Ask HN: Should I try to get squatted domain or use domain hack?

17 points

16 years ago

I've got a name for a project I'm working on; projectna.me is available (and inexpensive), but projectname.com is just a parked page, and there's a hotmail address in the WHOIS. All the other gTLDs are available (.net, .org, etc). The name is two generic words strung together (11 chars), and is not in use by anyone.

The project is a SaaS product for customer service and technical support departments of SMBs (not to mention a few other segments that I haven't anticipated).

Should I:

a) Stick with the domain hack, and worry about the .com if/when my site gets big?

b) Contact the .com owner and try to buy it before launching. (If so, how should I approach him? In my previous dealings with squatters I've been asked for a "4-figure offer", which is out of my bootstrapped budget.)

c) Ignore the hack and .com, and go with a .net?

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