How to Perform a Domain Name Search

| Posted: 05-07-2008 | Comments: 0 | Views: 2 | Rating: (78)

(?)

When you decide to create a website, you are deciding on more than just what to put on your pages and how to make them look pretty. You need to find a home for your site, also known as its domain. For that, you'll have to create a domain name and then find out whether it's available for your use. This is called a domain search or domain check.

To start your search, first start by making a list of domains you would like to register. Consider choosing names that relate in some meaningful way to the products and services your business provides, and one that is easy to remember and spell. You want people to be able to find you!

Once you have your list of potential domains, hop online and start searching. Enter the name you want into the Address field of a web browser. If you are taken to a website, that domain is already owned. If you get an error message, you're in luck: The site is probably not registered.

Another way is to go online and look for one of the myriad sites that allow you to search for domain names. This one-stop-shopping approach may save you some time.

When you find a domain that isn't registered, don't rush to register the first available one. Check out several combinations before making up your mind. And don't automatically run for the .com version of your domain. Although the most popular option, a .com suffix may not be necessary for your business. If you can't find an available domain name that you want with a .com extension, consider trying one that is particular for your own country, such as co.uk for the U.K. If your business isn't necessarily international, there may be no good reason to give up the name you want just because the .com version is taken.

That being said, if your business is based in the U.S. or if you plan on doing international business, stick with a .com version rather than a .biz, .net, .tv or any other suffix available if at all possible. Otherwise, you will potentially lose business to the more popular .com site.

Don't get your heart set on one particular domain name; that's a recipe for disappointment. Make sure each domain name on your list is one you could happily live with, because chances are good that at least one of them will be available. If you go into your domain check with the intention of only being satisfied if one of your top three is available, you are almost sure to be disappointed.

If you start to get discouraged during your domain check, keep this in mind: In some industries, there are domain names for every two dictionary words. That is near impossible competition! But with a little patience you can find a great domain name. Try using synonyms for the keywords you want to use, or try an alternate (but still memorable) spelling. For example, if your business is called Cut n Paste but www.cutnpaste.com is already taken, consider www.cutpaste.com instead. It's still easily associated with your business and easily remembered!

Finally, another way to perform a domain name check is to use software. There is a variety of software choices out there that can quickly and effortlessly generate thousands of potential domain names based on the criteria you specify.

No matter how you perform your domain check, it is important to approach the process with an open mind and a measure of patience. You may not be able to snag your first, second or even third domain name choice, but that doesn't mean you can't end up with a memorable domain name that will help drive traffic to your site and make your business a booming success!

Rate this Article:

Current: 0 / 5 stars - 0 vote(s).

Article Tags: Domain Names, Name Search, Registration Of Domain

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/internet-articles/how-to-perform-a-domain-name-search-473690.html

Print article

Send to friend

Publish this Article

Author feedback

About the Author:
More information on how to search for a domain name is available at http://www.domainnamehostingblog.com/

Submitting articles has become one of the most popular means of generating quality backlinks and targeted traffic to your website. Join us today - It's Free!

Article Comments

Add new Comment

Tips on Finding a Web Host
By: Alexander Stomanec | 15/12/2005 | Web Hosting

101 Website Creation - Easy Steps to Success! - Part 1
By: Phil @ theViralAffiliate.com | 08/08/2006 | Web Hosting

Domain Names: So Many To Choose From
By: Scott Lindsay | 24/01/2007 | Internet
Internet Related Articles

Factors to Consider Before Choosing and Registering Domain Names
By: Alarima Akinwumi | 20/06/2007 | Web Hosting

Online Business? you Need a Web Site
By: Juan Camalich | 14/09/2007 | Business
Business Articles, learn about busines - An organization created with the objective of making a profit from the sale of goods or services.

Methods For Coming Up With a Great Domain Name
By: Marcus Masters | 16/12/2007 | Domain Names
Domain Names related articles. LEarn about the best way to register domain names, all the tricks of the trade.

The Importance of Good Website Design
By: Tom Dun | 17/02/2008 | Web Design

Business Web Site Design Tips - a Word to the Wise on Marketing
By: Kenneth Baxter | 07/04/2008 | Web Design

Got a Question? Ask.

Ask the community a question about this article:

Frequently Asked Questions

What is topwebarticles? Who owns the name? What ...
By: curious | 03-06-2008
what is topwebarticles? Who owns the name? What type of company is it?

How do you pronounce the name nalee? and are there ...
By: nicolemama2two | 18-04-2008
how do you pronounce the name nalee? and are there any other ways to spell it?

What are all the earlier names given to Catia?
By: mangeshkohad | 26-03-2008
what are all the earlier names given to Catia?

Mario lopez
By: beverly_stevens | 05-12-2007
what is mario lopez middle name?

Familly name origen
By: gilspitzer | 13-11-2007
What is the origen of the familly name Spitzer?

One-letter domain names
By: clavin.newman | 10-05-2007
I've heard that there are a few one-letter domain names (something like a.com or b.net), registered early in the Web's history. Can you find a complete list of those domains?

Q&A Powered by:

Latest Internet Articles

SEO Hints on How to Optimize a Website - Advanced SEO Tips
By: Peter Nisbet | 07/10/2008
These elementary and advanced SEO hints and tips can show you how to optimize a web page properly in order to achieve the highest possible search engine listing. Some people search for the more advanced techniques before they apply all of the basic methods that can get them a quick initial listing; you should always remember to get the basics right first before you try the difficult stuff.

How to Sell Electronic Components Online
By: Daniel Millions | 07/10/2008
Electronics manufacturers typically have websites, just like every other business these days, because a web presence is an important way for businesses to interact with customers all over the globe rather than just on a local level. The websites generally offer information about the latest models and versions of whatever...

Just Because You Don't Want to Hear It, Doesn't Mean it Isn't True
By: Jennifer Horowitz | 07/10/2008
This article may not make me real popular with many site owners, but it is the honest truth. So many people want top rankings but they aren't truly prepared to do what it takes to get those top rankings.

Protecting Your Search Engine Rankings
By: Filomena Serraino | 07/10/2008
Are you getting your share of traffic from the major search engines?

Viral Marketing is the New Wind, Blowing Thru the Internet Marketing Industry
By: Carl Goodnight | 07/10/2008
This article deals with one of the ways that offers can be promoted to potential buyers, who don't want to use Google Adwords campaigns. It offers the potential to far surpass the effectiveness of an adwords campaign at about 1/10th the cost. One of the programs gives you access to a growing mailing list, without you having to go thru the trouble of building one yourself.

Self Promotion - Promoting Your Website Without Spending Anything
By: Hayden Tomas | 07/10/2008
There are hundreds of directories and search engines online containing millions of web pages. If you want to look for a website, then you will need to do a search. You need to submit your site to these directories and search engines in order for people to find you.

How to Focus the Marketing Effort for Your Top Home-based Business
By: Mike Muir | 07/10/2008
We discuss simple tips to focus the marketing efforts for your Affiliate Marketing programme.

Monitoring Search Engine Positions
By: Filomena Serraino | 07/10/2008
Are You Getting Your Share Of Search Engine Traffic?

More from Doug Milton

Is Domain Name Registering Good For Company Branding?
By: Doug Milton | 25/07/2008 | Internet
Domain registering, when done wisely, can do wonders for company branding. A well-named domain will bring visitors to your site and make selling your products that much easier. There are a few simple rules to follow when registering domain names, though, and they are essential points to remember. Before you begin...

Do You Need to be Tech Savvy to Have a Dedicated Server?
By: Doug Milton | 23/07/2008 | Internet
A dedicated server is a server that is solely for your website or business. No one else gets to share it! As opposed to shared hosting, a dedicated server is ideal for those who need a reliable, high performance, secure way to host your site. In short, a dedicated server...

Does Your Business Require A Dedicated Server?
By: Doug Milton | 17/07/2008 | Internet
If you were asked that question, what would your answer be? Have you ever even asked yourself that question? If not, you may want to take some time to delve into the potential benefits of a dedicated server. The best way to find out whether your business needs a dedicated...

The How to of Buying a Domain Name
By: Doug Milton | 16/07/2008 | Internet
So you've decided you want to buy a domain name. Great! But how do you actually do it? Basically, this process boils down to two steps: deciding on the name you want to buy and then actually buying, or registering, the domain name. Then, once you own the domain name,...

To Serve or Not to Serve Six Advantages of Dedicated Windows Server Hosting
By: Doug Milton | 16/07/2008 | Internet
Running a web-based business or a company with a website component presents numerous technical challenges. Depending on the scope of your business, one of those challenges may be web server hosting. Whether to offer dedicated Windows server hosting depends on a number of factors. The size of your business may...

Registering Your Domain Name
By: Doug Milton | 04/07/2008 | Internet
Registering a domain name is a quick process that often seems complex. It is far easier than most general web surfers suspect. You can quickly learn how to register a domain name with a little forethought. You need little know-how to register a domain name. Your first task is to find...

Article Categories

Article Marketing

Article Notepad

Stop Duplicate Content

Term Papers

Need Help?

Sign up for our email newsletter

Receive updates, enter your email below

Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the Terms Of Use and Privacy Policy | User published content is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
Copyright © 2005-2008 Free Articles by ArticlesBase.com, All rights reserved. (0.53, 16)

How to Perform a Domain Name Search

Article Comments

Related Articles

Got a Question? Ask.

Latest Internet Articles

More from Doug Milton

Need Help?

Site Links

Webmasters

Business Info

Sign up for our email newsletter