By Jen Brister
If you own your own company, and you are about to put together a business plan for your Web site, you may be wondering what kind of domain you should choose. A good domain will include at least some aspect of the business name and let the public know what kind of business is being conducted.
The best domain name that you could possibly purchase for your company is the name of your business followed by .com, such as: yourbusinessname.com. Domain names that end in .com are generally more trusted by Internet visitors. But what happens when you try to register your domain name, and it is already taken? What steps can be made to ensure that your company has the domain name that you really want?
Buying from the Current Owner
One option that you have is to purchase the domain name from the current owner. You will first need to find out who the current owner is and how to get in touch with them. You can use the Whois database to find out information about the owner of the domain. When you enter the domain name into the Whois search, you will see information about the domain owner such as hosting and contact information. Keep in mind that in some cases, owner information may be blocked or not available.
Another way that you can contact the owner is by simply visiting the Web site that is at the domain. If the domain is being used to host a Web site, there may be a contact button or other contact information on the site. If the domain is not being used to host a regular Web site, there may be purchase information listed on the site.
Once you have found the owner, contact him or her to find out if he or she is willing to sell the domain name. Some domain owners who are not using the domain will be more than happy to sell the domain to someone else. Others will use the opportunity to make as much money as they can from someone who really wants the name. Set a budget before you begin negotiations with the domain owner so that you will not spend more than you intended.
Waiting for the Domain to Expire
Another option that you have is to simply wait for the domain name to expire and attempt to purchase it at that time. When you use the Whois database to look up information about the domain name, you can click on the registration tab and find out the exact date that the registration for that domain name will expire. Make a note of it and log into a domain registrar on that date to try to purchase the name.
If you find that you intend on spending a large sum of money on your domain name, you should hire a lawyer to oversee the purchase and make sure that all loose ends are tied up. The right domain name will pay for itself in a short amount of time by guiding customers and clients directly to your services. Take your time to find the domain name you really want and do everything that you can to purchase it.
About the Author
Jen Brister has been a writer, researcher, and Internet marketer for three years. She makes her living writing full time, publishing videos and creating Web sites.