If you want to set up your own website or online shop, the two most important pillars of this will be suitable web hosting and the associated domain name.

A domain is simply the address that users can type into their browser’s address bar to view the content stored on the web hosting service – in this case, the website.

Choosing the right domain name is a very difficult task, as not only are there fundamental criteria to consider – from both a business and an SEO perspective – but it can also be a major headache to check whether the chosen name is actually still available.

A great many people buy domain names, which in many cases lie dormant; incidentally, this causes a great deal of frustration for those who were hoping to build their businesses on them.

How can you check if a domain is available, and what should you do if the name you’ve chosen is already taken? We’ve answered these questions in this article!

How can we check if a domain name is available?

Checking the availability of a domain name is a piece of cake. On our client portal, you can easily search for any extension using the search tool available under the ‘Register a new domain name’ menu item.

Right on the homepage, you’ll see the search bar for checking availability; all you need to do is select the appropriate domain extension and then type in your chosen domain name.

Search results appear in a fraction of a second, and if the domain you’ve chosen isn’t yet registered, you can snap it up straight away via a registrar.

What should I do if the domain name I’ve chosen is already taken?

If a domain name is already taken, there are several options available to us for acquiring it. However, it is important to make it clear right from the start that domains associated with well-known individuals, organisations or, indeed, trademarked brands can either not be acquired at all, or can only be acquired through legal channels.

Taking legal action to reclaim a registered domain is indeed only possible for compelling reasons, and is particularly recommended for those who, for example, are acting as official representatives in the matter. This is because, even if you were to take legal action against a well-known brand as an unauthorised private individual, your chances of success would be virtually nil.

The situation is different for domain names that are lying dormant, with no website associated with them. These were often purchased with the intention of eventually building content on them, although it cannot be ruled out that the owner’s plans may have changed in the meantime.

In such cases, it is possible to contact the domain name owner – registrars can assist with this – and then agree on the transfer.

Typically, in such cases, we have to pay more for the domain name than we would for a standard registration; however, if it is a strong domain name in every respect, upon which we intend to build an entire business, then our investment is likely to pay for itself quickly.