My initials are GAP. One of my 5 blogs will be a financial/make money blog (nothing original, I know). I want to keep that one professional as possible. Does it help or hurt having lets say my domain name and website name being GAPIndustries.com or something like that? Marketing wise and SEO wise? I have a friend who has NordstromsSecurityAgency and he claims it helps.
From a branding perspective, I'd say it'll hurt you. You are pushing against the current of an already established brand. People think and feel certain ways against major brands, especially GAP. When I think of GAP I think of kids too young on tv dancing around trying to be adults. You might have different thoughts. The point is people think and feel a certain way with major brands. Unless you're trying to make your consumers feel the same way about your brand, you'll be fighting against the current to create distinguished brand identity. On the legal side to the name, I'd seek advice from a lawyer.
I have read a number of other threads that have warned against using brand names in your domain name - for legal and branding reasons. Think of something original that you can build a brand with and I think your business will really benefit from that. Best wishes Lisa
Dont suggest to do that since you might get some problem if those brand company taking action on that if they think it is neecessary.
you can not use in adwords ads, because they are registered with their trade mark and if it is so then they can claim to your website for duplicate branding..
GAP is possibly a bad example because it is a dictionary word and therefore you can argue over if your talking about the brand or something else. If your talking about coincidental brand name, ie your GAP Financials, then you are on fairly safe grounds - I assume GAP only do clothes and no financial services? - from a legal view point as your not going into their space and as long as your branding is different etc then your unlikely to be stopped for passing off. The secondary issue of cause is the fact that no matter if there is case or not doesn't stop someone trying to sue you and whilst spurious litigation can be easily defended it does all take time and money. So whilst you may know you will win, do you want to have to spend time and effort arguing with lawyers?