With websites now practically essential for businesses of all kinds, domain names are becoming very hot property.
Unfortunately that can mean that the domain name you want is unavailable when you decide to develop a website.
If that is the case, there are a number of different things you can do to either get that domain name or find an alternative that is just as good (if not better).
Talk To A Domain Name Broker
Domain name brokers specialise in acquiring and selling domain names. So even if the domain you want is not currently listed as for sale, they may be able to help you acquire it now or track it and get in touch when it is available in the future.
Domain name brokers can also help you come up with alternatives that work just as well for your business and may even find a more affordable option in the process, so it is worth considering the services of domain name broker regardless of whether or not the domain you want is available.
Find Out Who Owns The Domain Name
Whois lets you find out who owns different domain names, which can be a good starting point if you do not want to consider other names and want to make the purchase on your own.
Once you know who the domain name owner is, you can connect with them to ask whether they would be willing to sell it to you.
This process can be tricky, however, and it is important to approach domain name owners as you would anyone within the business world.
As Kelly Hardy of Blacknight Solutions explains on the company blog, it can be hard to seal a deal without ever actually meeting the person you are in contact with.
“While affability and honesty will get you in the door, a good rapport with the owner doesn’t mean the transaction will go smoothly. When communicating online any number of miscommunications can occur,” she writes.
Hardy suggests that reaching out, then using a professional to broker the deal could help make sure communication is clear and increase the chances of you getting what you want.
Consider Other Domain Name Extensions
While .com and .com.au are often the first domain name extensions considered, there are many other options you can choose from.
These include the familiar .net, .biz, .org and .info, as well as more varied options like .me, .tv, .fm, .co and many more options that could suit your business to a tee.
If your business specialised in shooting commercials or instructive videos, for example, the .tv extension could be a more specific way to highlight that fact and could be easier to purchase than a .com alternative.
Play The Domain Name Waiting Game
Another option you could consider when the domain name that you want is unavailable is waiting until it is put up for sale.
This strategy works best when you are happy to compromise for the time being, but still believe one domain is ideal for your business.
Entrepreneur and author Tom Lowry gives a good example of this strategy in an article for Huffington Post, outlining how a US company called Very Jane wanted the domain Jane.com and waited two years to get it. The company even changed its name from Very Jane to Jane when it finally acquired the one-word domain name.
While two years might seem like a long time to wait for the domain name that you want, it gives you an opportunity to establish your website (and even your business) before spending a huge amount of money on a domain name.
Domain names come in all shapes and sizes, but often the “best” get snatched up fast and leave people at a loss as to what to do next.
But whether you are just about to buy your first domain name or have one that you have always wanted, considering the options above should give you a way to move forward in any situation.