I am considering registering a domain name in popular zones like .com and .net, but unfortunately, most of the names I have thought of are already taken even though they are not being used. However, if there is no other option, I may have to register a domain name via a different method.

What do you think about registering a domain name with .co or .pro instead? Or should I continue my search for a free domain name in the .com zone related to gadgets?

Additionally, I have been struggling for two days to come up with a six-letter name with the initial letters "Mad." To avoid spamming, I will not disclose the second value of the name here.

The target audience of a website determines the appropriate domain zone.

Non-technical users are generally not aware of various domain zones and tend to simply remember the domain name without the suffix. Most people assume that the domain suffix is the same for all domains based on their country, such as .com for Americans, .fr for French, and .fi for Finns. Therefore, if a website is hosted on a domain with a country-specific suffix, such as foo.ru, and marketing it to German users, it's likely that they will search for the site at foo.de instead. Similarly, if the website is hosted on bar.de and targeted towards French users, many of them might try to find it on bar.fr.

To target a specific audience, it's recommended to use domain zones associated with that audience. For example, if your website is targeted towards French users, you should consider using the .fr domain extension. Similarly, a .ua domain extension might be more suitable for a website targeting Ukrainian users, while a .by extension could be ideal for a Belarusian audience.

However, it is possible to use a domain extension from a different zone. In this case, it's important to register domains in zones that are familiar to the main audience of the site and set up redirects to the primary site address. This helps ensure that users can easily locate the website without confusion.

On optimization forums, people often wonder which domain zone is best suited for their needs.

If your website is focused entirely on one country, it's usually best to use the national domain zone. For instance, the .de domain zone is a popular choice in Germany, while the .ua extension is preferred in Ukraine and .by is commonly used in Belarus. The com or net domain extensions are the most suitable if you are targeting the English-speaking internet as a whole.

For targeting traffic from specific foreign countries, using a national domain zone is typically recommended. Examples include the us domain for the US market, co.uk for the UK, and de for Germany. However, it's crucial to note that a domain in a national zone may not be effective for promoting content to the entire English-speaking Internet, as search engines will likely associate it with a specific country and language.

It's advisable to avoid cheap domain zones and those that distribute domains for free, as they can be associated with doorway pages and link spam.

Regarding whether to opt for an old or new domain, it's a matter of personal preference. One strategy is to launch ten sites, five with a history and five brand new, and upload a few pages of content to each site. After two to three months, analyze traffic and other metrics to identify the top-performing site, then focus on its development going forward.

There are many tools available to measure website traffic, but some of the most widely-used ones include serpstat.com, Google Analytics.

Considering alternatives like .co or .pro is definitely a viable option. Both of these extensions have gained popularity in recent years and can still convey a professional image. The .co is often used by startups and tech companies, which might be a perfect fit for a gadget-related site. The .pro domain extension, on the other hand, suggests expertise and professionalism, which can attract a more specialized audience. So, it could serve well for a niche tech market.

However, if you prefer the .com zone for its familiarity and credibility, it might be worth extending your search. Adding a related term or prefix can help you find an available option. Sometimes, slight modifications can lead to a unique name that still resonates with your brand idea.

As for coming up with a six-letter name starting with "Mad," I can empathize with your struggle. It's a bit of like a puzzle. You might consider combining "Mad" with a word that relates to gadgets or technology. For instance, think about words like "MadGad," "MadTech," or even "MadGiz." Playing with syllables or using a playful twist could spark some inspiration. Also, don't hesitate to use online tools that generate domain names, as they can provide various creative combinations based on your criteria.
Weigh the benefits of using .co or .pro against continuing your search for a .com domain. With some creativity, you're sure to come up with a unique and memorable name that suits your gadget-based website perfectly.