Bill Gates once said, “If your business is not on the internet, then your business will be out of business.” With that in mind, you’d like to secure a domain name that matches your brand or company name. Unfortunately, you find that the domain is already taken. 

So, what now? 

1. Try Buying the Domain from the Current Owner

One option is to try purchasing the domain directly from its current owner. You can look up domain ownership using a Whois search. If the owner has listed a valid email address, you can reach out with a purchase offer.

However, this method can be hit or miss:

• The owner’s contact information may be hidden due to privacy protection services.

• Even if you reach out, they may ignore your message or demand an unreasonably high price.

Some domains have sold for astronomical prices— voice.com was sold for $30 million in 2019!

2. Hire a Domain Broker

Domain brokers are professionals or agencies that specialize in acquiring domain names on behalf of clients. They handle negotiations, keep your identity confidential, and often have better luck getting responses.

The downside? These services can be expensive, and there’s still no guarantee you’ll end up with the domain.

3. Monitor the Domain and Grab It When It Expires

Sometimes, domains become available again if the current owner forgets or decides not to renew them. You can:

• Use domain monitoring services to get notified the moment the domain is released.

• Register it immediately when it becomes available (a process called domain drop catching).

This is a lower-cost, passive strategy that requires patience and good timing.

4. Explore Alternative Domain Extensions

If your perfect domain name is taken, you can still claim it using a different extension. For example:

• yourbrand.net

• yourbrand.org

• yourbrand.info

• Or even a newer, niche extension like .store, .tech, .agency, or .design

There are now over 1,500 domain extensions to choose from, so worry not— there’s likely a creative and relevant option available for your brand.

Not only are thematic domain zones often easier to register, but they can also make your brand stand out from competitors and help communicate your niche instantly. For example:

• www.filmscene.movie

• www.greengarden.shop

5. Check the Domain’s History Before You Register

Even if a domain is currently available, it may have been used in the past. That history can work for or against you, depending on how the domain was treated.

Use tools like:

• Wayback Machine (archive.org) – to see what kind of content used to live on the domain

• Ahrefs or SEMRush – to check backlinks and domain reputation

• Google Transparency Report – to see if the domain was ever flagged

Red Flag– If the domain has a bad reputation (e.g., it was used for spam or shady content):

• It may still be penalized by search engines, even after you register it.

• You'll face a tough and costly SEO battle to repair its standing.

Green Flag– If the domain had a strong reputation and the content theme matches yours:

You may benefit from existing backlinks and authority, giving your new site an SEO boost.

Final Tip

If securing the ideal domain feels impossible, don’t get discouraged. You can always add a prefix or suffix to your brand name:

• getyourbrand.com

• yourbrandonline.com

• tryyourbrand.com

This allows you to stick with a .com while preserving brand recognition.