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Choosing a domain name
A domain name, like your own name, is an identity for your online business. But unlike individual names, it need not necessarily be unique and rare to be special. On the contrary, generic names, those easy to remember and spell are prefered. For example, rather than KarnerVintageStore.com, you might be better off with a simple name, vintage.com. This is because it is easier for people to remember a simple dictionary word than a store's real name. However, as most generic descriptive single word dot com domain names have been taken up, your next best bet is to shop for a good two-word combinations, eg. vintagecollections.com; vintageshop.com, whichever is most appropriate for your business. Some people prefer to go for alternative TLDs such as dot biz, dot ws, etc where single word names may be still available. The choice is yours.
Beware of trademark infringements
Never encroaches on someone else's trademark. Piggy-riding on the popularity of established names like Hollywood, Cocacola, Compaq or Sony might be tempting, but bear in mind that it might just land you in trouble one day. Litigation is a costly affair, best to be avoided. Using generic terms (dictionary words) is generally safer as generic terms cannot be trademarked to the point of the exclusion of others using the words. So, instead of using the name, Hollywoodmovies.com, you can opt for topmovies.com or popularmovies.com. Choose a combination of words that will promote your business. In some cases, a combination of words and numbers may produce wonderful names. For instance, 1800flowers.com could also serve well for a flower shop if the best name (flowers.com) has already been taken up by someone before you. Use your imagination, but never infringe on any trademarks.
Registering a domain name
There are hundreds, if not thousands of domain registrars worldwide. Big is not necessarily best. A big registrar that charges $35 per year for a domain name may not necessarily provide the best support for its clients. There are registrars charging only $8.95 per annum for the same, and may be, provide even better client services. Some registrars also provide free services like one-page hosting, email and URL forwarding, etc. Another point to note is the amount of control provided to you as the client. If you are given no control over basic management of your domain name like being able to change the owner's information and dns settings yourself, then you can forget about signing up for a name under that particular registrar. You certainly wouldn't want to have to go through the registrar every time you need to update simple things like your contact address. Shop around before you decide on signing up.
Buying a name from secondary markets
Well, if you are desperate to own a particular domain name or type of domain names and the name/names has/have already been taken up, by all means, buy it from the owners, if possible. Although most good domain names have been snapped up over the years, many are not in use. Some owners may be keeping them for their own future use, while others may be hoarding them for later sale at a profit. You can contact the owner of the particular domain name to make an offer. Alternatively, you can go to domain secondary market websites where you can find thousands of pre-registered domain names for sale. You may also look out for suitable names at domain auction sites. Chances are that you may find a choice name for your business, and if you are lucky, for a bargain too. Prices of secondary domain names have been on the decline these last few years.
Useful Resources
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is an internationally organized, non-profit corporation responsible for Internet Protocol (IP) address space allocation, protocol identifier assignment, generic (gTLD) and country code (ccTLD) Top-Level Domain name system management, and root server system management functions.
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)'s report on intellectual property issues on internet names and addresses is a report you must read if you want to be clear of the legal issues concerning internet domains.
Afternic is one of the top secondary domain markets. Visit the website and you may find the name you want. You can also sell your domain here for a fee.
