Alright, so I know it has been too long since I updated the blog – unfortunately back to uni means back to work – and very little time spare. However, in the last few weeks I have been using a tool to help me keep track of my university notes, readings, lecture slides and other documents with ease. Dropbox is a simple tool you install on your computer(s) which creates a special folder on your computer. Into this folder you can put all the documents and files you may want to access, up to 2GB for free, and then you will be able to access those documents – and most importantly update them – from other computers and devices, including your iPhone.

With Dropbox you can either install the software on all of your devices, or if you want to access a file from say a work or university computer that you don’t have administrator privileges on, you can simply download the file via the website. It’s all stored in the cloud and your computer(s) at home or elsewhere don’t need to be on to access the files.

Download Dropbox and get your 2GB of online sync space for free!

Finding a good domain name can be tricky, especially with so few of the traditionally recognized domains remaining.  However, a good domain name is also vital for creating a recognizable brand and driving sustainable traffic to your website.  In this guide we will quickly review and showcase a range of domain name tools.

If keyword-driven traffic is important to you, then I cannot stress the importance of doing your keyword research with free tool like Domain Samurai, the free Google AdSense keyword tool, or even a simple google search.  Market Samurai, which comes with a 12 day free trial, is another tool – providing more in-depth research functions than the free Domain Samurai.

However, if you have something else planned for your site, or are just after a fun or quirky domain name then following is a list of domain name and web 2.0 name generators, as well as a few domain tools.

Currently, Domai.nr is my favourite.  It allows you to simply input words or letters you would like to appear in your prospective domain, and have it spit out all kinds of amazing domain names, many of which are in a web 2.0 style.  Those available will have a green cube to their left, but be warned – this is not all that accurate and it may sometimes lead you to believe the perfect domain name is available, when it is in fact not!  There is also an iphone app version available.

Dot-O-Mator uses lists of beginnings and endings to compile a list of domain names, which can be checked for availability.  It comes with a range of pre-set lists that you can select and editor, or you can simply start your own lists.  This is especially handy when wanting to find domain names available for a range of keywords you have researched with a program like Market Samurai. Dot-O-Mator also provides a free web 2.0 name generator, which is great at creating random web 2.0 business names.  It does make me wonder if the makers of products like ‘Joost‘, ‘Boxee‘ and ‘Hulu‘ came up with their names using a generator like this.

BustAName.com is another handy tool once you have an idea of keywords you want to appear in your domain.  Simply input a few, watch it suggest similar words and available domains in the process.

 

DomainTyper.com is similar to domai.nr, though seems to provide less results in each search.

 

DomainNameSoup.com is worth a mention, as it provides a range of different domain name generators.  You can search for domain names according to 3-letter, through to 6-letter availability featuring a combination of letters you want, or simply randomly.  It also features a domain name wizard, business domain generator and many many more.

Suggest.Name – aside from having a pretty cool and keyword targeted domain name itself – offers a great tool for you to generate a list of available domain names, using keywords you have researched.

Also, be sure to check out these other domain name generators:

• newdomainnamegenerator.com
• namestation.com
• impossibility.org
• nameboy.com
• domize.com
• blungr.com
• dnscoop.com
• domainsbot.com
• ajaxwhois.com
• Simon Benjamin’s Web 2.0 Name Generator
• namedroppers.com