Domain name selection

How to choose? Which endings are credible?

[loubeth]

I am in the process of chooing a company and domain name for custom email at this point, and in the near future, website use for my communication and pr consulting business. This is my first foray into domain name registration, so here are a few questions. Would appreciate any responses.

1. Recommendations on which domain names are credible? Guidelines for which to use for which entities? Is there still a bias against .biz for commercial enterprises?

2. How do you tell if a name is trademarked (without hiring a lawyer) if the same domain name is available?

3. How do you find out who owns a domain name to see about purchasing?

4, What do you do if a domain name is reserved but the URL pulls up "blank slate" page? Does that mean the name is reserved but not in use?

Thanks,

loubeth

[toolman]

1. Get whatever you like best...I like .com's

2. [uspto.gov...] - do a search here.

3. [allwhois.com...] - is one of a billion domain search tools

4. You can try and contact them from the whois and see if they want to sell.

Welcome to WebmasterWorld

[netguy]

loubeth... toolman has some helpful hints for you, and I also agree with him on the .com domain. That is the industry default for most people, and if you find a unique name with another extension (.biz, info, etc) and make your business a success, somebody will grab your .com domain and take much of your online business. (Personally, I think a .com is more professional - the others looked like you couldn't afford the .com).

Here's a link to help you determine what you may want to look for in a new company/domain name:

[rhondaonline.com...]

Often, people either look for a 'keyword' domain that ties to their business, or a 'brand' domain (i.e. xerox Nike etc) that is completely unique.

And finally, I wouldn't personally consider purchasing a domain unless you could get it really cheap. The days of the big $$$$$$ domains are pretty much over.

There are literally millions of Great .com names still available, for only the cost of the registration ($8.00 - $35.00/yr).

Good luck!

Steve

[loubeth]

Thanks to toolman and netguy for their thoughts. The consensus definitely seems to be .com versus .biz. I've backordered my preferred.com company and domain name through snapnames.

Is it worth registering the .biz version in the meanwhile so that I can get my web presence going? I found out who owns the .com version - what's a reasonable price to offer for the domain, or should I let the other side suggest a price and negotiate from there?

I'll check out the suggested sites on copyrights/trademarks, name selection recommendations, etc.

Thanks,

loubeth

[toolman]

>>>>Is it worth registering the .biz version in the meanwhile so that I can get my web presence going?

Unless you have a very specific reason (company name etc.) for wanting an already taken .com, I wouldnt get too hung up on the name. After all who can honestly say they would have registered the domain "Google"?

[loubeth]

I haven't officially chosen the company name yet - so it is just a matter of having the company name and domain name match.
Thanks.

[thatmtnman]

I agree with the others who say dot com is the route to go. You might also want to consider if you are going to be operating in places like the UK (which would include Australia, New Zealand as well as England). They use a UK extension and as they are English speaking it might make sense to consider one of those dot com equivilents as opposed to the dot biz ones etc.

Regarding 'back ordering' a name through snap names. You might want to consider if the former owner had lost the name in error. Just the vocie of experiance here..still smarting.

Best of luck

[CHC]

I think that .biz is just a horrible extension. Apart from the fact that most of the spams that I receive seem to point to websites with names like mlmbizopps.biz and getonthisnow.biz, it just sounds so tacky.

Definitely one to avoid unless there is absolutely no alternative.

[georgeek]

I haven't officially chosen the company name yet - so it is just a matter of having the company name and domain name match.

That's a good position to be in loubeth because your company name will often times be part of the anchor text of inbound links as well as the domain name. And if you can combo your keywords into these from the off you have a head start.

[loubeth]

Thanks to all who contributed thoughts. I'm checking in with the current domain name owner of the .com name I want (who does not seem to use it - get a "blank slate" when I pulll up a URL with the name) to get a sense if they would sell it and what the plan is - I want to know if a possible competitor. I also seem to be okay in the trademarks with a USPatent Office search.

Found out that the name is registered until 2005, so I don't want to wait, obviously. Think I will come up with version of preferred name and register.

Thanks again for your thoughts and suggestions.

loubeth