Where are all good Domain Names gone?

Often when your creative juices flow and you get the grand idea for a domain name that is just right for you, your organization or anything that you intend to do ... and you want to buy it for yourself, you often end up doing a search only to find that someone has already bought it. Not only did that someone buy it before you, they did it long long back, when you didn't think you would host a website, or even register a domain name. It is frustrating, I know so what are the choices when you don't get a domain name of your choice?

A. Check if domain name which you want to buy is available for selling by its existing owner. There are many people who register domains only to sell it back at a premium. They invest their money with the view that someone would be interested to pay extra to get the domain name from them.

B. If domain is parked with SEDO or GoDaddy for sale - you can bid for the domain name. This is open auction, and entirely dependent upon the top bidding.

C. Check forums for domain sellers - DNForum is one place where folks auction the domains in their possession. There are many forums where the transaction is directly between seller and buyer. Word of caution though, you may get duped (pay and never receive your domain name because the seller never owned the domain)

D. If the cost of buying from options above is prohibitive, explore other options!!!

I would continue on what these options can be in next post. For now, if you have identified a name that should go with your hobby, goal, business or whatever and if you want to buy that domain name, check if it is available. If it is not available, check the web site and see if it is a parked page or is there a valid portal / content. Based on your research if you feel owner would be willing to sell, contact them (will cover how to find the owner later). If the domain is parked, you may have to enter bidding or outright purchase from brokers like Sedo.com who would assist you in buying a domain available with sellers.

Watch this space for more!!!