buying domain names - advice please

[Luddite]

I'm about to buy a new domain name for a new (non shopping) site - so far only the .com has been taken for this particular domain. I was about to buy the .co.uk but though i'd quickly run it past you guys. .net, .biz etc etc is available. Is there anything I should be aware of when purchasing - tips etc.

Cheers

Nick

[jont]

I assume you don't own the .com site? Be wary of buying a domain which already exists just with a different extension - this could cause you loss of traffic with people going to the .com version and not yours. If the domain is part of their trading name or trademark then be very wary as they may take issue and legal recourse.

Still all is fair in love and war. I would personally go for the .co.uk if you are UK based

[pinbrook]

also make sure the com isn't in the same line of business as you, you could get accused of passing yourselves off as them

Quite often I advise people to buy both the co.uk and com to avoid confusion but i wouldn't bother with the rest

[garyhay]

Quite often I advise people to buy both the co.uk and com to avoid confusion but i wouldn't bother with the rest

I would agree with that.

I assume you don't own the .com site? Be wary of buying a domain which already exists just with a different extension - this could cause you loss of traffic with people going to the .com version and not yours

I even do this to a friend and often e-mail his namesake in the US and boy does he get pissed with me sometimes when sending 5Mb images

[Luddite]

Thanks for all this advice

Stupidly, when I bought my main domain (theperfectpad.co.uk), the .com was available but I didn't buy it - a month later when I tried to buy it it had gone to an estate agents in the states.

You live and learn as they say!

I've heard of companies that you can register with so that when a domain name you want becomes available, they buy it for you the second it is available (detagged?) - has anyone heard of this?

Nick

[garyhay]

has anyone heard of this

Rip Off. You can monitor that yourself