Ask HN: Is .org ok for a startup?
9 comments
Probably not. The "next best" is likely to be found by traversing the space of available names, not the space of available extensions.
Appending "get" to the front seems a popular alternative. getdropbox.com, getballpark.com, getclicky.com, etc. It is pretty easy to remember (I pulled three off the top of my head just now without thinking hard, and I don't use any of those services).
Except about 80% of the time I send mail to someone at dropbox, I send it to [email protected] first.
There are always good names available. You don't need to stick get on the front, or use a .net name, or pull a del.icio.us. Just fire up instantdomainsearch and find another name.
There are always good names available. You don't need to stick get on the front, or use a .net name, or pull a del.icio.us. Just fire up instantdomainsearch and find another name.
Valid point. Now that you mention it, I have tried to email people at the .com when I needed the .net, and I have also mailed people at noun.com when I needed verbnoun.com.
And, I have been surprised to find that if I keep banging away at it, I do eventually find a good name. I was looking for a name for a new site to host some Flash brain games I've been working on, and it only took about 20 minutes of searching to find a domain I loved. I had to make up a word, but there aint no harm in that, I reckon, as long as it isn't too long or too hard to spell.
And, I have been surprised to find that if I keep banging away at it, I do eventually find a good name. I was looking for a name for a new site to host some Flash brain games I've been working on, and it only took about 20 minutes of searching to find a domain I loved. I had to make up a word, but there aint no harm in that, I reckon, as long as it isn't too long or too hard to spell.
I have a domain with "get" in front of it and I think it's a great domain. However it's an ecommerce site where the goal of the user is literally to get the product offered. For web services it's not a good idea.
Find some concrete data that compares the two. HN probably isn't a sufficient sample. What sort of startup is it?
It might be easier to make up a new name than to settle for .org. A site like boingboing.net does well enough - though I often forget the URL because the .net isn't part of the brand. I've seen links to boingboing.org/com, which might have an effect on search rankings. If you do choose .org, make the .org memorable.
It might be easier to make up a new name than to settle for .org. A site like boingboing.net does well enough - though I often forget the URL because the .net isn't part of the brand. I've seen links to boingboing.org/com, which might have an effect on search rankings. If you do choose .org, make the .org memorable.
My best luck with generating domain names has been sitting down with my cofounder at instantdomainsearch with us simultaneously brainstorming.
That didn't work for my most recent domain. Try http://www.bustaname.com/ or code your own for increased speed/flexibility.
That didn't work for my most recent domain. Try http://www.bustaname.com/ or code your own for increased speed/flexibility.
Thanks everyone, pretty much the response I was expecting. I think I will just try harder to find a .com.
try dotomator.com - my best friend when finding names
For the domain that I am currently looking at, the .com and .net both just redirect to some generic keyword search page.