Have you ever had a great idea for a website only to find out that what should be the ideal domain name is unavailable?

Almost everyone who has a website today was once in this situation. A domain name is meant to make your website or brand memorable, which is why it can be quite a dilemma when you discover that your perfect domain name has been registered by someone else. This is especially true for dot com domain names. There are currently more than 130 million registered dot com domains in the world, so the chances of you getting the one you want are very poor.

So, when you find yourself in this situation, should you forget about your ideal website, or are there any other domain choices available to you? Below are sound suggestions for getting your domain name, even if it belongs to someone else.

1. Try another domain name extension

Almost everybody wants to have a dot com domain name. Unfortunately, this is no longer possible. Dot-com accounts for more than 40% of the registered domain names on the internet, and their high popularity means that you are less likely to find a dot-com version of your domain name, especially if you intend to use a generic domain.

If you don’t have any attachment to the domain name you came up with, a quick solution is to come up with something else, but where the name you come up with is related to your brand and cannot be changed, there are dozens of other domain name extensions in the market that you can try such as a .net or .io domain.

In fact, as of February 2017, ICANN added more than 1000 domain name extensions to the already available list, thus allowing everyone to own their ideal domain name.

Consider domain extensions other than dot com.

● Country Code Top-Level Domain:

Country-specific domain names or Country Code Top Level Domain are domain name extensions that are tied to countries.

Opting for a ccTLD is a good idea if you serve a local market and want to attract local traffic. It has as much value as the regular dot com domain extensions.

Examples of ccTLDs are: .CO.NZ, .CO.UK, .CO.FR, and .CO.ES.

● Industry Top Level Domain

If your website is industry-specific and you are unable to find the dot com version of your ideal domain name, consider the industry TLD. These domain extensions relate to several sectors, and you will likely find your perfect domain for your target industry.

Domain extensions are available for pub and bar websites, restaurants, lawyers, technology companies, and even e-commerce businesses. In fact, you will find a domain extension for virtually every industry in the world today.

If you are wondering how any of these domain extensions will affect your search page ranking, they don’t. Google has many search page ranking factors, but domain name extension is not one of them. In fact, Google has said on several occasions that domain names have little or no effect on website visibility in search engines.

There are so many options to consider when considering alternative domain names, and you can register as many domain extensions as you want to prevent someone else from encroaching on your domain space. In fact, even if you already have a dot com extension for your business, you can buy up a few other extensions to protect your brand.

There are lots of places where you can go online to register your idea domain name using either a ccTLD or an industry-specific domain extension, but you can quickly visit them.

Domain names to get an idea of all the domain extension alternatives available.

2. Try a variation of your domain choice

If you simply must use a dot com extension for your domain name, a variation of your choice may be sufficient.

For example, if your preferred domain name is NewZealandTours.com, and you find out that someone is already using this name, you can play around with the arrangement to come up with something else that may be available. Variations like NZTours.com, ToursNewZealand.com, or ToursNZ.com

Add a Modifier

You can add a prefix or suffix to your desired domain name to create a new one:
  • Use a keyword related to your industry (e.g., get, try, go, shop, app)
  • Include your location (e.g., NYC, LA)
  • Add words like online, hq, or site

Use Hyphens

While not always ideal, using hyphens to separate words in your domain name can be a solution (e.g., your-ideal-domain.com). However, this can make the domain harder to remember and type.

Explore Abbreviations and Acronyms

If your ideal domain is long or complex, consider abbreviating it or using an acronym. For example, instead of BestOnlineStore.com, you might use BOS.com or BestOS.com.

Consider Buying the Domain

If the domain you want is already owned but not actively used, you might be able to purchase it from the current owner. You can:
  • Check the domain's WHOIS information to find the owner and contact them directly.
  • Use a domain brokerage service to negotiate the purchase.

Check for Trademark Issues

Before settling on an alternative domain, ensure it doesn't infringe on any existing trademarks. This can prevent potential legal issues down the road.

Use a Domain Name Generator

Online domain name generators can help you brainstorm alternative domain names. Some popular ones include:
  • NameMesh
  • LeanDomainSearch
  • BustAName
  • DomainWheel

Be Creative with Branding

Think outside the box and come up with a unique, memorable domain name that stands out, even if it wasn't your first choice. A strong brand can make even an unconventional domain name successful.

Wait for Expiration

If the domain you want is currently registered but not in use, you can monitor it to see if it expires and becomes available. Services like GoDaddy Auctions and DropCatch can help you snag expired domains.

Combine Words or Use Puns

Create a unique domain by combining words or using puns. This can make your domain more memorable and distinctive.

Examples
  • If Example.com is taken:
  • Try ExampleApp.com, TryExample.com, GetExample.com
  • Use Example.net, Example.co, Example.io
  • Abbreviate to Exmpl.com
  • Use a domain generator to find creative alternatives
Ultimately, any of these alternatives will still convey the message you are trying to send with your original choice.




3. See if the current owner will sell

Some people buy domains not because they actually want to use them but so that they can sell them and make a profit. If this is the case, you can get the domain of your choice if you are willing to pay for it.

The first step is to find out who owns it. You can do a WHOIS search to find out who owns a particular domain name when it was registered, and when it will expire. Unless the owner opts for domain privacy, you will also find the contact information of the principal registrant, and you can use this contact information to make an offer.

4. Setup domain monitoring

Your preferred domain name may be unavailable now, but not forever. Domain names are bought for a specific period, usually between one year and ten years. At the end of this period, the owner can renew it or choose to let it go.

If you are not in too much of a hurry to use the domain name, you can set up domain monitoring, which will alert you when it expires so that you can buy it when it becomes available for sale. However, note that most domain owners will choose to renew, so you should only sometimes count on getting it this way.

Wrapping up

Registering your ideal domain name is essential to your business because this is the name you will be stuck with throughout the lifetime of your website. Still, you must be creative or flexible when your choice is unavailable.

Once you have a perfect and available domain name, consider registering it for the maximum period. This will save you lots of headaches in the future.

Picking the right domain name can be challenging, but with patience and creativity, you can get one that suits your business just fine.