In today’s digital age, a business’s online identity is paramount to its success. With over 1.13 billion websites on the internet and counting, it is increasingly challenging for startups to secure their perfect spot on the web. Many first-time entrepreneurs lack the knowledge and experience to understand the importance of domain names as brand assets. Combined with a potential lack of budget and uncertainty about the business’s survival, startups often launch with a compromise domain name that does not accurately reflect their brand vision.
As those brands grow and prove their concept, they realise the critical role that the right domain can play in their success. Issues that are often experienced with compromise names include brand fragmentation, confusion, trust and credibility issues with clients and business partners, ineffective marketing and advertising, and cyber security risks.
In this table, we showcase these successful businesses and share their inspiring stories.
company | initial domain | challenges | new domain | price | story |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tesla | teslamotors.com | The old domain limited the brand's scope to just "motors" and did not reflect the company's broader focus on energy and sustainability. | tesla.com | $11M | https://smartbranding.com/teslamotors-com-upgrades-to-tesla-com/ |
Chime | chimebank.com | The old domain restricted the company's branding to just "banking," which could limit its ability to expand its offerings beyond banking services. | chime.com | NA | https://smartbranding.com/chimebank-com-upgrade-to-chime-com/ |
Zoom | zoom.us | Country domain extensions may limit recognition and credibility, making it difficult to attract and retain customers, and limit global appeal and recognition. | zoom.com | NA | https://smartbranding.com/zoom-us-upgrade-to-zoom-com/ |
Jamba | jambajuice.com | The old domain emphasized only one of the brand's product lines (juice), which could have limited its ability to expand its offerings beyond beverages. | jamba.com | NA | https://smartbranding.com/jambajuice-com-upgrade-to-jamba-com/ |
ALL / Accor Live Limitless | all.accor.com | The old domain was too complex and not easy to remember, which could have affected the brand's visibility and recognition. | all.com | NA | https://smartbranding.com/all-accor-com-upgrade-to-all-com/ |
Mural | mural.ly / mural.co | Country domain extensions may limit recognition and credibility, making it difficult to attract and retain customers, and limit global appeal and recognition. | mural.com | NA | https://smartbranding.com/mural-upgrade-from-mural-ly-to-mural-co-to-mural-com/ |
Rapchat | rapchat․me | Country domain extensions may limit recognition and credibility, making it difficult to attract and retain customers, and limit global appeal and recognition. | rapchat․com | NA | https://smartbranding.com/rapchat%e2%80%a4me-upgrade-to-rapchat-com/ |
Uber | ubercap.com | The original domain limited their growth potential in the ride-sharing market as it emphasized their cab service. | uber.com | 2% stake in the company | https://smartbranding.com/ubercab-com-to-uber-com/ |
thefacebook.com | The original domain was too long and difficult to remember, which made it challenging to build brand recognition. | facebook.com / fb.com | $200K / $8.5M | https://smartbranding.com/thefacebook-com-facebook-com-fb-com/ | |
Drop | massdrop.com | The original domain was too specific, as it only focused on their original product offering of group buying. | drop.com | NA | https://smartbranding.com/massdrop-com-upgrades-to-drop-com/ |
AHEAD | thinkahead.com | Adding a descriptive word to the domain name to compensate for the mismatch with the brand name can create confusion among customers and hinder business growth. | ahead.com | NA | https://smartbranding.com/thinkahead-com-to-ahead-com/ |
Front | frontapp.com | Adding a descriptive word to the domain name to compensate for the mismatch with the brand name can create confusion among customers and hinder business growth. | front.com | NA | https://smartbranding.com/frontapp-com-upgrade-to-front-com/ |
Linktree | linktr․ee | Country domain extensions may limit recognition and credibility, making it difficult to attract and retain customers, and limit global appeal and recognition. | linktree.com | NA | https://smartbranding.com/linktr-ee-upgrade-to-linktree-com/ |
Fonoa | fonoatech.com | The original domain was too technical, limiting their brand appeal beyond a niche audience. | fonoa.com | NA | https://smartbranding.com/fonoatech-com-to-fonoa-com/ |
Plaid | plaid.io | Country domain extensions may limit recognition and credibility, making it difficult to attract and retain customers, and limit global appeal and recognition. | plaid.com | NA | https://smartbranding.com/plaid-io-upgrade-to-plaid-com/ |
Spline | spline.design | The original domain name was not a .com extension, which could have led to confusion and difficulty in accessing it. | spline.com | NA | https://smartbranding.com/spline-design-upgrade-to-spline-com/ |
Geneva | genevachat․com | Adding a descriptive word to the domain name to compensate for the mismatch with the brand name can create confusion among customers and hinder business growth. | geneva.com | NA | https://smartbranding.com/genevachat%e2%80%a4com-upgrade-to-geneva-com/ |
Detect | detectnow.com | Adding a descriptive word to the domain name to compensate for the mismatch with the brand name can create confusion among customers and hinder business growth. | detect.com | NA | https://smartbranding.com/detect-thinks-big-invests-in-detect-com/ |
Copecart | copecart.com | cope.com | NA | https://smartbranding.com/copecart-com-upgrade-to-cope-com/ | |
Clubhouse | joinclubhouse.com | Adding a descriptive word to the domain name to compensate for the mismatch with the brand name can create confusion among customers and hinder business growth. | clubhouse.com | NA | https://smartbranding.com/clubhouse-upgrade-from-joinclubhouse-com-to-clubhouse-com/ |
Ribbon | ribbonexperiences.com | Adding a descriptive word to the domain name to compensate for the mismatch with the brand name can create confusion among customers and hinder business growth. | ribbon.com | NA | https://smartbranding.com/ribbonexperiences-com-upgrade-to-ribbon-com/ |
Structure Studios | structurestudios.com | The original domain was too specific to the studio aspect of the brand, limiting its appeal to other offerings. | structure.com | NA | https://smartbranding.com/structurestudios-com-upgrade-to-structure-com/ |
Bubble | bubble.io | Country domain extensions may limit recognition and credibility, making it difficult to attract and retain customers, and limit global appeal and recognition. | bubble.com | NA | https://smartbranding.com/bubble-io-upgrade-to-bubble-com/ |
Mote | justmote.me | Country domain extensions may limit recognition and credibility, making it difficult to attract and retain customers, and limit global appeal and recognition. | mote.com | NA | https://smartbranding.com/justmote-me-upgrade-to-mote-com/ |
Sushi | sushiswap.fi | Country domain extensions may limit recognition and credibility, making it difficult to attract and retain customers, and limit global appeal and recognition. | sushi.com | NA | https://smartbranding.com/sushiswap-fi-upgrade-to-sushi-com/ |
Forge | forgeglobal.com | Adding a descriptive word to the domain name to compensate for the mismatch with the brand name can create confusion among customers and hinder business growth. | forge.com | NA | https://smartbranding.com/forgeglobal-com-upgrade-to-forge-com/ |
Capsule | capsulecares.com | Adding a descriptive word to the domain name to compensate for the mismatch with the brand name can create confusion among customers and hinder business growth. | capsule.com | NA | https://smartbranding.com/capsulecares-com-upgrade-to-capsule-com/ |
Kane | kanecommunications.com | Adding a descriptive word to the domain name to compensate for the mismatch with the brand name can create confusion among customers and hinder business growth. | kane.com | NA | https://smartbranding.com/kanecommunications-com-upgrade-to-kane-com/ |
OpenSea | opensea.io | Country domain extensions may limit recognition and credibility, making it difficult to attract and retain customers, and limit global appeal and recognition. | opensea.com | NA | https://smartbranding.com/opensea-io-to-opensea-com/ |
Scan | nationalmrIscan.com | Difficulty in remembering and typing the original domain name. | scan.com | NA | https://smartbranding.com/national-mri-scan-acquires-scan-com-to-service-us-and-german-markets/ |
Radar | radar.io | Country domain extensions may limit recognition and credibility, making it difficult to attract and retain customers, and limit global appeal and recognition. | radar.com | NA | https://smartbranding.com/radar-io-upgrades-to-radar-com/ |
Panther | panther.io | Country domain extensions may limit recognition and credibility, making it difficult to attract and retain customers, and limit global appeal and recognition. | panther.com | NA | https://smartbranding.com/panther-labs-acquires-panther-com/ |
Waiv | waivvaluation.com | Adding a descriptive word to the domain name to compensate for the mismatch with the brand name can create confusion among customers and hinder business growth. | waiv.com | NA | https://smartbranding.com/waivvaluation-com-upgrades-to-waiv-com/ |
Gpool | gpool.io | Country domain extensions may limit recognition and credibility, making it difficult to attract and retain customers, and limit global appeal and recognition. | gpool.com | NA | https://smartbranding.com/gpool-io-upgrade-to-gpool-com/ |
Opportuni | opportuni.co.uk | Country domain extensions may limit recognition and credibility, making it difficult to attract and retain customers, and limit global appeal and recognition. | opportuni.com | NA | https://smartbranding.com/uk-startup-opportuni-enters-the-global-stage-with-opportuni-com/ |
Montane | montane.co.uk | Country domain extensions may limit recognition and credibility, making it difficult to attract and retain customers, and limit global appeal and recognition. | montane.com | NA | https://smartbranding.com/montane-matches-its-global-presence-with-montane-com/ |
Atoms | wearatoms.com | Adding a descriptive word to the domain name to compensate for the mismatch with the brand name can create confusion among customers and hinder business growth. | atoms.com | NA | https://smartbranding.com/if-the-shoe-fitsatoms-secure-atoms-com/ |
Carrd | carrd.co | Country domain extensions may limit recognition and credibility, making it difficult to attract and retain customers, and limit global appeal and recognition. | carrd.com | NA | https://smartbranding.com/carrd-avoids-users-mistyping-its-name-securing-carrd-com/ |
Phylum | phylum.io | Country domain extensions may limit recognition and credibility, making it difficult to attract and retain customers, and limit global appeal and recognition. | phylum.com | NA | https://smartbranding.com/devsecops-startup-phylum-secures-phylum-com/ |
Stoggles | wearstoggles.com | Adding a descriptive word to the domain name to compensate for the mismatch with the brand name can create confusion among customers and hinder business growth. | stoggles.com | NA | https://smartbranding.com/wearstoggles-com-upgrade-stoggles-com/ |
Fiton | fitonapp.com | Adding a descriptive word to the domain name to compensate for the mismatch with the brand name can create confusion among customers and hinder business growth. | fiton.com | NA | https://smartbranding.com/fitonapp-com-makes-a-huge-step-forward-with-fiton-com/ |
Databook | trydatabook.com | Adding a descriptive word to the domain name to compensate for the mismatch with the brand name can create confusion among customers and hinder business growth. | databook.com | NA | https://smartbranding.com/databook-is-no-longer-trying-with-trydatabook-com-upgrade-to-databook-com/ |
Grain | grain.co | Country domain extensions may limit recognition and credibility, making it difficult to attract and retain customers, and limit global appeal and recognition. | grain.com | NA | https://smartbranding.com/grain-co-establishes-solid-global-presence-by-securing-grain-com/ |
Republic | republic.co | Country domain extensions may limit recognition and credibility, making it difficult to attract and retain customers, and limit global appeal and recognition. | republic.com | NA | https://smartbranding.com/entering-a-new-phase-of-growth-and-maturity-republic-upgrades-to-republic-com/ |
Bread Finance | breadfinance.com | bread.com | NA | https://smartbranding.com/bread-financial-represents-a-more-focused-unified-company-invests-in-bread-com/ | |
Dropbox | getdropbox.com | Adding a descriptive word to the domain name to compensate for the mismatch with the brand name can create confusion among customers and hinder business growth. | dropbox.com | $300K | https://smartbranding.com/dropbox-is-serious-about-what-they-do-with-dropbox-com/ |
Upside | getupside.com | Adding a descriptive word to the domain name to compensate for the mismatch with the brand name can create confusion among customers and hinder business growth. | upside.com | NA | https://smartbranding.com/getupside-raises-165m-series-d-to-transform-brick-and-mortar-commerce-and-rebrands-to-simply-upside/ |
Deel | letsdeel.com | Adding a descriptive word to the domain name to compensate for the mismatch with the brand name can create confusion among customers and hinder business growth. | deel.com | NA | https://smartbranding.com/letsdeel-com-upgrades-to-deel-com-and-secures-50-million-in-funding/ |
Resolution | resolutiongames.com | The old domain includes the descriptive word " games ", which could limit the perception of the company's offerings. | resolution.com | NA | https://smartbranding.com/resolution-games-opens-its-business-beyond-games-with-resolution-com/ |
Bux | getbux.com | Adding a descriptive word to the domain name to compensate for the mismatch with the brand name can create confusion among customers and hinder business growth. | bux.com | NA | https://smartbranding.com/getbux-acquired-an-exact-brand-match-domain-bux-com/ |
A premium domain name can make all the difference in building a successful brand. If you want to take your business to the next level, consider investing in a premium domain name. Contact us today for more information and assistance in finding the perfect domain for your brand.
While we make every effort to ensure the data on our site is accurate, complete, and up-to-date, we cannot guarantee its reliability. Our data is provided for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as legal, financial, or other advice. We strongly recommend that you independently verify any information before relying on it.
branding business Compromise domain domain name domain names domains naming premium domains upgrade upgrades
Previous Next