Domain Dojo - Brand Selection Poll

[Rob Monster]

Last weekend, I introduced the idea of a "Domain Dojo" or a Domainer-friendly co-working space. Since then we received a number of domain submissions for possible use as brand names for this innovative concept that is currently in the planning stage as part of a larger expansion plan that centers on co-creation.

The basic premise here is that full-time domainers can live almost anywhere. The inherent nature of the industry is that in many ways it can be highly liberating in terms of work location. And yet most domainers are probably living in the same city or town they were living in before they became a domain investor.

In the meantime, there are places in the world where Digital Nomads have become highly productive. You can find entire directories but here is a typical Dojo in a beach community in Indonesia:

There are a growing number of so-called Dojos, that combine community, lodging, dining, and co-working, often strategically placed near beaches and typically with low operating costs.

There are a staggering number of beautiful places in the world with great Internet service, so why be tied down if you don't need to be. I am personally quite fond of Las Palmas in Gran Canarias, in North Africa, a popular destination for Digital Nomads. Others are fond of places like Ubud, Seychelles, Mauritius, Gozo, etc.

For those of us who regularly attend domain conferences like NamesCon, there is clearly a vibrant domain community. However, this is just once per year. So the thinking of this project is to establish a network of Dojos, where domainers can meet, cooperate, learn from each other, and co-create abundance.

As I know a growing number of people in the industry, and know their respective strengths and capabilities, I see opportunities every day to connect dots and help make things happen that might otherwise not happen. Given the right environment, we could all be doing a lot more of that, online and offline. That's the idea.

With that as context, please help select a domain that would fit the Domainer Dojo Lifestyle!

 

[Samer]

Some decent names available for hand reg could work too...

dnhotspot.com

i registered this name + dnhotspots.com

Thank you @Silentptnr,

 

[Vimal Kumar]

Frankly, the names are ok. But the best suited name is not listed here.

Dwella.com

Epik already owns this domain and should use it. Since I was aware of this, I did not pursue suggesting newer names

 

[DaveX]

Too many available potentially good names imo.

DnMaps.com
DnStay.com
CoNtwk.com
DomHubs.com
DNMobility.com

 

[Ategy]

I'm scratching my head at my DnDojos.com not making this list

That was my oversight. It should have been on the list. -- my copy-paste edit late at night while trying to get the poll out the door on Friday. I asked a Mod to edit it.

Or DomainDojos.com for that matter ??? lol


@Rob Monster .. could you checklist what requirements you're looking for that you've mentioned? It might help people understand what you're looking for and actually end up with votes based on what you're actually looking for as opposed to what they think you're looking for and/or simply the best sounding generic random brand.

I've put my assumptions strictly based on what I've read as well as based on some of the candidates you've accepted .. but please copy/edit and correct based on exactly what you want at this point.


Domain Dojos Brand should represent:

(1) The locations?
1 - Not necessarily, but preferred
(1b) Are you looking for a brand for the network, or individual locations? (Singular v Plural)
1b - Network (plural could be acceptable)

(2) General concept of working remotely?
2 - If possible

(3) Implying the co-workspace concept/lifestyle?
3 - Yes (PRIMARY FOCUS)

(4) People getting together (not necessarily just at those locations)?
4 - If possible +

(5) keeping domains in focus?
5 - Not necessarily ??? <--- This needs to be clear

(6) Have all the other elements of a good domain name (Radio test, correct grammar, good/strong wordflow, have meaning to majority of intended target audience, etc)?
6 - Yes-ish .. lol (No offence to C / y / b / r / t / r / k / s .. but is that really a choice?)

(7) Brand needs to be understandable by people other than existing domainers?
7 - No (because you included DN names that only domainers would get at first)

(8) Will the project be for profit (Cafe/Hotel/etc)?
8 - Maybe (given the inclusion of a .org, although .org's don't always need to be not for profit)

(9 | My Extra .. lol) Brand encourages invitation for entrepreneurs and potential end users to come and work with domainers on helping brand their start-ups (and hopefully encourage sales)?
E - No (this is the one I wished would be yes, but most names don't fit)


I'm not saying what should or shouldn't be requirements .. I'm just saying what the requirements appear to be given the information at this point. The final requirements should really be up to you, even if I and others think differently.

Obviously there are also different levels of relevance .. like a one-word domain scores signficantly higher in #6 that indeed it could merit overlooking the other requirements. The guidelines don't need to be absolutes, but it certainly would help clarify a lot for a lot of the people confused above.


I really think all these parameters should have been discussed, debated and hammered out before inviting submissions .. but it is what it is .. also a lot of people have voted blindly without really knowing the actual preferred parameters .. kinda skews the results .. but that actually doesn't matter so much now because you've thankfully established that winner isn't necessarily the one with the most votes (a very good thing in general), but the vote at least would have had some meaning and be a little more helpful if the parameters were clear from the start.


PS .. I really do wish you'd reconsider including #9 above and include what @Lox and I have mentioned .. I really think that if this takes off that it would be a great idea. Everyone always complains that there's not much tangible we can do as a community to grow and encourage end user demand .. this really has the opportunity to be one of the very few tangible projects to actually do that!

 

[Bogdan]

I thought CoThinker.com fits name selection criteria.

 

[Ategy]

It may actually fit better with your recent DN+word services like DNProtect.

I actually don't like DN+ brands for anything but things that are specifically targeted to existing domainers (not even new ones), because otherwise most people won't initially catch the DN reference. That being said .. if these locations are targeted only at existing domainers, then that's fine .. I just personally think the brand should try to be inviting and welcoming to newer domainers as well as non-domainers who want to know more about domains and hopefully entrepreneurs looking for domain names or looking for help branding or understanding the industry, etc etc .. again .. there is potentially a huge opportunity here if the concept were more towards being a place people go for branding help and domain suggestions for their businesses

DomHubs.com

ummm .. that one does have an alternate meaning that might not attract the intended target audience! lol
.

 

[DaveX]

I actually don't like DN+ brands for anything but things that are specifically targeted to existing domainers (not even new ones), because otherwise most people won't initially catch the DN reference. That being said .. if these locations are targeted only at existing domainers, then that's fine .. I just personally think the brand should try to be inviting and welcoming to newer domainers as well as non-domainers who want to know more about domains and hopefully entrepreneurs looking for domain names or looking for help branding or understanding the industry, etc etc .. again .. there is potentially a huge opportunity here if the concept were more towards being a place people go for branding help and domain suggestions for their businesses



ummm .. that one does have an alternate meaning that might not attract the intended target audience! lol
.

Ya know....that's a very astute observation. I get what you mean. It just didn't occur to me before. Interesting that it occurred to you so quickly.

 

[Ategy]

Ya know....that's a very astute observation. I get what you mean. It just didn't occur to me before. Interesting that it occurred to you so quickly.

ADDED: 90% of the submissions AND votes are based on not really fully thinking or knowing who the actually intended end user is going to be .. it's like people don't even understand the purposed of getting a good domain/brand is to attract your target audience ... if you don't know your target audience then coming up with a proper name/brand is like throwing a dart off the Empire State Building with your target in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.

I said it before in some of the other contests .. "DN" has ZERO relevance to anybody but people ALREADY established in the industry .. picking a DN+ name is a really nice way to add a ton of confusion to your brand and alienate almost all walk-in traffic and lower your online click-through rate.

It's not so bad when it comes to being very industry centric where your intended audience is only existing domainers. Again .. this is why I asked for clarity above. It makes a HUGE difference whether you want to invite non-experienced domains or not. Neither choice is necessarily wrong depending on what you want .. although for the reasons I've mentioned many times now, I think it would be a shame to make this limited ONLY to existing domainers. Not only that .. but I'm not even sure such hubs could even be finacially viable without having a bit of a wider scope.

ADDED: Domainers would be VASTLY more willing to go and pay for the lodging knowing there was a regular stream of potential start-up entrepreneurs (aka END USERS $$$) coming for help with branding and domains!

Not only that .. but even if an experienced domainer walks down the street and see DN+ .. they almost definitely will not make the very unexpected link to domain names unless there is further information available. They'll simply think it's a place named after Don Notts!
(I know it's Don Knotts with a K, but I can't think of a DN celebrity at the moment .. lol)

 

[dirk]

TopLevelDojo(s)

Domainers get the reference and you can't go wrong with toplevel in your brand when catering to outsiders available in King as well. Done.

 

[Abhi007007]

DNGeeks.com

Would like to suggest this COOL name for this global and friendly domainers initiative.

 

[Arfy]

I like DomVoyage.com (think Bon Voyage)

 

[urlurl]

not a fan of 'dojo' names - kind of old school and reminds me of a Karate studio

'Hub' is the modern term used now, surprised I didn't see any hub names

 

[Samer]

not a fan of 'dojo' names - kind of old school and reminds me of a Karate studio

'Hub' is the modern term used now, surprised I didn't see any hub names

Sounds like talk about latest “buzz words”

Agree “dojo” sounds more “karate” than ‘hub’ and hub does sounds more digital electronic

Both work, but I see, where ur coming from

Samer

 

[Ategy]

I like DomVoyage.com (think Bon Voyage)

The problem with "Dom" domains is the association with Domination/Dominatrix and BDSM .. not that there's anything wrong with that .. lol .. again .. just potentially missing parts of the target market while adding a bit of (funny) confusion.

TopLevelDojo(s)
Domainers get the reference and you can't go wrong with toplevel in your brand when catering to outsiders available in King as well. Done.

Again .. only if you're targeting exclusively domainers. Then it's actually not a bad choice more on generic brand value .. but if the scope is beyond just domainers, then not so much (although again, it's still a decent name that could be used that has generic brand appeal (ie: nothing to do with domains) .. unlike DN+ domains that are just confusing IMO

 

[bmugford]

Dojo = Martial arts to me, and I am sure many others.

I don't really like that in branding personally.

Collab.org is the best domain on the list, though I am not sure this is the best use for it.

Brad

 

[Blitzpotz]

It is surprising that they were looking for a .com, people invested time to build their .com submission lists and an .org seems to win.

Collab.org is the best domain in the field but is it the best for the purpose? This name may be confusing in practice as the .com and the .net are in use with IT content.

I voted for DNcollab.com, I like the DN prefix which already stands for a few other Epik projects. If I were Rob I would buy both names. The DN....com for active use and the .org as an investment, perhaps to be activated later or to be sold with a nice profit.

Note: I do not know the registrants of both domains.

 

[oldtimer]

Again .. only if you're targeting exclusively domainers.

I believe that Dojo by definition is exclusive to a certain group (in this case domainers), I understand what you are getting at as far as getting the End Users involved in the Dojo, but it won't be a Dojo anymore, you have to call it something else. For example if people in the automotive design and manufacturing Industry are going to have a Dojo do you think that they are going to invite all the people who want to buy cars.

Also think about the logistics of it, what if a thousand End Users showed up to the Dojo, it won't be a Dojo anymore. Although it would be great if you could get a thousand End Users who want to buy domains in one place with domainers, but you have to call it something else.

IMO

 

[karmaco]

The original post talked about a lifestyle brand that should be aspirational. So there was confusion about what exactly was wanted. I have no problems with Dojo or DN names but the request should include desired keywords or if a made up name was more wanted. That said other words convey a moving workplace just as well as dojo and are more understandable like nomad, nomadic,roam,rove, wander,etc.

 

[Ategy]

@oldtimer .. Sure .. who cares what it's called exactly .. obviously you want a good name ... but then call it something else .. the most important thing in my mind (not sure if you read my previous posts that are very relevant) is using these locations to "help grow the pie" so to speak.

You're going to have these locations anyways .. why limit their functionality when with a simple change of branding you could actually stimulate and grow END USER DEMAND.

All that said .. the term Dojo is very open in it's interpretation these days .. there really is no reason it couldn't be used here, although again .. nitpicking on the specific name rather than trying to shift the and grow the global vision, to actually grow the pie is what I'm trying to avoid here. Just use the best name that makes sense in welcoming EVERYONE .. yes current domainers .. but also including newcomers curious about domains .. and especially start-up entrepreneurs and end users looking for help in branding and acquiring/understanding domains. Even if it's just one or two a day ... that's straight up end-user cash that's being turned away .. and more importantly .. that person might end up just grabbing a crappy handreg as opposed to investing $x,xxx if that had been helped/advised/taught about the value a great domain can bring.

In most cases a $x,xxx domain will save a business significant money compared to buying a handreg within a matter of weeks or months. It instils confidence in potential buyers, it makes getting better employees easier, it saves them marketing money as click-through rates can increase significantly with the right domain .. etc etc etc +++ .. the list goes on ...

The problem with the above paragraph ,is that while it's 100% true .. a lot of people new to domains and branding simply don't know that because they never thought about it. They are not hard concepts to understand either and easily convincible .. it's just that it actually takes somebody to convince them .. hence why I see an opportunity here.

 

[Rahul Sinha]

Just for Everyone Info , Collab has an active trademark .