Rebranding Website - Round 2

[Name Trader]

I still haven't finally decided on my rebranding of DNStore.com. I'm not afraid of rebranding (maybe I should be). Because I'll just point DNStore.com to whatever I choose to rebrand to. Let's start with why I want to rebrand. Several domainers have told me that end-users haven't a clue what DN stands for, and I should probably choose a domain with "domain" in the name and with a 2nd word which suggest selling domains. This sounds all well and good, except there are really none available to register, or are priced too expensively. I've kinda shortlisted 4 domains, which don't actually follow all suggestions which have been made. These are STUB.ORG, STUUB.COM, STUBWEB.COM, NAMETRADER.COM. So let's discuss these 4 domains.

STUB.ORG. I recently purchased this from a very top domainer. It wasn't cheap. How much does it matter that it's not the .COM, which is in use in the entertainment ticketing business? The .NET is for sale for about $25k. I'd like to hear the pros and cons of using STUB.ORG as my domains for sale website, replacing DNStore.com? Pros: It's my name on NP's and an abbreviation of my real name. It's short and to the point. It doesn't address the problem of not including Domain & Sales in the domain name, which started all this searching for a new name. How much does that matter? I think it's very brandable.

STUUB.COM. I purchased this from another domainer about 4 years ago. A true brandable with the same qualities as STUB.ORG, except it is a .COM. If that is important. Does that make it a better choice than STUB.ORG?

STUBWEB.COM. I purchased this in the drops about 4 years ago also. A 2 word brandable, with my keyword+WEB. Several top domainers are using "Domain(s)+Web".com (which obviously are not available). This only partially links the domain to selling domains on the WEB. It's a COM also.

NAMETRADER.COM - I purchased this domain some 15+years ago. This definitely fits the bill of clearly identifying what to expect from the domain. Although it uses the considerably lower form of "NAME" replacing the word "DOMAIN" according to one top domainer, I spoke with. I couldn't find any available domain which implied selling domains with the use of "NAME" available for registration or purchase at a reasonable cost. Not a brandable.

I would stress this is a shortlist. I have several .COM domains with 1 or 2 letters in front of or behind STUB. I have domains like STUBDOMAINS.COM, which might be a good fit/compromise. But I kinda preferred something shorter, and brandable. I have several NGTLDs with the word "DOMAIN(S).+NGTLD. Reasonably good NGTLD's. But I didn't consider them viable, because of thinking about .COM being almost a must. I'm not really sure how many end-users who would know of these NGTLDs, yet. I have and considered several DOMAINSALESxxxx.com but I figured you could die before the completing the domain in your browser

My personal preference is in the order they are listed. But it is a tight decision between all of them. I'd like to here your comments about each of these names and the one you would choose. And why.

rgds
stu

 

[omelet]

none of them are good...

 

[Name Trader]

none of them are good...

Any suggestions for improvements are always welcome. I won't get offended

 

[Name Trader]

Everybody seems to be insistent on only .com. And I've basically been only looking for .com domains with meanings (domain sales, sell domains, kinda stuff). I have some rather interesting NGTLDs, like domain.domains, domain.markets, and others.

 

[Brand New]

Everybody seems to be insistent on only .com. And I've basically been only looking for .com domains with meanings (domain sales, sell domains, kinda stuff). I have some rather interesting NGTLDs, like domain.domains, domain.markets, and others.

Hi @stub

Perfect.domains is still available to reg... in case you're interested...

And Fancy.domains is for sale at Fancy.domains.

I also noticed that Top.domains is also using NGTLD.

(I have no affiliation with both above)

Just food for thoughts if you're considering NGTLDs...

All the very best with whatever you decide...

 

[Lox]

Whatever you choose is fine by me (domain seller). However, in the years to come ...

Brands moving from typing/touch to listening (voice assistants and voice user interface), bc users can ask for more individualized experience (Alexa/Siri etc search words related to transport, business name ideas)

Example PWC survey, Feb 2018 (PDF attached)

Stub+(Media related word), stub.org is fine. If you're a brand today, you must lead vs offer.

Regards

 

[Name Trader]

Whatever you choose is fine by me (domain seller). However, in the years to come ...

Brands moving from typing/touch to listening (voice assistants and voice user interface), bc users can ask for more individualized experience (Alexa/Siri etc search words related to transport, business name ideas)

Stub+(Media related word), stub.org is fine. If you're a brand today, you must lead vs offer.

Regards

Interesting that I own stub.media already. Just many of the NGTLDs I did not mention above. Did you look it up? I find it interesting that you like stub.org, whereas most dislike it vehemently. I understand what you are saying about lead vs offer, although I'm not really fully on board with the concept. I think you can have a brand without being a leader in your niche. The niche I know most about is Domains. I think DAN have carved a niche for themselves, although there at least 10 domain companies in that niche selling aftermarket domain names and beating DAN. And many smaller companies, like Efty. All work in the repurposing old domains to new customers. Just like I do. Which has given my an idea for my home page. It's just an idea at this point. Not fully developed yet.

It's always nice to here your views @Lox.

 

[timestamp]

I would stick with dnstore.
I would just remove word "aftermarket" from site. It's too technical or even intimidating.
dnstore - domain name store
I would remove line about resellers as well.

 

[Name Trader]

I would stick with dnstore.
I would just remove word "aftermarket" from site. It's too technical or even intimidating.
dnstore - domain name store
I would remove line about resellers as well.

Thank you for your contributions @timestamp.

Strange. I thought the word Aftermarket kind of defined DNStore's business quite well. I know you are looking at this from a non-technical point of view. What do others think?

I see where you are going with spelling out the full name.

I agree with you about the sellers point. It was put in after I got fed up with dealing with offers from other domainers. It worked. Almost overnight the enquiries from other domainers dried up. I wouldn't like that to start again after I took it out. I should be able to reword that a lot better, and still not get offers from other domainers. I've made a mental note to attempt to fix that. Thank you.

 

[Brandmore]

I vote for nametrader

 

[omelet]

Any suggestions for improvements are always welcome. I won't get offended

The problem is that I cannot remember your brand....

 

[1Darko]

Hi Stu,
I see that you're still thinking about a rebrand . Why? - I think DNStore is just fine. Like some members before me already pointed out - the name doesn't matter. If I understand correctly you would like to raise the bar higher and get to the next level - probably to increase sales .
If you want to be visible you must expose your store and brand socially. If we look at DNStore more in detail:
- the store isn't integrated in any social platform like facebook, twitter, instagram, linkedin, youtube...etc.
-if I type into Google search "DNStore" it doesn't appear anywear, ok it appears somehow on the last page #6, but only because Google somehow favours DNShop which you're selling on DNStore
- if I type into Google "DN Store" I tried to find something until page #9 where I stopped searching whithout any success
I think you get what I want to say - you must rank better at Google search. Now how to do that is a big task for SEO experts. It takes knowledge, time and of course money. But this will have to be done with any brand you choose.
I would say you could achieve this with DNStore, the only little problem I see is that you will have trouble to get the exact match social handles for DNStore. Interestingly the brand DNStore is used already by some companies.
If you will really rebrand you should get the social handles of this new brand and integrate them into your site and business communication - imho. That could impact your choice of brand. You can use this site to check some available options: knowem dot com
Probably some handles you will have to buy.
You will probably have to calculate the financial outcome of this big decision before you take action. You could burn quite a sum of money without any big improvements to the current situation.

That's my view about your question. To clarify - I don't operate any domain store so I could be totally wrong and you could lose all your domains and money if you're listening to me .

 

[DN Playbook]

I agree with @1Darko. Going with the domains you already own, DNStore.com and NameTrader.com are your best options. If you are able, why not do an A/B test and run your domain portfolio on both domains to see which one gets better results.

 

[Lox]

Interesting that I own stub.media already. Just many of the NGTLDs I did not mention above. Did you look it up?

Yes, and a few existing -Stub- companies helps you to match your specific needs; "brand, media, agency, finance".

I find it interesting that you like stub.org, whereas most dislike it vehemently.

It's easier to remember Stub.org and .org can be more relevant for prospects (on budget) to engage in less restrictive way.

I understand what you are saying about lead vs offer, although I'm not really fully on board with the concept.

I was referring to

It doesn't generate interest to encourage me to want to know more or calls for action to learn (emotion > remember) more (contact us) or make a purchase (lack of drive).

Awareness = creating social attention; follow & engage w startup companies (share your opinions & knowledge without pushing your names)
Desire = emotional presentation; like
Interest = statistics; encourage
Action = extra info/analytics per request; purchase
Retention = satisfy the buyer (communication) so they refer or tweet etc

I think you can have a brand without being a leader in your niche. The niche I know most about is Domains.

Would StubDomains .c/o/m/ be a good choice? (Brand name + Niche name)

I think DAN have carved a niche for themselves, although there at least 10 domain companies in that niche selling aftermarket domain names and beating DAN. And many smaller companies, like Efty.

The companies that constantly expand the most end up being dominant. Yet every day I use them to show, for me, it's just a simple tool for creating awareness. I'm selling through a network of world wide channel partners.

All work in the repurposing old domains to new customers.

As far as I know/see. From approximately 60M DN's for sale, 1.1M domains are sold/resold/swapped/ in 2020. +/- 200.000 sales were designed for absolutely different purposes.

Just like I do. Which has given my an idea for my home page. It's just an idea at this point. Not fully developed yet.

Redesign website and in PDF prepare (template/infographics): growth-oriented validation / analysis. "Does HomeSecurityCo .... domain name do what I (buyer) want it to do?

It's always nice to here your views @Lox.

Thank you!

Regards

 

[redemo]

NAMETRADER.COM

The name I like the best. Short. Simple. Professional. Descriptive. No nonsense. Good luck.

 

[redemo]

In Eng(land)ish the word "stub" is used most frequently when you "stub out a fag" which means to extinguish a cigarette by squashing it on any harder substance - thus depriving it of oxygen. Secondary to this when I think of "stub" is something to do with football tickets and bus tickets. There is no correlation to domain names whatsoever. Confusing. Use Name Trader.

 

[Altetra]

As some people have suggested, indeed your website needs a fresh look and easy to access tools to buy your domains, I personally don't like the home page which is offering only to search for names, it's better to show all of them or by category.
If you decide to change the domain, you have to be aware that this will damage your google rank, there is a setting in Search Console to let google know that you are changing the domain name.
I consider that Stuub is a good brandable, but you will have to work to make it popular (you know repeating something again and again to make it stick in human memory, example an AD on TV or radio and social media), nametrader is also good, at the end you can just redirect them to your main website.
If you want to chk my web domainnature dot king, I did not sold anything but I don't give up it's just one year, only need to learn to price domains proper and grow my portfolio to get sales, I also have begin to draw my own logos to feel the empty space, you can do the same instead of placing those images.
Good luck!

 

[Name Trader]

It's easier to remember Stub.org and .org can be more relevant for prospects (on budget) to engage in less restrictive way.

Thank you. It makes me feel a bit better about it.

I was referring to
Show attachment 206270
It doesn't generate interest to encourage me to want to know more or calls for action to learn (emotion > remember) more (contact us) or make a purchase (lack of drive).

This is already gone in the next generation of the website. I've been waiting for my programmer to change this. It's gone. I didn't like it either.

Awareness = creating social attention; follow & engage w startup companies (share your opinions & knowledge without pushing your names)
Desire = emotional presentation; like
Interest = statistics; encourage
Action = extra info/analytics per request; purchase
Retention = satisfy the buyer (communication) so they refer or tweet etc

Yeah! I just gotta learn how to do that and to build it into a fairly fixed format of a website

Would StubDomains .c/o/m/ be a good choice? (Brand name + Niche name)

I thought about that. It was a contender. But I felt NameTrader.com is definitely more memorable

rgds
stu

 

[Start]

I just saw your post and didn't read all the replies. But wanted to simply add that I think DNStore.com works very well, and I personally wouldn't change it out for any of the others.

NameTrader is a great brand name, but I think it reminds the buyer that you buy low and sell high (or try to at least). But DNStore is more like "come and buy what you need".

That's just my opinion on a very brief thinking of the issue, but I think either name is excellent for a portfolio site.

 

[redemo]

I can't imagine running a commercial enterprise on the .org TLD.

But disagree with that. Do you want me to post some examples brother @forge?

 

[BrandingGo]

Hi @stub I think DNStore is a really cool domain for selling domains to Domainers.
NameTrader is a great name for end user audience.

Here's the solution
Run business on DNStore for domainers
NameTrader is for end-user pricing.