Tools For Finding Available Domain Names…
In my last post about selecting domain names I gave some guidelines that we have found helpful in balancing the act of domain “brand building” and using natural key words for your niche in the domain name that helps with your Search Engine Results Placements (SERP’s).
The problem any webmaster, adult or not, encounters, however, is that quite a few of the domain names they can imagine that include a keyword, make sense, can be used in the title, and are still available are often difficult to find. The default tool that most webmasters use is the domain availability search form on their favorite registrar. If the domain name they have imagined or keyword they have typed in is not available, the search function will return a limited number of suggested alternatives. They problem with these registrar based domain search utilities is that the range of alternatives that are returned are extremely limited.
Experienced webmasters have all developed some of their own methods to solving this problem. Many use selected online utilities to assist with this effort. The best online utilities that we have found for finding available domains include the following:
123 Finder: A keyword search utility that normally gives quite a few suggestions of available domain names based on the keywords that you have entered. This utility will sort the suggestions alphabetically but has no other algorithm to sort domains.
Name Boy: Another keyword based utility that provides some unique suggestions that you may not have thought of. The results are presented in a nice table format for easy viewing.
Name Droppers: This free service will provide you with the most suggestions. They results, however, are alphabetical and difficult to sort through.
Domain Bot: Domain Bot is our favorite “name spinner” free online domain search untility. Just put in your keyword and hit search. When you receive the search results, it will give you some sorting, filtering and advanced search options on the right of your screen. Unique features of Domain Bot include not only the filtered search, but also ability to specify only available names, expiring domains, registered domains or any combination of the three. You can also specify the TLD’s you wish to search for. When we are searching for a new domain, this is the first place we visit to search availability and suggestions.
Regardless of the method you use to come up with your domain name, you will sometimes find that the domain that is perfect for your concept is taken and their are no satisfying alternatives available. As mentioned above, Domain Bot will provide you with suggestions on domains that are soon to expire.
Buying expiring or expired domains can be a very profitable move for your new venture. It is a process, however, that is not as simple as waiting for the domain to expire. We will provide some hints for buying expiring and expired domains in one of our next two posts.
In the meantime, happy webmastering.
