How Domain Shopping Can Make You Happy
Over the past few months I’ve been domain shopping. I’ve been blogging since 2005. During that time, I never really took interest in it until I began noticing the potential it had for me, that and my desire to branch out a little more. I have Garry and John to thank for fanning the flames.
I suppose it’s the thrill of the hunt — find that one gem that no one else has found that you can call your own. Come to poppa! 
This is what I mean when I say domain shopping making you happy because you could either turn a profit on it when monetizing it, or just for the love of writing on the topic — or both!
I’ll write a post a bit later explaining the tools I use when domain shopping, but until then I wanted to provide you with a list of some domains that you might be interested in that, as of this writing, are currently available:
- CDBlogger.com: reviews of CDs, maybe a place to purchase or swap CDs.
- FlavorRush.com: a site for cooking tutorials, recipes, and the like.
- JingleBellBlog.com: Christmas-oriented blog.
- SeoToys.com: got any cool tools or tips to help people with search engine optimization?
- TanksAndTeez.com: yes, shirts. But please be advised that TanksAndTeeS.com is already registered, so there might be potential for visitors to accidentally type in a misspelling. But you’ve got to admit, it’s a pretty cool name.
- TasteAcademy.com: another potential cooking site.
If you have an interest in purchasing these, perhaps you might consider purchasing them over at 1and1.com. (Psst — they offer free privacy. I love that!) 
And regardless of where you register them, let me know and I’ll update this post.
These aren’t what I would consider keyword domains, the type that would have a slightly better chance of showing up in search engine results when someone types in those individual keywords. Rather, these domains would have to rely heavily on establishing their brand to get the word out. I’m not saying keyword domains are a guarantee of getting a higher ranking, but it definitely can give you a boost.
You wouldn’t necessarily expect to find, say, JingleBellBlog.com if you were to type in “jingle” and “bell” into a search engine right from the start. But over the course of time, given the proper care and feeding of such a domain (read: quality content, marketing, etc.), it’s not unreasonable to expect that that domain would be associated with such keywords.
Take, for example, the domain flickr. Who would have thought to search on “flickr”? The answer is, no one. It meant nothing in the beginning, but over time, they gradually built their brand by marketing it and providing a good, successful service. Now you can search on it and expect to find it in the results, but you, of course, could type in other keywords that are related to the service and find them just the same. All thanks to branding and content.
So what do you think? Would you like to see more domain names posted here?
[tags]available domains,blogs,URLs[/tags]
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About the Author: Mark Sierra is an online entrepreneur and web publisher. As the owner of StarFrost Media, he continues to add blogs and products to his online portfolio designed to help inform readers on software and blogging, teach them to be more productive, and even learn how to make money online.
Talina | Nov 16, 2007 | Reply
I am domain shopping too! Know of any cheap .com domain reg companies under $9.99???
Talina’s last blog post is: Payperpost, Google, page rank and the debate.
Mark | Nov 16, 2007 | Reply
@Talina
Sure do! If you click on the link above to 1and1.com, you can register any .com name for just $6.99 year and that includes FREE privacy registration. That’s why I register all my domains with them.
Kyle Eslick | Nov 16, 2007 | Reply
*drools*
I’ve been enjoying domain shopping, and love it when people do these posts.
Unfortunately, I’ve got more domains right now then I know what to do with. I just bought a sports one yesterday that I liked.
Kyle Eslick’s last blog post is: Check Out 12 Of YouTube’s Greatest Hits
Mark | Nov 16, 2007 | Reply
@Kyle
I know what you mean, buddy. Actually, there are a few I’ve registered that now I’m wishing I hadn’t, but it’s learning process.
Michelle | Nov 16, 2007 | Reply
Yes - if you are doing the thinking and searching and have the time - awesome! I have been looking for a new name for a fashion/shopping type blog - there are so many out there - maybe a gentleman’s perspective is needed?
Michelle’s last blog post is: To Vest or Not to Vest
saboma | Nov 16, 2007 | Reply
Love your site, Mark, and thanks for dropping in today. I have my own domain, finally, but don’t have the time to switch over from Blogger.com just yet.
Maybe next year sometime.
*Hugs!*
saboma’s last blog post is: Leonid Showers annually peak around November 17th
Mark | Nov 16, 2007 | Reply
@Michelle
And thanks so much for stopping by my blog.
As a matter of fact, I’ve just sent you some ideas. Hope they help.
Mark | Nov 16, 2007 | Reply
@saboma
There’s something special about having your own domain. If you haven’t already decided on which platform to go with, may I suggest WordPress? I think you’ll be very pleased. Good to see you here!
Thanks for your kind words! I appreciate that.
John Motson | Nov 17, 2007 | Reply
Mark,
I am glad you got thinking about domains.
Those names you listed are pretty cool
I especially like SeoToys.com
John Motson’s last blog post is: There are more then 13 root servers - from ICANN
Mike | Nov 17, 2007 | Reply
If I hadn’t just started the IndieBlurb site, I’d probably jump all over that CDBlogger domain, but I don’t know if I have time for another site at the moment…lol.
Mike’s last blog post is: A question of morals
Mark | Nov 17, 2007 | Reply
@Mike
It looks like somebody’s already grabbed up two of them. CDBloggers.com’s still available, but maybe you could just hold onto it…you know…for when you have some down time.
Mark | Nov 17, 2007 | Reply
@John
Looks like I’ll consider this post successful given the feedback it has generated. I’m still on the hunt! 
Thanks! Yeah, somebody likes that one too because it has been registered already, that and FlavorRush.com.
Opal Tribble | Nov 18, 2007 | Reply
I have about 13 domains 8 of them are active. I sold one a few months ago.
Opal Tribble’s last blog post is: Digital Photography: The Clouds
Mark | Nov 18, 2007 | Reply
@Opal
Now that’s cool. Perhaps you could either shoot me an email or comment here explaining the process. Was it a site that you sold or just the domain name? As I look at names, I often think how attractive they may be to others, so finding out about the process and success rate for selling domain names would be very useful.
Colin | Nov 19, 2007 | Reply
Hi Mark,
1and1 offer great packages and I have been with them for a few years now. That was long before I started blogging and if I had known how successful my blogging would be I’d have self-hosted….maybe I’ll change it over next year as I have recently added another domain name which will suit my main blog
There is an award for you at: http://grottynosh.wordpress.com/2007/11/16/be-the-blog-and-best-blogging-buddies-awards/
but you might need to look among the list to find yourself
Have a great week,
Colin
Colin’s last blog post is: Drivers Backup For Windows
Kyle Eslick | Nov 19, 2007 | Reply
Yeah, I think it is important to also grab up domains that are just good, even if you won’t use them.
I’ve started to keep that in mind when I domain shop.
Kyle Eslick’s last blog post is: How To: Reporting Sploggers to Google AdSense
Garry Conn | Nov 19, 2007 | Reply
Man… when I checked this post the day you published it, I was like… “Oh Snap!!” SEOToys.com, that is an awesome name.
When I checked, it appears that someone already got it!
Next time, give me a little insider email prior to going live with these posts.
{wink wink} {hint hint}
Garry Conn’s last blog post is: RadioBlogTalk Episode #4 | Dynamic WordPress Pages and The Power of Guest Blogging
Mark | Nov 19, 2007 | Reply
@Garry
Actually, I’ve since learned that the tool I was using was giving me a false positive about it being available — darnit!
Mark | Nov 19, 2007 | Reply
@Kyle
Yeah, you never know when they might come in handy for using or selling.
Mark | Nov 19, 2007 | Reply
@Colin
I’m amazed why people still go with other registrars when they have to pay for privacy. I make all my domains private, just makes sense to me. But that’s all I use 1and1 for, so maybe hosting packages are the draw and people prefer to keep their site and their domains together. I prefer to keep them separate.
Thanks for the award, buddy!
Kyle Eslick | Nov 20, 2007 | Reply
Mark,
Why is having privacy an issue? I know its an extra dollar with GoDaddy to make it private, but how are people going to find you if they want to buy the domain?
I have no problem with people wanting privacy for certain domains, but I like having it as an option, and several of my domains I specifically don’t want to be private.
Just personal preference though.
Kyle Eslick’s last blog post is: Blogging Discussion: Should You Use Pictures?
Alexander | Nov 20, 2007 | Reply
“So what do you think? Would you like to see more domain names posted here?”
YES
ciao
alex
Alexander’s last blog post is: Wordpress plugin: SHARE THIS italianizzato con 17 social networks italiani versione 1.1
Mark | Nov 20, 2007 | Reply
@Kyle
Well, the thought of having my home address available to the world like that just gives me the willies.
Heck, I even struggled with notion of posting my picture on Garry’s blog for my guest post. Of course, I decided not to, I just couldn’t cross the line just yet.
@alex
Thanks for the vote! I think I will do another one.
Kyle Eslick | Nov 22, 2007 | Reply
Mark,
I understand what you are saying. I have a few domains that are private, but I have many that I prefer to not be private.
Like I said, just personal preference!
Kyle Eslick’s last blog post is: Happy Thanksgiving from Kyle’s Cove
Fahad | Nov 23, 2007 | Reply
I am actually finding it hard to come up with a name for my new blog. I am currently hosted at freehostia but am gonna move to a domain soon. But cant find any domain that I really like! Could you suggest any? My blogs related to technology, internet, computers, and such.
Fahad’s last blog post is: Hide or Password Protect your files and folders
Mark | Nov 23, 2007 | Reply
@Fahad
I’ll roll a few ideas around in my head and get back to you.
K-IntheHouse | Nov 26, 2007 | Reply
Awesome Mark! I would absolutely love to see these posts from you! What an incredible list of names and I’m they are all gone by this time.
I have been getting into buying domain names too. Just got my wife into sharing her Indian Recipes at her own domain SpicyTasty.com. It’s still under construction but I thought the domain name was cool to build on.
Keep ‘em coming buddy!
K-IntheHouse’s last blog post is: Monitor Your Website status for Free: Montastic
bLuefRogX | Nov 26, 2007 | Reply
Never did like 1&1 much though, they have a horrible control panel.
I do like seotoys though, might just reg it for future use
bLuefRogX’s last blog post is: MakaGiga: The all-in-one application
Mark | Nov 26, 2007 | Reply
@K
Hey thanks, buddy! I like that domain name. I’ll come up with some more in the future. :0
@bLuefRogX
I haven’t used 1and1 for hosting, just registering my domains. But I agree that a control panel can really bring ya down if it’s not done right.