Here's a site I use to get keyword ideas to search for domain inventory

I’ve mentioned I use SEMrush a few times lately.—it’s one of the most useful tools I use when it comes to researching domain names. Most people know SEMrush for checking search engine rankings. You plug in your site, see where it ranks, see what your competitors are ranking for, and get ideas of who is ranking and the domains they use.

But what a lot of people don’t realize is how helpful it can be when you’re trying to buy a domain, not just rank one. I use it almost daily to help me figure out what names have potential.

I start keyword research. I’ll type in a general keyword related to a niche I’m interested in—something like farmland, electrician near me, or crypto loans and of course plant related stuff. SEMrush gives me all the data I need: search volume, keyword difficulty, trends, and a list of related keywords I might not have even thought of. From there, I start seeing potential exact-match or partial-match domain names.

Once I find something interesting, I go deeper. SEMrush has a SERP analysis tool that shows who’s ranking on Google for that keyword. This is where it gets good. If I see a domain like FarmlandAuction.com ranking in the top spots, and then I notice FarmlandAuctions.com is available or up for auction, I’ve got options. I know it has a real shot at ranking, and I can decide whether to grab it, hold it, or build something on it. And if the singular version is owned by a small site, I might even reach out and try to buy that one directly.

Another move I use is analyzing competitor domains. I’ll type in the URL of a site in the niche I’m watching, and SEMrush gives me a full breakdown of the keywords they rank for, what pages are performing best, and who’s linking to them. It’s a great way to find overlooked keywords or figure out what’s working in a niche—and then see if the matching domains are available.

I also keep an eye on trends. SEMrush will show whether a keyword is on the rise or fading. That helps me avoid wasting money on a name tied to a trend that’s already peaked. And if I’m thinking about seasonality—like holiday-related keywords or spring gardening—I can see how traffic changes month to month.

Once I have my list of solid keywords, I’ll take them over to GoDaddy or Namecheap to run a bulk domain search, or I’ll hit ExpiredDomains.net to see what’s dropped or coming up for auction. SEMrush doesn’t tell me what’s for sale, but it gives me the why—why this keyword matters, why this name might rank, and why it might be worth buying. Of course I also run to check which of that SLD/keyword is built out or for sale.

Some of my best domain purchases started with SEMrush. I’ve made the free version work for a while, but honestly, I use it enough that I'm about to move to the paid version. Because I don't have enough monthly subscriptions 😀


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Yesterday was also the official start of spring. At least in my house. The Masters golf tournament. I’ve watched the final round with my wife for 30 years. The nursery generally opens 7 days a week after the Masters. No we don’t do it based on the masters but the weather. (this year it’s Easter so still closed) Making it my last Sunday of freedom for the next 7 months. We play a game where we each get 4 players, take turns drafting, and add up the final scores to see who wins. We do it in total under par because the winner is always under par. If one person’s player doesn’t make the cut they get the score of where they were when they missed the cut. Once again, we ended up tied. 4 players, 4 rounds and we still ended up tied. I don’t know how it happens fairly often but it does. Win there is a winner, the winner gets to choose a place to eat the other will never go to but the winner loves. We tied, but she still agreed and we went to the Vietnamese place that I love but she won’t go.

She went and absolutely loved it. Best spring roll she’s ever had and got her 2nd Bon Mi ever. I don’t know what she expected. Fish heads laying all over and some guy washing the dishes in a creek? I’ve fallen in love with all kind of Asian foods since traveling to Hong Kong, Japan, and Singapore last year. It’s delicious, cheap, and quick. Not sure why she’s wasn’t a fan but I think I broke her thanks to a strong showing from Rory and Scheffler