How to find great cheap domains

Starting with the name

While running TigerTeamX, a software development company, we build intuitive and elegant software that just works. But every tech project starts with the name. Or domain name, which can be more tricky than naming your new coffee spot. Why? There are two obvious reasons:

• Most of the short domains are occupied
• Most of the free short domains are expensive

We cherry-picked several excellent domain names for the companies we've supported. How did we do it, you may ask? These are good domain components for us, when we start developing software from scratch:

1. Easy to remember. Helps the user to find you again.
2. Spelling. correctly an effortlessly - it is easier to go viral.
3. Careful with funny. It helps, but not necessary.
4. Don't get too fancy.

Here, we'll uncover tips on getting free domain names that are cheap and memorable.

Choosing the right domain name

Here are the factors to consider in deciding on the best domain name for your business.

Avoid domain names with hyphens

It's common for new websites to prioritize the '.com' extension in their name. After all, it's the most popular and prized of the lot. Because the suffix is so overused, chances are a company exists with a very similar name to yours, ending with '.com.'

So, website owners may consider adding a hyphen to differentiate their domain. For instance, say you wanted to name an investing education platform 'Investopedia.' Because there already is a brand using that tag, you include a hyphen: 'Investo-pedia.'

This can create a few problems:

• The general population is used to domains without hyphens. Hence, a hyphenated name is harder to recall or advertise due to the extra character.
• Visitors entering the domain may inadvertently drive traffic to your competitors.
• Hyphens look amateurish and make your domain name less 'clean' or simple
• Hyphenated names are less SEO-friendly.

Ultimately, choosing a unique name that captures your brand without hyphenation is better, even if it takes more time.

Avoid domain names with numbers

Most experts advise against including digits in your domain. Like hyphens, they can also create confusion.

Firstly, someone must decide whether to write the number in numeral or word form. The second dilemma is interpretation. '2' and 'two', or '4' and 'four' mean different things.

Of course, there are plenty of well-known domain names with numbers. But these are the exception and the norm and belong to companies that have been around for years.

Keep it simple and avoid numbers.

Settle for a .com top-level domain

There is an ongoing debate on whether it's necessary only to choose a '.com' extension. We have seen a range of unusual top-level domains (TLDs) like 'xyz,' 'io,' 'co,' and 'ai' used by well-known companies.

Despite the trend changes, '.com' is most familiar to internet users. Because it's one of the oldest TLDs, it's trustworthy and rolls off the tongue.

While the domain name availability for '.com' is limited, this is still the gold standard. However, not using this TLD isn't the kiss of death, particularly for niche businesses.

For instance, '.io' for technology companies; '.org' for non-profits; 'ai' for artificial intelligence enterprises;'

Also, if your business serves only a geographical area, you might opt for a country code TLD, e.g., '.uk' for the United Kingdom or '.us' for the United States.

Other than these extensions,'.com' is the most general-purpose and commercially viable TLD.

Uncomplicated word

Discover a word you like that's simple and can match your business and client's request. Don't limit yourself too much, but also don't go too wide. If you have a writing studio, you could look up for "SEO", "writing" or "content". You can find synonyms with https://www.thesaurus.com/browse/synonym.

Omit funny or multiple spelling wods

Along with hyphens, unusual spellings are not recommended when you register domain names. Your brand name should pass the 'radio test.' This means that someone hearing it aloud anywhere should be able to remember, spell and pronounce it.

Having a domain that is not spelled conventionally makes it harder to market. Also, in printed form, it may look suspicious to some.

Another spelling trend to avoid is 'disemvoweling' (removing vowels from terms, e.g., Flickr, Tumblr) unless your brand is already well-established.

Also, you'll want to steer clear of words people can interpret in various ways or spell differently. For instance, 'fair' can mean impartial, describing a person's skin complexion or a gathering of stalls and amusements.

Also, since it's a homonym, someone may assume the word is 'fare' (which itself has a different meaning).

Brainstorm to find a word that suits your business

Brainstorming is useful if you are planning to buy a domain name or want to search free domain names. Investing the time to create something brilliant can give you an edge. The key is striking a balance between not being too narrow nor too wide.

Fortunately, you have many tools at your disposal. The first option is using a free domain generator like Namelix. A thesaurus can also work well if you prefer the more 'academic' route.

Regardless, be prepared to come up with several titles. Your first choice will likely be taken, given that hundreds of millions of names are already registered.

Here are other key pointers for brainstorming:

• If possible, your domain should somehow reflect what your niche, service or product is about. The only exception is when your brand is already established.
• An excellent domain name should be unique and not easily confused with another company (to avoid infringement).

Combine the root word with either prefixes or suffixes

A neat little trick to increase your chances of securing the elusive '.com' extension is adding a prefix or suffix to your domain. Here, you find a short, relevant verb, adjective or noun to add before or after your brand name.

For instance, let's assume your company was a gym and you wanted your domain to be 'gym.com,' If this domain were taken, you could create something like 'gogym.com,' 'wegym.com,' 'gymfreaks.com,' etc.

(At the end of this article, we offer a list of awesome prefixes and suffixes).

Choose reliable and well-known registrars

A few of the domain registrar companies we'd recommend are Porkbun and Namecheap. While Porkbun is smaller, they offer excellent customer service. While Namecheap is the older registrar, their client support isn't as good as Porkbun, which is characteristic of larger companies.

Aside from this, there are a few reasons to pick these registrars. Smaller or newer companies lack the customer support you find with established and larger companies. Also, the latter is likely to stay in business for long.

Register your domain for at least two years

Whether you are getting a domain name for free or paying for it, consider registering it for at least two years. Here are the reasons why:

Lock in a lower price

As with any subscription commitment, the cost is cheaper when you pay for it over an extended period. So, bi-annual registration is the way to go.

Save time and hassle

Registering your domain name bi-annually means you save time and hassle from doing it yearly. Also, you can be assured of keeping it for longer so that no one else can claim it.

SEO benefits

Google rewards longevity. So, using the same domain name for at least two years makes you more credible.

What constitutes a good domain?

Let us now summarize all the previous points by looking at what makes a top-notch domain name.

Easy to remember and spell

Of course, most businesses can only cater to some audiences. Still, your name should be simple to remember, spell and type for the average Joe. One way to achieve this is to keep it short and sweet - no more than four words or 15 characters.

It is easier for visitors to make typos with lengthier domains, leading to lower conversion and traffic loss.

Uniqueness and brandability

Let's start with the first part: uniqueness. Any company wants to stand out in the eyes of its customers or clients. This isn't possible with a name similar to an existing one. Also, you would want to avoid facing copyright issues down the line.

Aside from uniqueness, pick a name that is brandable or expandable. Let's take Amazon, for instance. The corporation began by selling books as its first product. Yet, it would have been harder to market the brand if they named it something like 'bookworm.com.'

Jeff Bezos called his company 'Amazon' due to the massive collection of books he sold. But still, we can interpret the term to mean a range of other products. This domain has allowed the brand to expand into an unlimited number of industries.

So, always think of the long-term potential and pick a name that's adaptable to changes down the road.

Picking a popular top-level domain

We have already spoken of the importance of '.com.' If you still can't find a domain with this extension, there are other generic and SEO-friendly top-level domain extensions to choose from like:

• .net
• .co
• .io

Keywords for SEO

Adding a popular keyword in your domain name does help for SEO purposes. However, you should have your creative juices flowing here so that the name isn't generic.

How we do it professionally in Tiger Team X

Ultimately, a domain name is only a small part of establishing your online presence. However, starting on the right foot can offer an edge in boosting your rankings over time.

A well-crafted domain makes you stand out and offers reliability to your brand. It certainly helps to spend considerable time creating it, even with so many that have been taken. However, with a bit of creativity and implementing our tips, you'll find a fantastic domain name.

We've made a script that combines thousands of available domain combinations for us. Tiger Team X algorithm can find some catchy names such as duckist.com toolel.com, among many other great ones.

We never wait for the domain idea too long anymore, as our team no longer has a shortage of good free domains. Reach us if you're about to start something big - we can run the algorithm for you with just a few root words.

While we're on the subject of domains, you might be interested in reading our post on 10 Common Issues in Domain Management and Solutions. Improve your online visibility by learning about effective domain management strategies. Check it out right now!