Websites aren’t dead, and never will be. The domain name chosen for your website should be considered carefully, especially if you will be driving people there via offline channels. That said, many of the “good” domain names (especially those more generic) are already scooped up.
Domain name tips
- Is the domain extension/suffix/TLD (.com, .ca, etc.) the proper choice considering the audience (and possible future audience)?
- Be careful with choosing a non-traditional (or unrelated-country) TLD, as the overseeing group may not be as stable as those overseeing TLDs such as .com or .ca
- Think brandability (versus keyword stuffing)
- Consider if the domain name can easily be communicated in non-text mediums (radio, word of mouth, etc.) — no numbers, etc.
Domain name resources
Domain Name Sales
- NameBio – domain name sale prices; extensive search capabilities; aggregates data from multiple domain name sale sources
- DNPric.es – database of premium domain name sales; fully searchable; various ‘most recent’ reports also available
- ExcellentDomains.ca – includes a list of .ca domain sales
- Domain Name Journal – includes top sales in the last week
- LLLLSales.com – lists four-letter .com domain name sales, with various filter options
Domain Name Search
- Instant Domain Search – instantly indicates whether a domain is available (as you type)
- Lean Domain Search – provides a list of available domains based on inputted keywords
Domain Name Drops
- CIRA To Be Released list – list of .ca domains that are to be released in the
upcoming week (i.e. they weren’t renewed by previous owner) - Expired Domains – provides recently expired domain names, along with various data points to help determine the domain worth
Domain Name Marketplaces
- Flippa – domain name, website and app selling
- Freemarket.com – domain name and website selling
Other
- intoDNS – advanced DNS checker
- DNS Propagation Check – checks if new domain settings have propagated around the world
- Domain Names Canada – forum to discuss/buy/sell .ca domains