Choose A DomainHelping You Choose the Perfect Domain

So you want to search for domain names, but don’t know where to start? It really all depends on what you are looking for. If you want to register a domain name, or buy a domain name that is not currently owned by any one else. Or you could be looking for a domain that is currently owned by someone else, in which case, there are plenty of options on where you can go.

Registering a Domain

If you want to register a domain, Do Not Search for Domains at Registrars. It has been well documented that domain registrars log the searches on their site, then sell this information to domain kiters. (A domain kiter is someone who buys a domain to see if it is profitable, if it is not, they return it for free.) If you searched for a domain, did not buy it, then came back a few days later, the domain was probably taken. You could usually wait a few days, and the domain would become available again, but this wasn’t always the case. And if you emailed the owner about the domain, they would never let it go.

So where do you search for domain names to register. Here are three places I like to go:

• Who.Is
• DomainTools
• Internic

I prefer to use DomainTools as they give you a lot of information about the domain. if the domain is registered, they give you even more information about where it is hosted, who owns it, and other details that you may want to know. They also give you a quick list of the other extensions that are available, in case you want the .net instead of the .com.

Searching for Domains

If you want to buy a domain off someone (and a not from a registrar), there are plenty of places to look. If you want a specific domain, you will probably want to email the owner directly. I will discuss tips on how to do this in a later article, but if someone owns a domain, and you actively seek them out, you are going to be paying a pretty penny for that domain. If you are just in a shopping mood, you can go to forums to search for domains. Places like DigitalPoint, NamePros, and SitePoint are great (and free) forums to shop for domains.