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I hear you. I think the one thing that makes this different is that I'm not going after the universal wishlist market, just the baby registry market. When you g

I hear you. I think the one thing that makes this different is that I'm not going after the universal wishlist market, just the baby registry market. When you go to create a baby registry you're not like "oh, i need a wishlist of items for the baby". I'm just starting to market this with people in the pregnancy/baby space, and so far they seem to think this is a totally original idea made just for them.

bdclimber14 16y ago
One facet that I really like is the brand names listed. Not even for credibility, but for integration. I know that baby car-seat I saw at IKEA is probably available since the IKEA logo is there. Great job with doing this!
bm98 16y ago
FYI - I just received an invitation to a baby shower with a reference to www.amazingregistry.com. Your site looks much more pleasant than theirs, and you have a more narrow focus... but since their URL ended up on a real baby shower invitation, I'd say they are your competition.
- pbhjpbhj 16y ago
  >since their URL ended up on a real baby shower invitation Sounds like there's an angle there for promotion - printable invitations, email invite list that tracks responses, free printed snail mail invites (team up with a print house that would take that opportunity) ...?
nocman 16y ago
I agree with at least one thing bdclimber14 seems to be implying. babyli.st is a 'cute' domain name, but I think it is an extremely poor choice for domain names you want people to remember. How are you supposed to pronounce that to someone? Baby - lee - dot - ess - tee ? (I know, that's terrible -- I can't come up with something better). I still think it is true, for better or for worse, that for businesses the best choice is still a good .com domain (or if you can't get a good one, a .net domain is a not-as-good second choice). Unfortunately for you, babylist.com is taken -- but babylist.net is available. I know it can be hard to find an available domain in the .com realm that closely matches what you want, but I still think it is important. I think those business domains which have succeeded despite having a .(something-other-than-com) domain name have done so despite that disadvantage.
- marquis 16y ago
  That's a good point but to be fair anyone who is using a baby register is far more likely to post it to their facebook page, or email it to family members (who are most likely already on facebook), rather than spell it out directly. If you're visiting the new family personally you're not the target for a register anyway, necessarily (as you've got direct access to the source). Also, natgordon - great site. If it was useful outside of the US I'd point several friends to it immediately.
- natgordon 16y ago
  I just tried to buy babylist.net and it's taken :) So there are 2 groups of people. 1. registrants (people having babies) - branding here is important and the name could bite me. Let me know if you have any suggestions for other names. 2. people buying the registrant gifts - BabyList doesn't even have search which is a default wishlist/registry feature. I think giving someone a pretty url slug and letting them email it/share it/link to it, is not going to be a problem.
  - bdclimber14 16y ago
    Try thinking of a baby shower concept/activity that participants have an emotional connection to. Usually the concept is a slightly slang term meaning there's a higher chance of the domain being available. If it were a wedding registry, I would suggest maybe HitchedList? It would be better than WeddingList since it's less general. Obviously this doesn't help directly, but maybe will inspire some ideas! I think the best startup names are those that relate to a market's pathos.
  - subpixel 16y ago
    The url really doesn't matter. The name does, and it's great. My advice would be to use the proper spelling ('Babylist') in general - especially in your html titles - and in no time you'll be #1 for the term, regardless of spelling: http://bit.ly/h5fizW http://bit.ly/h5fizW
    - axod 16y ago
      > The name does, and it's great. People will go to babylist.com. They will probably copy the concept if it takes off. Bad idea.

bdclimber14 16y ago

One facet that I really like is the brand names listed. Not even for credibility, but for integration. I know that baby car-seat I saw at IKEA is probably available since the IKEA logo is there. Great job with doing this!

bm98 16y ago

FYI - I just received an invitation to a baby shower with a reference to www.amazingregistry.com. Your site looks much more pleasant than theirs, and you have a more narrow focus... but since their URL ended up on a real baby shower invitation, I'd say they are your competition.

pbhjpbhj 16y ago
>since their URL ended up on a real baby shower invitation Sounds like there's an angle there for promotion - printable invitations, email invite list that tracks responses, free printed snail mail invites (team up with a print house that would take that opportunity) ...?

nocman 16y ago

I agree with at least one thing bdclimber14 seems to be implying. babyli.st is a 'cute' domain name, but I think it is an extremely poor choice for domain names you want people to remember. How are you supposed to pronounce that to someone? Baby - lee - dot - ess - tee ? (I know, that's terrible -- I can't come up with something better). I still think it is true, for better or for worse, that for businesses the best choice is still a good .com domain (or if you can't get a good one, a .net domain is a not-as-good second choice). Unfortunately for you, babylist.com is taken -- but babylist.net is available. I know it can be hard to find an available domain in the .com realm that closely matches what you want, but I still think it is important. I think those business domains which have succeeded despite having a .(something-other-than-com) domain name have done so despite that disadvantage.

marquis 16y ago
That's a good point but to be fair anyone who is using a baby register is far more likely to post it to their facebook page, or email it to family members (who are most likely already on facebook), rather than spell it out directly. If you're visiting the new family personally you're not the target for a register anyway, necessarily (as you've got direct access to the source). Also, natgordon - great site. If it was useful outside of the US I'd point several friends to it immediately.
natgordon 16y ago
I just tried to buy babylist.net and it's taken :) So there are 2 groups of people. 1. registrants (people having babies) - branding here is important and the name could bite me. Let me know if you have any suggestions for other names. 2. people buying the registrant gifts - BabyList doesn't even have search which is a default wishlist/registry feature. I think giving someone a pretty url slug and letting them email it/share it/link to it, is not going to be a problem.
- bdclimber14 16y ago
  Try thinking of a baby shower concept/activity that participants have an emotional connection to. Usually the concept is a slightly slang term meaning there's a higher chance of the domain being available. If it were a wedding registry, I would suggest maybe HitchedList? It would be better than WeddingList since it's less general. Obviously this doesn't help directly, but maybe will inspire some ideas! I think the best startup names are those that relate to a market's pathos.
- subpixel 16y ago
  The url really doesn't matter. The name does, and it's great. My advice would be to use the proper spelling ('Babylist') in general - especially in your html titles - and in no time you'll be #1 for the term, regardless of spelling: http://bit.ly/h5fizW http://bit.ly/h5fizW
  - axod 16y ago
    > The name does, and it's great. People will go to babylist.com. They will probably copy the concept if it takes off. Bad idea.