Do some domain research before selecting a new domain

When I'm making a new site, I usually try to think of a good domain name first. Then I check to see if it's available. If one of my favorite names is free, I usually just take it right then and there. But I've been trying to remind myself to do a little research on the domain name first (or even on existing names I already have).

You'd be amazed at what you can find at www.archive.org about your existing domains. You're able to look up screenshots of past websites that used that domain name in many cases.

I'd also suggest doing searches on several search engines for your domain name just to see if it's mentioned anywhere. One recent domain name that I almost bought that was a PERFECT name for a site I was thinking of doing happened to have been owned by a scammer in an unrelated niche. There were a few mentions online of that website being a scam, even though it hasn't been registered to anyone for a few years. Odd how that stuff works.

I also just found out that one recent name that I registered for a site of mine was just deleted a few days prior by a site that used it for several years (by complete random change).

I'd check out www.archive.org and type in your website address, as well as do any searches before making any purchases in the future.