Check if a domain is Available

 

The domain name is the online representation of your business. Your domain name is the first thing visitors notice when checking your business's online presence. Always select a short, unique, and easily understandable domain name for your business. After selecting a domain name, also check its availability. Verify that no other brand is working with the same domain name and that your domain is unique and different from others. Do thorough research and check the online availability of your domain before finalizing it. 

Steps to check the online availability of the domain:

The uniqueness of a business's online presence is the gateway to success. For that, you should be familiar with the importance of domain uniqueness and its online availability. Follow the following guidelines to check if your domain is available.

Search on the web browser:

First, you must select a short domain name for your business and check its availability. To do so, you must type your domain name into a search browser and make sure no other business owns the same domain. If you find your desired unique domain, it means it's available to purchase and use.

Use domain search tools:

You can check the availability of the domain by using the domain search tools. These tools provide information about the registered domains. Enter your primary domain URL address in the domain search tools. If it loads and you reach any website, it means some other brand is already using the same name, and it's not available. The most common domain search tools available on the internet are:

Hostinger.com

Checkdomain.net

Instantdomainsearch.com

GoDaddy.com

Check the domain registrar:

The domain registrar is another way people use to check the availability of a domain. You can also get related suggestions for the domain name and select any of the available domains for your business.

Some of the best available registrars include Hover, Domain.com, and Dynadot (source). You will see a search bar where you can type your domain name and check its availability.For example, if you have entered a domain name, Harry.com, but another business has already taken it up, you can get related options such as harrymeow.com, harry.net, or many others. These suggestions are freely available. You can select any option and use it as your brand domain.

Check with the WHO.IS database:

The WHOIS public database provides authenticated information about domain ownership and availability. You can also get details about the domain's expiration date. Whenever any person registers a new domain, the database automatically gathers its information and stores it in its system. This is the best platform to check the exact information about domain availability.

You have to enter your selected domain name in the WHO.IS  browser and check its availability. If any other brand does not own it, you will get a tab with "NO data found." Thus, it means your domain is unique and available to be used.

Check for the domain extensions:

The most common domain extension used by most businesses is (.com). Although this extension establishes high traffic on the website, you have to check whether the respective extension meets your business requirements. Some extensions are specific for some businesses. For example, .org and .net are used by nonprofit organizations, and .shop is used for selling business websites. Select a suitable extension according to your business requirements, and then check its online availability.

Verify social media handle availability:

The business has to establish its social media presence to increase the workflow. To do so, you should check your social media account is unique. Make sure to use attractive names for your accounts. You have to check your account availability with social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. It will be helpful to verify your online presence. Thus, you should make sure to use a unique name on all platforms. (source)

What to do if your domain name is not available:

If your domain name is unavailable, you should remain relaxed and move toward its solution. In that case, you will get two options for the domain you want to purchase. 

Go for alternative options:

You can choose a different domain with one or two different characters or choose the same domain name with a different extension. If you have used the domain name harry.org but it's unavailable, you can make it harry.net and check its availability. You can also write it at harrymeow.com. So, small changes in the domain name can make it unique and available.

Reach the current owner:

You can contact the domain owner to see if he wants to sell the domain. But for that, you have to check the domain's ownership. You can check the domain ownership from the WHO.IS database. After getting the contact details, you must check for the domain at a reasonable price. If the owner is willing to sell the domain, you must complete all the domain purchase procedures and avail the domain you require.

Why is it important to check the domain availability:

It's necessary to check the availability of your website. It's important to maintain your online presence. It will help you in many ways like:

Brand uniqueness and identity:

You should always maintain your brand uniqueness and identity. Always use a short domain name that is easily understandable for the users. If your domain is available, it means that it is unique. On the other hand, if it's unavailable, you should change your domain name and make it unique.

Avoid delays in launching:

If your domain is not available, you will face delays in its launch. So, to avoid such issues, you should make sure to check its availability before committing to a specific domain. This will make your process smooth, and you will not have to waste time selecting a new domain for your website.

Avoid trademark conflict and legal issues:

The availability of the domain saves you from trademark conflicts and legal issues. Before selecting it for your business, you should check that the domain name is not trademarked. For that, different domain research tools are used. This will help you select a proper name for your business that is unique and easily accessible to users.

Thus, following step-by-step guidelines to check domain availability will make your domain more precise. You can avoid issues like trademark conflicts and delays in website launching, and your business's online identity will be maintained.