Sexist Domain Name? Female warriors, can I get your opinion?

If you're worried about it, just frame it as man (i.e., you) vs. business.

It's not sexist. A "famous" blog is named man vs debt and women read that too. If you're worried about it, then cater ONLY to men. You should be focusing that precisely with your audience anyway.

I don't see any female comments yet, but I don't find it sexist and I usually call out sexist things constantly lol.

If you are that worried call it Mankind vs. Business.

Another way you can get away with it, if you don't want to frame 'man' as a self-descriptor, is with self-deprecation. Make women glad they're not included, so to speak. Make your male mascot a cartoonish blunderbuss with no social finesse.

Your intent is "mankind". Find a way to emphasize that.

I would see the title and not be interested, as I am not a man and I wouldn't read it as humankind. Many men marketers lose my interest because their ads are targeted more towards men than women (example: sales page with hot women, hot cars and fake mansions that they don't own).

To me, it sounds combative. As in humankind pitted against corporate hegemony, the struggle of the working class against the villainous 1%.

I'd suggest coming up with something that more closely focuses on the primary benefit you're delivering your extremely well defined, niched, target market. You've got a highly targeted market group you're aiming at, right? Right?

Let's see, how about something like "The Marketing Chronicles"? (play on words of the Bradbury book). Or "Entrepreneuris Infinitus"? Or create a mental/emotional conflict/response: "Internet Marketing Sucks", or "Screw Business As Usual". Controversy resonates.

K P,

You have mentioned that your brand and domain name are "manvsbusiness.com" Do you really have a brand yet? I'm asking because I seem to recall a recent post where you were asking Warriors which domain they preferred among several you were considering. That being the case, it tells me that you are just getting started and that you really haven't established your brand just yet.

If that is the case, I would seriously consider changing your domain before you get down the road too far. Yea, you may have lost whatever the domain registration fee was, but it's a small price to pay in terms of what your current domain could and probably will cost you long term. Why?

First of all, as others in this thread have pointed out, your current choice of domain names causes some hesitancy and is likely to be a turn-off for some women. You can't afford that. No Internet business can afford to be male biased - especially if the site is designed for both men and women. Women currently make up about 60% of all Internet users and even alienating a percentage of these ladies is a bad choice.

Second, the domain name is confusing to some. " Man vs Business" in most people's minds, as Sunil Tanna pointed out, sets up a comparison of us vs. them. Man against Business. Do you really want to create that kind of impression or mental image? No, not everyone thinks like that - but Sunil did, Lexy did, and I did - surely many others will recognize the comparison too. The point is, confusion is one of a webmaster's worst mistakes. When people come to a site (or are thinking about visiting a site) and become confused . . . they leave!

Finally, I think the name sounds very impersonal and not professional or "inviting." Maybe it's just me. You said in your first post . . . "I'll also be sharing strategies, tactics, and solutions to grow your online business."

Is that what the name implies? To me . . . not in the least. Sometimes new entrepreneurs are so anxious to find a short dot com name that they forget they should be catering to their potential prospects and clients (humans). I don't know if shortness of name was what you were going for, maybe not, but gathering from what you said your site was about, I don't make the connection between that and what you chose for your name.

I guess I feel like it would be better that your business emphasize the positive side of business development rather than the obstacles or pitfalls to creating a business. This issue really is related to the confusion aspect that I mentioned. I am a proponent of the domain name being related to what the site is all about so that when someone sees your URL, it immediately says something about your business rather than leaving the viewer wondering what the heck you do.

Please don't take my comments as anything but suggestions that I feel will help your business in the long run.

The very best to you,

Steve

No, it's not sexist. People understand that "man" is used to represent everyone sometimes, as in man vs. food. Don't let these people nitpick you to death. You aren't going to lose any female reader with half a brain. You have a great name don't screw this up.

I am a chick.

Doesn't offend me (a woman).

But then, I'm rarely offended by the 'man-used-as-humankind' abbreviation.

I agree with the posters who have mentioned the name seems kind of awkward, given it's a business, though. Why would you be adversarial toward something you are (presumably) welcoming: Your visitors' business? Just my take. But, I don't know your final "vision," either. It might all come together if I were to see your finished site.

Totally agree with Suzanne regarding the fake/hot house, women cars.
It is such a turn off and screams "liar!"

But back to your question...

I have absolutely no problem at all with the use of the word "man".
I don't feel excluded in the slightest.

Hope that helps.

Angela

It doesn't offend me in any way, I think it's obvious that it's used to represent mankind here. But I would also think that there are women that will be offended by it. To be on the safe side, I would reconsider the name especially if you are just starting out.

I think the word offensive is being used when it doesn't apply. Nothing offensive about the title ... the question is ... does it speak to you or make you curious enough to read it?

I see your idea about overcoming challenges...which sounds more like self help.

How about YouVsBusiness? That would feel like you are including me...a more personalized approach...not in general terms (Man)...but includes everyone.

I don't take the domain name as being sexist, it's the look of the site and how you market it that would make it sexist or a turn off.

just my two cents...

k.

Doesn't bother me in the least bit but I'm sure some overly sensitive women will be offended. That's called your non audience. Weed them out. This is business, not politically correct blogging.

As long as you embrace everyone on the site, don't worry about it.