Selecting the perfect domain name is one of the most important factors in building a strong online presence. Your domain name is your digital address; it's the first thing customers will see when they hear about you online, whether you're an MSME or an entrepreneur. It is more than just a URL and can play an important role in your brand visibility, credibility, and success.

Choosing a domain name is not about finding an appealing name. There are already millions of domain names registered, so it can be difficult to find an available name. However, you do not need to worry if you are equipped with the correct tools and strategies to conduct a domain name search. Domain availability is a quick and straightforward way to grab a domain name that is available, not taken by anyone, to help settle your business on foot.

In this in-depth guide, you will learn everything about domain name search and how to check domain name availability. We will also include some tips on selecting a domain that mirrors your brand identity, improves your online presence, and helps in achieving business objectives. So, let’s explore the ways to conduct your very domain name search and check a website domain upon availability.

What is a Domain Name?

A domain name is nothing more than the address of your website. That is what users type in their browsers to get to your site. For example, Neo's domain name search is "neo.space”. Picking the best domain name is more than naming a catchy name; it must be available and give the feeling of your brand.

A domain name is a string of text which maps to an alphanumeric IP address. The alphanumeric IP address is used to access the website from the client’s software. The actual IP address is a complex numerical address (for instance, 192.0.2.2), making it difficult to remember IP addresses for all the favorite websites. With the help of DNS (Domain Name System), users can type in human-friendly domain names, and they will routed to their desired website. 

Why Does Your Domain Name Matter?

The following are the benefits of better domain availability:

1. First Impressions

Your domain name is likely to be the first thing a potential visitor will see. If you have an appropriate domain name that also sounds like a professional, people would take it in as highly credible, and most of them would visit your website.

2. Branding

Your domain name should be the same as your business or one of the keywords related to what you do, which will help you in branding. If you cannot think or brainstorm ideas, you can utilize the domain name generators to help you find a suitable domain name. 

3. SEO Benefits

A keyword-oriented domain availability can improve your website searches and links by letting visitors know what you do on the web at first glance.

Why Is Conducting a Domain Name Search Important?

The World Wide Web is extraordinarily massive, and with digitalization, almost every business in the world has its own website. This is why domain name search is important to ensure that your domain name doesn’t match anyone else. According to reports, in the Q2 of 2022, there were around 351.5 million domain names registered in the entire world. 

Besides, if you register a domain name that is already registered or looks similar to a particular registered domain name, then here are some repercussions that you might have to face: 

1. Legal Issues 

If your domain name is similar to a registered domain name or a competitor’s domain name, you might be surrounded by legal issues, such as trademark infringement and domain name disputes. 

2. Confusion

If you use the same domain name as another brand, then your target audience will get confused. Besides, if the other brand (with a domain name similar to yours) has a better SEO ranking, then your website will not top the SERPs, and it will become difficult for your leads to find your brand. 

3. Negative Brand Association 

This can happen if you have a domain name similar to a brand that has a bad reputation in the market or a negative association. Usually, this doesn’t happen, but in the worst case, the same domain name association can ruin your business as well. 

4. Loss of Identity

A domain name gives your business an identity in the swarm of different competitors thriving in the digital market. However, if you have a domain name similar to that of another brand, then you lose the chance to create a unique and differentiated identity in the competitive landscape. 

How to Check Domain Availability?

The recommended way to conduct a domain name search is through ICANN Lookup. ICANN stands for Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, and it has a registration data lookup tool which provides all registration information about a specific domain name. This tool utilizes Registration Data Access Protocol (RDAP), which is replacement of the WHOIS (Port 43) protocol.

For instance, when I use the ICANN tool to search the domain name availability of the name “brightsolutions”, it provides me with all the information about who has registered this name. 

From domain status (in this case, the transfer is prohibited) to domain name expiry date, registrant name, mailing address, and administrative name, everything is provided. This can help you assess who has registered your desired domain name, and according to the status of the domain name, you can contact the registrant to strike a deal to get that domain name. 

Another such tool is WHOIS lookup. If I run a similar query, the tool fetches all the essential details regarding the registration. Unlike ICANN, it also provides a list of available domain names that are similar to the searched domain name. 

Domain Name Search: Alternative Methods

Another method to conduct a domain name search is by using the domain registrar’s domain name search tool. This is a less comprehensive method, meaning this will not fetch you the details regarding who is registrant and what is the status of the domain name.  

After you have a list of domain names in mind, check domain availability with the domain name search tool. It allows you to check with a single click whether a domain name is already taken or available for registration.

The top and most popular domain name search tools are GoDaddy, Namecheap, Bluehost, and Domain.com. 

1. GoDaddy

GoDaddy has many built-in features and makes it very easy for MSMEs and entrepreneurs to search for the right domain name. Apart from searching for domain availability, it also generates domain names using AI.

You can search in the search bar, click on “Type the domain you want,” and click on a search domain. 

In the above image, as you can see, as we looked up digitalagency.com domain name, it showed that this name is already registered. Instead, it suggested another alternative with a similar domain name but a different domain extension.  

You can search for your desired domain name, and if it is available, you can buy it from there, or you can look for other names. GoDaddy provides the feature of already-taken domains at a higher cost. 

2. Namecheap

Like GoDaddy, Namecheap also provides a domain search feature. You type the domain name and search for it. If it's available, you can buy the domain name from there. One advantage of using Namecheap is that it provides free WHOIS privacy protection.

As you can see from this image, when I looked for booksandflowers.com, it showed that the domain name was unavailable. However, just like GoDaddy, there is a list of alternatives available, and you can choose from one. 

3. Bluehost

Bluehost is also a good tool for domain name search. It has an easy control panel for managing the domain. Bluehost also has an auto-renewal domain feature, which helps to protect your domain from expiring. 

When I typed alexprinting.com, the Bluehost domain name search tool displayed the name as unavailable. Just like previous tools, it displayed a list of all the available alternatives. 

4. Domain.com

Domain.com is also one of the best domain name checkers. It offers additional features such as web hosting, email hosting, and website-building tools. First, visit the Domain.com website. Type in your preferred domain and hit the search icon to check domain availability in search results.

Domain.com also works just like other tools; however, the alternative suggested is in no way similar to the searched domain name. If you scroll down the alternative list, you will find a similar domain name with a different domain extension. 

Tips to Create a Unique Domain Name

Creating a list of ideal domain names that matches your brand, products, or services is essential. It is because there are chances your ideal one might be registered and already in use by another brand. That’s why, it is best to have list of possible domain names that you would like to have for your brand.  

You can try to use keywords your target market would be searching for you in. You can use generative AI to generate domain name ideas as per your niche and services.

Here are some tips for choosing the best domain name:

Tip 1

The domain name should suggest something about your business or the type of services you provide. This will immediately inform users of what your website is about and may do wonders for your search engine rankings.

For instance, if you are a digital marketing agency, here are some domain names: 

1. growdigitallymarketingsolutions.com
2. houstondigitalmarketing.net
3. digivaluemarketing.uk. 

Tip 2

A simple domain name will increase user retention on your site. Avoid using confusing spelling or words that might throw off potential visitors.

For instance: 

1. Instead of HoustonSEOmarketingagency.com, you can go for growtraffic.com 
2. Instead of positiveaffirmationbySamantha.com, you can go for thinkpositive.net 
3. Instead of valuexdomainandwebhosting.in, you can go for valuexhosting.in 

Tip 3

Adding relevant keywords to your domain name may go a long way in increasing organic traffic. However, do not simply stuff the keywords; keep in mind that the domain name should also be natural and user-friendly.

Some popular examples include: 

1. expedia.com (a popular travel online travel agency expediating the booking process)
2. shipmonk.com (an eCommerce fulfillment software)
3. instafuel.com (a fuel management software)
4. yieldstreet.com (the company that assists people in building passive income by investing in alternate investment opportunities)

Tip 4

Your domain should sound like a different website so that no one will think about competition between you and other websites. It should be brandable, and it is easy for your target market to associate the term with what you do.

Tip 5

Make sure that the domain extension is available and avoid any possible trademark or copyright infringement. 

Neo: Get a Personalized Domain with Neo Domain Name Search

In today's digital era, your domain name is far more than just a web address. It's an integral part of brand identity and key to your marketing strategy. Neo is a game changer in personalized domain search and its registration. 

Neo is a business email platform that offers domain registration for free (at least for one year) with its own domain extension .co.site. You can purchase any annual subscription to business email hosting, and you can register your own domain (for instance, beachwears.co.site) for free. There will be renewal charges to ensure that you have ownership of the domain. 

How to Register Domain Name with Neo?

Here are the steps you need to follow for the personalized domain with Neo:

Step 1. Visit the Neo Website to kickstart the process.

Step 2. Click on the Pricing button.

Step 3. Select one of the plans that meets your needs. Choose Max plan to leverage the full potential of the Neo platform. 

Step 4. Click on I need a new domain name option if you do not have one. 

Step 5. Type in your desired domain name and purchase it if it is available. 

Step 6. Click on the Get Domain button to proceed forward with the registration process. 

As you move forward, you will be asked to create your account with Neo and set up your business email inbox along with your employee’s account. Then, you will have to enter your payment details. Neo comes with a 15-day free trial, so you can utilize the platform to its maximum potential and see if it is meeting your needs. You can even deploy your one-page website after completing the registration process. 

Conclusion

Choosing the correct domain name is one of the important steps in establishing a presence on the Internet. Your domain is much more than an address for your site. It adds to the character of your brand, is a good way to pull in visitors, and acts as an essential tool for overall marketing strategy. You can perform this with ease by following all the steps described in the step-by-step guide on how to check domain name availability.

Neo is a user-friendly and powerful tool that takes the hassle out of the domain name search phase. You can easily register your domain name with Neo and use it to create your business email address. With that business email address, you can deploy your own one-page website. 

Join Neo now and lay down the foundation of your professional and influential presence online today. Protect your space with Neo and start building a website that truly has the online identity of your brand and brings customers to you. Neo makes it simpler than ever to find and reserve your domain name.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How can I use a domain name search tool to check the domain availability?

Select a reliable tool (ICANN, WHOIS lookup, GoDaddy, Namecheap), then type a domain name of your choice in the search bar and press Enter. You will get to whether the typed-in domain name is available or not. 

2. What steps must be taken if the desired domain is already taken?

Look for different extensions (.com, .org, .net, .co) if your desired domain name is taken. You can also enter an appropriate keyword, prefix, or suffix to create a different version. Click on some of the related suggestions the domain search tool provided to see if a similar name may be open. If the domain is in use, you can perform a WHOIS lookup to locate the owner's contact information and strike a deal to buy it from the owner. 

3. How can I decide the perfect domain name for my business?

Check for the names that are short, memorable (and easy to spell). Also, avoid numbers and hyphens; they will confuse users/readers, making the domain difficult to remember. Using keywords in your domain name makes it easier for people to find you through search engines, directly affecting SEO. It is important to select the right domain that reflects your brand and is unique to you to match a few of its identity traits. This contributes to a strong brand identity.