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1. Start the search.

The best place I've found to locate domain names is http://DomainTools.com (formerly WhoIs.sc). They can tell you if the .com is taken, and by whom, as well as offering other variations of the name that are available. They can also look up the history of the domain name, if it's been registered in the past, as well as providing information about the domain's current traffic, where it's hosted and who it's hosted with. When you come across a name that you might want, open an account at GoDaddy.com or eNom.com so that you can purchase the name affordably (generally $8 to $9 to register a new domain name).

Other sites to search for pre-owned names are Afternic.com, Sedo.com and BuyDomains.com. Each has a large inventory of names that can be searched by category. Unlike finding an unregistered name, these names will often run in the hundreds to thousands of dollars, so determine ahead of time how much you are willing to invest in a good name. Lastly, look at sites such as SnapNames.com for names that will be "dropping" or expiring soon. If you find a name you like and you have the time to wait, you can pick up some good names from domain owners that let their names expire. Now that you know where to search for a domain name, let's take a look at how to do it effectively and successfully.

2. Get the .com extension.

This is the number one mistake I encounter when dealing with naming disasters. In a hurry to go to market, eager entrepreneurs decide to take the available .net or a hyphenated version of their name. You will likely regret this decision as future customers default to the .com address. You may even find your emails going to the .com domain address, which is even more frightening if the .com version is a competitor. This can be a costly mistake in terms of customer confusion. And you will spend valuable time in explaining the .net or hyphen to each new client you encounter. Be patient and get a name that's unique, distinguishable and memorable -- and one that's a .com.

3. Be creative.

Here's another cold, hard reality -- the simple one-word domain names are either gone or tremendously expensive. So if you think the name Paradigm or Pinnacle is cool, those names were probably registered about the time Al Gore invented the internet. You will have to do better than this. If you insist on using a common name of this type, then look for endings to go with these names such as . . .

* Group * Inc * Agency * Systems * Global * Solutions

You may also try adding an industry specific modifier such as . . .

* Media * Medical * Tech * Capital

Even if these endings are available as a .com domain name, be aware that a competitor might have used the same strategy and have a very similar name. Generally it's better to go one step further and create a truly unique domain name that won't show up with a slew of others. Here's one way to do just that.

4. Combine evergreen words.

One of the best domain name creation strategies I've discovered is combining simple, positive words in a unique fashion. To accomplish this, create a list of basic words that describe your business or industry. Then try adding a positive connotation/evergreen word that will give the name that little extra twist to make it stand out. An example of this is a company that came to us that specialized in embossing and promotional goods. We took the basic word "Boss" (from emboss) and combined it with the evergreen word "Mark." The result was BossMark.com, a name that resonated well and was available as a .com domain. Other examples we have found using this method are KoreOne.com, TeamLogicIT.com and BrightHire.com. Even though 100 million domain names have been registered, it doesn't touch the number of names available if you take every known word and combine it with every other possible word. The more basic dictionaries contain 60,000 words. So combining 60,000 words with a possible 60,000 other words results in 3,600,000,000 possibilities. So yes, there are still good domain names available. Some good evergreen words are . . .

* Star * Mark * Point * First * Line

Not only will this open up possibilities, it will allow you to track your company's success online, since you will have a unique name. When we created the name Coghead.com, there were few, if any, references to that name on Google. The client was then able to monitor their exposure simply by looking at the number of matches on a search of their name. As of this writing, Coghead brings up 345,000 hits, a good indication the word is getting out. A search of the word "summit" brings in 73,000,000 unrelated matches, so imagine trying to get noticed using that name.

5. Think of phrases.

This is another strategy that is often overlooked. In a rush to come up with short domain names, memorable phrases get overlooked. An example of this was an online jewelry company we named SeaOfDiamonds.com. By using the metaphor of an ocean, we created a thirteen letter domain name that is still easy to say and recall. And the name was just sitting there available. Does this require a lot of thinking and digging? Yes! But if you hit upon the right name, it's worth it. Another client with the name Harbour House Crabs found the phrase ilovecrabs.com and secured that domain as their primary ecommerce site. If you can't find a word, then try a phrase that pays.

6. Invent new names.

Another method is to invent names, but be careful. Totally invented names, such as Xerox or Kodak, start off with no inherent meaning. So if you invent a domain name, still try to use familiar parts of speech that contain some sense of feeling or emotion upon which to build your brand. An all-natural bug spray company we named Skedattle.com. A web based IT company we branded Graynium.com to underscore their intelligence and insights. A knowledge management firm we named Claricent.com for bringing clarity, insight and understanding to their clients. If you go this route, make sure the name you invent can only be spelled one way or, on a minimum, capture all possible misspellings of the name and redirect them to the main domain name.

7. Run a legal search.

Once you locate an available domain name, be sure to check and see if you can trademark it. The best place to start is http://www.uspto.gov. There you will find a database of trademarks you can search to see if your new name might conflict with a similar existing business. Just because it doesn't show up does not mean you are in the clear. There might be a business that operates on a state or local level that doesn't appear in the uspto.gov database. So do a Google search as well. This will generally provide a good indication if someone is using the name or something similar to it. To make sure you have a clear name, check your list of available domain names with your attorney or an online trademark company such as http://Tmexpress.com.

8. Hire a specialist.

If your time is valuable or you can only find domain names with huge price tags, consider hiring a naming firm. They can provide the experience and expertise to devise names, often for less than the cost of purchasing a mediocre domain name. I've encountered more than one instance where a client was prepared to pay upwards of $20,000 for names that were bland at best, when they could have a custom created domain name with a matching tag line and logo artwork for about half the price. Instead of just a domain name, you'll have an entire brand identity. Granted, not everyone can afford this type of help; but for those looking to build a substantial internet presence, the expense is often well worth the price.

8.5 Make the decision.

This really doesn't warrant a full step since it seems obvious. But in the end it simply comes down to a choice. And to move forward in business you have to make choices. Don't be paralyzed by indecision. Review the steps above and ask the opinions of those who have your best interest at heart (i.e. your best clients, trusted employees, a spouse). Limit the feedback to those whose opinions you value, otherwise you will get overwhelmed and confused. In the end, it must be a name that you believe in and about which you can tell a story and feel passionate. And once you find that perfect domain name, all that's left is making a name for yourself!