You have the perfect name for your business, you search for it, and the .com is already registered. Before you give up, or overpay, consider these options in order.
1. Check whether it is really in use
Visit the address. Many registered domains show nothing, a parking page or an expired website. A WHOIS lookup shows when it was registered and when it expires. A domain close to expiry might become available if the owner does not renew it.
2. Try another ending
Your local ending, such as .com.eg or .eg, or a descriptive one such as .store or .tech, may be free. For a business that serves Egypt, a local ending is a strong primary address in its own right.
3. Adjust the name slightly
Adding a short, natural word often works: get, try, hq, or your city or product. "yourbrandegypt.com" or "getyourbrand.com" are common, clear patterns. Avoid hyphens and numbers.
4. Approach the owner carefully
If the name really matters, you can try to buy it. Keep these points in mind:
- Contact through the details in WHOIS or a contact form on the site, and do not reveal how important the name is to you.
- Use an escrow service for payment, so the money is released only when the domain is in your account.
- Never pay someone who contacts you first claiming they can "secure" a domain.
5. Watch out for trademarks
If the domain matches your registered trademark and is used to impersonate you, you may have options through dispute procedures. That is a legal process, so get advice first.
Next step
Search your name across endings on the IDX domains page. You may find a strong option you had not considered.
IDX on digital infrastructure
Back to blog →