debate What is a brandable domain?

[JayT]

There was a huge debate in chat room. Everyone participating thought I was wrong

-My definition of a brandable: any made up word or non-definite string of words.

-NOT a brandable: 'any generic (dictionary)word, or combination of words that have a rather exacting meaning / have one obvious 'best use'.

My Real examples from chat:
NON BRANDABLE:
Jade.com
Popcorn.com
GoldNews.net
Muffins.org
Apple.com
Monkey.com

All these words can be brandable. Obviously apple isn't expected to be a computer company, but it is. According to everyone else in chat it was a brandable domain all along! They said Jade could be a hotel, or airliner, and as such, it is a brandable domain too. They said GoldNews was a brandable too (and gave crazy reasoning)! My argument was that in reality, anything can be brandable. I told them I could brand blueberrymuffin.com into a baby clothing store (they disagreed) So popcorn.com is brandable but blueberrymuffin.com isn't? I do not think we should be calling the above domains brandables.

It is easier to see when a domain IS a brandable...

They are casting this wide net. I asked why even use the term 'brandable' if it's going to encompass all these domains? Furthermore, if they hated a domain (example: tyvix.com) they said it was NOT a brandable! I could not believe it! They have no definition! they are just going off emotions! Looks like that if they hate a domain they don't want to associate it with their beloved 'brandables'...okay so reality check. Yes, any name can be branded to anything. Do that mean we, as domainers, consider that a brandable domain? Again, why even use the term if we apply it to all of these domains? Why don't we just stop calling them domains and start calling them brandables? (one guy even suggesting just by adding .com or w/e to the end, you are instantly making a brandable, LOL!)

my real examples:
BRANDABLE:
Tyvix.com
Purpleknife.com
Scratchmonkey.com

These word/string are not generic. They have no certain meaning at all. The names can be used for almost anything. These are the kind of domains we should be calling 'brandable'

I would appreciate anyone's input here. This thread might be a little selfish, just to prove to myself that I am not way off base here. I am confused...everyone else was arguing with me...and this seems so simple to me. I am also writing this to warn you because I think it's important to see sentiment!

I highly recommend stop buying 'brandables' This is way over saturated, and ludicrous now. This argument opened my eyes more than ever that this is a big brandable bubble now, ready to pop, just like chips. I honestly think everyone is feeling threatened and must add these good generic domains into their definition of 'brandable' to protect their investment. This is exactly what happens in bubble, investors become irrational. Do not be self-centered people, LOOK around!

 

[todaygold]

Umm, you are off base. Of course being brand-able has to do with emotions, much like advertising. I can make up a word, for example: yudergwgsf...there you go. Is that brand-able? Not really. It has to be appealing to people to be brand-able, not just a random string of characters or a word people don't like.

 

[wormfood]

It sounds like you misunderstood some of what we said, and we were probably wrong on some points too.

But that stuff aside,
A business can use a normal word like Rocket or Portal for a brand name, but that doesn't mean people think every "EMD" is brandable (such as Diabetes or something). That wouldn't make sense.
I'm not sure why you would think words like Rocket are not brandable or should be kept from being called brandable.

People here simply use the word brandable to quickly refer to those 5L/6L made up names and keyword .coms that aren't EMDs (or blends like jazzercise and other types).
But that doesn't mean an EMD can't be considered brandable. It could be "unbrandable" in a certain niche, like if you try to trademark "Beer" in the alcohol niche..instead of branding yourself as Beer dot com (I thought that kind of makes it a brand.. including the dot com in the name. Maybe I'm wrong). Who would brand with the word beer in another niche though ha.. it was just an example.
Some words could only ever really make sense as an EMD (nobody would ever use the word Alcoholism as a brand name)
In most cases, it should be pretty obvious if a dictionary word is brandable, in my opinion.

Same for multiple words. Why can't JetFuel be a cool brand name?

You mentioned BlueberryMuffins lol. Okay, yeah, technically someone could decide to use it as a brand I guess..because it's not negative like the ones I mentioned earlier (diabetes), but I think most of us can tell when something is better suited to be an EMD than a brand.. or the other way around (or that it has good potential to be both).

Maybe I can try to pin it down later if you want a real definition.

 

[JayT]

Umm, you are off base. Of course being brand-able has to do with emotions, much like advertising. I can make up a word, for example: yudergwgsf...there you go. Is that brand-able? Not really. It has to be appealing to people to be brand-able, not just a random string of characters or a word people don't like.

one mans trash is another mans treasure? Someone can turn 'yudergwgsf.com' into anything, they can succeed too, it is possible. That said, i agree yudergwgsf probably shouldn't be considered a brandable domain, it's just plain junk, but that's opinion.

You are just attacking the other end of the spectrum. I laid out a strong argument on why something generic/exacting/unmistakeable shouldn't be brandable. But this, you are saying something is so obscure that it's not considered a brandable. Again, you are protecting the idea of 'brandable by disqualifying domains on the bad end...and you protect the idea of brandable by accepting the good single words. You are selecting without a definition...you are emotionally doing this because you like 'brandable domains', and are trying to support their value. That is just emotional, it is not a definition. 'yudergwgsf.com' is obviously not a one word, or anything meaningful at all. infact, it is not too different from domains like 'yuder.com', which you might consider a great brandable.

Some people here would tell you that toptoptoptoptoptoptotptoptotptotptoptoptoptop...top.top is a brand. that is their opinion. one thing is for sure, it's not a GENERIC like monkey.com.

It is easier to qualify a domain as a generic than to disqualify as a brandable (IE: worthless junk), which is not so straight forward.

 

[todaygold]

You are selecting without a definition...you are emotionally doing this because you like 'brandable domains', and are trying to support their value. That is just emotional, it is not a definition. 'yudergwgsf.com' is obviously not a one word, or anything meaningful at all. infact, it is not too different from domains like 'yuder.com', which you might consider a great brandable.

Some people here would tell you that toptoptoptoptoptoptotptoptotptotptoptoptoptop...top.top is a brand. that is their opinion. one thing is for sure, it's not a GENERIC like monkey.com.

I don't get what you are arguing about? YES, again, determining whether something is brandable or not does depend on emotion. That's the whole point. Being brandable is very similar to advertising...it has to appeal to peoples emotions. That's the whole idea. There is no 'test' for emotions or whether something is brandable.

 

[JayT]

@jacolibo you wrote a lot...here let's focus on this, your main point, I believe.

Who would brand with the word beer in another niche though ha.. it was just an example.
Some words could only ever really make sense as an EMD (nobody would ever use the word Alcoholism as a brand name)

A clothing brand: 'Beer'

I prove my point on any example you give. You can brand everything to anything, if you wish. You guys are arguing the abstract, 'what if, arbitary'. SO why arn't all domains 'brandable' under your definition? If EVERY domain is 'brandable', why are we using the term? pointless...

I have defined brandable in first post, or not? Can you give a better definition or just make up examples that I just waste my time discrediting over and over?

 

[Start]

In a way, this reminds me of the riddle/joke:

How many months of the year have 28 days?
Is the answer just 1 (February), or is all 12?


A lot of exact-match domains are brandable, like Amazon.com. But yeah, I would say when you say "brandable", people will think of examples like in the first post:

Purpleknife.com
Scratchmonkey.com
Tyvix.com


I would say all exact-match 1 or 2 word domains are at least somewhat brandable... but if you say "brandable", people will probably just think of domains that are *ONLY* brandable (not ones that are also exact-match).

It's kind of an issue of semantics, I would say.

 

[JayT]

@todaygold I am "aruging" that domains like beer, monkey, goldchat, apple should NOT be considered brandable domains. I had 5 people argue against that idea in chat. Not 1 person agreed with me. I am starting to question my definition of 'brandable'. Therefore im looking for a debate to convince me one way or another, because I am confused.

 

[wormfood]

@jacolibo you wrote a lot...here let's focus on this, your main point, I believe.

A clothing brand: 'Beer'

I prove my point on any example you give. You can brand everything to anything, if you wish. You guys are arguing the abstract, 'what if, arbitary'. SO why arn't all domains 'brandable' under your definition? If EVERY domain is 'brandable', why are we using the term? pointless...

I have defined brandable in first post, or not? Can you give a better definition or just make up examples that I just waste my time discrediting over and over?

Okay cool, it's being used..
That was just my ignorant guess about the word beer.

So you think the words diabetes and alcoholism are brandable? I guess not. Does that mean all "EMDs" are not brandable? No.
Why does it have to be black and white?
Nobody said everything is brandable, well at least not me.

 

[todaygold]

I am "aruging" that domains like beer, monkey, goldchat, apple should NOT be considered brandable domains. I had 5 people argue against that idea in chat. Not 1 person agreed with me. I am starting to question my definition of 'brandable'. Therefore im looking for a debate to convince me one way or another, because I am confused.

Well let's take the reverse...why do you think these words should not be brandable?

 

[JayT]

@todaygold

Well let's take the reverse...why do you think these words should not be brandable?

I've answered this in more than 1 way. These domains should not be considered brandable to us (beer, monkey, goldchat, apple...) because they are considered generic or one words. If you say these are brandables, then WHAT ISNT a brandable domain?!...according to you guys, only pure junk (in your OPINIONS) isn't a brandable, everything else is! Now, if every domain is a 'brandable' under your definition (which im only assuming by what I am reading here) why are we even using the term? it's like calling a dog "canis dog", just a rendered repetition.

Jaco is trying to say apple is brandable but beer is not. THis is just conjecture! I have a matter of fact definition! And all saying im totally wrong LOL. I am not convinced...

 

[todaygold]

I've answered this in more than 1 way. These domains should not be considered brandable to us (beer, monkey, goldchat, apple...) because they are considered generic or one words. If you say these are brandables, then WHAT ISNT a brandable domain?!...according to you guys, only pure junk (in your OPINIONS) isn't a brandable, everything else is! Now, if every domain is a 'brandable' under your definition (which im only assuming by what I am reading here) why are we even using the term? it's like calling a dog "canis dog", just a rendered repetition.

Again, not sure what the problem is. Anything that sounds good and resonates with people can be brandable. There is an emotional component to that. We call things brandable here, because a lot of domains are not brandable. That is either because they are junk or because they are not meant to be for a brand...such as geographical domains, people's names, etc.

 

[wormfood]

"Who would brand with the word beer in another niche though ha.. " means I thought it was unlikely sheesh.

So you think I believe CarInsurance is brandable? How on earth could that be a brand?
Your definition doesn't include real words that can be used as brands like Puma or something.

 

[JayT]

We call things brandable here, because a lot of domains are not brandable. That is either because they are junk or because they are not meant to be for a brand...such as geographical domains, people's names, etc.

Geodomains are brandable, peoples names are brandable. Ford, Abercrombie and Fitch, Ann Summers, Eddie Bauer, Dell, plenty of names are brands, and so are GEOS, like: Amazon...IDK but a bunch for sure (im sure there are way better examples but you get the point ?) you are just making this up. You just said these are not brandables. You are just picking out what you think on emotion. Define it or debunk my definition....seriously you both are just coming up with examples and i will DEBUNK them everytime.

 

[JayT]

Your definition doesn't include real words that can be used as brands like Puma or something.

ANYTHING can be used as a brandable with your viewpoint, that's my point. I cannot consider PUMA a brandable, because it's a generic one word domain! it has exact, existing meaning. You are only calling it out because it is already a brand, so it makes your arugment SEEM legitimate. If puma is a brandable then hippopotamus is, spidermonkey is. every single animal is. you are only accepting it as a 'brandable' because it was twisted into that! from a domainers view, it is a single word generic, otherwise EVERYTHING is a brandable.

 

[todaygold]

Geodomains are brandable, peoples names are brandable. Ford, Abercrombie and Fitch, Ann Summers, Eddie Bauer, Dell, plenty of names are brands, and so are GEOS, like: Amazon...IDK but a bunch for sure (im sure there are way better examples but you get the point ?) you are just making this up. You just said these are not brandables. You are just picking out what you think on emotion. Define it or debunk my definition....seriously you both are just coming up with examples and i will DEBUNK them everytime.

You really are thick headed. What part of, it's based on EMOTION and can't be DEFINED, don't you understand? And no, not every geo domain is brandable...for example, NorthWilliamsvilleCountyTennessee isn't really a great brandable name. But regardless, I'm done with this and I'm done debating with you because you won't listen to reason. There is no definition and you apparently won't be satisfied unless you read it in the dictionary, so whatever, think whatever you want.

 

[JayT]

@todaygold

You really are thick headed. What part of, it's based on EMOTION and can't be DEFINED, don't you understand? And no, not every geo domain is brandable...for example, NorthWilliamsvilleCountyTennessee isn't really a great brandable name. But regardless, I'm done with this and I'm done debating with you because you won't listen to reason. There is no definition and you apparently won't be satisfied unless you read it in the dictionary, so whatever, think whatever you want.

I think you are not getting the point of the thread. I figured it was obvious...you said, i quote, "There is no definition". If you read the very top of my first post, I GIVE you definition to debate. I HAVE defined it, and you are saying I am wrong. I can apply my definition to any domain in a rational way and determine if it is brandable or not, simple. You are basicly saying 'it depends on what any individual thinks: undefined. Yet, in that same breath you say: "yudergwgsf.com is not a brandable". What if i say that i think it is? you can't prove me wrong. you can't prove me wrong because you are not defining brandable.

@jacoliobo
You said, I quote, "So you think I believe CarInsurance is brandable?"

NO. read first thread. NON BRANDABLE: combination of words that have a rather exacting meaning / have one obvious 'best use'.

 

[wormfood]

from a domainers view, it is a single word generic, otherwise EVERYTHING is a brandable.

This is completely illogical.
How do you jump from a short, appealing word being considered brandable to 'everything has to be considered a brandable then'?

I guess you'd like to see a picture of a tiger instead of a business when you visit tiger.com? After all, IT'S JUST A GENERIC EXACT MATCH DOMAIN.

Not all EMDs are brandable. Some are. Get over it.

 

[JayT]

This is completely illogical.
How do you jump from a short, appealing word being considered brandable to 'everything has to be considered a brandable then'?

I guess you'd like to see a picture of a tiger instead of a business when you visit tiger.com? After all, IT'S JUST A GENERIC.

So what business or product would you brand as Car Insurance? I'm curious.

Not all EMDs are brandable. Some are. Get over it.

Jacoliobo, sometime things mean something else IN SOME KIND OF CONTEXT. In the context of domaining, I do not think tiger.com is a brandable. It is a GENERIC single word domain. I am "jumping" to the conclusion that is it generic because where do you draw the line? I have stated over and over that if tiger.com is a brandable then so can be spidermonkey, so can dungbettle, so can every bird, fish, animal etc. It is a dictionary word, and that is one defining characteristic of a 'non-brandable in my defintions. I can apply this arugument to every 'real word' and draw it into infinity because you are giving no rules, just arbitary examples EVERY-SINGLE-TIME. You can't pick what works in your mind then say 'and so it shall be!' Again, tiger.com is a generic one word domain under my defintion. Under your idea it 'sounds good, so i'll say it is a brandable, but other animals might not be'.

I am saying carinsurance is not a brandable, it is a generic domain. it is a great domain too, plenty of business will "brand" to it, but from a domainers perspective, it is a EMD generic. You are throwing net over it all...

Define brandable, please. stop giving emotional examples for me to explain the same thing over and over in a different way hoping I make a mistake.

You are forcing "tiger.com is a brandable, beer.com is not" down my throat and not backing it up. It is YOU that is being unreasonable. It is glaringly obvious you are basing what is brandable off your opinion and emotion. Title is asking for an answer. You saying, "tiger.com is brandable" with no reason is not helping. I am denying these statements over and over.

Please, give me a logical explanation (KEEP EXAMPLES OUT) of why I am wrong:
definition of a brandable: any made up word or non-definite string of words.

-NOT to be considered a brandable: 'any generic (dictionary)word, or combination of words that have a rather exacting meaning / have one obvious 'best use'.

@jacoliobo I just read above post, I quote,"So you think the words diabetes and alcoholism are brandable? I guess not."

my answer: no, they are single dictionary words. they are non brandable, generics under my defintions. You guessed right..so what's your point? You are all over the map, making this thread way confusing! You are trying to confuse everyone here with sarcasm, trying to make me look wrong without backing again?

DISLIKE ME IF YOU THINK IM WRONG PEOPLE.

 

[wormfood]

From the OP:
"My argument was that in reality, anything can be brandable."
"Yes, any name can be branded to anything. Do that mean we, as domainers, consider that a brandable domain? Again, why even use the term if we apply it to all of these domains?"

YOU are saying all names can be branded (the definition of brandable).
Any name cannot just be branded into anything unless you're crazy, ignorant or want it to fail. Here's my new face wash for acne: I call it... Melanoma.

 

[JayT]

From the OP:
"My argument was that in reality, anything can be brandable. I told them I could brand blueberrymuffin.com into a baby clothing store (they disagreed)"
"Yes, any name can be branded to anything. Do that mean we, as domainers, consider that a brandable domain? Again, why even use the term if we apply it to all of these domains?"

YOU are applying it to all domains.

No, I am not.

JAYT SAID: "My argument was that in reality, anything can be brandable. I told them I could brand blueberrymuffin.com into a baby clothing store (they disagreed)"
"Yes, any name can be branded to anything...

WAS A LEAD UP TO:
Do that mean we, as domainers, consider that a brandable domain? Again, why even use the term if we apply it to all of these domains?"

Read it and comprehended it within context. I do not write like a robot... I apoligize for writing somewhat rhetorically/sarcastically...now I will explain it in simpler terms.

REWORKED STRAIGHT-FORWARD VERSION: I can't consider domains like blueberrymuffin.com as brandable because it is very generic, it is exacting, and it has an obvious 'best use'. This should be defined as and EMD domain instead. (please don't make me explain why it's an EMD). However, if someone wanted to go out on a limb, this could be branded into a baby clothing store (you guys called this stupid and unlikely, I agree...I WAS MOCKING by saying it COULD be a brandable, sorry). If we are to consider domains like this brandable, what isn't brandable? Again, revert to my definitions "generic, exacting/best use"...yes, this domain (blueberrymuffin.com) falls into NON-Brandable.

I am just waiting for you to define a brandable, please...don't pick at my other shortcommings. stick to facts. Define it. If you cannot define it, as @todaygold said it's impossible because it is opinion, I ask: why then, isn't EVERY domain brandable? It doesn't work when everyone has their own interpretation. 'brandable' is useless when you throw it around with out a definition. I have made my definitions, I have talked sarcasicly, mockingly, ect. I don't mean to confuse anyone. I am simply asking for a definition of a word. Do not all words have a defintion, or is brandable a magical word?

Do you really expect me to see a post that title reads: "BRANDABLE DOMAINS: tiger.com, puma.com" Doesn't this sound redic to you?

Jacolibo: "Here's my new face wash for acne: I call it... Melanoma."
LOL, you are good at twisting stuff around. No, that doesn't make sense...FURTHERMORE, Melanoma is a single word, dictionary, no-brandable under my MAIN POINT. Why are you being so ignorant? And before You go any further...let me say: Any word, or combo of words (brandable or not) COULD be 'TWISTED' to mean something unexpected. IT IS brandable in this sense. SHould we call them all brandable, NO! No, because this COULD make EVERY domain brandable with a little imagination...the word is moot in this case. It is just common sense.

 

[bludex]

I would argue: when does a domain derive most of it's value by being brandable, then it's proper to name it a brandable.
In my opionion there are basically three classes of domains:
Domains that derive their value foremost by being:
A) combinatorially scarce in their extension (aka tld) - classically the short domains
B) of significant keyword value (stats like searches and cpc) or opportunity value - e.g. high traffic keywords or trending topics
C) brandable - a scaffold that is empty waiting to be filled by meaning

 

[JayT]

C) brandable - a scaffold that is empty waiting to be filled by meaning

Thank you so far...the whole rest of this thread is people trying to invalidate my definition without giving one of their own. I agree with you, I just think "any made up word or non-definite string of words" is more technical and exacting than your "C)". Your definition doesn't conflict with mine though, just inadequate, I think... I am really looking for someone to agree with me, because so far I have about 7 people that are calling me stupid (more or less) for my definitions.

I am actually trying to help everyone by showing them my point of view, and explaining why their point of view is dangerous. LOL sounds like I shouldn't even care, but I do.

 

[JayT]

As I read back over the thread, I see these posts that are littered with things that I agree with, mixed in with things I don't, then spun around to make it sound like I said something, when YOU are saying it. Yes you are mixing the truth with the mix-up, in order to make me sound dumb. Reality is, you are putting words in my mouth. You are chasing your own tails arguing with me. Take this for example : @todaygold ,you said: "You really are thick headed. What part of, it's based on EMOTION and can't be DEFINED, don't you understand? And no, not every geo domain is brandable...for example, NorthWilliamsvilleCountyTennessee isn't really a great brandable name."

"ANd no..." (*You're Implying I stated something and you are about to debunk it): "...NorthWilliamsvilleCountyTennessee isn't really a great brandable name."

Really Sherlock? When did I say something like this is? Contrary. My description of NON-BRANDABLE: combination of words that have a rather exacting meaning / have one obvious 'best use'. "NorthWIlliamsvilleCountyTennessee" is this, it has an exacting meaning! I know it's not a brandable. Are you comprehending? Now read what I say is brandable and you will see this domain is exactly opposite of THAT definition (ironic? no).

The title of this thread is: What is a brandable domain?
Does anyone blame me for rejecting "it's based on EMOTION and can't be DEFINED"?


Every word has a definition. Sometimes words can have an adjusted meaning when used in some context, or in this case, a specific industry. I cannot accept that 'brandable' is a special magic word with no definition. Truth is, You don't know. You have gave NO definition yourself, yet argue with mine (and with great futility).

For the umpteenth time, the traditional word 'brandable', we can apply to EVERY domain, because imagination is limitless. That's because of the nature of domains! We have shifted the 'space' in which this word can function, into an industry that embraces the word...it is the lifeblood of it...domains + brandable are interchangeable if used with the common definition. This cannot be. If it is every domain, brandable, why are people using it to tag their domains? They are the silly then.

So far I am fighting off trolls that can't even answer the TOPIC within 10 replies. Instead they attack my thesis with no substance, just emotional assumptions. WHEN SOMEONE tells you 1+1=2, you don't say they are wrong by giving examples of other equations. you must first define 1 and 2. Define 'brandable' in a way that is fitting for domainers. Simple. I don't want examples like "beer.com is not brandable, tiger.com is".

 

[wormfood]

Jacoliobo, sometime things mean something else IN SOME KIND OF CONTEXT. In the context of domaining, I do not think tiger.com is a brandable. It is a GENERIC single word domain.

Yeah, totally makes sense. In the context of domain investing, nobody is really trying to maximize profits, so the best thing to do with tiger.com is not to sell it to a business that wants to build a brand with it, but to treat it like the non-brandable domain it is and sell it to a photographer who loves tigers.

I can't consider domains like blueberrymuffin.com as brandable because it is very generic, it is exacting, and it has an obvious 'best use'.

Okay.
I want you to answer this one. What is the 'obvious best use' (or uses) for these domains:
tiger.com
apple.com
monkey.com