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nate

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#31586 23-Mar-2009 12:59
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I have clients that do this to me all the time, if a domain name isn't short and memorable, what is the point?

See on my way into work today:





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RedJungle
Phil Gale
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  #202782 23-Mar-2009 13:19
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Sadly, the issue becomes one of trying to balance the business/product name with what domains are still available.

Domain squatters are one of the biggest problem in this regard, and are nothing but parasites. Personally I'd like to see some rules in place about domain name use, whereby a domain can be revoked unless it is being used genuinely and the use is related to the actual domain name.

Side note: my business name 'Red Jungle' was about 12th on the list of ideas I liked when first setting up.. but the only one where both the .co.nz and .com were available.



tonyhughes
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  #202784 23-Mar-2009 13:32
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Yep... .com speculation / squatting is a pain.

You find a great name in NZ, where the business name is really unique, all variations (and plurals) of .nz domains are available, but the .com sits on parked search page.

Ugh.

Developing a social networking site for a friend at the moment (using Drupal - open source FTW), and really lucky that her first choice of name, which is two simple common unmistakeable words - the .com and .co.nz were both available.







sbiddle
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  #202803 23-Mar-2009 14:50
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While that URL may be long at least it's one that can be remembered.

What is far worse at dumb companies who get 0800 word numbers and domain names that could be interpreted in different ways - ie wotzon.com which have a radio add telling you "What's on.com and then have to pronounce that wotzon.com"

IMHO any time you have to spell out a word number or domain it's an instant failure and not going to drive customers to your business. Why do so many people not understand this?




antbs
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  #202845 23-Mar-2009 17:32
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Agree with all points above. What I dislike as well is hyphens in a domain name, they just add more content and are harder to remember. A while back a client came to me wanting a really long domain name, I didn't reccomend it but he persisted, only now has he come back to me wanting to change domain names as his first one was too long.


nate

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  #202853 23-Mar-2009 18:41
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sbiddle: While that URL may be long at least it's one that can be remembered.


The longer the domain name, the more you open yourself up to spelling and general typo errors.


They would be much better to go for an acronym, or even a catchy shortened name or phrase.


Slightly OT, I love how the ridiculously long title of this topic is pushing everything over on the main Geekzone page.


paradoxsm
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  #202861 23-Mar-2009 19:00
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Third time to ettempt this, When hitting "Post reply" i'm getting posting on a different forum number!


I heard some gems a few years ago especially on the radio as you say, one had to pretty much spell out the entire URL. as they used "Z" in place of an "S" and other stupid misspellings in a lame to be unique (one of my pet hates) "That's ends with a zed"

I remember people being told to visit Vizzavi.net.nz pronounced: "Vee sar vee" .net.nz (part of the Vodafone old WAP content)

visa-vie, vissavee, veesavee take from it what ever you would try.

What does amaze me though it my parents choice of a 17-character domain name got well and truly squatted after we forgot to re-renew it, it got renewed again the third year running last month, has a "portral.infromatron.cum" scumsite on it. It was never advertised and must get 3 visits a year.


All my domain names are 4 letters or characters except one which is 6 which I use for joke purposes anyway.


 


Nate: Lol at your icon, I had butcherd mine a while back too.


paradoxsm
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  #202863 23-Mar-2009 19:06
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I have those squatter sites blocked in my hosts file, they seem to be "all the rage" at the moment and it's really bad, often bad enough to put me off even bothering with the internet.

I think a lot of them though will be pressured when they get the new Top Level Domain options which if managed properly, will give legitimate people their choice in name back again.


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