A Guide to Registering a Great Domain Name for Your Website

New, cheap domain names are an endangered species. Domain squatters are becoming more and more abundant, hunting down and registering every good name they can find. The result is countless quality domain names lying dormant, because no one is willing to pay the absurd prices being demanded.

The only way to be sure you won't be asked to pay an exorbitant amount for your domain is to register it as soon as possible; if you plan on having your own website any time in the future, it should only cost you around 10 to 20 dollars a year to protect the name of your choice from being taken.

Naming Basics

There are a lot of people offering detailed advice on the do's and don'ts of domain names, but it really only comes down to three main rules:

1) Fewer letters + fewer words = better.
2) Avoid numbers, hyphens, and goofy spellings when possible.
3) A.com address is almost always the best choice.

The first rule will make your name easier to remember, and the second rule will help to ensure people end up at your site-and not somewhere else accidentally-when they're trying to get to your site. The third rule complicates things. Because .com is the most well-known domain, it gives your site a boost in recognizability; but at the same time, the popularity of .com makes finding a good one difficult.

The Hardest Part

If you have a lot of ideas in your head, that's a great start. In that case, the best place for you to go to is Domain Typer. You will be able to quickly see if your desired domains are taken. Another great thing about Domain Typer is that if you start to run out of ideas, their "Web 2.0 Domain Name Generator" might help to kick-start your brain again. Many of the names it suggests are a bit off the wall, but the naming conventions it uses may inspire you to come up with your own fun ideas.

Several other sites are worth mentioning, especially if you are experiencing some domain name writer's block. Domain Pigeon lists unregistered, pronounceable .com addresses and shows their popularity with the site's visitors. Their lists are currently updated daily. MakeWords has a lot of interesting options to generate the perfect name. Finally, there is a more dated Domain Name Generator that may not be as attractive as the other sites but still has some good things to offer.

Securing the Name

GoDaddy is far from perfect, with its obnoxious ads and exploited GoDaddy girls, but it is cheap. And when it comes to domain registration, cost is just about the only thing that matters. During the checkout process, just say no to all the extra services it suggests-except Private Registration.

You may want to get Private Reg., because otherwise anyone will be able to find your phone number and address by performing a whois search on your new domain name. The added privacy might be worth the relatively small added cost to you. Also be sure to look up coupon codes at a site like RetailMeNot.com since they are usually available for new registrations.

With all these tools at your disposal, it should be a little easier to find the right name. Perhaps the most important advice is: don't give up! Best of luck with your search.