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Are domain names still undervalued or just misunderstood?
The internet’s real estate is strange.
Some of the most powerful names are parked, unused, and often dismissed as "just a domain."
But if naming matters in startups (and it does), why do most people still treat domains as an afterthought?
One name, strategically placed, can signal funding, clarity, and momentum — before a single line of code is written.
Curious where others stand. Are we underestimating the role of names in product-market fit?
- PaulHoule 1y agoThere was a time when it was all about .com and there was no omnibar. Now there are almost 1600 tlds! Even though a 1 word domain may be hard to find, if you are creative you can always find something. A special domain is a nice to have, not a “have to have” for marketing. Usually people who hold domains want 10x or more than most web developers (think real estate developer not software developer) want to pay.
- star_boyzz 1y agoFair take, but I’d argue the oppositein an ocean of noise, a sharp name isn't “nice to have,” it’s leverage. Sure, you can always find a domain. But the ones people remember, trust, and type without thinking? Those aren’t placeholders. They’re assets.
- stefanfis 1y agoIsn’t what you call a "sharp name" just a brand-able name? These kind of domain names aren’t parked that often as they are typically some kind of fantasy names or combinations of two or even more words. So no, I don’t think they’re undervalued.
- star_boyzz 1y agoThat’s exactly why they are undervalued. Most aren’t parked they’re just buried in bad branding or lazy usage. A sharp name with clear vision still beats SEO stuffing and generic combos any day:)
- PaulHoule 1y agoIf I had to choose either a premium domain name or the full court press of SEO and SMO I'd pick the later. Consider the case of steam.com https://www.reddit.com/r/Steam/comments/73fshf/could_valve_buy_steamcom_now_its_been_defunt_for/ https://www.reddit.com/r/Steam/comments/73fshf/could_valve_b... Steam has been at "steampowered.com" which is a 2nd rate domain name in comparison since the beginning. I'm sure they'd like to have steam.com but they've connected well with customers and game publishers without it -- they've done all the other work it takes to make their service a household name.
- star_boyzz 1y agoTotally agree , Steam is a classic case of branding beyond the domain. But would you say that in 2025, with AI tools and search engines reshaping visibility, the role of a clean domain has slightly shifted? For example, bundles like helpai.io, helpai.cloud, helpai.vip, etc., feel less about prestige and more about brand navigation , so users recognize continuity across tools or services. am i wrong ?
- joezepy 1y agoAlthough new gTLDs can be used for catchy names, the world is mostly still used to finding the most successful companies on a .com domain. It's easier to jump into a moving stream than it is to fight it.