Frequently Asked Questions

1. QUESTION:
   Where can I get a Domain name availability search script where people can search for new domains?
   My client is looking for a free Domain name availability search script to put on his site so people can look up domain names..

   Where can I get a Domain name availability search script where people can search for new domains? – Thanks!

   • ANSWER:
     You didn’t mention if you want the results posted on his web page or if the results button can take you to another results page.

     If it is anothers page you don’t need anything other than copy the HTML off the WhoIs or other Domain search site and the button will take you right to that page.

     If you want more than that here are the links to some CGI scripts that do what your needing:

     http://www.verio.com/support/documents/view_article.cfm?doc_id=1134

     That’s the best – here are some others:

     http://www.ozzu.com/ftopic35650.html

     http://www.asptutorial.info/sscript/Accessremotepages_domain.asp

     http://1001resources.com/domains/BasicLookup.html

     Good Luck!
     ~ Blue

2. QUESTION:
   How do I search the availability of a domain name?
   How do I search availability of a domain name?

   • ANSWER:
     It is easy at http://www.newinternetdomains.com
     Just type what you want and select the tld (.com .net etc) then click Search…

3. QUESTION:
   how can i put a search for domain name availability in my website.?
   I’d like visitors to my site to be to see if their intended domain name is available. will appreciate any help..

   • ANSWER:
     You can find different widget to search domain names in this site. Get a domain name search widget at http://www.webdomainnamesearch.com/

4. QUESTION:
   How do I add a “Domain Name” search box to my website?
   Does anybody know how to add a “Domain Name” search box to a website/webpage? Something similar to the Domain Search tool found on the Yahoo Small Business page. I would like people to type in a Domain name to check for availability. If anyone knows how to add one to a webpage please help

   • ANSWER:
     You will need to sign up as an affiliate with a leading domain name registrar. Once they accept you as an affiliate, you can then log in to your control panel and go to the promotion section which will give you the HTML code for the search form.

5. QUESTION:
   Whois searching.?
   I am searching for a web address to use for my home business. I did a search a couple of years ago and I see now that GoDaddy has ‘parked’ one of the domain names I was searching at that time. Is was available then but is now parked, which seems like a huge coincidence, considering the timing.

   1) if I do a WhoIs search, will registrars have a way to be notified that someone searched for “blahblahblah.net”, even if the site doesn’t exist, and then they will be able to register that site before the person, like myself, who was intending to do so. (Like Google will list popular searches, or what not?)

   2) is there a secure way to search for domain name availability without GoDaddy and others finding out that I am searching for that particular name?

   3) When GoDaddy has parked a domain name, and they own it now, would they sell it? or only rent? and any idea of the cost?
   .
   Nic, your answers to 1 & 2 , seem to contradict each other.
   If registrars (GoDaddy) don’t have a way to be notified of my WhoIs search (1), then why isn’t their a way to do a secure WhoIs search (2) so that they won’t be alerted?

   • ANSWER:
     I’ve often wondered the same thing. It seems like a clever, albeit underhanded way to make money.

     However, I don’t know if it actually applies in your case. What you’re talking about is domain squatting, ie buying an unused domain for the purpose of advertising or selling it for a higher price.

     As far as I know, GoDaddy doesn’t do that. Their “parked” websites are actually owned by someone else, but the owner hasn’t set up a website yet, or they are domains that have expired and have not been renewed. (Even if the WHOIS info says GoDaddy owns the domain, it might not be accurate. GoDaddy offers an Anonymous option, so their information will come up on WHOIS info instead of the actual owner.)

     I don’t know how you would go about contacting the owner of the site if they went through the trouble to hide their contact information from WHOIS.

     As for secure searches, I don’t know about that. Typically, I don’t even do WHOIS searches, I just type in the domain name I want and see if a site exists there. If it is available then I buy it ASAP rather than risk someone else buying it.

6. QUESTION:
   Domain name sales and restrictions?
   I was searching for a domain name recently and chose GoDaddy as one of the sites I used to look up it’s availability. I was somewhat surprised, due to the names reasonably obscure nature, to find it was taken. When I looked in to who owned it, I was more surprised to learn GoDaddy owned it, that it is listed as a “parked” domain and that they have owned it for 6 years—mind you the site doesn’t exist. It seems reasonable to assume if it is unused and parked at present by GoDaddy that it likely has never been utilized.

   My question is this. If a company is somehow authorized to sell domain names, are they also allowed to buy random names in order to set whatever price they want? It seems like an incredibly obvious conflict of interest. With technology today, what stops GoDaddy from simply buying every domain name combination available and reselling them as hostages to the highest bidder?
   “GoDaddy probably doesn’t own it. Whoever does probably paid for the Private Registration option in which case the registrar’s name appears as the owner.

   GoDaddy can probably buy all the domains it wants, so can you if you want and have the money.

   “Buying every domain name combination” – you are either joking or got carried away when you wrote this.”

   Just some additional info. GoDaddy DOES own it. I took the time to fully research it. I know when they bought it, how long they have owned it and the “shell” company (owned by GoDaddy) who it is registered to. Of course I was half joking when I said they could buy every name combo, however the same software would tell them which name combos are more likely than others to be wanted by anyone. As far as your comment “GoDaddy can probably buy all the domains it wants, so can you if you want and have the money” goes. This is my point. In all business you cant have the fox guarding the hen house so to speak. You would be correct if any old J
   Joe could sell domain names—this is not the case however. You must be licensed and legally authorized to sell them. This would mean those few companies would own a monopoly on domain names. Im sure this would be in violation of several US laws. Remember too that this name has been “parked” for 6 years so I don’t think a person could argue that they had a legitimate business use they bought it for.

   • ANSWER:
     GoDaddy probably doesn’t own it. Whoever does probably paid for the Private Registration option in which case the registrar’s name appears as the owner.

     GoDaddy can probably buy all the domains it wants, so can you if you want and have the money.

     “Buying every domain name combination” – you are either joking or got carried away when you wrote this.

7. QUESTION:
   LLC forming: DIY vs. Attorney vs. Agency?
   I am in the early stages of forming my LLC (one owner).
   Here is what I’ve done so far:

   1. Came up with what I think is a good made-up name for the LLC
   2. Registered domain name
   3. Searched for name availability and trademarks to ensure uniqueness
   4. Filled out my state’s Articles of Organization form

   I was about to mail the (4) to my state, when I started reading about some aspects of LLC such as having a registered agent, consulting a lawyer, etc.

   It seems like a good idea to have a registered agent and a lawyer but I’m not sure which way to go is the best.

   Here are the options I’m considering before I file:

   1. DIY everything – a no brainer and don’t really see any problems in terms of how I do this.
   2. Have a discount LLC agency (such as numerous online ones) take care of everything, and pay them to act as a registered agent.
   3. Have a local lawyer (that among others fields, specializes in business law) take care of everything and pay them to act as a registered agent (do law firms generally offer the latter?).
   4. DIY everything and only hire a registered agent

   I would like to hear what you guys think the pros and cons of each of the above options are from your personal experience, and what do you recommend. Also, what would be the lowest cost option (except DIY of course)?

   Thanks
   My primary reason for forming LLC is to make it easy to transact B2B. LLC will allow me to obtain EID which I can share with my vendors and customers instead of my SSN.

   I am also aware of “piercing corporate veil” issue and my another reasoning for forming LLC using non-DIY methods is exactly that, to tro to reinforce that veil.

   Am I assuming wrong in the above two points I made?

   • ANSWER:
     Excellent question.

     I’ve been there, done that. I recommend finding a sole practitioner lawyer in your area who does this kind of work and using him/her. I would expect the cost to be around 0. That should include the corporate filing fees and a consultation hour that describes your responsibilities in keeping records, the lawyer’s responsibility to keep his/her side of the corporate records, and any other issues you can think of.

     The web sites will accurately and legally set up your LLC, S corp, LLP, etc. Then, you’re on your own. It will probably be cheaper with a web site. Here is the down side to that path:

     Google “piercing the corporate veil”

     Also google “compare s corp and llc”

     The primary purpose in setting up a corporation is legal liability. That is a good reason, in general. But if you are sloppy, and a creditor is able to pierce your corporate veil, you are toast. Example, a worker’s comp insurance company. Let’s say you have some kind of worker’s comp issue, either medical or financial. With a strong corporate wall, you are in good shape. Without it, …….guess what?

     How’s that? Email me if you have any questions.

8. QUESTION:
   want a free ipod touch? help me name my website !!!!?
   ive been so frustrated! every name that i think for my webstore is already taken in “.com” domain. if you can comeup with a name that is available in “.com” i will give away my ipod touch as a compensation.

   please search the name you suggest at godaddy.com for its availability.

   here is my business profile:
   i am launching an online retail clothing business. i will have all sort of apparel in all themes of graphics. forexample, funny, political, religious, urban, vintage (etc) apparel so i would want a generalized name that would be appealing to all segments of my customer base.

   name has to be short, remember-able and easy to pronounce… (all the words you see in dictionary are taken) so it can be a combination of two words for increased probability of an available name

   you can email me all the names you suggest to avoid their presence in an open source.

   • ANSWER:
     kinda weird names, but maybe: popsicleclothing.com ; eccentriclothing.com ; culturedwear.com.

     i searched on godaddy.com and they’re available. i like popsicle clothing.
     

9. QUESTION:
   Where can I get a Domain name availability search script where people can search for new domains?
   My client is looking for a free Domain name availability search script to put on his site so people can look up domain names..

   Where can I get a Domain name availability search script where people can search for new domains? – Thanks!

   • ANSWER:
     Matt’s Whois is a pretty slick free script. It has support for many TLDs, and a built in template system so you can customize the look somewhat. http://www.mattsscripts.co.uk/mwhois.htm

     It’s also open source (GPL), so if you’re comfortable modifying the code you can customize it as much as you like. Even redirect searchers to an affiliate link after they’ve found a name they want to purchase. PHP and Perl versions are available.

     You might also want to look at:
     CJ Domain Whois
     PHP, not open source, free and paid versions available, supports affiliate links.

     http://www.cj-design.com/products/free_downloads/php_scripts/cjdomainwhois