Domains with numbers?

dod · 16-03-2006, 11:09

Been looking about for domain names and most of what I'd hoped for is already gone. I do have the option to go for something including numbers rather than words but what do folk think of them?

Presumably it could make it slightly confusing unless it's well promoted?

mfwild13 · 16-03-2006, 11:23

I think the numbers would need to relate to the site identity in some way to work and would also need to be part of a short name (eg site5.com, uk2.net etc)

There are lots of tools around to help find domain names like http://amail.co.uk/brainstorm.htm.

I just put a couple of words in and it came out with photomotorsport.com as being available!

***Steve*** · 16-03-2006, 11:24

Generally it is advised to have a domain name that people will be able to understand and write when just told of it. Strange spellings can make things awkward as can numbers, although there are no rules as such.

If there is something that you are very keen on it doesn't really matter, as long as you are happy and have a way to promote it then everything is fine. They don't even have to be real words (think flikr etc)

Don't discount using hyphens either, and if you really think about it there are still some good domain names out there. I have a list of about 12 or so photography related ones that I was considering recently, in fact a couple of them are so good I may just register them anyway for future projects.

One last bit of advice, don't post a list of any that you are seriously considering anywhere, the number of times I have seen people lose out due to some scumbag that thinks it is funny to jump in there and register a domain first just for the hell of it.

IanC_UK · 16-03-2006, 11:31

agree with all above, other thing is try not to make it too long as well ! people need to remember what it is if they see it on a picture at an event etc and if its too long they will make a mistake and type it wrong, and you could potentially lose a sale !!

dod · 16-03-2006, 11:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by mfwild13

I think the numbers would need to relate to the site identity in some way to work and would also need to be part of a short name (eg site5.com, uk2.net etc)

There are lots of tools around to help find domain names like http://amail.co.uk/brainstorm.htm.

I just put a couple of words in and it came out with photomotorsport.com as being available!

Hmm, good link, thanks.

I know it's not obvious from the other thread but I need something which is going to cover both equestrian events and moto as far as the site is concerned. Just haven't got that far yet

Ta Steve, I've seen domains registered by others as well so wasn't going to post them

IanC_UK · 16-03-2006, 11:50

Sent you a pm !

rather than discuss this publicly !

***Steve*** · 16-03-2006, 11:51

Also I wouldn't be too bothered about trying to buy up all the different domain endings, maybe the main three (.net/com/co.uk) but even if you think of a name and one of those have gone check it out "live" by going to the page and also by referring to the "whois" to find out who owns it and when it is due to expire (sometimes you can grab a domain name this way).

If a domain has gone but it is being used for something completely different generally it won't matter to you or them that you have the same but with different .com/net etc. The only problem you may have is if you are a big multi national and someone has other domains to cash in on your success.

Generally I buy both .com and .net when available, when I was in the uk I would also try to get the .co.uk as well. I am seriously considering a domain that the .net has gone but is being used by a small company that sells something totally unrelated to what I want to use the name for, I figure that they are happy and our intentions would not affect each other at all.

HTH

***Steve*** · 16-03-2006, 11:58

One last bit of info...I don't know who you intend to use for buying the domains through but I recently used Register1 to buy up a couple of .com and .nets, normally I use 123-reg but Register1 worked out far cheaper than any other domain registrar I could find. Everything was painless and their control panel is ok and does the job too, Both domains were active and had propagated within 12 hours.

If you currently don't have a host, some are offering a free domain name with certain packages. Don't discount that route either but make sure that read the small print to ensure you own the domain name and you can do with it as you please.

dod · 16-03-2006, 12:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve

but even if you think of a name and one of those have gone check it out "live" by going to the page

Been doing that, let's just say I got an unexpected return when I went to check one of the .com domains.

The other domains I have were through registron, hosting by tsohost. Register1 certainly looks very competitive

replied Ian

16-03-2006, 14:01

I use register1, always have done. Knew the guy personally when I registered my first domain there.

Never had any problems with them whatsoever.

dod · 16-03-2006, 14:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcel

I use register1, always have done. Knew the guy personally when I registered my first domain there.

Never had any problems with them whatsoever.

Is that for the hosting as well?

evilowl · 16-03-2006, 15:12

lol I might register www.1337h4X0r.org but it's probably gone already

ph34r m3h!

***Steve*** · 16-03-2006, 15:12

I believe that Marcel, like myself has his personal site/s hosted with catalyst2. The same hosts that the site is on.

SammyC · 16-03-2006, 15:59

Yep, I use catalyst2, even seem to be on the same server as TPF! Which of course means when TPF is down my site is down

***Steve*** · 16-03-2006, 16:57

mango ?

To be fair to catalyst the last lot of problems has been caused by an account on that server that has been abusing their allotted resources and affecting everyone else. When I reported our issues the hosts were very good at addressing them and they closed the other account, since then everything has been fine.

They are also prompt at responding to tickets and always stick with things until they are resolved which is 100% better than some hosts.

For the money we can't really complain.

Joe T · 16-03-2006, 17:46

Both my sites are hosted with www.vidahost.com

Im friendly with one of the directors. I have him on MSN, and he is always willing to help with any issue.

I have recommended them before, and at least two people have gone with them because of that.

Biggus · 16-03-2006, 18:18

I use 1&1 Internet for domain registrations and a US hosting company called HostGator

1&1 are cheap for the domains and have an easy to use control panel to administer them, but I've read their customer service is not very good, which is why I hosted elsewhere.

Hostgator use a huge company to provide their servers and bandwidth called The Planet and have excellent uptime (mine is currently at 140 days 19 hours, or 99.94%). They offer more than most UK hosting companies, but at lower cost, have 24/7 support and actually answer the phones if you want to speak to someone personally, where they are prompt & polite.

16-03-2006, 11:09	#1 (permalink)
dod Feet under the table Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Nairn Posts: 1,911	Domains with numbers? Been looking about for domain names and most of what I'd hoped for is already gone. I do have the option to go for something including numbers rather than words but what do folk think of them? Presumably it could make it slightly confusing unless it's well promoted?

16-03-2006, 11:24	#3 (permalink)
*Steve* Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: An Englishman living in Germany Posts: 16,158	Generally it is advised to have a domain name that people will be able to understand and write when just told of it. Strange spellings can make things awkward as can numbers, although there are no rules as such. If there is something that you are very keen on it doesn't really matter, as long as you are happy and have a way to promote it then everything is fine. They don't even have to be real words (think flikr etc) Don't discount using hyphens either, and if you really think about it there are still some good domain names out there. I have a list of about 12 or so photography related ones that I was considering recently, in fact a couple of them are so good I may just register them anyway for future projects. One last bit of advice, don't post a list of any that you are seriously considering anywhere, the number of times I have seen people lose out due to some scumbag that thinks it is funny to jump in there and register a domain first just for the hell of it. __________________ .......__o .......\<, ....( )/ ( )

16-03-2006, 11:23	#2 (permalink)
mfwild13 Getting Comfy Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Leamington Spa Posts: 193	I think the numbers would need to relate to the site identity in some way to work and would also need to be part of a short name (eg site5.com, uk2.net etc) There are lots of tools around to help find domain names like http://amail.co.uk/brainstorm.htm. I just put a couple of words in and it came out with photomotorsport.com as being available!

16-03-2006, 11:31	#4 (permalink)
IanC_UK Feet under the table Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Northampton Posts: 2,137	agree with all above, other thing is try not to make it too long as well ! people need to remember what it is if they see it on a picture at an event etc and if its too long they will make a mistake and type it wrong, and you could potentially lose a sale !!

16-03-2006, 11:50	#6 (permalink)
IanC_UK Feet under the table Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Northampton Posts: 2,137	Sent you a pm ! rather than discuss this publicly !

16-03-2006, 11:51	#7 (permalink)
*Steve* Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: An Englishman living in Germany Posts: 16,158	Also I wouldn't be too bothered about trying to buy up all the different domain endings, maybe the main three (.net/com/co.uk) but even if you think of a name and one of those have gone check it out "live" by going to the page and also by referring to the "whois" to find out who owns it and when it is due to expire (sometimes you can grab a domain name this way). If a domain has gone but it is being used for something completely different generally it won't matter to you or them that you have the same but with different .com/net etc. The only problem you may have is if you are a big multi national and someone has other domains to cash in on your success. Generally I buy both .com and .net when available, when I was in the uk I would also try to get the .co.uk as well. I am seriously considering a domain that the .net has gone but is being used by a small company that sells something totally unrelated to what I want to use the name for, I figure that they are happy and our intentions would not affect each other at all. HTH

16-03-2006, 11:58	#8 (permalink)
*Steve* Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: An Englishman living in Germany Posts: 16,158	One last bit of info...I don't know who you intend to use for buying the domains through but I recently used Register1 to buy up a couple of .com and .nets, normally I use 123-reg but Register1 worked out far cheaper than any other domain registrar I could find. Everything was painless and their control panel is ok and does the job too, Both domains were active and had propagated within 12 hours. If you currently don't have a host, some are offering a free domain name with certain packages. Don't discount that route either but make sure that read the small print to ensure you own the domain name and you can do with it as you please.

16-03-2006, 14:01	#10 (permalink)
Marcel Posts: n/a	I use register1, always have done. Knew the guy personally when I registered my first domain there. Never had any problems with them whatsoever.

16-03-2006, 15:12	#12 (permalink)
evilowl Been here a while Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: London village Posts: 376	lol I might register www.1337h4X0r.org but it's probably gone already ph34r m3h!

16-03-2006, 15:12	#13 (permalink)
*Steve* Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: An Englishman living in Germany Posts: 16,158	I believe that Marcel, like myself has his personal site/s hosted with catalyst2. The same hosts that the site is on.

16-03-2006, 15:59	#14 (permalink)
SammyC Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Bristol Posts: 1,466	Yep, I use catalyst2, even seem to be on the same server as TPF! Which of course means when TPF is down my site is down

16-03-2006, 16:57	#15 (permalink)
*Steve* Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: An Englishman living in Germany Posts: 16,158	mango ? To be fair to catalyst the last lot of problems has been caused by an account on that server that has been abusing their allotted resources and affecting everyone else. When I reported our issues the hosts were very good at addressing them and they closed the other account, since then everything has been fine. They are also prompt at responding to tickets and always stick with things until they are resolved which is 100% better than some hosts. For the money we can't really complain.

16-03-2006, 17:46	#16 (permalink)
Joe T Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Amersham, Bucks Posts: 978	Both my sites are hosted with www.vidahost.com Im friendly with one of the directors. I have him on MSN, and he is always willing to help with any issue. I have recommended them before, and at least two people have gone with them because of that.