Wanted: Domain Appraisal Appraisal on brandability rather than value

[cc976a]

OK - I have a domain name and wondered what people's views are - not on the potential value (as it will pretty much be zero at the moment) but on how brandable they feel the domain is.

Many a mash-up style subset of names being branded and developed, particularly in the US, where the online marketing of the brand seems to more lenient in terms of pronounce-ability - and replacing of letters (i.e. Lyft.me) or adding letters (i.e. Fiverr.com) is more acceptable (and even more fashionable)

What are your views on the below for a business whose focus is on family:

Fymily.com

 

[Skinner]

Lots of the US brandability on mashups seems to be whacky, I'm not sure I'd value fymily, lyft.me works because a y can replace an i, like gansta f0 lyfe kinda.

The idea of using a double letter at the end (fiverr) or missing the e at the end of a comparative (tumblr) has been around a while, even missing the vowels (skrbl) and of course l33t speak has been around for many years, but just can't think of the Y as an A.

You could be on the cutting edge tho, I would have tried something like famyly.com, then tried to brand it as faMYly around My Family maybe, I don't know if thats available.

Maybe if you could find a way to brand around the Y ?

 

[alistair80]

i think you should take a look at namerific or brand bucket, and you will have an idea of what type of brandable domains incubators are looking for...

 

[Bailey]

Fymily.com = A big fat zero

Good branding domains have association before they even start to go to market. Sure you can pick-holes in those that have been made good. But, none of them started out from know(No)-where (as for recognition or association)

Fymily - Says "let me contrive Something" that nobody else could possibly understand, (or spell) without even a vague business market to start with

 

[cc976a]

Fymily.com = A big fat zero

Good branding domains have association before they even start to go to market. Sure you can pick-holes in those that have been made good. But, none of them started out from know(No)-where (as for recognition or association)

Fymily - Says "let me contrive Something" that nobody else could possibly understand, (or spell) without even a vague business market to start with

Happy to take opinions both good and bad - but there is a distinct difference between a core, recognized brandable (Apple, Amazon, Lolly etc...) and a 'mashup' or play on letters (Lyft, Fiverr, Nestio, Ouya, Myo etc...)

This was based on the brandable potential looking at the latter type

Appreciate the feedback all the same

 

[Bailey]

Thanks for the Acknowledgement.

I've made (just about) all my money from 'Brandables' _

I never thought it difficult or hard (within certain rules) It is a wonderful game to latch on-to. Without wishing to be disrespectful "fymily"( even as a .com )doesn't go even near there,

I have a great respect for all Acorn - but you'll never teach me how to suck eggs at .com brandables

 

[Bailey]

If your going to mash-letters-up. Do it for a pre-determined need. or stick to wide appeal - Fymily doesn't deliver - End off

 

[Murray]

I've made (just about) all my money from 'Brandables'

Just out of interest, can I ask what some of the better ones are that you've owned in the past?.

Cheers

 

[Bailey]

Just out of interest, can I ask what some of the better ones are that you've owned in the past?.

Cheers

No I don't think I would - None of them have ever been reported (apart from one)

It's about linking words, Sure it's difficult these days. But, work with the key word. (the key word has to be slightly ahead of the game)

It's about wordArt (Yep I do own that as a UK) prevailed by word reference . I can't teach anyone to how to understand domains. Don't forget we are now linking in Market awareness, outlets, profit margins and probably a half-dozen other considerations (depending on)

That's the beauty of-it. You know when you get it right - before anybody else says so

 

[Bailey]

Some of my best sales are only five year old registrations (nothing less than five years old - that's a fact)

My bugbear with anyone that says 'domains' can't be had, is because their not prepared (more likely capable) of thinking ahead --It does have to be .com though.

I enjoy what I do - But, domain sales in the past have given me the luxury of carrying on

 

[Bailey]

Bottom line there's a skill set to be had. most "Domainers" are going to missing one or two (I was lucky enough to be 'old enough' to have just about all in place - as domains came along)

 

[Bailey]

I'm so very grateful what domains have done for me (nope I've never developed one)

One day, maybe

 

[aZooZa]

The basic fact is that 'fymily' would never work is intended. No matter what your native tongue, there's no way you're going to get that 'y' perceived as an 'a'. Familee_dot_com only works for the registrant is his family name is 'Lee' - that's how sparse the possibles are for this word. Same case for familee_co_uk.

 

[cc976a]

I have a great respect for all Acorn - but you'll never teach me how to suck eggs at .com brandables

Will never try Ray

Thanks for all the replies

 

[cc976a]

Some of my best sales are only five year old registrations (nothing less than five years old - that's a fact)

My bugbear with anyone that says 'domains' can't be had, is because their not prepared (more likely capable) of thinking ahead --It does have to be .com though.

I enjoy what I do - But, domain sales in the past have given me the luxury of carrying on

Did you actively seek out your buyers or did they come to you (seeking out buyers must be more difficult for brandables)?

Do you still think they're opportunities to be had on the brandable .com in the FTR game? You'd think all the creative thinkers would have been all over them by now (?)

 

[Bailey]

Nope, never sought out a buyer ever. For the types of domains I register (and sell) it wouldn't make sense, (I even shiver to think about it) Not only would you be seeking to identify an appropriate business but also have to identify the 'creative' types within the business (or its Agency) And even then you'd come across as a desperate for a sale.

No - If you get the word 'Mix' right it should have a number/several 'Comfortable' niches. I can't over emphasise how important wordart is (I know I keep repeating that phase) Businesses in general want 'Short and Memorable' strap lines for their on-line needs. Your thinking shouldn't be about their Primary business name (that's probably been set years ago) though most of these type of domains will work for start-ups, Most wouldn't be willing to offer the money. (they always come with a "with just started so can only offer $xxx email)

I personally still think there is lots of space in the 'Creative domain space' (again I have to emphasise .com ONLY). The work required to arrive at them is No easier or Harder than it was back 10+ years ago (lets not forget all the 'Recognisable' strap line .coms had long gone even then)

New markets/products are coming into being all the time with an 'online identity' required. I will add, I probably wouldn't recommend it as a domain investment strategy If you don't have some awareness of "Marketing"

Talking about "people" being all over good 'Brandables' - well actually quite often the opposite is true. A good brandable "Close to its' drop-date' is far more likely to drop than a generic and with the added advantage that it will probably even stay 'free to reg' for a couple of weeks..

You do need a reasonable portfolio, to get regular enquiries. - The nice thing again, is once a party has expressed interest, they don't normally back-away from that interest (even when they may Stall for months)

 

[Bailey]

ol' yeah - you'll also need a good supply of 'post-it' notes. My desk is probably littered with about 50-60 at any one time.

 

[Murray]

No - If you get the word 'Mix' right it should have a number/several 'Comfortable' niches. I can't over emphasise how important wordart is

Sorry to be dense, but could you give some examples of the type of domain you're talking about?.

 

[Bailey]

It's difficult to post any that I hold. Purely because it's likely that the other extensions are going to be available including the co.uk (and I want it to stay that way)

one example I can share (and in play at the moment) I did register it 10 years ago though. But, ive recently picked-up the .net/info/uk to go with the .com (which isn't something I'd usually do

"smartmetrics"

I can't say everyone would see and understand it's appeal. But it's probably a good example of what I mean by 'WordArt'

some might think it's taken 10 years to get interest - but, you'd be wrong - but I will concede that you need t maintain a reasonable sized portfolio to keep the enquiries going..

*and of course it does 'say/imply' something , which is just as important obviously

 

[Murray]

It's difficult to post any that I hold. Purely because it's likely that the other extensions are going to be available including the co.uk (and I want it to stay that way)

one example I can share (and in play at the moment) I did register it 10 years ago though. But, ive recently picked-up the .net/info/uk to go with the .com (which isn't something I'd usually do

"smartmetrics"

I can't say everyone would see and understand it's appeal. But it's probably a good example of what I mean by 'WordArt'

some might think it's taken 10 years to get interest - but, you'd be wrong - but I will concede that you need t maintain a reasonable sized portfolio to keep the enquiries going..

*and of course it does 'say/imply' something , which is just as important obviously

I meant just domains in general you like, not necessarily your own.

Smartmetrics works.

I was trying to come up with money saving domains last night, money words and saving words, everything was taken of course in .com, no matter how creative I was getting :-x