If Libya Shuts Down the Internet, What Happens To .ly Domains?

Post by metachris » Sat, Feb 19, 2011, 2:00 AM UTC

abstractbill wrote: post #40

StavrosK wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What do you suggest? Getting a .com domain? Have you tried to do that recently? All dictionary words and most two-word combinations are taken by squatters. I searched for a domain name for a new web app the other day and wanted a .com name, it was almost impossible to find anything . I spent two days searching until I found something. .net and .org are better, but users always expect (and type in) .com.

It's not actually that bad. I recently wrote a script that sends me daily emails of all .com domains that are expiring that day, sorted by length, and by a measure of how "English-like" they are (just using a frequency table for pairs of letters). I was surprised by how much good stuff is available.

Post by timerickson » Sat, Feb 19, 2011, 2:02 AM UTC

StavrosK wrote: post #30

petercooper wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree with the argument but am also beginning to be convinced by the opposing argument for many cases.. Consider 37signals' products, they don't have the product name in the verbatim .com form for any that I see - they've had to append words on the end. Apple doesn't own MacBook.com. Even companies who own their product names as domains (e.g. Fogbugz.com) aren't necessarily using them as a primary URL. It seems cus…

The fact that companies are doing it doesn't mean that customers aren't fazed by it. Sure, 37signals is doing well, but do you think the "hq" part of the basecamp domain helped? When 37signals weren't that well-known and wanted to market it, how many potential customers do you think they lost because people typed "basecamp.com", didn't go where they intended to and never visited again? Customer retention is like tryi…

Post by timerickson » Sat, Feb 19, 2011, 2:04 AM UTC

abstractbill wrote: post #40

StavrosK wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What do you suggest? Getting a .com domain? Have you tried to do that recently? All dictionary words and most two-word combinations are taken by squatters. I searched for a domain name for a new web app the other day and wanted a .com name, it was almost impossible to find anything . I spent two days searching until I found something. .net and .org are better, but users always expect (and type in) .com.

It's not actually that bad. I recently wrote a script that sends me daily emails of all .com domains that are expiring that day, sorted by length, and by a measure of how "English-like" they are (just using a frequency table for pairs of letters). I was surprised by how much good stuff is available.

Post by jarek » Sat, Feb 19, 2011, 2:09 AM UTC

iwwr wrote: post #19

StavrosK wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What do you suggest? Getting a .com domain? Have you tried to do that recently? All dictionary words and most two-word combinations are taken by squatters. I searched for a domain name for a new web app the other day and wanted a .com name, it was almost impossible to find anything . I spent two days searching until I found something. .net and .org are better, but users always expect (and type in) .com.

.ch? We could use a few flags of convenience on the virtual seas.

Post by kiujhygthujk » Sat, Feb 19, 2011, 2:20 AM UTC