Is That Domain Available?

Non-availability of good domain names appears to be a major issue of concern as more and more domain names are being registered. The most sought after TLD (top level domain) is “dot com”. It is a common complaint that all the best dot coms are unavailable and have already been taken. Hence the trick is not only to come up with a good name, it is also to come up with a good name which is still available.

This seems like a Herculean task most of the time, especially if you want to keep the rules for good domain name selection in mind. Moreover, it would also be wise to check if the name you want is trademark registered, even if the domain name is available.

Most e-commerce experts would give you the following advice on domain name availability:

First Choice

Make dot com your first choice as a TLD. If you are lucky enough to get it, then also register .net and .org to avoid giving business to competitors with the same name.

Alternative Extensions

In the most likely case of non availability of the dot com version you can either look for another domain name (which may turn into an endless search) or register your domain with an alternative extension like .net, .org or any country specific extension. Amongst country specific extensions .ws and .tv are quite popular. This would entail the risk of sending the majority of your visitors to the .com version of your domain name, but at least you would have a sensible, memorable and simple domain name for your online business.

New TLDs

At the end of last year a number of new TLDs (dot biz, dot info, dot pro, dot name) have been announced by ICANN. This may seem like an answer to the prayers of people looking for good domain names. But beware these extensions still stand to be losers in comparison to their dot com versions, at least for now. However, eventually people may get used to learning the extension along with the domain name.

Secondary Market

There exists a secondary domain market where purchased domain names are auctioned. You just might be lucky enough to get your hands on a good dot com domain there. Some domain names also get expired when their original buyer doesn’t continue payment for them. These become available for purchase a while after their expiry.

For information on various issues and latest developments related to domain registration, you can check out Domain Guide Book