How Can You Find Your Own Weather.com?

How Can You Find Your Own Weather.com?

You get what you pay for.

Be honest with yourself. If you’re going to start a business, and you’re serious about it, then expect to spend money. One of the most important assets of a company is its brand. If your brand is represented by something second-rate, you’re already hurting your business before it begins.

I am a firm believer that information is power, so you can never do enough research. If I were starting a business, I would visit domain marketplaces (Afternic.com, BuyDomains.com, Sedo.com) and see what’s available for my budget, let’s say $3,000. I’d quickly see my options—just like browsing cars online with a price filter.

$3,000 will get you a decent two-word .com in a smaller industry. It won’t get you a one-word .com unless it’s very obscure.

Questions to ask yourself

• How are you going to use the domain?
• How safe and reliable do you want it to be?
• Could it “break down” when you need it most?
• Will you be embarrassed by it?

Example: naming a florist business

Imagine you’re a florist launching an online business. The best domain would be Flowers.com. But it’s owned by a large organization—buying it would mean buying the whole business.

If you’re in a specific city, BostonFlowers.com might be a good option. If the seller asks too much and you opt for Boston-Flowers.com, MyBostonFlowers.com, or FlowersBoston.com, you’re doing yourself a disservice. Don’t call your company one thing online and another elsewhere—it causes confusion. If your company is called Boston Flowers, your website should probably be BostonFlowers.com.

If you plan to sell nationwide or worldwide, you need a name that’s memorable, easy to spell, easy to say, and easy for customers to share. You can still purchase BostonFlowers.com, but it carries regional limitations that may restrict your reach.

Creative alternatives

• FloristGump.com (a play on “Forrest Gump”)
• 123Flowers.com

Options like these can be reasonably priced. Once you know your budget and the types of names that excite you, consider hiring a domain broker to acquire the domain.

Why use a domain broker

Many marketplaces don’t own the domains—they’re listed by third parties who agree to pay a commission that may be higher than what a brokerage like Saw.com would charge. Right away, there may be savings with Saw.com, plus other benefits.

When the perfect name is over budget: payment plans

Even with a broker’s best efforts, your target domain might be just outside what you can spend. A growing option in the domain industry is a payment plan: pay ~30–40% down, then the remainder over 1–3 years. Some sellers won’t accept these, others may only offer one-year terms—it depends. An experienced Saw.com broker can walk you through it step by step.

Set yourself up for success

Go into the process with a basic understanding of how it works and how your broker will help you acquire the best domain at a price that won’t put you out of business. Communicate, collaborate, and work together for the best outcome.