How to Find Available Domain Names
Learning best how to find available domain names can be more art than science sometimes. We have a number of domain finding tools that can help make your search easy. Our absolute easiest tool to use is our instant domain name search tool that shows you domain name availability for multiple domain name extensions almost as fast as you can type – plus you don’t even need to click submit as it searches for domain name availability automatically! Try out our instant domain name search tool now!
Read on to learn some more tips for checking domain name availability.
Should You Check Domain Name Availability for Multiple Domain Name Extensions?
While our instant domain search tool will check domain name availability for anything you enter for the domain name extensions .com, .net, .mobi, .info, .biz, and .us – which extension or TLD should you purchase and why? For the most part, you will always want to give preference to the .com domain name extension as it is by far the most popular and has the highest credibility boosting effect of any of the extensions. However, there certainly can be times when buying other domain name extensions can be a smart move.
One of those times is when you find the domain name you want ending in .com and you also see that there are other domain name extensions available for your same domain name. If your domain is abcbirds.com then buying abcbirds.net, abcbirds.org, etc. can be a smart business move if you plan on developing a website on that domain name and have definite long term plans for the .com domain. All that you have to do is set up all of the other domain names you purchase ending in something other than .com to redirect to your .com domain. Think of it as a cheap insurance policy to keep someone from putting up a competing website that is confusingly similar sounding to yours.
To read some more tips like these then read our guide on how to choose a domain name.
Soon to be Available Domain Names: Hidden Treasures
In addition to domain names that are available to register right this second that you can find with our instant domain search tool be sure and keep in mind that dropped domains can be a treasure trove of hidden gems. Domain names that have just recently been dropped (lapsed registration) and are now available to register are often fairly high quality because at least one person was willing to pay the registration fee for the domain name in the year prior. Domain names can drop for any number of reasons and if you find the hidden gem that slips between the cracks then you are a step ahead of the person who only looks for regular domain names. Search through our database of domains dropping soon and just dropped domain names to get started finding some great domain names!
Advanced Available Domain Name Search Tools
In addition to regular domain names, dropping domain names, and dropped domain names you should also be aware of another great source for searching for available domain names: domain name auctions. While you will have to pay more than just the average $10 per year registration fee for a domain name there are still plenty of good deals to be had on auction domain names. Some auction domain names sell for as little as $5. Use our domain name auction tool to search and find some great auction domain names!
Start Your Search for Available Domain Names Now!
There you have it. You can search for all kinds of different available domain names but one thing is for sure – take action now before someone else snags the domain that you want! Use our domain name tools to help you in your search and consider signing up for premium membership so that you can have full access to all of our tools including personalized domain name alerts so that you can get email notifications when domains meeting criteria you specify become available!
More Domain How To Guides
How to Drop Catch an Expiring Domain Name
If you want to learn how to drop catch an expiring domain name then here is what you need to know. Read through the following guide to learn how to drop catch a domain name and then use our tools (like our domains dropping soon finder or or dropped domain finder) to actually find yourself some great domain names that will be dropping soon or have just dropped.
Definition of a Dropped Domain/Drop Catching
A dropped domain is a domain name that was registered and its registration has recently lapsed. Drop catching is the art of snapping up a dropped domain as soon as it becomes available. Some people will hand register a domain name when it becomes available but most people who are in the know about drop catching (and who want to give themselves a better shot at successfully grabbing the dropped domain that they have their eye on) will use some form of software or service that automatically tries to register the dropped domain name the second it becomes available to register (GoDaddy’s Domain Alert Pro is one example of a domain backordering service that is very affordable).
How the Domain Name Expiration Process Works
It can be somewhat confusing at first when trying to figure out how a the process works for grabbing an expired domain name because most people do not realize when it is that a domain name actually becomes available to register.
Almost every one understands that when you register a domain you register the domain in annual increments and pay usually around $10/year. What many people do not realize is that if someone chooses not to renew their domain name then the domain name does not become available the instant that the clock strikes midnight on day 365 if the registrant registered the domain name for only 1 year.
What actually happens is that for the first 40 days after the domain name owner chooses not to renew the domain name then the domain name is set to “expired” status by the registrar. During this 40 day grace period all services to the domain name are shut off but the domain name owner still has the option to renew the domain name for the standard renewal rate charged by the registrar. Just because a domain name enters this grace period it does not necessarily mean that the domain name owner will choose not to renew the domain name (it’s definitely a positive sign because chances are they will not but of course they may just be putting it off or simply waiting for the funds to pay for the renewal).
After the 40 day grace period is up then the status of the domain changes to “redemption period”. The redemption period lasts about 30 days. The domain name owner can still renew their domain name during the redemption period buy they must pay an additional fee to bring the domain out of this redemption status. The fee is currently somewhere in the neighborhood of $100 – not an insubstantial sum. Unless the domain name owners is just flat out not paying attention then there is a very high likelihood that the domain name owner will actually let the domain name lapse once a domain name reaches the redemption period. During this redemption period the WhoIs data will also start to disappear as well.
After the 30 day redemption period is up then the status of the domain changes to “locked”. This locked period lasts 5 days. As soon as the 5 days is up then the domain name is deleted from the ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) database and officially be ready to be registered by anybody. It is important to note that once a domain name reaches this 5 day lock period then the domain name owner has lost all rights to the domain name and does not have a priority in trying to renew the domain name – they must try to register the domain name as soon as it becomes available just like everyone else. Our domains dropping soon finder tool will allow you to search thousands of domains that are in this 5 day lock period and our dropped domain finder will allow you to view domains that have just left their 5 day lock period and are available to register.
Hand Registration vs. Using Drop Catch Services
The positive to trying to hand register a dropped domain name is that it is free (except for the domain registration fees). The negative to trying to hand register a dropped domain name is that chances are if the domain name is any good then there are probably other people using a drop catch service like GoDaddy’s Domain Alert Pro or a similar service from Pool.com, SnapNames.com or Enom.
GoDaddy is by far the most affordable option at only $18.99 (and if you lose the domain then they let you just reassign the service to another domain name that you choose) but the others while more costly can sometimes brag of higher success rates at snagging domains due to their vast server resources. In a nutshell, if you see a domain name that is expiring soon and you absolutely must have the domain at any price then choose Pool.com, SnapNames.com or Enom. If you still want a decent chance of snagging dropping domain and don’t want to pay an arm and a leg for it then choose GoDaddy’s Domain Alert Pro.
Finding Great Expired Domain Names with Our Tools
Our tools can help you find great domains dropping soon and domains that have just expired. We have large databases filled with data from multiple expired domain name lists. You can search through the domains and filter by many advanced search criteria to your heart’s content. If you are a premium member then you can even set up personalized dropped domain alerts and personalized domains dropping soon alerts so that you can receive an email notification when domains meeting criteria that you specify enter the database. We port in 100,000’s of new domains into our databases on a daily basis so there are plenty of good expired domains and domains expiring soon for you to find. Get started finding great domain names with our tools now!
More Domain How To Guides
What is a Domain Name?
One common question to people just learning about the Internet is, “What is a domain name?” A domain name is used to make it easy for people to find web pages on the Internet. The Domain Name System converts domain names (such as google.com or msn.com or our domain name of domainsuperstar.com) into IP Addresses (numbers in the format of 11.222.33.44 or something similar) so that when someone wants to visit a particular web site they do not have to remember a long string of numbers but rather just type in an easy to remember name. To learn more then read our guide on how to choose a domain name and then use our domain name search tools to find some great domain names to purchase for yourself!
More Domain Name FAQ
Why do I Have to Pay for a Domain Name?
If you are new to the web then you may be asking yourself, “Why do I have to pay for a domain name?”. Well, whether you are a large Fortune 500 company or an individual that wants to start a personal blog you will have to pay to register a domain name. The next natural question is, “How much do I have to pay for a domain name?”. Typically, you will have to pay somewhere in the neighborhood of $10 per year to register your domain name. Read our guide on how to register a domain name to learn more and then use our domain name tools to get started finding a great domain name today!
More Domain Name FAQ
How to Buy a Cheap Domain Name
Ok, so you want to learn how to buy a cheap domain name. Of course, it is important to remember that price is not everything but who wants to pay more than they have to? Read on to learn some tips for finding the cheapest domain name registration.
Cheap Domain Names: The More You Buy the Cheaper They Are
Almost all domain name registrars offer some sort of quantity discount. One of the most popular places to buy cheap domain names is GoDaddy. GoDaddy offers very low pricing for regular domains and extremely low pricing for those who join the GoDaddy Discount Domain Club. Savings of up to 53% off on domain names can be had with membership into the GoDaddy Discount Domain Club (the exact discount varies depending upon the extension of the domain you buy: .com, .net, .org, etc.). If you are planning on purchasing 25 or more domain names over the course of the next year then the GoDaddy Discount Domain Club is a great option for you to consider to save yourself some money.
Cheap Private Domain Name Registration
It is also worth mentioning that some registrars offer quantity discounts on extras like private domain name registration. Again, GoDaddy is a great choice because if you register more than 5 domains at once then they will give you free private registration for all 5 domains. If you plan on registering less than 5 domain names at once and still want cheap private domain name registration then consider using 1and1 as they offer free private registration and their domain names are only $8.99 for .com’s (as of the time of this writing).
Cheap Domain Name Transfers
One great way to save yourself some money is by transferring your current domain names to a new registrar then their renewal date rolls around. Many registrars will offer very low introductory pricing and so long as your are switching from one quality registrar to another then why not switch to a cheaper domain name registrar if it will save you some money? The more domain names that you have in your portfolio then the more money you can save by transferring. For more information on registrars then read our how to choose a domain name registrar guide.
Cheap Domain Name Renewal
Of course, it doesn’t always make sense to transfer your domain names when their renewal date comes due. Be sure and check with your existing registrar to see if you can use any of their current coupon codes or renewal discounts and you may very well find out that it is cheaper for you to just renew your domain names at your current registrar.
Find Cheap QUALITY Domain Names With Our Tools
Now that you have learned a few quick tips for buying cheap domain names it is time for you to find some quality domain names to purchase. Read our guide on how to choose a domain name and then use our tools to find a great domain name that will hopefully put money in your pocket for years to come!
More Domain How To Guides
How to Set up Nameservers
You must first know how to set up nameservers for your domain name before you can publish pages and upload files to your website.
Setting up nameservers is really pretty straightforward. Here is what you need to know:
Nameserver Set Up Basics
There are really 2 main ways that you can set up your nameservers: regular and custom. Most people will only ever need to learn how to set up regular nameservers.
Setting Up Regular Nameservers
Setting up regular nameservers is very easy. Regular nameservers are provided to you from your hosting company and usually will look something like this: NS5891.hostgator.com and NS592.hostgator.com. For this example, if your hosting company is HostGator then your primary nameserver would be NS5891.hostgator.com and your secondary nameserver would be NS5892.hostgator.com (the exact digits represented are of course just examples as most hosting companies have many different nameservers for different customers). All that you need to do is log in to your registrar’s control panel to manage your domains, select the domain name that you wish to update the nameservers for, click on the nameservers section of the control panel, and then enter the primary nameserver and the secondary nameserver from above into the appropriate fields.
Click submit and that’s it! Skip on down to the DNS propogation section below to see how long it will take before you nameserver setting are updated.
Setting Up Custom Nameservers
Setting up custom nameservers is a little bit more involved but not all that difficult either. A custom nameserver is essentially a nameserver that you define from one of the domain names that you own rather than using the nameserver that a hosting company provides. Custom nameservers are most commonly used by companies that are hosting resellers and want to add an additional level of branding to their reseller hosting plans.
For example, let’s say that you have a domain name called bigjohnshosting.com and you want to set up custom nameservers to give out to your customers that are purchasing reseller hosting from you. Maybe you want to set up your custom nameservers so that they are something like NS27.bigjohnshosting.com and NS28.bigjohnshosting.com. This is certainly doable.
The first thing that you need to do is create the subdomains that you will use for your nameservers (in our example the subdomains are NS27.bigjohnshosting.com and NS28.bigjohnshosting.com). Then what you need to do is find out from your host what IP addresses you have been allotted with your hosting plan. These numbers will look something like 11.222.33.44 and 11.222.33.45. Then you need to take these IP addresses to your registrar’s control panel and find a place to define your own nameservers. The define custom nameservers section of your registrar’s control panel will have fields for you to enter to enter in your IP addresses and your newly created subdomains. Once you enter in the information into those fields then you will be all set up to use your custom nameservers when the DNS has finished propogating.
DNS Propogation: How Long Can You Wait…
After you have set up your nameservers then it will usually take anywhere from 48 to 72 hours for the DNS (Domain Name System: a naming system the Internet uses that translates letters into numbers since as humans it is much easier to remember bigbobshosting.com instead of 207.67.189.166 when we go to type into our URL bar) to fully propogate throughout the web. What this means is that within the first 24 hours or so it is very likely that it will seem as if nothing has been updated. Be patient and wait at least 48 hours. What this also means is that your domain DNS settings will not be updated everywhere at the same time. You may be able to view a domain’s updated DNS settings at one PC from one location and yet still see the old DNS settings from another computer at another location.
Find Great Domains With Our Domain Tools
Since every registrar is a little bit different when it comes to setting up nameservers you may also be interested in reading our how to choose a domain name registrar guide. Also, while you are waiting for your DNS to propogate why not find some great domain names by using our tools?
More Domain How To Guides
How to Choose the Best Hosting Plan
Learning how to choose the best hosting plan is key to your online success. Whether you are looking for the best web host for a business or the best web host for a personal website it certainly pays to do your homework. Read on to learn some of the best web hosting plans and companies that we recommend and also learn some things to look for in a web host.
Best Web Hosting Companies
Here are some of the best web hosting companies in order of our preference (#1 is our top choice):
#1 HostGator – HostGator is our #1 choice for many different reasons. They have excellent support via email, online chat, and phone. They have very cheap hosting plans (starting at just $4.95/month for a shared hosting plan, $24.95 for a reseller hosting plan, and $174 for a dedicated server hosting plan). HostGator also offers WHM (Web Hosting Manager) and cPanel which makes it extremely easy to manage your domains. cPanel also allows for one click installation of many popular open source software packages like Wordpress, Drupal, phpBB2, and many others. Probably the best value in hosting is the HostGator Baby Hosting Plan that allows you to host unlimited domain names for just $7.95/month (without having to sign a long term contract). If you are unsure of what web host to choose then you almost cannot go wrong with choosing HostGator.
#2 HostMonster – HostMonster is close to HostGator in price and also offers WHM/cPanel which is a huge plus. One advantage that HostMonster does have over HostGator is that as of the time of this writing HostMonster offers a browser based FTP client via a domain’s cPanel which HostGator does not offer. If having a browser based FTP client is important to you then that may be all that you need to sway you away from HostGator to HostMonster.
#3 GoDaddy – GoDaddy has great customer service, is a large trusted company, and has decent pricing on their hosting plans. That being said they do not offer WHM/cPanel and their hosting interface can be downright confusing at times. GoDaddy is an awesome choice for a domain name registrar but is only just a solid choice when it comes to web hosting. You may be kicking yourself down the road for not choosing a host like HostGator or HostMonster but overall GoDaddy is certainly a reliable hosting company with excellent customer service.
Cheapest Web Hosting Plans: Additional Questions to Ask
If you find yourself only concerned with finding the cheapest web hosting plan then here are some additional questions to ask of any potential web hosting provider:
- How can I contact support?
- Is support available 24/7?
- Do I have to sign a long term contract?
- Can I upgrade easily if my traffic levels or disk space requirements increase down the road?
- How many mySQL databases am I allotted to use?
Yes, price is an important consideration but remember to ask any potential host questions like the above before you decide to purchase a hosting plan.
Finding the Best Web Host: Pairing Hosting With a Great Domain Name
Once you have chosen the best web hosting company for your specific hosting needs then be sure and use our tools to find yourself some great domain names!
More Domain How To Guides
How to Choose a Domain Name Registrar
This guide on how to choose a domain name registrar will go over some of the most important things to consider when choosing a domain registrar. Read on to learn how to choose the best domain registrar and then when you are finished be sure and check out our free tools for finding great domain names.
ICANN Accredited/Reseller Licensed
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is a non-profit corporation that was created in 1998 to take on the responsibility of assigning unique identifiers (the letters and numbers used to form a domain name) across the world. Before the formation of ICANN in 1998 Network Solutions had a monopoly on assigning out these unique identifiers to people and businesses looking for an Internet domain name.
Ok, why the history lesson on the birth of ICANN? Well, the existence of ICANN means that you and I and everyone else that is looking for a domain name has plenty of different choices when it comes to looking for a place to register their domain names.
There are many different domain name registrars and domain name resellers. It is important that you chose a domain name registrar that is ICANN accredited or choose a reseller that is affiliated with an ICANN accredited domain registrar. Ignore this important first step to choosing the best domain name registrar at your own peril.
Choosing a Cheap Domain Registrar
Of course you knew that price would be one of the most important things to keep in mind when searching for a registrar. What is maybe even more important to keep in mind is that price is not everything. Choose a registrar that has a history of strong customer service, an easy to use interface, and all of the other things that we will cover in just a moment. As far as price goes two of the cheapest domain registrars that still offer a solid mix of additional features and strong customer service include GoDaddy and 1and1.
Typical domain registration fees average around $10 per year although some registrars charge upwards of $30 per year. Some registrars also levy additional fees for addons like private domain registration. At the time of this writing 1and1 offers free private domain registration and GoDaddy offers free private registration when 5 or more domains are purchased.
Watch out for some of the smaller domain name registrars and resellers that may highlight very low initial domain name registrations but then sneak in a lot of extra fees.
Customer Service
Since customer service can sometimes be a hard thing to measure and quantify here are 3 questions to ask yourself about a registrar’s customer service:
How can I contact their customer service/support team? (web, email, phone, etc)
Are they available 24/7?
How quick is their response time?
If a problem should ever develop with one of your domain names then you should feel secure in knowing that you can quickly and easily contact a support rep at your registrar who can competently and courteously help you remedy the problem.
Interface
Some registrar’s domain management interfaces are easy to use, others take a little getting use to, and some are just downright horrible. The single best clue for finding a registrar with an easy to use interface for managing your domains is the registrar’s website. For the most part the usability of the interface will mimic the usability of the website. If you can navigate and perform tasks easily on a registrar’s website than chances are their interface for managing your domain names will be set up just as well (One important note is that if you are a domainer or someone who has a lot of domain names then choose a registrar that has tools for performing bulk domain management tasks rather than having to perform the same task on only one domain at a time. Some registrars with strong bulk management features include GoDaddy and Moniker .
Control of the Domain
Make sure that the registrar or reseller you choose allows you to fully control the domain name by listing your contact information as the administrative, billing, and technical contact. Of course, if you choose to register your domain name privately then your contact information will not show up on public WhoIs lookups anyway but it is still a good thing to make sure that you have full control of your domain name and not your registrar. Almost all large domain name registrars give you full control of your domain names this way.
Registrar Addon Services
Almost every registrar out there will try and upsell you on some of their other services like hosting, email, etc. If any of these services come free then great but be careful because many of these free services are either of sub par quality, ad supported versions, or worse. You should choose a registrar for the best domain name registration and not necessarily for their addon services. It’s great if you can find domain name registration and hosting from the same company but chances are the best registrar wont necessarily be the best host and vice versa. Once you need hosting for your website then be sure and first read our how to choose the best hosting plan guide.
Best Domain Registrars
Our list of some of the best domain name registrars include:
1. GoDaddy
2. 1and1
3. Moniker
4. Network Solutions
5. Dotster
Our Tools Make Finding Great Domain Names Easy!
Check out our tools for finding domain names so that you can make choosing a great domain name for you or your business as easy as pie!
More Domain How To Guides
How to Choose a Domain Name
Learning how to choose a domain name is of the utmost importance whether you are looking for a domain name for your business or for a personal website or blog. Here are 25 rules to follow that will help with choosing the best domain name. Once you have read through these rules for choosing a domain name then be sure and use our instant domain search tool to very quickly search for different domain names. Also, be sure and use our find a domain tools and our auction domain tools to make your search for the best domain name a snap!
25 Rules for Choosing a Domain Name
Some of these rules are more important than others and a lot will depend on whether your domain name is being purchased for business use or personal use but generally speaking these are domain buying rules to follow in almost every scenario.
1. Stick with “.com” – The .com TLD (top-level domain) is by far the most widely accepted extension for a domain name. If you are looking for a domain name for a business then it is even more important to choose a .com for your domain name because of the credibility boost that a .com domain name brings. Yes, there are still some very successful businesses that have domain names ending in .net or .org but just think, as a new business do you really want to chance having a lot of your customers forget that your domain name ends in .net and instead type in your domain name + .com when they go to find your website? There are some exceptions to this rule of course. If you run a business that is based in a country outside of the United States then it can be smart to use a local TLD (.uk for the United Kingdom, .au for Australia, .ca for Canada, .de for Germany, .cn for China, etc.).
2. One Possible Spelling – Try to find a domain name that only has one possible spelling. Most people cannot spell so make it easy for your website visitors to remember by choosing a domain name without a confusing spelling.
3. Shorter is Better – The shorter your domain name is then the easier it is for your visitors to remember, the easier it is for your visitors to type, and the easier it is for your visitors to tell others about your domain name. All of these are good things.
4. Commercial Appeal – A quick way to test if your domain has commercial appeal or marketability is if you think that the domain name will look good up on a billboard or in a commercial. This is especially important if you are looking for a business domain name but it is of course important for personal domain names as well.
5. No Hyphens – If at all possible then avoid using a hyphenated domain name. Sure, many businesses will use a domain name with a hyphen or even two or three but the two main problems with hyphenated domain names is that people forget where the hyphens go (or forget them altogether) and hyphenated domain names can lose traffic to similar domain names that do not have hyphens (i.e. a visitor wants to return to your domain name which is www.bobs-carpeting.com but instead types in www.bobscarpeting.com and inadvertently ends up on a competitor’s website). A hyphenated domain name can often seem like a cheap substitute for the same domain name without the hyphen in the eyes of many visitors. You don’t want to send the message to your website visitors that you are settling for second best and could only register www.bobs-carpeting.com and not the better domain choice of www.bobscarpeting.com. This is why in all of our auction domain tools we allow you to use our advanced search options to find only domains without hyphens if you so choose.
6. Other Extensions – If you find the perfect domain name ending in .com then it usually makes sense to try and grab as many of the other common extensions that are available as well and then redirect those other extensions to your domain name that ends in .com. For example, if you are able to purchase the domain name sallysmusicblog.com and you definitely have long term plans for the website then it is probably a smart thing to go ahead and register sallysmusicblog.net, sallysmusicblog.biz, sallysmusicblog.info, etc. as well and then just redirect all of the non .com domains to your .com domain name. This has two benefits: when people type in sallysmusicblog.net then they will automatically be redirect to sallysmusicblog.com and also it will prevent other people from purchasing a domain name that is the same as yours but just with a different extension and potentially stealing traffic away from your website.
7. Singular vs. Plural – Make sure that you set up a website on the domain name that makes the most sense when choosing between the singular and plural of the words in your domain name. One thing that you definitely should do is purchase both the singular and plural variation of your domain name if applicable and then redirect the not as good sounding domain to the best sounding domain. Keep in mind that for some domain names the singular will sound better than the plural while with others the plural will sound better than the singular. For example, if you have a site that is devoted to health insurance plans then healthinsuranceplans.com sounds better than healthinsuranceplan.com but to avoid confusion and keep the singular domain away from your competitors then it would be best to buy both of the domain names and then redirect healthinsuranceplan.com to healthinsuranceplans.com.
8. Price – To register a brand new domain name you will pay approximately $10 a year. To purchase domain name at an auction from someone looking to sell one of their existing domain names then you could pay anywhere from $5 to hundreds of thousands of dollars or even more plus the annual registration fees. While it is always awesome to be able to find a great domain name by hand registering the domain name (our domain finder tools can help you with that) it is often more likely that you can find a top notch domain name at a domain name auction (our domain name auction tools can help you with the search). Whichever route you choose be sure and do your homework. You may also want to read our guide on how to choose a domain name registrar so you can get a good deal on your domain name while still choosing a reputable registrar.
9. Keyword Rich – Choose a domain name that is full of keywords that are related to your website. If your site sells vitamins then try and choose a domain name that contains the word “vitamins” in the domain name. Use our advanced search option for any of our domain tools and also use our domain alerts to receive personalized alerts when domains containing certain keywords you specify become available to register or buy at auction. You also may find it helpful to take a look in our fully searchable keyword domain repository to view exact match keyword only domain names that are available to register.
10. Type-In Traffic – Type-In traffic is when someone navigates directly to a website by simply typing in what they are looking for and then “.com” on the end into their URL bar in their browser. If you can find an exact match keyword only domain name then you have a good chance of receiving some type in traffic to the domain and also receiving some Search Engine Optimization (SEO) benefit to using the domain name as well. Use our tool that helps find domains with type-in traffic and also learn more by visiting our type-in traffic page.
11. Avoid Numeral Substitutions – Numerals in a domain can work ok but avoid substituting common words with numerals as they can often be confusing and hard to remember. For example, try not to use the numeral “4″ instead of “for”, “2″ instead of “to”, etc.
12. Avoid Slang – Stay away from slang spellings of words for the same reasons that you should stay away from numeral substitutions. It is one thing to think up a great brandable name that is easy to remember and quite another to buy a domain name with “u” instead of “you”.
13. Watch Out for the Numeral “0″ – The numeral “0″ is often mistaken for the letter “O” and vice versa. Make sure that there is no confusion between the 2 in your domain name.
14. Brandable – 15 years ago know one knew who or what a “Google” was but now Google.com is an extremely valuable and very brandable domain name. Don’t get too carried away with being clever but a brandable domain name can go a long way in making your site successful.
15. Easy to Type – The easier the domain is to type then the better the domain will be.
16. Easily Understood – When someone reads or hears your domain name for the first time then they should be able to easily understand what your website is all about. Of course, there is often a give and take between trying to find a domain that is easily understood and one that is brandable as well.
17. Copyright Issues – Steer clear of domain names that are infringing on an existing copyright. You can use the online search function of the US Copyright Office if you have doubts about copyright issues for a particular domain name.
18. Unique – The more unique a domain name is then the easier it is to remember. Stay within the constraints of the other rules when searching for a unique domain name but if you can be clever and pull it off then finding a unique domain name can pay off handsomely for years to come.
19. Use a Thesaurus – If you feel stuck when trying to choose your domain name then bring up 2 different tabs: open up Thesaurus.com in one tab and then our instant domain search tool in another tab. Plug in the word or words that most closely describe your website into the thesaurus and then as your find good synonyms then start entering the word combinations into our domain search tool to instantly check the availability of the domains.
20. Search Dropped Domains – Dropped domains are domains that have just recently changed from registered status to unregistered status. Many times a company will go out of business, someone is not able to afford the domain registration renewal fee, or someone will just forget to renew their domain name. When this happens a domain is dropped and available for anyone to snap up and register for themselves. Search through our database of dropped domains that we have compiled from multiple sources to find a great dropped domain name.
21. Memorable – If you can easily remember a domain name after hearing it just once then there is a good chance that you have found a memorable domain name.
22. Domain Auctions – Domain auctions can be great sources for finding bargain domain names. Use our domain auction tools to search through domain names for sale by auction from multiple auction sources.
23. Industry Jargon – While it is important to make sure that your domain name is easily understood by everyone who reads it, at the same time a good strategy can be to use industry jargon specific to your website niche for your domain name. Using industry jargon can increase the credibility of your website in the eyes of your website visitors who are familiar with jargon in your websites niche.
24. Brainstorm – If you have a business partner or a friend then use them to bounce some ideas around. Start by thinking of your ideal domain name and then throw out as many words and combinations of words related to that ideal domain name as possible. Sooner or later you are bound to have a flash of genius and find a great domain name. To rapidly search for available domain names then use our instant domain search tool.
25. Start Now! – Start choosing a domain name as soon as you can before someone else snaps it up!
Our Tools Make Choosing a Domain Name Easy!
Check out our domain name tools so that you can make choosing a domain name easy as pie!
More Domain How To Guides
How to Register a Domain Name
Learning how to register a domain name properly is important. Many will rush the process and regret their decision. If you have ever wondered, “How do I register a domain name?” or maybe you already know how to get a domain name but are just unsure of what the best way to go about it is then this guide is for you. Take some time, do your homework, and read our comprehensive domain registration how to guide so that you can learn how to register a web domain name the right way.
Choosing A Good Domain Name
The first thing that you need to do is choose a domain name. This seems obvious but many people will just haphazardly throw different ideas around when choosing a domain name and just register a domain name that happens to catch their fancy without really thinking things through. Being creative when choosing a domain name is a great thing but it is important to first decide what you want to register the domain name for so that you can channel that creativity properly. While domain name registration will only cost around $10 per year you still want to think things through carefully before you begin your domain name search. To find an absolutely great domain then use our free domain finder tools. To read more domain name choosing tips then read the how to choose a domain name guide.
Checking the Availability of a Domain Name
Once you have gotten a couple of ideas for domain names that you would like to register then it is time to check the availability of your desired domain name(s). To instantly check the availability of a domain name then try out our instant domain search tool.
Choosing a Domain Registrar
Ok, so you have chosen a domain name, you have checked to make sure that the domain is available to register, and now the next step is to choose a domain registrar to register the domain with. Here are the most important things for you to keep in mind:
1. Quantity of Domains – If you are planning on purchasing a lot of domains (say 50 or more) then you will probably want to choose a registrar like GoDaddy or Moniker because they have tools that will allow you to very easily perform bulk management tasks with multiple domains. If you are planning on registering less than 50 domains then you have other great registrar options like 1and1.
2. Privacy – All registrars offer the option for you to add private domain registration to your domain. However, the price for private registration can vary widely from one registrar to the next. 1and1 offers free private registration with each domain, while GoDaddy offers free private registration on domains as long as you register 5 or more domain names on your order. Many other registrars charge anywhere from $5 to $15 extra per year to add private registration to your domain. If you are considering registering your domain privately then your best option is probably 1and1 or GoDaddy.
3. Price – Finding cheap domain registration is of course something that we all want. If you have narrowed down your registrar choices to those that will meet your domain quantity needs and your domain privacy needs then everything else being equal go with the cheapest domain name registration that you can! However, while price is important be careful to still choose a legitimate registrar that has a proven track record of good customer service. The last thing you want is for something to cause a problem with your domain name registration years down the road and you not be able to get help when you need it from your registrar. Some of the cheapest domain name registrars that are reputable companies with strong customer service include GoDaddy and 1and1.
For in depth registrar advice then read the how to choose a domain name registrar guide.
Buying the Domain Name
All registrars will accept payment in the form of a credit card and most will accept payment via PayPal. You can expect to pay approximately $10 per year to register a domain name. Some registrars will allow you to register your domain name for longer than 1 year although you will be charged for the entire amount up front so many people choose to simply register a domain for the 1 year minimum time period. When it comes to renewing your domain name registration annually then if you tend to be forgetful about these types of things you should take advantage of the “auto renew” domain registration option that most registrars will offer so that you do not let your domain name registration lapse unintentionally.
After the Domain Name Registration
After the domain name registration process is complete then your next steps should be learning how to choose the best hosting plan for your domain(s). After you have chosen a hosting provider then you may also need to learn how to set up nameservers for your domain.
Use Our Tools to Register a Great Domain Name!
Use our domain finder tools and our domain auction tools to get started finding and registering a great domain name now!
More Domain How To Guides
