Choosing a Domain Name - Tools, Resources and Articles

A solid understanding about domain names is essential when building web sites. But what excactly is a domain name? And where do you start when choosing a suitbable name for your web project?

The web is full of articles about domain names. Unfortunately, many of them are published as a marketing tool with the intention to sell more lucrative domain names. We have a compiled a list of free, informative and unbiased resources, articles and tools that are worth a look through when thinking of buying a domain name for your web presence.

Domain Name Introductions

New to domain names? Not sure why you need one or how to pick one? These resources will get you started.

Domain Name at Wikipedia

This wikipedia article explains the basics around domain names, why you need them and how they work.

The Domain Name System: A Non-Technical Explanation

A thorough and easy to read article about the Domain Name System (DNS) basics.

Domain Name Basics

Another old-school article about the very core of domain names and how they work.

Domain Name Suggestion Tools

If you have an idea of what domain you are looking for - perhaps you have a strong keyword or two, or maybe an established brand. Using a domain name spinner or suggestion tool might set you on the right track towards finding a suitable domain for your business, blog or web service.

MakeWords

Recommended. MakeWords.com is an online domain name generator - a brainstorming tool that simply returns a list of available domain names. Various algorithms and wordlists are used generate words and names that are “pronounceable” in different languages. You can select from sets of language rules to generate new words and query the entire .com and .net domain registry based on the results. Other uses of the tool can be unique name search for startup companies, brandable names for products, original names for roleplay characters, and naturally, creating names for anything that hasn’t been named yet.

Domain Suggestions at DomainTools

DomainTools name-spinning technology can suggest up to 100 domain names using their proprietary semantic domain name technology.

One Word Only

One Word Domain Name Search - featuring a domain name searchable database showing only one word names from the English pocket dictionary.

DomainsBot

DomainsBot was built to solve a couple of the most annoying problems facing anyone who wants to start a website on the Internet - finding decent domain names; figuring out who to register them with; and keeping track of them once you do.

Dotcenter

Dotcenter searches expired and available domains from keywords. Can also search using simple regular expressions using their Advanced search page

Bust a Name

Bust a Name have combined linguistic data with a unique interface to let you quickly search through thousands of domains and see which are available..

Deleted Domains at whois.net

Simple, fast and almost ad-free search engine for deleted domains, but the search tools available are limited.

Just Dropped

Another search engine for deleted domains. Requires account registration.

Useful Domain Name Resources

Here is a small list of articles, blogs and resources worth visiting prior to buying domains.

Matt Cutts Blog

Matt Cutts was the unofficial Google official at WebmasterWorld for a long time before his identity was revealed and his official blog was announced. The blog contains tons of useful tips about domains and other SEO-related topics.

Choosing the Domain Name for your Blog

Another excellent post by Darren Rowse where he guides bloggers into choosing the right domain name for their blog. Interesting discussion as well.

Domain Names at SitePoint

SitePoint has some good articles about choosing domain names, even if some of them are pretty old.

Choosing a Domain Name - Brandable Domains vs. Keyword Domains

This discussion has been going on forever. Keyword domains were hot when there actually where some keyword domains still available. Brandable domain names is more popular these days, not only because you can find your own memorable brand identity, but also because the fact that unique and often made-up words stand a beter chance in availability.

We have compiled a list of articles and discussions about brandable domains versus keyword domains so you can make up your own conclusions.

How to Choose a Domain Name - Brandable Domains vs Keyword Rich Domains

A great discussion at ProBlogger about what route to take when choosing domain names

Domain Names - Brandable v Keyword-Rich?

Caroline brings up topics like the SEO factor, Brandability = Visibility and Authority v Niche Sites when choosing between brands and keywords.

Choosing a Domain Name? Do Your Keyword Research First

Rachelle Money has some useful tips you might consider before choosing domain names such as Do not assume your brand name is the best domain name to select. Carry out some keyword research before making a decision and consider incorporating a keyword alongside the brand name.

Keyword or Brandable

Old but still very relevant discussion at WebmasterWorld about the cons and pros in brandable vs. keyword domains.

Buying and Selling Domains

Sometimes you just can’t find the domain on the available domain spinner tools. Or perhaps you just need some domain inspiration. Either way, it might be a good idea to start looking at used domains on different domain markets around the web. Here is a few to get you started:

Domain Names at eBay

Ebay is actually a pretty good place for finding cheap domain names. Be aware of dodgy domains with a spammy history - make sure you do a history check at archive.org before any purchase. Naturally - ebay is also great for selling domains.

Domain Names at SitePoint’s Marketplace

SitePoint’s marketplace is another good place to start looking for a used domain name.

GoDaddy’s Domain Name Aftermarket

A busy and rich marketplace for domains, but hopelessly cluttered and hard to navigate through.

Afternic

Another marketplace where you can sell and buy domains. Has categories and a good search engine, but promotes their own domains a bit too much.

Domain Name Auctions at DNForum

A busy marketplace for domain names in a forum environment.

Background Check and Blacklisting

When buying a used domain it can be important to buy one that hasn’t been abused by spammers in the past. If that is the case - chances are that google might have a blacklist on the domain and it can be hard to get your site indexed.

Archive.org

Use this tool to check the domain history and make sure the domain you’re buying hasn’t been a link farm or spam site.

Further Reading

Even more useful articles about domain names.

Dot-com names get dottier

From Abazab to Xoopit, start-ups try to be clever and unique to stand out from the hundreds of new firms online. Still, many are just gibberish.

How to Value a Domain Name

While there is no scientific method to determine a precise value for any domain name, there are some considerations that go into determining a reasonable ballpark value for that domain name you want.

10 Tips for Choosing a Domain Name

Your domain name is like your street address. How will customers find you if they don’t know where to look — or worse, if they go to what they think is your address only to find your company is not there? Here are ten tips to choosing a domain name for your business:

Making Domains Your Business

Even though there’s not a NASDAQ or S&P 500 for domain investors, industry insiders all know how steeply the domain market rose in 2007.