1. picked a list of 50-60 words/prefixes/suffixes we liked
2. wrote a python script to generate permutations, and then
3. ran dig -f on the text file to see which weren't taken
4. scraped buydomains search results to see which ones were easily for sale.
absolutely everything else was a waste of time, although we're also working with a naming agency and that might be promising (but expensive).
amusingly, domains that were occupied by squatters or companies like buydomains were easier to deal with -- at least they're rational and the conversation, though annoying, is straightforward (arrive at a #.)
domains that are occupied but unused (and don't have a 'for sale' sign hanging up) are generally hopeless. if you get a response, you'll generally get some whacko who either won't sell it, or who will only sell for millions of dollars or something. you'll probably not believe me, and will learn this the hard way (just as pg told us months ago :))
1. picked a list of 50-60 words/prefixes/suffixes we liked
2. wrote a python script to generate permutations, and then
3. ran dig -f on the text file to see which weren't taken
4. scraped buydomains search results to see which ones were easily for sale.
absolutely everything else was a waste of time, although we're also working with a naming agency and that might be promising (but expensive).
amusingly, domains that were occupied by squatters or companies like buydomains were easier to deal with -- at least they're rational and the conversation, though annoying, is straightforward (arrive at a #.)
domains that are occupied but unused (and don't have a 'for sale' sign hanging up) are generally hopeless. if you get a response, you'll generally get some whacko who either won't sell it, or who will only sell for millions of dollars or something. you'll probably not believe me, and will learn this the hard way (just as pg told us months ago :))
ok enough bad news -- some links that might help:
http://blog.guykawasaki.com/2006/02/the_name_game.html
http://onstartups.com/home/tabid/3339/bid/223/The-Startup-Na...
http://foundread.com/2007/08/20/3-rules-for-naming-your-star...
and last and best (a 100+ page guide)
http://www.igorinternational.com/process/igor-naming-guide.p...
hope this helps -- it's a struggle :)