Web Hosting Talk : Web Hosting Main Forums : Running a Web Hosting Business : Rant: A quick tip for business names ...

[Kounterfeit]

*My Rant*

Okay, something that I think is getting a bit old. 6 or 7 years ago when lots of hosting company's started to emerge it was 'PowerHost' this and 'SuperCheapHost' that.

My best advice to anyone choosing a name for their new hosting venture .. DONT .. include the word 'Host' or 'Hosting'.

You should try names that appeal to people that aren't like everyone elses names.

Here are some examples;

• SuperHost [bad]
• MyAwesomeHost [bad]
• ServerBlocks [good]
• XanoDedicated [good]
• WebHostDirectory [good] (This one is good because it actually describes the site, notice it wouldn't be a hosting company though)
  

Just my advice, anyone else getting a bit annoyed by all the 'Hosts'?

[amaZe]

I agree. I am getting frustrated seeing the amount of Web hosts with "host" in their name. People should spend more time to think of something creative, and brandable.

[CrazyTech]

I arrived at your conclusion about 3-4 years ago. People ask me about my unique name, and think it a little odd given "SEO implications" but it has gotten to the point where <Insert Adjective Here> Host or _________ Hosting is nothing but a cookie cutter theme.

Each unto their own of course, and some of those names are more than worth it for branding. However, you're really starting to see some domains that are out there.

In the end, what's better - a 20 letter name with hosting in it or a 5,6 or 7 letter branded domain? I'd say the latter.

[hekwu]

Originally Posted by CrazyTech

I arrived at your conclusion about 3-4 years ago. People ask me about my unique name, and think it a little odd given "SEO implications" but it has gotten to the point where <Insert Adjective Here> Host or _________ Hosting is nothing but a cookie cutter theme.

Each unto their own of course, and some of those names are more than worth it for branding. However, you're really starting to see some domains that are out there.

In the end, what's better - a 20 letter name with hosting in it or a 5,6 or 7 letter branded domain? I'd say the latter.

I think it depends... I mean, superhost just sounds bad... plus, hopefully they have supperhost, as some may spell it that way. "hosting" or "host" in the name is not bad in most cases... like fluidhosting... or minihosting (made that up)...

You could argue that host or hosting in the name tells the person what you do... and is easier to remember with a name that is easy to remember...

I don't care what your name is as long as you have good uptime. lol

[elektrica]

want the best tip?

Make the first letter an A.. think trade show directories.. yellow pages... etc

your welcome.

[dazmanultra]

I thought I was being smart when I called my company 'tsohost' (it's a palindrome, reads the same backwards as forwards) but thinking back to 2003 I would probably would have chosen something slightly more straightforward. It's a little bit late to re-brand now though.

[EarnersHost]

Originally Posted by amaZe

I agree. I am getting frustrated seeing the amount of Web hosts with "host" in their name. People should spend more time to think of something creative, and brandable.

While that is correct you could argue the cost of branding goes into millions and will takes years to brand your name. It can't be done over night. When someone says 'Nixism' straight away I doubt they think of hosting, where if you did spend your millions and 10 years from now, it might become a more household name to refer to hosting. That's what branding will do.

I had several names on the drawing board for EarnersHost but when I looked at the reality of all the other big shots out there, I knew I hadn't a chance in penetrating into the market fast if I didn't have the word 'host' in it. I knew (from previous experience) my hosting business wasn't getting ranked, noticed and branded as quick as I thought.

Where as your arguements stands correct, 'Nixism' is probably a better name than 'EarnersHost' but yet again, I can tell from the name EarnersHost it will relate to hosting. Do you get where I'm coming from? This is no way a personal attack on you I just thought it would be best to include some real examples, and what do you know, we both run hosting companies anyways.

Originally Posted by Kounterfeit

My best advice to anyone choosing a name for their new hosting venture .. DONT .. include the word 'Host' or 'Hosting'.

You should try names that appeal to people that aren't like everyone elses names.

I really have to disagree. I bet you'd find more companies with a semantic field of hosting they would be more successful.

Just my 2 cents.

[Tina J]

Originally Posted by elektrica

Make the first letter an A.. think trade show directories.. yellow pages... etc

Yup. I can say that you are 100% correct.

--Tina

[ForumsAddict]

Name does not matter at all now days. Its all about marketing. You can make a brand of xfwsdsuidjksdf and you would get thousands of clients and sexiest names out there wouldn't get noticed with no money poured in.

--- Its all about marketing the name --

[patman1486]

Originally Posted by ForumsAddict

Name does not matter at all now days. Its all about marketing. You can make a brand of xfwsdsuidjksdf and you would get thousands of clients and sexiest names out there wouldn't get noticed with no money poured in.

--- Its all about marketing the name --

I agree, but it seems those hosting companies that do use the word Host in them are only doing so to target search engines and other places utilizing those keywords.

Any large web hosting company you look at typically has a name that describes in a way of what they do like rackspace for example.

But I definitely agree that it is all in the marketing, as long as its backed by a good company.

[uneedawebsit]

We've been very happy with our brand name. Most people I talk to feel it conveys what we do very well. The only problem with the name is the 'u'. On radio we use our secondary domain unaw.com instead with the company name still being Uneedawebsite.

[Fizzadar]

SuperBytes : upgrade from megaBYTES to superBYTES! Thats the plan anyway ^^

Creative: maybe? Brandable: yup

Having said that, most host names involving "super" annoy me, I guess this one doesn't.

[Aptohosting]

Originally Posted by AH-Tina

Yup. I can say that you are 100% correct.

--Tina

I would agree also!!!

Tom

[ubersmith_boo]

Is it possible that the ___host, ____hosting seems over used to all of us because we're actually in the industry and familiarity breeds contempt? To the end client having that in the name can still be helpful as without it it may not be clear what type of service you're providing.

The suggestion i'd make is that whatever words make up your name besides host, make it something that could easily stand on its own. The goal of any brand name should be for it to become synonymous with your service. 'Xerox' and 'Kleenex' are easily recognized on their own with out being followed by 'photo copiers' and 'tissues.' If you're supercheaphost.com someday turning into just 'supercheap' may not have the effect you're looking for.

[CaroNet-Hesham]

I've seen a lot of crazy names throughout the years, and I think that it mainly depends on what you do with the name..not the name itself