What should I do if the domain name I want is already registered? Some points to keep in mind during domain name registration

You've stumbled upon a fantastic new idea that's unique in the world. Great! What do we do now? Before you can present this idea to the public, you need to register a good domain name for it. If you haven't registered a domain name before, navigating the world of domain names can be a bit daunting. Faced with a sea of knowledge, you might be overwhelmed, make mistakes, and negatively impact your idea.

With billions of websites registered on the Internet, you might not be able to secure the domain name you want. This is a tricky situation. Most business owners end up compromising or changing their desired name, which can damage their brand in the long run. To avoid this, consider the following before clicking the "Register" button on a domain name.

Don't:

1. Buy a domain name without checking its history. Even a registrable domain name can get you into trouble if it's too similar to another company's trademark. Therefore, before you decide on a domain name, conduct a thorough search to ensure it's free of any copyright or trademark infringement. Doing so will save you significant resources, including legal fees and time.

2. An easy way to avoid using numbers or hyphens in your domain name is to add hyphens or change the spelling of words. While this may make it easy to register a domain name, it could negatively impact your brand and business opportunities. A high-quality domain name that's easy to spell will help with word-of-mouth marketing.

Here are some things you should do when searching for a domain name. While not getting the one you want is disappointing, there's hope.

1. As times change and the internet continues to evolve, new domain extensions have emerged, creating many novel and unique ones. Unlike standard extensions, these are keyword-rich and easy to market. Furthermore, your chances of finding the domain you want with these new extensions are very high.

For example, if you run a technology business, you might choose .tech; if you run an e-commerce business, you might choose .store. If you're unsure which keyword-rich domain extension to choose, opt for more common ones like .online, .site, or .domain.

These extensions make your domain name short, unique, and most importantly, intuitive. Just by looking at the domain name, users can guess what the website might be about, which adds value and makes it easier to remember.

2. Assuming the domain name you want is already registered, add words before or after your trademark name. Instead of changing the name, try adding words like "the," "my," etc. to the front of the name and try again. However, keep in mind that the words you use are easy to say and won't negatively impact your domain name. Always consider word-of-mouth and see if the URL is easily shared in conversations.

3. Try adding geographic information (if possible). Sometimes all you need to do is add your location to get the domain you want. If you're a local business, this can also help you narrow down your business and add more value to your brand.

4. Use creative tools. There are many tools available to help you find the right domain name for you. You can use domain name generators to find ideas and name suggestions. These tools use various techniques to cleverly modify existing keywords to create a shareable, branded domain name.