How to Get a Domain Name That's Not Already Taken

Are all the good domain names out there already taken? It definitely may seem that way at times. Finding a good domain name for your website can be a frustrating and can certainly put a damper on the initial enthusiasm of creating a website. However, luckily there are a few things that you can do to shorten this process and find a great domain name that isn't already taken.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Decide which registrar you want to use to register your domain name. Namecheap, GoDaddy, and Moniker are popular choices, but do some research and check out prices to determine which one would work best for you.

2. Brainstorm a list of possible domain names. It is usually best to think of a name that is short or easy to remember. Try to come up with as long of a list as possible to ensure your chances of getting a domain name that isn't taken yet.

3. Go to the website of the registrar and look for the section that allows you to check the availability of the domain name. Type in the choices from your list and see if any of them are available. Also consider using .net or .org instead of .com to increase your chances. However, you discover all of the choices on your list were taken, move on to Step Four.

4. Start to try variations of the name you have chosen. Try to come up with synonyms of the words you originally selected for your domain. If those choices are also unavailable, try to add a word before or after your original choice for the domain. For example, if www.coolwebsite.com was taken, try www.mycoolwebsite.com or www.thecoolwebsite.com to see if these are available. Repeat this process until you find a domain name that not already taken.

Tips & Warnings

• Did you know there are programs that will allow to go search through expiring domain names so you can grab them the instant the other person forgets to renew them? This can be a very effective way of getting those “taken” domain names the minute they become available.
• It is important to make sure that your domain name does not contain any trademarks before you make your purchase.

Resources

• www.godaddy.com
• Enom Software (To Find Expired Domain Names)