Domain names, especially names ending in dot com, are being registered at a tremendous rate. Pretty much all of the commercially valuable single word dot com domains have been registered a long time ago, and if you listen to some people, they will tell you that it is virtually impossible to find a good and memorable domain name for a new web site or business. My own experience however differs from these people - while it make take a little effort to find a good available domain name - with the help of the right tools and a little imagination, it is still possible to find a good unregistered domain name.
When searching for available domains, there are basically three tools that you need (and all three are available online free of charge):
1. Domain Name Search - Basically this allows you to type in a possible domain name, and see if it's available. Versions of this tool are available to use at most registrar's web sites, and many other sites as well.
2. Domain Keyword Search - You enter two or three keywords, and the tool searches for domains containing different combinations of the keywords in different orders, and with and without hyphens between the keywords. This tool tends to be most useful if looking for a keyword rich domain name for targeting search engines.
3. Domain Name Idea Generator - This type of tool tends to be the best and quickest way of find domains for new web sites. You type in a keyword describing your site or business, and also pick a theme (such as whether your site is a discussion board, a portal or a tutorial), or a benefit of your business (such as offering fast service or being environmentally friendly), and the tool searches for available domains based on your selections.
