How to Check Domain Name Availability
The name of your domain can easily make or break your website. It has to describe your business or mission in a clear, non-ambiguous way, yet at the same time, it has to be unique. Easier said than done, right?
Choosing the best domain name is not just coming up with a great idea. To be more precise, a good domain name has to be a mix of characteristics that work in unison to make your name brandable. Your domain name should:
- Be short and simple, so potential website visitors can easily remember you and find your website.
- Contain keywords that are relevant to your business and brand, allowing potential visitors to find you even if they cannot remember the exact domain name.
- Reflect your brand or contain your brand name – ideally, your domain should include the name of your brand or at least resembles it. Of course, before you settle for a brand name, make sure it is not trademarked.
Then you can move on to domain name registration. Sometimes, just when you thought you had the perfect name for your website, you find out that it’s already been taken. To avoid unpleasant surprises, we will show you how to check domain availability using these specialized tools.
1. Domain
Domain is the first choice for checking domain name availability. It is a simple, straightforward solution – as soon as you’re on the homepage, you can quickly type your potential domain names in the search bar, and get information about their availability.
If your desired name isn’t available, Domain offers a list of alternative suggestions. It usually offers options with alternative domain extensions, when the .com extension is already taken. Premium suggestions are often pricey, highly sought-for domain names and extensions, such as .org, .net, and .io.
On the other hand, extensions like biz, info, stream, party, etc. have been recognized as common extensions for spam and malware websites, so it’s better to avoid them.
In case your desired domain name is available, Doman enables you to quickly move on to the next step. When you purchase a domain, you can also purchase hosting, Google-powered email addresses, SSL certificates, and Sitelock to protect your website from cyber threats.
2. IsItWP
Need a little bit of help with your brainstorming session? Look no further than IsItWP, which boasts both domain name availability check and a name generator.
All you have to do is enter 1-2 keywords and IsitWP will generate a list of available domains. Pick the one you like by clicking on View Details (or start a search with a different keyword) and it will take you directly to the registration page where you can get a free .com or .net domain name by hosting it with Bluehost.
Even after you’re done with your domain registration, keep IsitWP in your bookmarks! This website offers amazing WordPress tutorials, cool coupons, and free tools such as Website Speed Test, Security Scanner, and Headline Analyzer.
3. Bluehost
If you want to get all your work done in one place, Bluehost might be the best choice for you. Apart from enabling you to check domain name availability, it also offers name generator, registration and hosting services.
Each domain name suggestion is accompanied by a price, and you can also choose a bonus privacy and protection starter pack for your website. Blue Host also offers a possibility to opt for a business email address that enables access to Microsoft 365 productivity tools.
One of Bluehost’s greatest strengths is a great choice of flexible packages. For example, if you choose WordPress shared hosting for your website, you get a free domain for one year. There are also special plans for users who want to build a professional website or online store using WordPress.
Conclusion
Now that you know how to check domain name availability, keep this in mind. While you shouldn’t rush with choosing the ideal domain name for your website, don’t let it hinder your plans either. Sometimes, it is enough to come up with something that simply works well, rather than waste months trying to think of something no one has ever heard before.
Choosing the domain name is intertwined with finding the right hosting provider. This is also an important decision that will affect your website’s speed, search engine ranking, as well as the quality of the user experience. Click here to learn which mistakes you should avoid when choosing a WordPress hosting package and make sure you’re building your website on solid foundations.
We hope this article was helpful. If you liked it, feel free to check out some of these articles as well!
