunter
        Originally Posted by Joey Mason View Post

        Can I give it to you straight? I'm not an SEO guy, which I realize is probably contrary to most other people on this board. But didn't Google diminish the value of direct match domains? Which would make it less important to be exact.

        Also, I would argue that, the more important a domain is to your money making idea, the less attractive that idea is. In my humble opinion.

        Thoughts?
        Always prefer things straight up. It's actually more of a branding thing than a concern over SEO and Google. After playing with it a bit there's a couple decent words I can add to the title that are available as domains. Not as catchy though.
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        • Profile picture of the author Joey Mason
          Originally Posted by Young Hunter View Post

          Always prefer things straight up. It's actually more of a branding thing than a concern over SEO and Google. After playing with it a bit there's a couple decent words I can add to the title that are available as domains. Not as catchy though.
          I definitely understand. Tell me a little bit more about your idea (that you are comfortable with).

          Marketing strategy and branding is my forte. Typically, a catchy name is only a small fraction of what establishes a brand. It has more to do with the positioning and perceived value of your offering. I would be interested to hear more.
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          • Profile picture of the author Young Hunter
            Originally Posted by Joey Mason View Post

            I definitely understand. Tell me a little bit more about your idea (that you are comfortable with).

            Marketing strategy and branding is my forte. Typically, a catchy name is only a small fraction of what establishes a brand. It has more to do with the positioning and perceived value of your offering. I would be interested to hear more.
            You could almost call it a broad niche (contradictory I know). It's a popular quality that cross sections many types of products. Despite this, Google doesn't bring up any sites marketing this quality specifically. At least on the first few pages.

            The branding I see as important because I want it to seem somewhat authoritative, and to be seen as the primary place you would look for something with this quality.
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            • Profile picture of the author Joey Mason
              Originally Posted by Young Hunter View Post

              You could almost call it a broad niche (contradictory I know). It's a popular quality that cross sections many types of products. Despite this, Google doesn't bring up any sites marketing this quality specifically. At least on the first few pages.

              The branding I see as important because I want it to seem somewhat authoritative, and to be seen as the primary place you would look for something with this quality.
              To clarify, when you say "quality" do you mean value proposition? Or something else? In my experience working with early stage start ups, testing the value proposition is one of the most vital first steps. If you discover an unfulfilled value proposition that resonates with a market however, you have a winner
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  • Profile picture of the author arsen buya
    Be creative
    you can use .me and .us

    for example: something4.me or something4.us
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    PM me and I'll be happy to share HOW!
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    • Profile picture of the author Young Hunter
      Originally Posted by arsen buya View Post

      Be creative
      you can use .me and .us

      for example: something4.me or something4.us
      I like that, hadn't considered using the extension as part of the title.
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  • Profile picture of the author Young Hunter
    Playing with other domain names as well. A lot are taken, but nobody doing anything with them. Frustrating.
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  • Profile picture of the author MarvyDery
    i don't think you should worry so much about the domain name. If you think your brand name has been taken, just modify it in a small manner and use that one.
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    • Profile picture of the author Young Hunter
      Originally Posted by MarvyDery View Post

      i don't think you should worry so much about the domain name. If you think your brand name has been taken, just modify it in a small manner and use that one.
      Leaning toward this. The idea is burning me up, and I would at least like to get started doing something.
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  • Profile picture of the author mikeink
    Have you looked at the site that has that .com domain hooked to it.

    If it may be a good thing to do, as it may be a name that may be hard to get placed in the top portion of the BIG G. It may have been used for some other form of site that you do not need to have people running from you.
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    Well let me see. OH yea need to start work on my ???????? again.
    Been working for slave wages to long.

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    • Profile picture of the author Young Hunter
      Originally Posted by Joey Mason View Post

      To clarify, when you say "quality" do you mean value proposition? Or something else? In my experience working with early stage start ups, testing the value proposition is one of the most vital first steps. If you discover an unfulfilled value proposition that resonates with a market however, you have a winner
      I'm not educated enough on this. Even after searching and reading a little the term is very abstract to me.

      Originally Posted by mikeink View Post

      Have you looked at the site that has that .com domain hooked to it.

      If it may be a good thing to do, as it may be a name that may be hard to get placed in the top portion of the BIG G. It may have been used for some other form of site that you do not need to have people running from you.
      It is highly placed, but totally unrelated to both the name and my concept.
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      • Profile picture of the author Joey Mason
        Originally Posted by Young Hunter View Post

        I'm not educated enough on this. Even after searching and reading a little the term is very abstract to me.
        It is a bit abstract in nature actually, so I can certainly understand where you are at. Bravo for the initiative to try and find a definition though. I like your prospects

        Value proposition is essentially the benefits you highlight, that the customer expects to receive. Simply highlighting a different benefit of your product, can differentiate it from other choices. The most common value props are the "high quality option" and the "low cost option." Both appeal to a different market segment, and consequently differentiate themselves.

        Value propositions beyond the "standard" is quite possible, and discovering back road value props is what makes marketing fun , but its also something that needs to be dealt with conscientiously, simply because some value props people might not care about.
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        • Profile picture of the author Young Hunter
          Originally Posted by JamesColin View Post

          So far I've never bought a domain name which wasn't available.
          It's easy to think of alternative names.
          I went ahead and grabbed up something else. I'll keep my eye on the one I was originally interested in, but waiting for it feels like an excuse not to act.

          Originally Posted by Joey Mason View Post

          It is a bit abstract in nature actually, so I can certainly understand where you are at. Bravo for the initiative to try and find a definition though. I like your prospects

          Value proposition is essentially the benefits you highlight, that the customer expects to receive. Simply highlighting a different benefit of your product, can differentiate it from other choices. The most common value props are the "high quality option" and the "low cost option." Both appeal to a different market segment, and consequently differentiate themselves.

          Value propositions beyond the "standard" is quite possible, and discovering back road value props is what makes marketing fun , but its also something that needs to be dealt with conscientiously, simply because some value props people might not care about.
          Thank you for laying it out in clear terms. Using that definition, I would say it is a non-standard value proposition, but one clearly stated. Also one which anyone who purposefully comes to the site would be looking for.
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          • Profile picture of the author Joey Mason
            Originally Posted by Young Hunter View Post

            Thank you for laying it out in clear terms. Using that definition, I would say it is a non-standard value proposition, but one clearly stated. Also one which anyone who purposefully comes to the site would be looking for.
            Fantastic, is there any complimentary evidence that indicate a market's interest in the value prop you're offering? Either way, what type of plan do you have in place for moving forward?
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            • Profile picture of the author Young Hunter
              Originally Posted by Joey Mason View Post

              Fantastic, is there any complimentary evidence that indicate a market's interest in the value prop you're offering? Either way, what type of plan do you have in place for moving forward?
              Yes, product trends in relation to the value. Hard to describe without being specific; I plan to eventually when i get established. My next step is finding a suitable Wordpress theme for my needs.
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  • Profile picture of the author sheep
    If it's a good name at all, it will not just be available to register after it expires - it will be dropcatched and auctioned off. If you want the name, contact the owner via whois and make a realistic offer.
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  • Profile picture of the author JamesColin
    Banned
    So far I've never bought a domain name which wasn't available.
    It's easy to think of alternative names.
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