What Can I Do If My Domain Is Taken
See if the taken domain is for sale
Sometimes, the domain name may have been purchased by a legitimate business owner, but they never ended up doing anything with it. If thats the case, you can use the Domain.com WHOIS lookup to explore if you can contact the owner of the domain and purchase it at a fair price. You may have to pay a premium, but its worth a try to grab the perfect domain.
Try an abbreviated version of the domain
You can still get the point across and convey your brand by using an abbreviation of your business name in the domain. For instance, instead of www.AcmeCompany.com, you may opt for www.AcmeCo.com.
The easiest way to try out abbreviations is to open up your word processor and create a list of potential abbreviations. Then, copy and paste that list into Domain.coms Bulk Registration tool to see what is available.
Use a new top-level domain
Without compromising the integrity of your domain name, you can simply change the domain ending . Of course, the most used top-level domain is .com, but you have a variety of top-level domains at your fingertips, including .net, .biz, .co, .business and more. Using a top-level domain that applies to your business will help to further convey your brand and the products or services you offer.
Use a tagline or slogan instead
Consult a web design expert
Wait For The Registration To Expire
If the domain you want is actively being used by the owner, its registry expiration date wont matterthe owner will almost definitely renew the registration. However, if its a parked domain, you might be able to swoop in and buy it right after the current registration expires.
The WHOIS database is where you can find out the expiration date. If its not long from now, you could shelve your domain name decision until you find out if the one thats about to expire is getable.
You can time the domain purchase attempt yourself, or you can pay a domain backordering service to handle it. Companies like NameJet have processes in place that let them automate an attempt to acquire the domain, so it occurs as close to the expiration date as possible.
You can never know the owners plans for the domain. The reasons for parking a domain can change over time a formerly important domain name might lose its value to the owner, compelling them to release it as soon as the current registration expires.
Unfortunately, there are no guarantees when youre waiting out a domain expiration. As with most of the approaches that involve doggedly pursuing your first-choice domain name, your mantra should be, Hey, its worth a shot!
Leveraging Multiple Domain Extensions
New domain extensions are released frequently, so its a good idea to keep an eye out for any that make sense for your business domain name. Names that are sensible purchases would include those relative to your industry or business model, like .yoga for a yoga studio or .online for an online store.
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Buy Similar Domain Names
Purchase easy misspells and other popular TLDs if they are available to keep anyone from squatting on your business name.
This could be costly later once you have built up a brand and the domain squatters know that you dont really have any negotiating leverage.
I once worked with a global brand that had to spend a couple of thousand dollars per domain name to successfully reclaim domains that could have been purchased for a few dollars when they first launched.
Precious Domain Name What To Avoid While Choosing It
For every positive characteristic of attractive domain names, there is an equal number of things that you should absolutely avoid.
Exclusive names are a great way to start a business.
Understand how to trademark a slogan? or a tagline read a complete guide.
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Why You Should Buy Multiple Domain Names
Should I buy more than one domain name?
Thats a great question.
And more often than not, the answer is yes.
Purchasing more than one domain name is an excellent investment when done sensibly. When done right, owning multiple domain names is synonymous with brand protection and business security. Well explain exactly why that is in this blog post.
A Strong Domain Name:
- Adds professional credibility to your business and separates you from the millions of get-rich-quick-scheme websites out there.
- Provides visibility for your brand. Much like a storefront window, a good domain will create awareness and attract customers.
- Establishes your business as tech-savvy and forward-thinking. Whether you actually sell products online or not, it is crucial to your reputation to claim your territory online.
- Creates mobility for your internet presence. If you decide to change web hosting services, relocate to a different country, or shift to using your own in-house server, your domain name stays with you, allowing you to continue to build your brand without having to start all over.
- Increases your search engine ranking. As you build your business and develop your website with quality content, your domain name will become more and more recognizable in search engines like Google, which draws more customers in your direction.
- Will provide your brand with marketability around the world, or you can choose to focus specifically in a local region.
- As opposed to traditional marketingas long as you keep current with the low annual feesyour domain name will not expire.
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How Do You Buy Domain Names
You can buy domain names from one of the many domain name registrars, such as Bluehost, GoDaddy, HostGator, and several others. The registrars usually charge for the domain name in 1 year increments, though some allow you to pay upfront for up to 10 years at the time of registration.
In addition to a domain name youll also need a website hosting account as well. In fact, you almost always approach one of the many hosting companies, which in addition to selling you a hosting plan also offer domain registration services. This arrangement allows you to manage both services under one account.
While the exact process of buying a domain name varies, you usually start by searching if your desired domain name is available. Almost every domain name registrar has a dedicated tool for this purpose. Some of the good ones will go one step ahead and give you suggestions for other potential domain names, if the one you were looking for has already been taken.
Youll then have to pay for the domain name and the price depends on the TLD, with some being more expensive than others. Again, the good domain name registrars will give you the option to buy and park the domain name with different TLDs, and perhaps even offer a discount if you choose to do so. Once the domain name is paid for and registered youll be able to use it to host your website.
Domain Name Dramadont Let It Get To You
It starts when were youngnot getting what we want is incredibly frustrating.
If you cant get the domain name you want, dont throw a tantrum. There are plenty of options that will let you move forward.
You can stay close to your original vision, making a small change to come up with a suitably different, but available domain name.
You can go back to square one and pivot to a domain name thats so different from your competitors that your business will stand out in the crowd.
Or, you can dig your heels in and try to buy the domain from the owner, wait for it to expire, or sue .
As mentioned in the beginning, accepting the situation and coming up with a new domain name is usually the best approach, but depending on how the wanted domain name is being used, it might be worth trying to acquire it.
We hope this article has given you some insight into the steps you can take if the domain name of your dreams is out of reach!
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Can You Sell A Domain Name
If you decide that you no longer want or need a domain name youve registered, you can resell it. Flippa is a popular marketplace for selling digital real estate:
However, you can also work with a broker or auction your domain name off. Several factors will influence how much you can get for your web address, such as:
- Which TLD is uses
Can I Use My Domain That Is Registered At Webnames With Another Provider
If you need to move your domain to another registrar, you can obtain a transfer authentication code as well as unlock your domain by browsing to the following, once logged into your Webnames.ca account:
- Navigate to Account > Manage Domains
- Under Domain Actions > Transfer Domain, click on Auth Code
Proceed through the screens to obtain your Transfer Authorization Code and unlock your domain.
A new Transfer Authorization Code will be generated each time one is requested, and this Code will be updated after 90 days, provided a transfer of the domain is not currently in progress.
Please be aware that each domain Registry imposes a restriction on how frequently a domain can be transferred between Registrars. Typically, this frequency is every 60 calendar days.
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What Is A Domain Worth
Did you know you can sell your domain for $100 or even $100,000?
Yes, its true. Domains are basically internet real estate, and like real estate, good domain names are in huge demand.
Thats why smart entrepreneurs are always on the hunt for great domain names with good domain authority scores to add to their portfolio.
How Much Does It Cost To Get A Domain Name
The cost of a domain name can vary significantly, depending on several different factors. Here are a few things to consider when thinking about how much your domain name will cost:
Type of extension: The cost of acquiring a domain name can be heavily impacted by the TLD itself. For example, a promotionally priced .cyou domain may cost less than US $5.99/1st year, while a more exclusive TLD like a .inc can be priced in the thousands. Prices can also be impacted by the domain registry, any discounts at the time, along with the operator of the domain. The most popular and familiar domain extensions tend to fall somewhere within CA$20/year to CA$50/year.
Promos & Term: Domain names are sold as annual renewals, not dissimilar to subscriptions. If youre looking to get a domain over a multi-year term, be sure to consider the annual renewal price as well. Often domain names are sold at a discount for the first year, with the price of renewal being significantly higher. Consider the total cost of ownership when committing to a domain.
Availability: If youre looking to get a domain that is already taken, the cost of acquisition can vary significantly from seller to seller. In cases where youd like to acquire a domain thats been taken, enlist a domain broker to get an accurate valuation of any aftermarket domains youre hoping to acquire.
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What Should We Do If Someone Is Using A Similar Domain Name To Profit From Our Brand Or Take Advantage Of Our Customers
If they are using your trademark or deliberately passing themselves off as being related to your business, you have a strong basis for using a dispute resolution procedure or taking court action against them.
If they can claim they are using the domain legitimately, it may be more difficult to take action. Rather than spending time and money on a dispute, you might be better off focusing on promoting your own domain name. An experienced advisor can help you decide whether you have a strong case and what the most appropriate course of action is.
While you are not responsible for this, you may want to warn your customers if you become aware this is occurring. You may also want to establish an appropriate security policy and tell your customers about it: for example, stating that you will not ask for financial or security details by email.
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The Importance Of Domain Names
When someone asks, Whats a domain name? Its easy to answer with an online address because its accurate and concise. A domain name is an intelligible, readable address for any web server on the Internet. Its certainly easier than typing a long-stringed IP address into your browser every time you want to navigate somewhere online.
But, to leave the answer at that would be a disservice to both domains and your brand. The former is vital to the latter. Often, a domain name is the first exposure someone has to a brand they type it in their browser and consciously or not make a judgment about the name.
Building a brand is about building relationships with your audience. You can help to reinforce your brand with strategic domain name purchases and usage. Two opportunities to do this are opening new locations for your business or launching new product lines. Many large companies are known to purchase hundreds if not thousands of domains to build their brand.
There are other reasons those big companies own multiple domain names, too. When those businesses purchase many names, they do so for brand protection. What are they protecting against? Typosquatting, cybersquatting, and the unfair and illegitimate use of their trademarks.
Protect Your Brand with Multiple Domain Names
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What To Do If The Domain Name You Want Is Taken
If youre doing a domain search and the domain name you want comes up as unavailable, it most likely means that someone already owns it and:
- is using it for a website
- is planning to use it on a site thats not launched yet
- is only using the domain for email addresses
- is keeping it because the name is similar to a domain he/she is actively using and the domain is being redirected to their site
- has an idea for the future and registered the domain in advance
- is just fond of the name
- wants to prevent other entities from using his/her name or brand
Ugh, right? Trying to get the perfect domain can be really frustrating, or, at the very least, really expensive. There are currently 137,510,404 domains registered with .com alone, and as of 2016, were looking at 326.4 million domain names in total. Maybe youll find a diamond in the rough, but its getting harder and harder every day.
Whats a person to do? Well, here are your options.