11.9.15 9

Choosing A Website Name

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When we start our blogs, one of the first and most important decisions we make is deciding what the name will be. When I relaunched my blog back in October, I can remember spending MONTHS thinking of names. It was not easy. Every time I would think of something I loved, it was taken. Or at least the dot com was taken. Choosing a website name can lead to a lot of headaches, and that’s why more and more people are using not com names vs dot com names. I am partnering with Name.Kitchen to facilitate a discussion about the rise of not com names.

It’s amazing that after 30 years of dominance by dot com names on the Internet, there is an amazing new world of choice in naming for websites. In a rollout that began in late 2013, hundreds of new domain endings — words to the right of that second dot — are now available for use when you create the URL for your website. Some of these Not Com options have more obvious benefits, including memorability, meaning, and availability. Choices like .COFFEE, .FLORIST, .PHOTOGRAPHY, and .STYLE  immediately tell you what you are getting, while words like .COMPANY, .BUSINESS, and .MEDIA have broader appeal. I am already tempted to have a .COFFEE website for obvious reasons.

Take Driftaway Coffee for example. Suyog Mody and Anu Menon ditched their corporate careers to create something from scratch: a coffee subscription service delivers fresh-roasted coffee personalized to your palette. They wanted to partner together on something as husband and wife, and having coffee as a passion and a spark of excitement after listening to many TED talks they were on their way. They had cushy jobs but having a career and having a career you are passionate about are two different things, and they knew they needed both. They lived in London and used a service that delivered fresh coffee to your door and knew that having a business similar to that was ideal. The name of Driftaway Coffee came to them because they love that feeling of sipping your coffee on a weekend morning and having your worries and cares just disappear. They also wanted to focus a little on the fact that coffee is global. It travels thousands of miles and reaches across the world. Coming up with a Not Com name was also important to them because they wanted the name to show exactly what they do and that they are an online only business. The not com name was perfect for them! They think have the uniqueness of dot coffee is the cherry on top for them. They really love that having a domain name like dot coffee is a great conversation starter.

Driftaway.Coffee 1Photo: Driftaway.Coffee

Driftaway.Coffee 4Photo: Driftaway.coffee

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So what is your takeaway from this story? Mine is that your passion becomes your purpose and that should guide you in life. Also what’s in a name? Everything. Your name tells the world what you are wanting to become. Choosing a website name is just like choosing your path. It will start you on a great adventure. So whatever you do, make sure you choose a name you love and one that has meaning for you whether that is a dot com or a not com.

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Name.Kitchen

Leave a Comment

9 Comments

  1. Natalie wrote:

    I’m also excited about the recent developments in website domain names. It’s nice to finally have more options!

    Published 11.9.15
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  2. LaShawn wrote:

    I remember thinking long and hard over my current blog name! My blog has gone through several, but this one felt right!

    Published 11.9.15
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  3. Kate wrote:

    When we built our portfolios in grad school last year, we talked a lot about different website endings. Most of us went with. dot-coms since they were available, but it’s so cool that there are other options out there, too! Love it!

    Published 11.9.15
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  4. Danille wrote:

    I totally agree. choosing your website name is so important and it should be taken lightly . This was such a informative and motivational post. It makes me want to work harder on my passions

    Published 11.9.15
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  5. Having a specialized .com is a fun idea… I worry that you’ll be harder to find though. People automatically type in .com and when nothing comes up it can be slightly difficult to think up what fun word someone might have used. Hopefully google will keep everything straight!

    Published 11.9.15
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  6. There have always been other ‘dots’. I can see Betsy’s point, I know if I have to start guessing what cute little dot you have I am not going to do it and just go with whatever site pops up.

    Published 11.9.15
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  7. Samantha wrote:

    First of all, a coffee subscription service, yes please. Second of all, that is the coolest thing about not coms! Love it!

    Published 11.10.15
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  8. FabEllis wrote:

    I think this is so cool! I remember when a dot com address was all you had. Adding these interesting not com names is cool and like you said, let’s you know what you’re getting. I actually just saw one of these for the first time a few weeks ago when I was working with a vendor for a conference. I was so perplexed! Lol! This was a wonderful post. I have been contemplating creating a website for my services and if I do, I will definitely consider this.

    Published 11.10.15
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  9. Brittany wrote:

    This is absolutely amazing! I knew there were Not Com names such as .org .edu etc., but I had no idea you could get .coffee. Such a cool idea. I love the story about how their passion drove them to not use a .com and how .coffee fits their business (and passion) perfectly!

    As a blogger, I just wanted to let you know that I loved how this post was written and I will be following you! Keep on doing you!

    xx. Brittany | Southern Soul

    Published 11.11.15
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