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A thought-out domain name can save you a lot of time and bring you a lot of traffic. Search engines love topic-related domain names and they seem to be an important aspect which is being used to evaluate web-pages. Besides, if you have a popular web-site with enviable reputation, you might be willing to make sure that your visitors don’t get to some surprising web-sites mistyping your site’s URL.

An overview of related resources is therefore both useful, handy and time-saving. Apart from that: apparently, domain names handling can also be a successful business, you just need to know what trends are coming and which terms will be important in the future.

Let’s take a look at essential, hand-picked domain-related tools, articles and resources we’ve found in the Web during our research.

Search for Domain Names

• Picky Domains
  The community helps to select optimal domain names.
• Make Words
  A generator for Domain names
• Nameboy
  Finds free domain names combining two or more keywords.
  
• Dyyo
  Searches for domain names with max. 4 or 5 characters. There are still some interesting options available; however, there are no free domains with three characters any more.
• Domain Hack Search Utility
  Finds domains, which are the combination of exotic TLDs, directories und subdomains. For instance, http://smashin.gm/agazine/ (can be registered as a Gambian domain)
• StuckDomains
  Finds expired CNO-Domains.
• Word Mixer
  Mixes several words together, combining them to create new terms. Ideal for creative domain names.
• Rhymezone
  Finds terms similar to English words. Once the domain you’ve chosen is already taken, you can use this tool to generate similar words.
• Domains Bot
  Looking for similar names.
  

Articles and Information

• Statistics about Domain Names
  Numbers and domain-related information.
• How To Get Started As A Domainer
  An extensive introduction for everyone who’d like to make business with domain names. Here are 28 tips, tools, techniques and financing options to get you started on your way to successful domaining.
• How to get in business with domains?
  About MySpace’s founder Richard Rosenblatt and his future business strategy. “His Companies Have Sold for Over $1.3 Billion: Can Demand Media’s Richard Rosenblatt Do It Again with Domains?”
• Establishing a Domain Portfolio
  Let’s get you started on establishing a domain portfolio that will secure your brand and generate revenue.
• The Directory of Domain Parking Services
  Domain parking directory.
• What’s in a name? A lot if it’s your domain
  An article about Cybersquatting, registering, trafficking in, or using a domain name with bad-faith intent to profit from the goodwill of a trademark belonging to someone else.
• Every good domain is taken. Here’s why
  Kevin Ham built a $300 million web company in Vancouver you’ve probably never heard of.
• 10 Tips for investing in Domain names
  An article by Mark Fulton
• Top 4 Lies Domainers Tell Themselves
  About Type-in traffic
• How Madison Avenue let down Corporate America and how both failed
  The real world of domains.
• Masters of their Domains
  Forget condos and strip malls. Domain names, the real estate of the Web, have been delivering far greater returns. How some of the savviest speculators on the Net are making millions from their URL portfolios.
• How to Snatch an Expiring Domain
  This article will explain the domain expiration process and what you need to do in order to use it to your advantage. An article by Mike Davidson.
• 10 things you MUST know before you register a domain name with anyone
  The essentials and basics of domain registering.
• Only 30% Of Top Domains Sold In 2006 Actually In Use
  The most expensive domains registered in 2006 and what they’ve become in 2007.
• Mysterious Domain Names with Ads
  Keep it generic and keep it in .COM. Making money with Domain Names.

Domain Tools

• Dot-o-mator
  A powerful word-mixer. You can enter up to 15 words in each prefix/suffix column, then combine them into a big list of potential names. Then check them all at once to see if any are still available.
• DomainTools
  Over a dozen of Tools, e.g. Domain Spy, Name Server Spy, Reverse IP Search, Whois and Typo Generator. The registration is required.
  
• AllWhois
  Whois domain name search & lookup.
• DNSstuff
  DNS tools, DNS hosting tests, WHOIS, traceroute, ping and other network and domain name tools.
• dnScoop
  Estimating Domain Name Value, History, Stats Tool and Forums.
• Reverse IP DNS Domain Check Tool
  Finds domains that share server with you; such domains have the same IP.

Domain-related Forums and Communities

• Domain State
• DN Forum
• Acorndomains
• NamePros
• IDN Forum
  (a forum for international domain names)

Domain-related Magazines and Weblogs

• DN Journal
  The Domain Industry News Magazine.
• Domain Tools Blog
• Daily Domainer
• Seven Mile
  Domains category in in Frank Schillings’ popular Weblog.
• Domain Editorial
• Domainers Gazette
• Names@Work
  Antony Van Couverings Webblog
• Rick Schwartz’ Weblog
  Domain King’s thoughts on domains, traffic, closing more sales and just plain old business and marketing 101.
• Whizzbang
  Domain name optimisation blog by Michael Gilmour.
• Ambler
  News Blog
• The Key
  Paul Sloans Blog