My Domain Name Is Taken
What Can I Do?

Domain Is Taken

You are finally ready to launch your business or personal website.

You chose the perfect domain name, and you are ready to start the process.

You use a domain name search tool only to find the domain name you want is not available. What can you do?

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The number of domain registrations worldwide has surpassed 368.4 million
While you might think that the Domain you came up with is an original domain, most of the good ones are already taken.

Someone is probably already using it for a website, or they just might like the name and wanted to claim it. Maybe they have a future business idea that they haven’t yet pursued. There are several reasons why the domain name you want may not be available. Do not panic yet, there are other options.

You can try to purchase your domain from the current owner if they’re willing to sell and how much you’re able to pay.

If your business name is already trademarked by another company, you probably do not want to get into legal issues or even cause customer confusion. This may be a sign you need to start fresh with a new name.

Understanding the Importance of a Domain Name

A domain name serves as your website's address on the internet. It's how users find and access your site. A well-chosen domain name can enhance your brand's credibility, improve search engine rankings, and make your website more memorable. Keep in mind if the .com version of the domain you want is taken, there are other alternatives.
Start brainstorming with our list of creative ideas to do if your domain name is taken.

First Verify the Domain Names Status

Before proceeding with alternatives, ensure that the domain name is indeed taken. The domain might be registered but not in active use, or it could be available for purchase. Check Availability by doing a WHOIS Lookup
Using the below domain search to find out the domain's registration details.
Also actually visit the domain name to see if it is an active website or if it is just parked. If the domain is parked or unused, you may be able to negotiate with the owner or wait for it to expire.

Try Using .net, .org, .biz, .info

Everybody seems to want the dot-com at the end of the domain name. But as you may have probably surmised by now most .com names are taken. But the same choices may be available with another domain suffix. According to Statista, the domain .ORG, is ranked 3rd most popular followed by .NET. These results are based on the top 10 million websites worldwide from October 2020. With this in mind, the process of choosing between .com, .org, .biz, .info or .net domain extensions should take place as soon as you start building your brand. This allows you to put together a cohesive online presence from the beginning, rather than trying to get the least bad outcome at the last minute.

Try Inserting Words before or after your Company Name

Say the domain name you wanted was flowers.com. Try theflowers.com or theflowersshop.com. Experiment with variations that tend to work with your business name, but keep it simple.

Add an Action Word

A simple modification, but this can be a real game changer. Let us take Stevens Cat Food as the company name. You can not find any other businesses by that name, but stevenscatfood.com is taken. Play with add-on verbs like stevensrealfood.com, shopstevenscatfood.com or buystevenscatfood.com. Not only does it work, but it provides a not so subtle call to action message.

Use a Relevant Word for Your Business

Say your company name is Light House Photos, but lighthousephotos.com is not available. Play around with ideas like memoriesbylighthouse.com, lighthousephotospro.com, or lighthousepics.com.

Experiment with abbreviations

If your desired domain name is taken, consider using abbreviations to create a unique yet recognizable web address. Shortening your business name or using initials can make your domain concise and easy to remember. Abbreviations are especially useful for longer names or if you're aiming for a sleek, modern look. Just ensure the abbreviation still clearly represents your brand, so customers can easily connect it to your business. Ours use rshweb.com for RSH Web Services.

Try Incorporating Geography Or New Words

Incorporating cities, countries, or even states may not work in your case, but it can be a relevant way to narrow down your domain options. If you have a Detroit based Rock Band named Boom Town Rats but boomtownrats.com is taken. Instead, detroitboomtownrats.com could work.

Try a New Word: Until 2016, Tesla Motor didn’t own Tesla.com because it was already taken. What did they do? They used TeslaMotor.com instead. That URL served them well for years because the word “motor” was such a natural extension of their brand. This method has the advantage of preserving trustworthiness in your URL.
The catch? You have to make sure you don’t throw in just any old word to extend your brand. It has to be relevant and say something about your business.

There is a lot of competition for Domain Names that other people might think of. You could always redesign your domain or business name completely by inventing a new word. Think about it. Google pulled it off! So did Zillow, Zazzle and Yahoo.

Use a different Domain Name Extension

If you really want that domain name, and the alternatives are just not working for you, you can always use a different domain extension. "Dot Com" is the most common, but the range of TLDs (Top Level Domains) continues to grow. With hundreds of TLDs available, there are more to choose from than ever before. Many visitors may never even realize that you’re NOT a ".com"
If visitors comes from referral links like social media and Search Engines to your website. They will most likely not notice your domain extension. Some of the more common extensions you’ve probably seen are .biz, .net., .org, .us .pro. But there are also options for various industries, like: .clothing, .pizza, .florist, .technology, .coffee, .agency, .online
Generic Top level Domain Names

Popular TLDs and Their Use Cases

When it comes to choosing a domain name, the TLD (Top-Level Domain) you select can greatly influence your brand’s identity and audience perception. Below are some of the most popular TLDs and their ideal use cases:

• .com: The most established and globally recognized TLD, .com is the go-to choice for businesses, bloggers, and personal websites. It’s trusted by consumers and often considered the most professional option. If your domain name is available with a .com, it’s a safe bet for any type of website.
• .net: Originally intended for network-related websites, .net is now a flexible TLD commonly used by technology companies, IT services, and startups. If the .com version of your domain is taken, .net can be a suitable alternative, especially for businesses in the tech industry.
• .org: This TLD is traditionally used by non-profits, charities, educational institutions, and advocacy groups. It conveys credibility and trust, making it a great choice for organizations that focus on public good, community-building, or knowledge-sharing.
• .co: A favorite among startups, entrepreneurs, and tech companies, .co is a trendy, modern alternative to .com. Short, easy to remember, and highly versatile, it’s often used by businesses looking to build a global, innovative presence.
• .io: Widely used in the tech and software sectors, .io has become synonymous with startups, apps, and online services. Its association with "input/output" in computing gives it a tech-forward reputation, making it an ideal choice for developers, software companies, and digital products.
• .store: Perfect for e-commerce businesses, .store directly signals to visitors that your website is a place to shop. Whether you’re selling products or services, this TLD is a great way to attract the right customers looking for a retail experience online.
• .app: Tailored for mobile app developers and software products, .app is a TLD that indicates your site is related to an application. It’s an ideal choice for developers launching new apps or services, and it helps position your brand as tech-savvy and user-focused.
• .design: A popular TLD for creative professionals, agencies, and design firms, .design works well for anyone in visual arts, graphic design, web development, fashion, and architecture. It’s a perfect fit for businesses and individuals who want to emphasize their design expertise.
• .shop: The .shop TLD is ideal for any e-commerce business. It clearly signals to customers that your site is for shopping, making it easy to remember and trustworthy. It enhances SEO and brand identity, helping your business stand out in the competitive online retail market.
• .ai: The .ai TLD is perfect for companies in artificial intelligence, tech, or innovation. It positions your brand as cutting-edge and tech-savvy, making it ideal for AI startups and data-driven businesses
• .us/.uk/.ca: Great for Targeting Specific Countries Country-specific TLDs like .us, .uk, and .ca are perfect for local businesses:
  .us for U.S. audiences. .uk for the UK market. .ca for Canadian businesses

Consider a ccTLD

Yes, the .com extension is the global standard for Domains. And it is especially prestigious in the United States
But remember in other countries the "Country Code TLDs" (ccTLD) are just as trustworthy.

Also, for a higher SEO value Google has already stated that within the "Search Results" ccTLD is a strong sign that your site is targeted to a certain country. And it will rank higher in Google’s country-based result, and possibly with the country’s local search engine too.

ccTLD are actually more important than .com extensions in some countries. In Germany, the .de is more popular than .com
If you are based in a country that is not the United States, consider using that country's TLD
There are a few potential issues here. Some ccTLD, like .ru and .cn, are popular for spam sites. And some ccTLD are banned in certain countries. If you are based in Russia, you might not want to use .ru since it’s a common spam TLD. But if you are from Japan, then using .jp would be best. Use good judgment with these ccTLD

ccTLD Comparison Chart

We have prepared a chart for you to see the most commonly available ccTLD. To see their represented country and know their official Domain Network Information Center (NIC).

Optimize for SEO

Regardless of the domain name you choose, ensure it's optimized for search engines. An SEO-friendly domain name can improve your website’s visibility on search engines like Google. While TLDs don’t directly impact rankings, a domain name that’s relevant, memorable, and aligned with your brand can enhance user experience (UX) and click-through rates (CTR), both of which are indirect SEO factors. By choosing a domain that incorporates broad keywords and avoids overly complex structures, you’ll set your website up for long-term success.

Example: A real estate company named “Salesia Realtors” chose “SalesiaPlots.com” because it included their brand and a keyword (“plots”) relevant to their audience. This domain is short, intuitive, and optimized for SEO.

• • Keep It Short and Memorable: Shorter domain names are easier to remember and type.
• • Avoid Hyphens and Numbers: These can be confusing and are often mistyped.
• • Use Keywords: Incorporate relevant keywords to improve SEO.
• • Choose a Relevant TLD: Select a TLD that aligns with your business and audience.

Domain Name Search

Find out instantly if your Domain Name is available. Then register it before someone else grabs it.

Summary

Whether you are brainstorming to modify your domain just enough to find a relevant and available .com, or if you are starting from scratch. Be memorable. If people can remember your name, they will be able to find you online easily. Keep it simple, short, and sweet.

Try to keep it to one or two words and avoid tricky words that might be difficult to spell. Avoid hyphens dashes or intentional misspellings. That will only complicate matters. Stay relevant. Your domain name should imply what your company does. If someone already owns a trademark, stay away from it. If you are deciding on a new domain name, and will also be setting up social media accounts, make sure that the appropriate handles are available, so you can keep everything looking consistent.

And if all else fails, please remember we are always here to help. Let RSH Web Services find a Domain Name that may just work best for your business or personal website
Contact us and see what we can do.

Author Bio: Thomas Vermeer

A prolific writer and business thinker with a passion for managing digital content. With experience in creating engaging and informative articles for...

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