Finding out if your domain name is available
To find out whether the domain you want to use is available, don’t just type your preferred name into a Web browser. Even if no Web site appears, the domain name may already be taken. Follow these tips to ensure you get the domain name you want:
� Check out a domain registration company: Many, many domain regis-tration companies are out there, such as Network Solutions, GoDaddy, 1&1, and Dotster. They offer a range of different services at varying prices, so be sure to check around before you make your purchase.
� Look up availability for free and then register a domain for as long as ten years, in one-year increments.
� Look for extra services offered for free. When choosing a domain regis¬trar, you might want to see whether the domain registrar offers domain forwarding or domain masking as free services or requires an extra fee.
Domain forwarding is a little like that message you get when you call a number that’s been disconnected that tells you the new number. A user types in and after the forwarding kicks in, the browser displays the hosted blog at buzzmarketingwithblogs. blogspot.com, where the blog actually lives. Anyone who bookmarks the site bookmarks the final address.
Domain masking is sometimes a little more expensive and works like calling a big hotel chain you call the local number, and your call end up in a call center across the country. Masking ensures that the Web address always shows in the browser address bar as www.buzzmarketingwithblogsfordummies. com, even if the underlying Web site is on a hosted blog software company’s site. This feature can be a little more technically complicated to implement, but if someone bookmarks or forwards the page, they get the permanent URL you prefer they use. Masking is sometimes also called domain mapping. If your name of choice isn’t available, put on your thinking cap. It’s time to come up with some alternatives.
As you think of good names, avoid domain names that are only slightly different from one already in use, as visitors will undoubtedly end up visiting the other Web site when they mean to come to yours. If you have your heart set on a domain name that isn’t available, consider contacting the owner and offering to pay for the domain. If the Web site is inactive, the owner might consider letting it go. In any case, if you have a name in mind to use and find it’s available, register it right away! Nothing is more frustrating than discovering that a domain name that was available yesterday was snapped up this morning.