Coming up with a list of great domain names you want to buy can be an endless process. I am always reading things and thinking about domain names, and I don’t think it would be possible to come up with a comprehensive list of good names I would buy (endless.com, process.com, always.com, thinking.com, possible.com, comprehensive.com to name a few from the first two sentences!).

Inquiring about domain names is also a time consuming process. You need to do Whois searches to find the owner, investigate to get good contact information, craft emails, and for the best results, you will likely need to come up with a reasonable offer to start the conversation. Being good at this takes time and it may be difficult to do this effectively.

I thought of a way to generate acquisition leads that I want to share with you.

Most branding professionals would recommend that a brand name must pass the “radio test.” This means that someone who hears the name of the company on the radio would know how to spell it in order to find it online or to recommend the brand to someone else who could easily find the website.

Even with the advances of Google and spell check, I think it is very important for a company’s domain name to pass the radio test. A website may never actually advertise on the radio, but there are plenty of reasons for why a domain name should be easy to recall and share with others.

George Kirikos shared some great advice on Domain Boardroom about how you can tell if a domain name passes the “radio test,” and he allowed me to share it with you. Simply take out your iPhone and ask “Siri.” If Siri can locate the website you are seeking, you’re likely in the clear. If Siri can’t find the website or doesn’t understand what you are looking to find, even with the assistance of its AI engine, you might want to rethink your brand and domain name.

If you want to

I am not sure why this is the case, but I think some people believe that using an escrow service like Escrow.com or an aftermarket platform absolves them of the need to do due diligence when buying a domain name. This is incorrect, and this thinking could be harmful.

When I buy a domain name, I use a variety of tools and insight to ensure that the domain name was not stolen and being sold by someone who doesn’t have rights to sell the domain name. I also use my instincts to determine if there is something that doesn’t seem right with the situation. There are quite a few ways that I determine that the deal is legit, but I do not rely on the escrow service or the aftermarket platforms to do it for me. I don’t believe either of these options were created to perform due diligence beyond cursory checks, and relying on them to do something important like is not a good idea.

If someone were to