It’s disappointing when you come up with an absolutely perfect domain name but it’s already taken. What should you do? You have a few options.

Choosing  a Great Domain Name

• Come up with a plan B
• Come up with a URL name that’s close
• Use a different extension
• Try to buy the name you’re after

A plan B is another name. Very often when you try to register a domain name that’s already taken, a site like GoDaddy will suggest alternate names that seem related. This can be helpful and give you a few ideas. You might also tweak the name a little so that it’s close.

You could also go with a .net instead of a dot com or go with your local country (such as: .co.uk in the UK or .ca in Canada.) Most experts agree that a .com extension is the best bet from an SEO and a brand perspective but if you have a perfect name and really want to use it, it can still get great indexing when you use a different extension.

Are All the Great Domain Names Gone?

If you want to buy the domain name that you’re after, buying the domain from someone else might be an option for you but one that could be financially costly. Is it really worthwhile? It could be perfect for you, if it’s a name that really speaks volumes about your business and contains the elements of a great name for being memorable to others as well as SEO value.

In the end, the choice is yours but you do need to weigh the pros and cons. Buying a domain that someone else owns could be quite pricey. You won’t know until you make an offer though and sometimes, domain parking isn’t as profitable as someone expected so they can be anxious to unload to someone for a price that could be less than you expect.