Choosing the Perfect Domain

[thevirtual]

Choosing the Perfect Domain

"All the best domains are taken!" This is a statement which we have all heard before. This is also a common thought of people trying to choose the best domain. While this may be true in some ways, there is still a chance of landing a great domain for your domain portfolio or website. In this article I will list the best methods for researching the best domains which can give you an advantage over the competition.

Often people searching for a domain end up choosing an expensive and unreliable registrar. With a little research it is not very difficult to find a reliable and inexpensive registrar. (You can check the end of the article for a list of good registrars.)

When choosing a domain you will notice the best "generic" domains have been taken as well as all suitable kewords, also many alternative domains will most likely be registered long before you arrived. Unless you have the patience and the budget to attempt to purchase the domain you need from the current owner, the best solution is creativity and also research to find the best available domain.

The Creative Approach:

If you are looking for a domain you must have an idea what the domain will be used for. It is also helpful to have some knowledge of the subject and the keywords associated with it. You can always start typing in the best words and combinations into the search box to see if they are not registered. Unless you get lucky you may run out of ideas before you find an available domain. It can be helpful to list all of the most common keywords and all of their combinations, there are many keyword tools which can show you the most popular keywords in your subject. You can then enter the domains one by one or using a Bulk Tool, and you will have a record of the domains you checked.

Domain Researching:

Often times the best domains have been taken, and subsequently lost. This gives you a chance to get a great domain fairly easily. There are many websites which provide lists of deleted domains which you can search through using keywords. You will be able to get a list of available domains, deleted weeks or months ago, which can be of use. Many times these deleted domains will have search engine indexing, backlinks, or existing traffic.

Suggestions:

You should think about the length of the domain as well as ease of spelling, and appeal.
You may want to add a descrptive word if the generic domains are already taken, or try a brandable/marketable word or phrase.
"Domain suggestions" at domain registrars can leave you with a substandard domain.
If a domain you really want is taken, you may want to buy it from the owner. Try contacting the domain owner by email, or check if the domain is listed for sale somewhere.
Before you register a domain be sure to compare it with alternative domains and consider others' opinions on the domain.
Often the more expensive registrars do not offer better service, also beware of "upselling" tactics.
You may want to register your domain in other extensions.

Recommended Registrars:

Below is a list of recommended registrars, to register your domain. You may want to compare prices and check DNForum for others' experiences with registrars. Also check the forum and web for coupon codes and special offers.

www.Moniker.com
www.Godaddy.com
www.Dotster.com
www.EuroDNS.com (useful for cctld domains)