Migrate Your Site To The New Domain
Once youve secured ownership of the domain in question, youll want to migrate your existing site to that domain name.
If you build your website on a platform like Shopify, you can migrate to or from pretty much any online site builder. There are several options for migrating a site to Shopify, each being a relatively simple process.
Learn more: Get the features you need to grow your businessand the support to switch smoothly with Shopify website migration.
What Does It Mean To Register A Domain Name
Registering a domain name means that you claim a domain as yours to use for a fixed period of time, usually a year . After that time you have to re-register your domain to continue using it. If you dont, your domain drops and becomes available again for someone else to register. So in effect you never really own a domain name, but you kind of hire it.
How To Check Domain Name Availability
Last updated on March 26th, 2021 by Editorial Staff | Disclosure: Our content is reader-supported. This means if you click on some of our links, then we may earn a commission. See how WPBeginner is funded, why it matters, and how you can support us.
Choosing a domain name can be overwhelming because first you need to come up with an idea, and then you have to check domain name availability.
Since a lot of good domains are already taken, often beginners feel stuck.
Wouldnt it be nice if you can check domain name availability faster and even find new ideas while you do it?
In this article, well show you how to check for domain name availability with some of the easiest domain search tools.
New: We created an AI-powered business name generator tool that not only helps you come up with creative business name ideas, but it also helps you check domain name availability. Try WPBeginners free business name generator.
1. Domain.com
Domain.com is one of the best domain registrars on the market. They offer a wide range of domain extensions at discounted rates, and have the best domain management tools for beginners.
Most importantly, they have a powerful domain search tool that lets quickly check domain name availability. Simply go to their website and enter your desired keywords or phrase.
If the domain you are looking for is not available, then it will show you different combinations to help you brainstorm and come up with a unique idea.
2. Nameboy
3. IsItWP
4. Blog Tyrant
Recommended Reading: How To Make Your Own Top Level Domain
How Can Ionos Help Me If My Desired Domain Name Is Taken
If you are having trouble choosing your perfect domain name, IONOS is here to help. There are a multitude of options available to you and workarounds for any problem all leading you to a fantastic domain name for your site.
The first thing you can do is think about changing the TLD. This is the part of the URL at the end: for example .com, .net, .org. So if your desired domain name was balletshoes.com and you find that this is already taken, you can try balletshoes.org or balletshoes.net. The IONOS domain check will automatically generate your desired domain name with new TLDs if your first choice is already taken.
If these are also not available, or you have your heart set on one particular TLD, then you can think about adapting your original domain name. Having to rethink your domain name shouldn’t be seen as a problem and, in fact, it may lead to a spark of inspiration that helps your chosen domain name to really stand out.
Some Of Those Domains Are Ancient
When I say ancient in Internet terms, I mean eighties. I know the 80s and the Internet dont really go together, but some of the brands from this 100 list actually registered their .com domains among the first domain registered, ever! Symbolics.com was the first domain registered ever, on March 15, 1985. What about companies from our 100 list of top brands? Since getting a date of registration is very easy with our Whois API, lets check this list.
When did top brands register their .com domain names?
Have in mind that some of these domains were registered before their respective companies were founded. Facebook.com is a good example since it had several moves. The company started on TheFacebook.com. The domain name itself was registered on 2004-01-11 , and the company, then known as TheFacebook, Inc. was incorporated in Delaware on July 29, 2004. As many know, the company then raised significant funding and traction, thus buying facebook.com and filing a name amendment to Facebook, Inc. in 2005. Facebook.com the domain name, was registered on 29 March, 1997.
3. Nissan doesnt own nissan.com
Japanese automaker Nissan is currently the 59th brand in the world. Ahead of Sony, Allianz, JP Morgan, Canon, and many others.
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What Criteria Must A Domain Name Meet
A domain name must be available if you want to register it. You can check the availability on our site. If the domain name you had in mind is no longer available exactly as you imagined it , you can pick one of the other extensions, or slightly change the spelling .The domain name itself should also consist of minimum 2 and maximum 63 characters, which can be letters, numbers and the minus sign. The minus sign can only be used between two letters or numbers, which means it cannot be used as first or last character of the domain name.Recently, it has been decided to allow accented letters in domain names with the .be ccTLD . The following characters are not allowed:
| ß |
Choosing A Different Domain Name Extension
The most common domain name extensions are .com, .org, and .net. But, that doesnt mean your search should end, just because these extensions arent available.
In some cases, a different domain extension might even work better, but overall it depends on the type of site youre running.
When considering a different domain name extension, keep the following questions in mind:
- Does the extension I want belong to an existing website?
- If I choose another extension will it work with my brand?
- Can I get a different extension that doesnt feel like spam?
- Is the new extension memorable?
Overall, if the domain is taken by a website thats currently live on the internet, then youll want to choose a new domain name. Otherwise, youll run the risk of copyright infringement and run into all kinds of legal issues. This headache isnt worth it, and your time is better spent coming up with a new domain.
However, if your first choice domain name extension is taken, but isnt being used for a website you could get away with using another extension. For example, I really wanted a domain name, but the .com was already taken but wasnt being used for anything at all, so I went with the .net version.
This allows you to start building your site if youre absolutely attached to a given domain name, while in time you can acquire any other extensions with the profits from your new site.
Read Also: How Do I Purchase A Domain Name
Short Or Long They Will Go After It
Take Time Warner Cable for example. They own TimeWarnerCable.com but at the same time, they bought twc.com which redirects to TimeWarnerCable.com. Coca-Cola, owns coke.com, and Volkswagen owns vw.com Neat right? If the brand has a long name, they own the long domain, and they also own the abbreviation. On the other hand, if the companys name or should I say the brand is really short like HP, UPS, Nike, then again they own the .com and in most cases, the short domain opens the website.
Why is shortness an issue? Read here We are out of 4 letter .com domains.
Protip. WordPress, which is not a top 100 brand, owns wp.com.
What Is A Whois File
When the registrant applies for or registers a domain name, he/she is required to provide his/her contact details, which are then stored in the WHOIS record. Depending on the gTLD, these details can be summary or comprehensive. The WHOIS record usually contains the following details:
- REGISTRANT or DOMAIN NAME OWNER: the person that has the right to use the domain name.
- ONSITE: the name of the technical contact of the registrant this can be the person who built the website, the hosting provider, etc.
- TECHNICAL: the technical contact of the registrar
Read Also: How To Claim A Web Domain
How Do I Check Domain Name Availability
Domain name availability is an important factor when researching a new web domain. There are a number of ways to check domain name availability. The most common way to check domain name availability is to use a domain name search engine.
Domain name availability tools also exist, but they are less common. Domain name availability tools can be used to check the name availability of specific domain names, the availability of entire domain ranges, or the availability of specific TLDs.
The best way to check domain name availability is to use a domain name search engine. Domain name availability tools also exist, but they are less common.
Domain name availability tools can be used to check the name availability of specific domain names, the availability of entire domain ranges, or the availability of specific TLDs.
When using a domain name availability tool, be sure to do the following:
1. Check the availability of the specific domain name.
2. Check the availability of the entire domain range.
3. Check the availability of specific TLDs.
Be aware that some domain name availability tools require a paid subscription. Also, be aware that some domain name availability tools may not be accurate.
Connect Your Brand To Your Domain Name
You want your domain name to be a differentiator. Having a unique domain name will always be better than a generic domain that sounds all-too-similar to competing sites.
When youre launching a brand, chances are youre doing something different than the competition. Make sure that your domain name reflects this.
For example, think of sites like Google, DropBox, Zillow, Facebook. All of these sites have unique and memorable names. Whether youre creating new words from scratch or combining two unrelated words, one thing is for sure: they stick in your mind.
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With Namechk You Can Check The Availability Of A Username Or Domain Name Within Seconds
There are 351 million registered domain names and counting. Every day, thousands more are registered. Since domain names can only be used by one company or person at a time, it can be hard to not only come up with a domain name that makes sense but also find one thats available.
A lot of people dont want to spend the time to create a new username, check its availability, and register it with every. single. platform. What if there was an easier way? There is. A username check and generator like Namechkcan help.
How To Check Domain Name Availability & Register
Do you want o know more about how to book your desired domain? If yes, here is a stepwise guide to know more about the process of registering a domain and how to check domain name availability.
The first step towards creating a website is the registration of a domain name. In the present day, booking a domain name for your website has become a lot easier. This is mainly because there are a number of domain tools and generators are available online that simplifies the process of domain registration.
However, booking a domain name becomes tougher when the desired domain name is already taken. In his article, we will first cover the simple domain registration process and then address what you need to do if the domain name you are looking for is not available.
Without further ado, lets dive in!
Also Check: What Happens When You Buy A Domain Name From Godaddy
Stay Unique And On Brand
A unique domain name can help your website stand out and potentially help you avoid legal trouble. It can also contribute to your marketing efforts. In fact, if your site represents a larger brand, you would be wise to consider your domain name as youre creating the brand name itself.
If youre a self-employed individual, you can still consider your body of work and your website as part of your personal brand. For instance, if you run a private therapy practice, an original yet branded domain name might include your full name and field. In this scenario, a strong URL might read something like: janesmithpsychology.com.
Another powerful way for businesses to reach a local audience is by including geolocation within the domain name .
Related: How to Tell Your Brand Story
Make Sure Your Domain Is Easy To Pronounce And Spell
You probably want your domain name to be original and memorable. However, novelty isnt always a good thing. If you modify the spelling of a common word to get that .com extension , you might confuse your audience.
While word-of-mouth advertising is powerful, it only works when people can actually pronounce your domain. This also makes the name easier to remember, increasing the odds that people will visit and pass the site along to their networks.
In recent years, more businesses have opted for 4-letter combinations of easily pronounceable domains. In addition to being incredibly memorable, this is also due to the ability for domains to hold aftermarket value. That is, if the business fails, the domain can still be sold. One very popular 4-letter pattern is c-v-c-v , exemplified by Snap and Meta.
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First Second And Third
Each domain name consists of several parts, separated from each other by dots. Each of these parts constitutes a level and it is considered starting from the rightmost portion of the domain name.
Lets take the domain of our customer area as an example: my.supporthost.com
Starting from the right-hand side we find com, the top-level domain. The top-level domain, also known as TLD or extension, can be chosen according to the requirements among those available.
For example, you can use a national TLD as a reference to address the audience of a specific country, as it happens for .it, .uk, .us and so on.
Then there are generic top-level domains, such as .com, one of the most widely used. And then again the new generic domains that allow you to identify a certain type of business. For example, if you decide to create an eCommerce site you might choose a new extension like .shop or .store.
The second part, after the extension, is the second-level domain. In our example, Supporthost is the second-level domain. This part of the domain name, therefore, represents the name we choose to identify our site. Typically in the case of a company, the second-level domain will then correspond to the brand.
A domain essentially needs these two components, but its structure can provide an additional level: the third level domain. This level, also known as a subdomain, is used to divide the site into categories.
Register The Domain Name
Once you find an available domain name, you can register it. To do so, you can register the name with an independent domain name registrar or with a web hosting company that will register the name and provide web hosting services. Youll provide some basic contact information and pay for the domain.
Wondering about pricing? Expect to pay between $10-$20 a year to keep the name.
You might be asked to buy domain privacy. This feature can reduce spam and unwanted solicitations, but its not required.
Recommended Reading: How Do I Find Who My Domain Is Registered With
How To Easily Check Domain Name Availability
A domain name is essentially an online address of a business or a website much like your home address in real estate.
There are two parts to a domain name. One is the top-level domain and the other is the second-level domain. For more understanding, let us take, for example, our website address 99businessideas.com.
Here .com part is the TLD and 99businessideas is the second-level domain and is mostly the address URL of any business or an individual.
It is without saying, selecting a catch and relatable domain name relevant to your business name plays a key role in building the brand growth and overall success of the project.
For selecting and registering a domain name, we highly recommend taking help from a reputed domain checker software or online platform. Our personal favorite is Namecheap.
Find a domain starting at $0.88
powered by Namecheap
This Namecheap domain checking tool is very to use. Just enter your choice of any second level and press search. You will be immediately shifted to the results page of the website. If the domain name is available, you can directly book it online at the cheapest price. If it is already taken with a certain .com TLD, one has the option of registering with other TLD options like .net, .org, and so on.
Find Your Domain Host
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