I'm a total newby - but I like VegasTradingSeminars.com

I don't go to Las Vegas, I go to Vegas.... and if you're offering a trading seminar - it's a match with the purpose, and it connects with the location.

However, you said: "creating an entire new Las Vegas active trading business," - which I'm a bit unclear on.

I don't know what an "active trading business" is... but it doesn't sound like a seminar. If it's a seminar to "train the Trader" stick with seminars.

Heck, I like "TrainTheTrader" - alliteration, and a slight variation from the common "trainTheTrainer" course that we see often. oops, Train the Trader is already registered...but it could be a subhead.

By sending to a house list, you'll be able to explain what's going on. So the domain name doesn't have to clearly convey it. In that case, I'd rather have my relationship with the reader sell them on visiting the site and go with the easy to remember domain name.

Not to mention, the VegasTradingSeminars domain pretty much tells you what's you're going to get once you visit the link. A sales pitch for a seminar. With TradeVegas there is a built in level of curiosity even before your supreme copy skills compound it and make that link a click magnet. Just a hunch.

Looking forward to your test results.

Interesting comments.

As a former member of your target audience, I don't suffer from ambiguity about what "trade" means in this context. I think this is why the "for what" confusion comes from.

When you are a trader, "trade" is your heartbeat word. It electrifies your being. When you hear "trade" -- it's "trade what?" Pork Bellies? Yahoo stock? s&p e-minis ? Since the following word is a location, and not a financial instrument, I don't think the target audience would be confused.

The only obvious confusion to me is that a trader might think Vegas refers to a particular trading style instead of a location. Lots of traders are also gamblers (of other things ? LOL) and "Vegas" is certainly an adjective applied to various types of gambling.

I'm not sure the phonetic ambiguity of "Las"/"lost" is really an issue -- otherwise, why would so many people go there ? . In other wiords, I would posit that there's a strong "counter anchor" to the phonetic ambiguity due to cultural usage.

I like the "active" sense of the word "trade"; trading is a noun (nominalization for all you nlp folks . Verbs connote activity; nouns, not so much -- and traders are all about action.

The only thing I don't quite understand is that when I first read thru the list, I preferred "TradeLasVegas" at first, yet TradeVegas has grown on me. If I say TradeLasVegas, I have to pause, though, between saying "Trade" and "Las Vegas" -- where TradeVegas rolls off the tongue, even a little poetic "tray" "vay".

Hope that helps, Ken.

Thanks for the comments, Judy - they're well thought-out.. I like your point re tray/vay NLP and hooks, too. Super points about nominalization and active/passive usage, for trading vs trade - thanks for those points, they're well-made. It's good to hear you're experienced in that market, helps me know my comments are on-target, and your insights are a big help, too.

Thanks!

-ken

Ken,

How important is the word "Active" given it modifies "trade" (or "trading" as the case may be)?

Does your audience identify more with being "active traders" than "traders"?

If so, it may be better to get "active" into the domain name (if you plan on exposing the URL in the email copy).

Also, about the word "seminar." If that's what you're selling, it has its place in the URL. Yet, if "active" sets the frame, "seminar" comes across as lacking oomph.

Is "bootcamp" a viable alternative?

If so, ActiveTradersVegasBootcamp.com might work. I also like Andy's use of the word, "Summit."

If "seminar" is not required in the URL, other possibilities arise...

ActiveTradersDoVegas.com ActiveTradersInVegas.com

All of these options take Vegas out of the role of leading modifier. AOTBE, that makes for less confusion.

By starting with ActiveTraders, group identification comes first. Anything which follows meets with less resistance and easier comprehension.

Great point re "active" for traders, too - thanks for the idea... right re that's my target audience, is active traders, who see themselves that way, so it would resonate well with them, too - I'll look at testing domains with that in it as well - great idea, thanks so much!

Regards,

Ken