Fly on the E-Commerce Cyberwall

Using SearchIt! Free Research Tool to Help Name Your Business
The SearchIt! free search tool consists of a window with two dropdown boxes and two text boxes. In the two dropdown boxes, you select the type of search you want to do. In the two text boxes, you select the search criteria (such as keywords or URLs) you want to use.

Rather than repeat the introductory info about SearchIt! that I shared in previous weeks, I suggest that you see the October 2nd blog for this information. Or simply realize that it is important to click all the links and read all the instructions that SearchIt! tells you to do.

You'll find SearchIt! A LOT easier and more valuable to use if you do that.

Using SearchIt!
The last few weeks we looked at using SearchIt! for researching keywords. This week we'll look at the tools that help you find a keyword-rich domain name that doesn't violate anyone else's trademarks.

In the Step 1 dropdown box, scroll down under NAME IT and select Domain Names.
Click the dropdown box for Step 2: Select Search Type. You'll see the following options:

• NameBoy Domain Namer
• Check Domain Availability

(Note: These options may change. The SiteSell people (who maintain the SearchIt! tool) are constantly adding new search tools to it.)

NameBoy Domain Namer
Let's start by looking at the NameBoy Domain Namer option.

This option gives you a list of available domain names that contain your most important keywords. Type one important keyword or keyword phrase in the Step 3 box and another important keyword or keyword phrase in the Step 4 box. Click the SearchIt! button. Read the information page about this search and click the link at the bottom of that page to show your results.

A lengthy list of potential domain names appear alongside the possible extensions (such as .com, .org, .biz, etc.) that could be used with each domain name. Extensions that don't have a check box are already taken; extensions that have a check box are available.

(One word of advice. You can register your domain name for free as part of the SiteBuildIt! package. SiteBuildIt! charges one yearly price for your domain name, hosting, site-building software, templates, training tools to help you succeed, a private forum where you can get help from successful business owners, and, really, everything you need to make your online business succeed, including proven results that I've never seen any other site-building tool come close to matching. I suggest you consider them STRONGLY for any site you're preparing to build.)

Check Domain Availability

If you already have an idea for a domain name that you want to check, click the Check Domain Availability in the Step 2 box.

Type your domain name (without the http:// or the www.) into the Step 3 box. Click the SearchIt! button. Click the search results link at the bottom of the page and you'll see whether that domain name is available.

Again, don't buy your domain name unless you are absolutely sure you will not use SiteBuildIt!.

Using SearchIt! to Research Trademark Information

You can also use SearchIt! to research trademark information so you don't inadvertently infringe on somebody else's registered trademark. To use these tools, select the Site Legalities option in the Step 1 box.

Click the dropdown box for Step 2. The following options appear:

• Trademark Check -- U.S.
• Trademark Check -- U.K.
• Trademark Check -- Canada
• Trademark Check -- Australia
• Trademark Check -- 18 Registers
• Find URL Thieves

Trademark Checks

The first five options are essentially the same; they merely check against the trademark registrations in different English-speaking countries. This step is important to do when you first name your business. If you inadvertently violate someone else's trademark, you can be forced to change your name and start all over again in publicizing your business AFTER you have already developed a strong brand name and domain name that you then have to abandon.

Type your business name in the Step 3 box and click the SearchIt! button. Read the info page about this search option and then click the link at the bottom of the page. You will see any cancelled, registered, or pending trademarks for that country that are similar to your desired business name. Give careful consideration to using a different name if any registered names are too similar to yours.

Find URL Thieves

This tool shows you all the pages that copy significant portions of text from one of your pages without changing it. Type the full URL of the page you want to check (including the http://) in the Step 3 box. Click the SearchIt! button. Read the info page about this search option and then click the link at the bottom of the page. You may have to type your page URL again in the search page. The URL I chose to search for hasn't always carried into the search page. But once you enter the URL again and click the search button, you'll see a list of pages (if any exist) that display any suspiciously similar copying of your text.

Next week

This Sunday, I've covered just the domain name and trademark search options that SearchIt! provides. Next Sunday, I'll show the tools it has to help you find content for your site.
All in all, SearchIt! can find you lots of keywords and much other valuable information. The main thing to remember is to READ THE DIRECTIONS. With as many tools packed into this one interface, you're not going to take one look at it and intuitively understand how to use every one of them. But the directions they give are easy, and they do more than just tell you how to use each tool; they also throw in tips on how to use the results you receive to make your site more successful.

SearchIt! is one of these free tools that really produces value for you. I recommend that you check it out and make it a part of your web marketing arsenal.

Jeff