while I am sure that someone out there can use the service, taking the time to come up with your own name and design should not be given up lightly. I do take issue with the "branding" implication that these domains purportedly have. Before starting my own company I spent years in an ad agency, and I can tell you that unless there is an unusual amount of serendipity involved you probably won't find a name and image that fits perfectly with your company goals and vision. A brand is a promise to the public which conveys your intent your services and your commitment to your product. Coca-Cola, McDonald's, Disney all do this very well for example. If you're not a designer I can see gaining design inspiration from this site. But in my opinion, take a little time try to come up with your own ideas to implement.
Pre-branded domain names for startups
31–40 of 212 posts
Re: Pre-branded domain names for startups
#32I'm just impressed to see a decent sounding, 5 letter .com domain for $250 (Vueta) - tempted to snap that one up myself.
Plenty of great short domains on other extensions - I got whi.im and om.gd for a couple of projects I am working on. Issue is whether the people who need to know, know that .im or .gd are domain extension - or if it will just confuse them and send them to whiim.com (which we don't own).
Re: Pre-branded domain names for startups
#33Ugh! These are just glorified domain sitters disguised as a trendy start-up. Please don't give these people your money - they ruin innovation by taking up massive amounts of domains then selling them for huge amounts.
These people RUIN the internet.
Re: Pre-branded domain names for startups
#34Looks like a great idea, very clever, but I'm not sure about the pricing. I would love to use something like this as a small developer, but $250 is a bit much for a domain and a logo given my small-time budget. On the other hand, companies with a larger budget would probably just have something like this done in-house. So I guess I'd ask: who do you see being the target market here?
I see HN as the ideal target market. I'm sure this submission didn't occur spontaneously and there are many people in HN who can afford $250 for a seemingly good value. I'd be surprised if most of the domains are not sold quickly.
From searching and looking around a logo design can cost around $250 on its own, getting a domain to match a pre-designed and brandable logo is a nice idea and i like the concept, will i ever use this? Probably not.
Re: Pre-branded domain names for startups
#35Earlier quoted context omitted.
Domain squatting with fancy window dressing is still domain squatting. I'll admit, however, that this is a very clever form of domain squatting. I begrudgingly admire the player here, even if I hate the game. This is sort of like the domain-squatter's equivalent of department store mannequins: visual aids that help shoppers picture what the items could look like in practice, sparking their imaginations, and thereby c…
Domain squatting has a fairly specific legal definition. We aren't squatting. We actually came up with the idea after being frustrated by domain parking and squatters and frankly the whole domain industry.
And you are sticking it to that industry by ... doing the same?
It doesn't matter if you call it squatting or "domaining", in the end you are blocking thousands of domain names on the hope that someone needs that name so much that he will pay ransom for it.
(Kind of related: Anyone interested in a URI-dnsbl of squatted domain names?)
Re: Pre-branded domain names for startups
#36Ugh! These are just glorified domain sitters disguised as a trendy start-up. Please don't give these people your money - they ruin innovation by taking up massive amounts of domains then selling them for huge amounts. These people RUIN the internet.
Not huge amounts. $250 for a domain + logo is very reasonable.
Re: Pre-branded domain names for startups
#37while I am sure that someone out there can use the service, taking the time to come up with your own name and design should not be given up lightly. I do take issue with the "branding" implication that these domains purportedly have. Before starting my own company I spent years in an ad agency, and I can tell you that unless there is an unusual amount of serendipity involved you probably won't find a name and image t…
I agree in some ways - but sometimes names can delay launches. I can see a small start up using this site to 'just get out there' - and worry about branding later.
Depending on what you are doing you can change your name/brand later.
Since /most/ start-ups fail, why not get to market quicker, with less cost, and less time/brain power wasted.
Re: Pre-branded domain names for startups
#38while I am sure that someone out there can use the service, taking the time to come up with your own name and design should not be given up lightly. I do take issue with the "branding" implication that these domains purportedly have. Before starting my own company I spent years in an ad agency, and I can tell you that unless there is an unusual amount of serendipity involved you probably won't find a name and image t…
unBounce doesn't make award-winning landing pages and we don't make agency quality brands. We are part of the ecosystem-- each fits a need.
Re: Pre-branded domain names for startups
#39This is a really great idea. One of the things which young startups often spend too much time on is picking a perfect name + brand. This is a great way to get started. You can always iterate later if necessary, but this gives you something to use NOW, and put the discussion away and get back to real work. Also, I love the layout. Very straightforward. I currently subscribe to the http://justdropped.com/ mailing list…
Great idea for them, yes. For us? Awful.
Most of the time I bet the logos (which are ok but a bit generic) won't match what you have in mind for your site.
These people are no better than domain squatters - they're an unnecessary tax on startups.
A number of times now I've abandoned ideas after being unable to find a domain name as they're all taken by squatters, it's saddening :(
Re: Pre-branded domain names for startups
#40I think this is really good for people in certain situations, e.g., you're going to pitch an important event with a new idea and you don't have a name or a logo. The design is nice and clean. My only suggestion would be adding share buttons.