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When Google Hates Your Name: Why We Renamed Our Startup

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Re: When Google Hates Your Name: Why We Renamed Our Startup

#31

Post by ig1 »

seldo wrote: post #25

While much of this is good advice, the "name that says what you do" is tricky. Product names should say what they do, but companies sometimes find it more useful to remain vague. Consider: Yahoo, Google, eBay, Amazon. None of these words had, when invented, any associations in the public mind. This allows those companies to grow and change their brands and their focus. Imagine if Amazon had been called "Bookery". Or…

One of the biggest mobile phone retailers in the UK is called "Carphone Warehouse" - people don't think twice about the name. People treat the name as a brand rather than a literal interpretation of the words that make up the brand.

Re: When Google Hates Your Name: Why We Renamed Our Startup

#32

Post by [deleted] »

bryanh wrote: post #22
matrix wrote: post #6

I feel the blame is very much misplaced; Google had nothing to do with the viability of "Cadio" name. It was inevitable that people would confuse it with "Cardio", whether Google auto-suggested it or not. That said, I do sympathy for the difficulty in finding short, easily spelled domain names. It's been downright ridiculous trying to find good names in recent years.

I spend weeks and weeks deciding on a name. So far I've had Rankiac and BitBuffet, both of which were almost 80% completed before I ever had the domain. EveryMentor wasn't available and I had to WAIT for the domain to expire for about 20ish days (it was pending deletion).

[deleted]

Re: When Google Hates Your Name: Why We Renamed Our Startup

#33

Post by [deleted] »

bryanh wrote: post #22
matrix wrote: post #6

I feel the blame is very much misplaced; Google had nothing to do with the viability of "Cadio" name. It was inevitable that people would confuse it with "Cardio", whether Google auto-suggested it or not. That said, I do sympathy for the difficulty in finding short, easily spelled domain names. It's been downright ridiculous trying to find good names in recent years.

I spend weeks and weeks deciding on a name. So far I've had Rankiac and BitBuffet, both of which were almost 80% completed before I ever had the domain. EveryMentor wasn't available and I had to WAIT for the domain to expire for about 20ish days (it was pending deletion).

[deleted]

Re: When Google Hates Your Name: Why We Renamed Our Startup

#34

Post by TotlolRon »

ig1 wrote: post #31
seldo wrote: post #25

While much of this is good advice, the "name that says what you do" is tricky. Product names should say what they do, but companies sometimes find it more useful to remain vague. Consider: Yahoo, Google, eBay, Amazon. None of these words had, when invented, any associations in the public mind. This allows those companies to grow and change their brands and their focus. Imagine if Amazon had been called "Bookery". Or…

One of the biggest mobile phone retailers in the UK is called "Carphone Warehouse" - people don't think twice about the name. People treat the name as a brand rather than a literal interpretation of the words that make up the brand.

"International Business Machines" is also doin a ok.

Re: When Google Hates Your Name: Why We Renamed Our Startup

#35

Post by DotSauce »

chc wrote: post #21
DotSauce wrote: post #16

Why do these articles never mention the aftermarket? It's like businesses refuse to acknowledge that good domains are available to purchase. Sedo? Afternic? BuyDomains? Auctions? Personal portfolios? Wake up! This is where the real gems are. Domain finder tools are dead. They don't work.

It's like bootstrapped businesses don't want to pay $10000 for a marginally better name.

http://auctions.godaddy.com - $5 bargain bin

http://sedo.com - "Make an offer" on thousands of keyword names

http://freshdrop.net - Filter and sort pretty much every marketplace.

http://BrandStack.com

Re: When Google Hates Your Name: Why We Renamed Our Startup

#36

Post by chc »

DotSauce wrote: post #35
chc wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's like bootstrapped businesses don't want to pay $10000 for a marginally better name.

http://auctions.godaddy.com - $5 bargain bin http://sedo.com - "Make an offer" on thousands of keyword names http://freshdrop.net - Filter and sort pretty much every marketplace. http://BrandStack.com

Yes, you can get cheap domain names, but they'll usually be worse that whatever nonsense you think up. Look at those links you just posted. Anything near the going price of a domain name is going to be absolute crap. Here's the first page of the Godaddy auctions page:

formenti.tv, live960.tv, news18.tv, kamerali-sohbet.info, jeong-vs-jpmorganchase.com, watchmadmenonline.info, randy-orton.org, tvlima.tv, youngshemales.info, 3wolves.us, specialq.mobi, b2bmarketplace.us, straightdaddies.com, epiphonesheraton.com, schooltools.tv

The only names that look remotely useful for any conceivable purpose (youngshemales, b2bmarketplace and schooltools) are all in spammy-looking TLDs.

Re: When Google Hates Your Name: Why We Renamed Our Startup

#37

Post by jcurbo »

seldo wrote: post #25

While much of this is good advice, the "name that says what you do" is tricky. Product names should say what they do, but companies sometimes find it more useful to remain vague. Consider: Yahoo, Google, eBay, Amazon. None of these words had, when invented, any associations in the public mind. This allows those companies to grow and change their brands and their focus. Imagine if Amazon had been called "Bookery". Or…

Well, "amazon" is from Greek mythology and wasn't really invented recently, but the rest of your point still stands.

Re: When Google Hates Your Name: Why We Renamed Our Startup

#38

Post by quanticle »

seldo wrote: post #25

While much of this is good advice, the "name that says what you do" is tricky. Product names should say what they do, but companies sometimes find it more useful to remain vague. Consider: Yahoo, Google, eBay, Amazon. None of these words had, when invented, any associations in the public mind. This allows those companies to grow and change their brands and their focus. Imagine if Amazon had been called "Bookery". Or…

Not to mention those that changed their names into made-up words: Standard Oil of New Jersey -> Exxon.

Re: When Google Hates Your Name: Why We Renamed Our Startup

#39

Post by quanticle »

jacquesm wrote: post #28
fghjhgbvf wrote: post #8

Also ask yourself: Can spell it out to somebdy over the phone without resorting to phonetic alphabet? Do you use numbers in the name - worse do you use them to be cute ? Do you mix words that sound like letters eg. "see" and "c" in the name ? Does the name contain a joke/pun/double meaning that only makes sense written down or read outloud?

> fghjhgbvf I rest my case ;) Good advice otherwise though, another one is make sure that the people in the major markets can pronounce the word in an unambiguous way.

I don't know, I like fhqwhgads more (http://www.homestarrunner.com/fhqwhgads.html).

Re: When Google Hates Your Name: Why We Renamed Our Startup

#40

Post by agravier »

jcurbo wrote: post #37
seldo wrote: post #25

While much of this is good advice, the "name that says what you do" is tricky. Product names should say what they do, but companies sometimes find it more useful to remain vague. Consider: Yahoo, Google, eBay, Amazon. None of these words had, when invented, any associations in the public mind. This allows those companies to grow and change their brands and their focus. Imagine if Amazon had been called "Bookery". Or…

Well, "amazon" is from Greek mythology and wasn't really invented recently, but the rest of your point still stands.

It was possibly mostly associated with the river in people's mind at launch time. Amazon is a smart name, exotic rivers and books go well together.
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