Ask HN: Human domain idea needed for new social network.

#1

Post by starter » Wed, Aug 10, 2011, 6:05 PM UTC

I've spent some weeks developing a new social network to make connecting with friends much more "personal". Now looking for a stellar name to compliment what I've built.

My theme is something like "Built for You" or "For humans. By humans." The goal was to build a social directory site focused on connecting real friends, business associates and other groups using a few simple layers instead of placing everyone in the "friend" category.

Example: Everyone you know is a "contact". Some of those are friends, some are associates and some and almost strangers. I need a name that reflects natural relationships. "TheHumanFriend.com" is too long and too redundant. Any ideas?

Re: Ask HN: Human domain idea needed for new social network.

#2

Post by anigbrowl » Wed, Aug 10, 2011, 6:21 PM UTC

Circles :-p

Seriously, a good name is the cornerstone of your branding, and there are services that charge many thousand$ to develop the right one and make sure it's not already someone else's trademark etc.. Offer a reward - not necessarily monetary, but put up some value.

Re: Ask HN: Human domain idea needed for new social network.

#3

Post by test43 » Wed, Aug 10, 2011, 6:25 PM UTC

> using a few simple layers instead of placing everyone in the "friend" category. So basically Circles in Google+?

Re: Ask HN: Human domain idea needed for new social network.

#4

Post by blake8086 » Wed, Aug 10, 2011, 6:36 PM UTC

Tribes?

Re: Ask HN: Human domain idea needed for new social network.

#5

Post by _pcpe » Wed, Aug 10, 2011, 6:38 PM UTC

You don't necessarily need to have a domain name that means or provide meaning as the theme of your website. Basically, you can chose any domain that you think is good to pronounce and spell and may not offend.

Re: Ask HN: Human domain idea needed for new social network.

#6

Post by samstave » Wed, Aug 10, 2011, 9:14 PM UTC

morequaintance.com

withregard.com ($1200 on godaddy)

incrowdly.com

Confero.us (I own this)

Re: Ask HN: Human domain idea needed for new social network.

#7

Post by starter » Wed, Aug 10, 2011, 10:07 PM UTC

blake8086 wrote: post #4

Tribes?

Basically, yes. My network simply makes it dead easy to have your "contacts" in the right "tribes" with the right privacy settings from the start.

Honestly, people have been complaining about security on social networks since the beginning. Its been solved on paper (with all the "available" settings) but I'm solving it for real users in real life.

Re: Ask HN: Human domain idea needed for new social network.

#8

Post by starter » Wed, Aug 10, 2011, 10:23 PM UTC

test43 wrote: post #3

> using a few simple layers instead of placing everyone in the "friend" category. So basically Circles in Google+?

Close but not exactly. My product takes the layers concept (also known as groups, circles or tribes) a bit more seriously. Instead of using layers as a way to organize people, what I've developed will place users into distinct categories with certain "rights" automatically.

Sorry I can't be less vague but think about it as a "citizenship" of sorts. Once born in a country, you'll always be of that country no matter how much you change your labels. Groups and circles simply haven't done what people desire for their social tools. Hope that makes sense...

Re: Ask HN: Human domain idea needed for new social network.

#9

Post by starter » Thu, Aug 11, 2011, 1:35 AM UTC

anigbrowl wrote: post #2

Circles :-p Seriously, a good name is the cornerstone of your branding, and there are services that charge many thousand$ to develop the right one and make sure it's not already someone else's trademark etc.. Offer a reward - not necessarily monetary, but put up some value.

Thanks, excellent idea! I think I'll try outsourcing this project first to one of those crowd-sourcing sites.