Your .com Name Is Taken? Get a Domain That Fits Your Brand

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Disclosure: Some links in this post are my referral links. If you join through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

If the .com for your name or brand is already taken, you do not have to give up on a domain that fits you. The honest fix is to pick a short name you can say out loud, try a different ending if you need to, and keep your domain, website and email under one roof so it stays simple. That is why I use Global Domains International (GDI), which includes a .ws domain along with a website builder, hosting and email.

Why is the domain name I want already taken?

Most short, easy .com names were registered years ago. Some are in use, and many are parked by people who hope to sell them for a lot more than a normal domain costs. So when you type your name or your brand idea into a domain search, you often see "taken" over and over.

You want something that looks like you. And if you promote affiliate programs, you do not want to send people to a long affiliate link that looks like it belongs to somebody else's company.

Here is the problem in plain words: you need a name people can remember, type and trust, and you need it on a small budget.

What people usually try (and where it falls short)

Each of these can work, so let me be fair.

• Add words to the .com. Something like "getyournamenow.com". It works, but long names are hard to remember and easy to misspell.
• Buy the taken name from the owner. Sometimes possible, but parked domains can be priced far beyond what a beginner wants to spend.
• Use a free subdomain. Free website builders and blog platforms give you an address with their name in it. It costs nothing, which is great for testing, but it does not look like your own brand.
• Register a domain at a regular registrar. This is a solid option. Then you add hosting, a website builder and email separately, which is fine if you are comfortable setting each piece up and paying for each one.
• Use a different ending. If the .com is gone, the same name may be open on another extension. This is often the easiest way to keep the exact name you wanted.

If you only need a free place to test an idea, a free subdomain is enough for now. If you want your own name and a professional look, a real domain is worth it.

How do I get a domain that fits my name or brand with GDI?

Here is how GDI lines up with the problem, using what it offers as listed when I wrote this.

A .ws domain is included. When the .com version of your name is taken, the .ws version may still be open. That can let you keep the short name you actually wanted. Other domain extensions may cost extra, so check before you pick one.

A website builder and hosting come with it. You do not have to find a separate host and figure out how to connect everything. You can put up a simple page about you or your brand.

Email comes with it. You can have an email address that matches your domain instead of a free webmail address. I wrote more about that in my post on getting a custom email address with your name through GDI.

You can forward the domain. A domain can point to another page, such as an affiliate link. I suggested that Instant Cash Code members get their own domain for branding, and I made the video showing how to forward a GDI domain to an affiliate link. That video is used in Instant Cash Code's onboarding. So instead of sharing a long company link, you share a short name that is yours.

That is the reason I joined. I wanted a domain name that fit my brand, with matching custom email. GDI also had a link-in-bio tool called clicks.ws back then, and later I built my own link page platform. If you have the same "too many links" problem, here is how I handle it: one link page for everything in your bio.

Tips for picking a domain name people remember

Whichever service you use, these simple checks help:

• Say it out loud. If you have to spell it for people, try a shorter version.
• Skip hyphens and numbers when you can. They are easy to forget.
• Use your own name if you are branding yourself. Companies and programs come and go; your name stays with you.
• Keep it short. Short names fit on business cards, videos and social profiles.

Who GDI fits, and who should pick something else

GDI fits you if you want a domain, a simple website and matching email in one place, you are a beginner who does not want to stitch services together, and you are fine with a monthly payment.

You might pick something else if you only want a free page to test an idea, if you already have hosting and email you like, or if you must have a .com and want to manage each piece yourself at a regular registrar. Those are all fair choices.

Quick facts

• What it is: a domain, website builder, hosting and email service, with a .ws domain included.
• Cost as listed: a 7-day trial, then $10 per month. Other domain extensions may cost extra.
• What you get: your domain, a site builder, hosting and email that matches your domain.
• Who it is for: beginners who want a branded name and a simple setup.
• Pay plan as listed: an optional five-level referral plan paying 10% of qualifying revenue per level, paid monthly by PayPal. Results vary and many people earn nothing.

Prices and details are as listed when this was written. Check the current details on the official page before you join.

Frequently asked questions

What can I do if the .com for my name is taken?

Try the same name on a different ending, like .ws, or add a short word that still sounds like you. Avoid long names and hyphens. The goal is a name people can remember and type.

Is a .ws domain good for branding?

It can be. What matters most for beginners is a short, clear name that matches you and that you use everywhere. Say it out loud in your videos and put it on your profiles so people learn it.

Can I point my domain to an affiliate link?

Yes, a domain can be forwarded to another page. I made a video showing how to forward a GDI domain to an affiliate link, and it is part of Instant Cash Code's onboarding.

Do I need a website to use a domain?

No. You can forward the domain to another page, use it for email, or build a simple site later. Many beginners start with forwarding and email.

Get a name that is yours

If you are tired of seeing "taken" every time you search for your name, take a look at Global Domains International and its included .ws domain. Start with the trial, pick a short name, and see if it fits. What name would you choose for your brand? Tell me in the comments.

Results vary. Your results depend on your own effort, skills and situation, and many people earn nothing.