Domain Name Taken? Here’s What to Do

finding perfect domain name

Ask David” question: “All the domain names that I have chosen are already taken…what should I do?”

So, you’ve found the perfect domain name for your new website, but it’s already taken. It’s a frustrating situation, but don’t worry, there are several options to explore.

1. Check for Variations

  • Hyphenation: Consider adding a hyphen to the domain name. For example, if “yourdomain.com” is taken, try “[invalid URL removed]”.
  • Pluralization: If the domain name is singular, try pluralizing it. For instance, “blog.com” could become “blogs.com”.
  • Number Addition: Adding a number to the end of the domain name can also be an option. For example, “domain123.com”.
  • Keyword Variation: If the domain name is too generic, try adding a keyword that is relevant to your business.
  • Acronyms: Consider using an acronym for your brand name, like “NYCfoodie.com” for “New York City Foodie”.

2. Consider a Different TLD

  • Country-Code Top-Level Domains (ccTLDs): These domains are specific to a country, such as “.co.uk” for the United Kingdom or “.ca” for Canada.
  • New gTLDs: There are many new gTLDs available, such as “.tech”, “.design”, or “.online”. These can be a great option if they are relevant to your business.

3. Contact the Domain Owner

  • Negotiate a Purchase: If the domain owner is willing to sell, you can try negotiating a price.
  • Offer a Partnership: If you think the domain owner’s website is inactive or irrelevant, you could offer to partner with them to use the domain name.

4. Domain Backorder Services

  • Purchase a Backorder: If the domain name is about to expire, you can use a backorder service to purchase it if the owner doesn’t renew.

5. Brainstorm New Ideas

  • Start Fresh: If none of the above options work, it might be time to brainstorm new domain name ideas. Consider using a domain name generator or consulting with a branding expert.

Remember, finding the perfect domain name can take time. Be patient and explore all your options. With a little creativity and persistence, you’ll be able to find a domain that suits your needs. You can check if several domains are available at one time with the UltimateWB Check Domain Name Availability tool. When you’ve found your perfect domain name, you can register it at UltimateWB, or even another company if you’d like, and still use it with the UltimateWB website builder.

Are you ready to design & build your own website? Learn more about UltimateWB! We also offer web design packages if you would like your website designed and built for you.

Got a techy/website question? Whether it’s about UltimateWB or another website builder, web hosting, or other aspects of websites, just send in your question in the “Ask David!” form. We will email you when the answer is posted on the UltimateWB “Ask David!” section.

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