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Ask HN: Use domain name as startup name or keep separate?

3 points by starshadowx2 ↗ HN
I own a .st domain that fit with my planned name, the last 4 characters are "klst".

Would it be better for brand recognition to use the "kl.st" part in my company name and social media or use it without the "." as just "klst"?

I'm thinking it would be easier to remember/connect the name to the website, but I'm also wondering if that's a general "don't do".

It would be like the difference between registering the company as "bit.ly" vs "bitly".

3 comments

[ 3.8 ms ] story [ 14.5 ms ] thread
brudgers
I won't say "it doesn't matter" because it does matter a rather great deal, but not in the way your question assumes it does. You see the thing is that effort regarding the company name and the perfect domain feel like work but they are not. Work is those things that are harder like making something people will pay for and getting them to pay for it. "What a great name" does not produce checks.

Microsoft isn't in microcomputers. AirBnB doesn't rent air-mattresses Justin wasn't on JustinTV, and Reddit.com is Reddit.com not Redd.it.

Good luck.

thekevan
From an SEO standpoint, having the domain name the same as social media user names is beneficial. Google will see when your domain is "yourcompany", and so is your Twitter handle, your FB user name, Intagram, etc., especially when the social media profile links back to that domain.
andersthue
Try letting go of what is "the best" (tm) thing to do and do what makes most sense - what delivers most value to your customer is probably a name that is easy to spell and remember after your customer has seen or heard about it.

Perhaps test it with a few, asking them to write down your domain/brand name to see if you got it or not?