Then I just play with names close to my original idea. Had to do this myself and ended up with a even better domain name than I originally had planned.

Posted by: Demon_skeith

Then I just play with names close to my original idea. Had to do this myself and ended up with a even better domain name than I originally had planned.

Yeah, this is pretty much the only alternative to using a different TLD.

Unless you want to invest a stupid amount of money in potentially purchasing the domain from an exisiting site (not something I've considered, ever).

Yeah I'd be inclined to follow the other advice posted here really. I've had this happen to me several times though and it is a real pain in the backside when it does happen, especially when you've had a name in your head for ages haha. Nowadays, I always try and come up with a couple names and then a couple variations of those names as well and check them out before I commit to anything. If something truly isn't available, then it's back to the drawing board I suppose. Maybe new names or a new project! 

I plan on different names or abbreviations that are similar to the name of my forum. For example, my current major forum called "Sound Off Zone" could be abbreviated to "SOZ" and soz typically isn't used for many domain names. (Sound off zone dot com wasn't taken though which is interesting! xD)

Maybe contact them and ask them if you pay the domain from them.. But expecting to pay allot of money. Or think of another name or try and get another domain name but mix the name up.

Paying for an domain that another person owns is so much money unless the domain isn't old and hasn't got value 

Well, I would most likely of course, settle for another Name. It could save a lot of trouble in the long run but you need to make sure that it doesn't sound similar to the one that's already taken.

I remember watching a Video about Ebay. In that Video, I'm sure it mentioned something about how it's Creator went to buy a Domain but it was already taken so he shortened it to Ebay.

Domains are pretty much hard to come by now. Everybody is wanting to get into Web-Development and having their own Website. It's going to be even more harder in the Future if we don't get rid of un-used Domains or one's that have been Domain-Squatted.

I used to have a portrait website and gave that up years ago and recently found that another studio had my domain name. It's funny how people on different sides of the world can have the same business name and the same type of business as well!

If I wanted to go back to having a portrait website I would try to go for a different domain name all together.

Aren't there sites that will let you know when a domain name you're interested in becomes available?

Posted by: Nerdface

Posted by: Demon_skeith

Then I just play with names close to my original idea. Had to do this myself and ended up with a even better domain name than I originally had planned.

Yeah, this is pretty much the only alternative to using a different TLD.

Unless you want to invest a stupid amount of money in potentially purchasing the domain from an exisiting site (not something I've considered, ever).

oh yeah, that can lead to a pretty nasty bidding war if you ask me. Because the owner knows you want to pay.

I will look for another options to have a good domain if the domain is taken. I think there are more ways to get a good domain names, it depends on more factors,  but first, you need to have more ideas  to think about a new domain. That can take a bit more time when choosing.

There are many domains I wish I could take even though they are taken  and not in use. Ofcourse, the registrant wants to make money out of it. So, the idea would be SEO for the domain you would take.