Small firms 'think there are no good domain names'

Small businesses often believe all the "good" domain names have already been snatched up but this is a myth, it is claimed.

Bill Sweetman, the man behind YummyNames, a company which rents addresses to businesses, makes his comments to the Washington Post.

Some companies will pick a domain name they want and be disappointed when it has already been taken, he explains.

"They often hang their head in frustration but maybe something similar is out there with a .net or .org ending or by putting in a hyphen or a dash," Mr Sweetman continues.

He recommends businesses do not resort to waiting for domain name registration to expire in order to try and snatch an address up.

Government resource Business Link warns companies not to allow their trademark to be taken by another firm online.

However, it notes that owning a trademark does not automatically mean a company has a right to a domain name which incorporates that name.

Debra Hastings-Henry, director of Global Gold, concurs with this view as there are numerous ways of getting close to the domain customers want simply by changing the suffix or adding a hyphen.

The company always advises its customers to call in on 0845 313 0909 to speak with a domain consultant if the domain they want is already taken in some form or other.

Alternatively if there is a domain name that is taken but not being used, customers are encouraged to call in to discuss how Global Gold can work to negotiate favourable deals on behalf of its customers.