Are you ready to build a website, but your ideal domain name is no longer available? With a little research and creativity, you can find a that鈥檚 right for your business. For instance, you could try a different extension, such as .co, .tech, or .us. If you run an online store, look for domain names ending in .shop.
Feeling creative? Go ahead and experiment with abbreviations or come up with a new word. Top brands like Yahoo, Google, and Trello have successfully used this approach, and now everyone knows their names.
Many of the best domains are taken, but this doesn鈥檛 mean you should settle for less. Instead, keep an open mind and check out the tips below for inspiration.
听
Look Beyond .COM
听
In 2021, there were around worldwide鈥攁nd this number continues to increase year after year. Most of them use the .com extension, but that鈥檚 not your only option. Some domain extensions, such as .net, work for just about any site. Others are suitable for websites targeting specific countries or industries. Let鈥檚 see a few examples:
- Online stores: .shop, .store, .sale
- Business websites: .biz, .co, .agency
- Technology-driven companies: .io, .tech, .ai, .dev
- Lawyers, architects, and other professionals: .pro
- Associations, nonprofits, and other organizations: .org, .foundation, .community
- Blogs: .writer, .blog, .ink, .press, .info
- Healthcare businesses: .health, .clinic, .care, .medical, .wellness
- Country-specific websites: .us, .ca, .ro, .no, .dk, .de, .co.uk
Say you want to register 鈥渉irealawyer.com.鈥� This domain name is taken, but the website doesn鈥檛 exist. So, if you opt for a different extension like .biz or .info, you won鈥檛 be competing against 鈥渉irealawyer.com.鈥� If it goes live at some point, you鈥檒l have a competitive advantage, assuming you put in the time and effort to improve your SEO and build a loyal clientele.
听
Add Your Brand Name
听
Let鈥檚 assume you come up with a great domain name, but the .com is taken and the website is live. In this case, it doesn鈥檛 make sense to choose a different extension, as it may confuse users. Plus, you may have a hard time climbing Google鈥檚 rankings, especially if both sites target similar keywords.
One solution is to include your brand name in the domain name. An example would be 鈥淢ayaCosmetics.com鈥� instead of 鈥淐osmetics.com鈥� or 鈥淕oldGymFitness.com鈥� instead of 鈥淔itness.com.鈥�
On a similar note, you can add relevant words to the desired domain name. These could be nouns, verbs, or whatever makes sense, such as in 鈥済etapocket.com,鈥� 鈥渟tartabusiness.com,鈥� or 鈥渂odyleanfitness.com.鈥�
More from Business
- Could Your Business Pass The 7pm Test?
- How Microsoft Proved AI Returns While Meta鈥檚 Cash Flow Collapsed
- Speed Is A Property Of The System
- Could Global Hiring Be Costing Businesses More Than They Think?
- Why Is The EU Pushing To Become The World鈥檚 Biggest Carbon Buyer?
- Experts Share: What Business Tax Changes Are SMEs Hoping To See From Andy Burnham?
- 7 Essential Skills Every Commodity Trader Needs
- How Much Tariff Pain Can US Small Businesses Absorb Before They Break?
Look for Synonyms
听
Use an online thesaurus to find synonyms for the words in your preferred domain name. For instance, you could go for 鈥渇indalawyer.com鈥� instead of 鈥渉irealawyer.com鈥� or replace 鈥渓awyer鈥� with 鈥渁ttorney,鈥� 鈥渓egal help,鈥� 鈥渙r 鈥渓egal adviser.鈥�
Now let鈥檚 say you鈥檙e a local guide. 鈥淐ityTours.com鈥� would be a great choice, but if it鈥檚 not available, you could opt for 鈥渦rbanadventures.com鈥� or 鈥済etaguide.com.鈥� Alternatively, country code top-level domain (ccTLD), such as .is, .jp, or .es, depending on where you do business.
听
Use a Catchy Phrase
听
Think of a short, catchy phrase you could use in your domain name. This could be your tagline, slogan, or a combination of words that reflects your brand鈥檚 values.
For instance, TheGoodLife.com is a lifestyle blog aimed at helping people make better choices. Depending on what you offer, you could name your website 鈥渄reambig.com,鈥� 鈥渇eeltheburn.com,鈥� 鈥渂reaktheice.com,鈥� and so on.
听
Break Down Language Barriers
听
Consider replacing the words or phrases in your desired domain name with their equivalents in another language. Think of BonAppetit.com, which means 鈥淓njoy your meal.鈥�
Similarly, you could use 鈥渃af茅鈥� instead of 鈥渃offee,鈥� 鈥渇iesta鈥� instead of 鈥減arty,鈥� 鈥渙r bambino鈥� instead of 鈥渃hild.鈥� Another option is to add words like 鈥渉ygge,鈥� 鈥渧iva,鈥� or 鈥渓aissez faire,鈥� which describe different moods and feelings.
听
Add Your City or Country
听
Even if you run a global business, you can add your city or country to your domain name without confusing consumers. It all comes down to what you sell. Take LoudBarcelona.com, for example. The marketing agency appeals to an international audience, but its domain contains the name of the city where it has its offices.
This strategy works for companies that either target a local market or sell digital products and services.
听
Invent a Word
听
Have you ever heard of Kenvue? The name of听 Johnson & Johnson鈥檚 former consumer health division comes from 鈥渒en,鈥� a Scots word that means 鈥渒nowledge,鈥� and 鈥渧ue,鈥� a French word for 鈥渆yesight鈥� or 鈥渧ision.鈥�
Adidas, Accenture, Xerox, IKEA, Kodak, Pixar, and other global brands have made-up names, too. For example, IKEA is named after its founder, Ingvar Kamprad, and Elmtaryd, the farm where he spent his childhood.
Why not use a similar approach for your domain name? All you need is a bit of creativity. Think about what you stand for, your brand and products, a beloved friend, or the little things that inspire you. Write down your ideas, ask for feedback, and pick a winning name.
听
Get Help from Technology
听
If you鈥檙e having a creative block, harness the power of technology to find the perfect domain name. For example, Wix features a free domain name generator. Simply enter a word or phrase related to your business, and you鈥檒l get dozens of domain name ideas in seconds.
Another solution is to use AI-powered tools like Google鈥檚 Gemini or OpenAI鈥檚 ChatGPT.
Describe your brand, products, and target audience, and then tell the bot to generate ideas for a domain name that would fit your business. You can also ask it to include specific terms or stick to a word count.
Note that AI bots may suggest domain names that have already been taken. Because of this, you have to check each option to make sure it鈥檚 available and doesn鈥檛 infringe any trademarks.
听
Should You Buy a Domain Name That鈥檚 Already Registered?
听
Just because a domain name is taken doesn鈥檛 mean you can鈥檛 have it. First, go to Whois.com to see who owns the domain and how to reach out to that person. Ask them about the domain鈥檚 availability and sales price.
Alternatively, contact a domain name broker or check if the domain is for sale on Sedo, Afternic, NamePros, or similar platforms.
Keep in mind that, with any of these options, you鈥檒l pay a lot more than what you鈥檇 shell out for an available domain name. In some cases, the costs can run into thousands of dollars鈥攁nd the benefits are negligible.
