Tips for choosing a domain name - DPChallenge Forums

08/10/2010 07:12:33 PM · #1

I've decided to get a domain, however, my initials are too common and names that include words like photo and photography are already taken by other photographers. Also, my name is too hard to spell so I think using that would not be a good idea.

Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

08/10/2010 07:16:55 PM · #2

www.Colettephoto.com appears to be available.

Art Roflmao

Canon EOS-6D Mark II

08/10/2010 07:18:43 PM · #3

www.iamaphotographerandthisismywebsite.com is available.

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM

08/10/2010 07:19:57 PM · #4

Originally posted by Art Roflmao:

www.iamaphotographerandthisismywebsite.com is available.

Not for long (runs off) lol j/k :P

Cory

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

08/10/2010 07:22:24 PM · #5

note: there is a new .co domain available...

Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 EX Aspherical DG HSM for Nikon

08/10/2010 07:27:06 PM · #6

Originally posted by jeger:

www.Colettephoto.com appears to be available.

Thanks for the suggestion, except a google search brings up a boudoir photography site.

What's giving me trouble is all the extraneous things I find when googling my ideas.

bohemka

Nikon D700

08/10/2010 07:30:59 PM · #7

www.myphotosaresoawesomethey'llmakeyourstomachturninagoodway.com

Available, but the apostrophe might mess it up.

I'm thinking for myself. I have a horrendously boring name and have no ideas.

Best of luck.

bohemka

Nikon D700

Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 EX Aspherical DG HSM for Nikon

08/10/2010 09:35:21 PM · #8

I found another one that does pounds, but are there any other that do international? To be honest, zenfolio appears to hold the market on this. Competitors?

Edit: Damn. Wrong thread. Disregard.

Message edited by author 2010-08-10 21:37:19.

Art Roflmao

Canon EOS-6D Mark II

08/11/2010 04:03:49 AM · #9

Originally posted by cpanaioti:

Originally posted by jeger:
www.Colettephoto.com appears to be available.

Thanks for the suggestion, except a google search brings up a boudoir photography site.

What's giving me trouble is all the extraneous things I find when googling my ideas.

Not sure what you are saying - colettephoto.com is available. You give out the URL for people to come to your site - you don't tell them to "google your address". If you are worried about potential clients looking for photography, but don't know you, they will be searching for "wedding photography" or "alberta portrait photographer" or something.

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

08/11/2010 06:22:57 AM · #10

Originally posted by Art Roflmao:

Originally posted by cpanaioti:

Originally posted by jeger:
www.Colettephoto.com appears to be available.

Thanks for the suggestion, except a google search brings up a boudoir photography site.

What's giving me trouble is all the extraneous things I find when googling my ideas.

Not sure what you are saying - colettephoto.com is available. You give out the URL for people to come to your site - you don't tell them to "google your address". If you are worried about potential clients looking for photography, but don't know you, they will be searching for "wedding photography" or "alberta portrait photographer" or something.

Agreed.

david_c

Canon EOS-7D

08/11/2010 06:58:24 AM · #11

Originally posted by Art Roflmao:

Have you tried that URL? It definitely leads to something...like someone's "blogger" site.

pixelpig

Sony Alpha a55

Sony DT 1.8/50mm SAM

08/11/2010 07:27:28 AM · #12

Collette Photography is already there. Don't discount Google. Half the people I talk to on the phone at work know nothing of the navigation bar in their browser, but only use Google. Colette might be too hard for them to spell correctly & as you see if you spell it with two l's you'd be leading them directly to another photographer. It's a trick to pick a good domain name. Unique and easy to spell correctly.

Message edited by author 2010-08-11 07:29:19.

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

08/11/2010 10:00:09 AM · #13

Originally posted by pixelpig:

I've been using google to check out ideas. Yes, the spelling of my name will cause issue so I'm looking to use something else but still related to me.

I even tried to find Gaelic words to use, however, that poses other problems. Like, the the word means something in yet another language and is already used. Arrrrrrrgh!

It's definitely more than just finding a domain that's not being used yet. It's anticipating how people will search and what shows up in that search.

Message edited by author 2010-08-11 10:01:39.

Citadel

Nikon D7500

08/11/2010 11:05:07 AM · #14

Since you are Canadian, don't forget the .ca domains. By the way, cpan.ca is available. You can check here: //whois.cira.ca/public/

George

Nikon D750

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G ED VR

08/11/2010 11:46:46 AM · #15

Some people (like my mom) will type the address in the Google search bar, and then click the first link.

08/11/2010 01:24:56 PM · #16

Originally posted by Citadel:

Since you are Canadian, don't forget the .ca domains. By the way, cpan.ca is available. You can check here: //whois.cira.ca/public/

thanks for that idea. cpan.com is already used so I wouldn't choose the .ca domain. However, I now have a whole set of other ideas to try using cpan as part of the domain.

Jedusi

08/11/2010 04:22:34 PM · #17

if you go onto somewhere like link you can try out any you can think on and it will tell you if they are taken or what suffixes are taken.

So for instance this shows you the state of names begining with www.collette.(whatever)

link2

08/11/2010 06:47:18 PM · #18

Originally posted by Jedusi:

All sites selling domains do that but google is the place to go to see what comes up on a search. As I've already stated, there's more to it than just finding a domain that's not being used.

I don't need tips on finding a domain that's not being used. I need ideas for a name.

Thank you to all who have responded so far.

08/11/2010 08:56:55 PM · #19

If you need creative help with a name....

//www.bustaname.com/word_maker

This puts words together in different combinations. I've tried a few on google only to find that there's a well established business with a similar name.

I'm still looking.....

08/14/2010 01:22:14 PM · #20

I settled on one: clpimageri.ca

This currently redirects to my shaw webspace, however I'm redoing my website so will eventually get rid of the redirect.

I also set up two sub domains: gallery.clpimageri.ca and prints.clpimageri.ca which redirect accordingly for now.

Message edited by author 2010-08-14 13:44:36.

Art Roflmao

Canon EOS-6D Mark II

08/18/2010 06:45:25 PM · #21

Originally posted by david_c:

Originally posted by Art Roflmao:
Not sure what you are saying - colettephoto.com is available.

Have you tried that URL? It definitely leads to something...like someone's "blogger" site.

Originally posted by pixelpig:

Collette Photography is already there.

Attention to detail, folks - it's colette with ONE L

Originally posted by cpanaioti:

I settled on one: clpimageri.ca

Oh yeah, that will be much easier for people to remember how to spell than colettephoto.com. ;-)

I'm imagining you giving out your URL on the phone:
"It's w w w dot C L P imagery, but with an i instead of a y and it's dot CA, not dot com"

versus:
"It's w w w dot colette photo dot com with one L"

No offense, Colette. Just not getting the logic here.

Canon EF 200mm f/2.8 L II USM Lens

08/18/2010 06:50:19 PM · #22

Originally posted by Art Roflmao:

Originally posted by david_c:

Originally posted by Art Roflmao:
Not sure what you are saying - colettephoto.com is available.

Have you tried that URL? It definitely leads to something...like someone's "blogger" site.

Originally posted by pixelpig:
Collette Photography is already there.

Attention to detail, folks - it's colette with ONE L

Originally posted by cpanaioti:
I settled on one: clpimageri.ca

Oh yeah, that will be much easier for people to remember how to spell than colettephoto.com. ;-)

I'm imagining you giving out your URL on the phone:
"It's w w w dot C L P imagery, but with an i instead of a y and it's dot CA, not dot com"

versus:
"It's w w w dot colette photo dot com with one L"

No offense, Colette. Just not getting the logic here.

I couldn't agree more.

skewsme

Canon EOS-6D

08/18/2010 07:08:18 PM · #23

both panaioti.com and panioti.com are available - could get both to ensure against misspellers.

or pick a url with odd, unforgettable imagery... like quackermountain.com ;-)

(or the phonetic route - seepanyoddy.com)

Message edited by author 2010-08-18 19:11:39.