buckworks - 10:47 pm on Dec 22, 2011 (gmt 0)

We need a true linguist to weigh in here, because I might have the language wrong for the source of "Zappos". However, it's a certainty that the word is more than just something random that someone made up.

Back to the OP, remember that skillful naming of categories can work keywords into your URLs. A keyword domain can be helpful for some things, but it can also be a limitation.

A good domain name:

- is distinctive
- is easy to recognize when read
- is easy to understand when heard
- is easy to spell (preferably no hyphens)
- is easy to remember
- is easy to pronounce
- is concise
- might or might not mean something related to what your site is about.

I'm sure others could add to that list.

[edited by: buckworks at 10:49 pm (utc) on Dec 22, 2011]