So you chose a name that was actually a word in another language (tl;dr: pinkeln = peeing in german), and it was embarrassing when you found out. But then you say, "Did it hurt us in the end? I don’t think so." And this is evidence that Color made a good choice to go after a name like theirs.
Color paid half a million dollars for domain recognizability... and this is beneficial because they didn't accidentally choose a name that means peeing.
I don't think your evidence actually argues for your point. What about all the names that aren't a common word in your target language, but don't mean peeing in others, either?
That they paid a lot of cash for the domain name - well, if they have it, why not. Some startups are strapped for cash, others aren't. If the service becomes as popular as they think it will, $500k are irrelevant.
It didn't hurt us (yet) as we were just starting out. But remember, meetings with VC's became awkward, and as said, I am still awaiting the first German app developer to use the service. So, in the end, it got us traffic (which didn't hurt). But the name will be an issue that will haunt us unless we change. We made that decision, knowing that it would cost us. But no regrets now.
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So you chose a name that was actually a word in another language (tl;dr: pinkeln = peeing in german), and it was embarrassing when you found out. But then you say, "Did it hurt us in the end? I don’t think so." And this is evidence that Color made a good choice to go after a name like theirs.
Color paid half a million dollars for domain recognizability... and this is beneficial because they didn't accidentally choose a name that means peeing.
I don't think your evidence actually argues for your point. What about all the names that aren't a common word in your target language, but don't mean peeing in others, either?
Color IMO is a bad name as it's too generic.
That they paid a lot of cash for the domain name - well, if they have it, why not. Some startups are strapped for cash, others aren't. If the service becomes as popular as they think it will, $500k are irrelevant.
PinkelStar - oh, you funny Dutch people!
It didn't hurt us (yet) as we were just starting out. But remember, meetings with VC's became awkward, and as said, I am still awaiting the first German app developer to use the service. So, in the end, it got us traffic (which didn't hurt). But the name will be an issue that will haunt us unless we change. We made that decision, knowing that it would cost us. But no regrets now.