Acquiring The Perfect Domain Name For Your Brand With API With Ross Norvell

There are merits to finding out who or what company owns a particular domain. However, scouring the web to gather intel about an unknown site can be time-consuming. In most cases, a typical internet search would not return the particular information you need.

Online tools such as Domain APIs can bring you one step closer to your customers, a new partnership, networking and overall goals as you get details on a domain’s entity and background. Current APIs including WHOIS, Screenshot API and IP Geolocation enables searchers to efficiently acquire real-time data which truly matter in business.

WHOIS API

Primary Purpose: To Get Domain Information

The WHOIS system is a very useful tool any entity can use to find out the owner of a particular domain name. All would-be site owners are required to input their personal data and contact information, which will be stored on the WHOIS database. Registrant details and technical, administrative and billing aspects must also be entered into the system. Name, address, email address and office or mobile number are just a few of the things you’d find at a WHOIS lookup. WHOIS tools can provide useful domain information while giving you the ability to obtain screenshot API and IP geolocation.

Uses of WHOIS

WHOIS information is publicly available for those who would want to know who owns a domain name for various reasons, including law enforcement, business and cybersecurity.

Checking Availability & Acquiring Domains

WHOIS lookups can be an integral part of acquiring the perfect domain name for your brand, business or startup company.

The simple practice of registering for the domain you want can be an exercise in frustration. For one, it’s highly likely that yourbusinessname.com will be unavailable as someone already has that domain name. In this case, WHOIS can open up a window of opportunity as you can contact the current domain owner and pertinent details, i.e., contact numbers and domain registration expiry date. You can make contact and possibly negotiate the name you’d like in exchange for a sum of money.

Keep An Eye On The Competition

WHOIS can be used to check up on the competition. Businesses can utilise the tool and see if their rivals are preparing for new landing pages, services or for SEO reasons. The database will show any entity’s newly registered domains and can provide a glimpse of what they will do next.

Maintaining Accountability

WHOIS has always been the go-to online database by cybersecurity experts, law enforcement agencies, brand protection services, child protection advocates and intellectual property owners. WHOIS administrators usually work with these entities to track down registrants and sites that display or disseminate phishing scams, malware, illegal content and the like.

Accountability can present itself when a company is contacted by an unknown website. The employees can perform a WHOIS check to see if it’s trustworthy and move forward with the right decision.

Screenshot API

Primary Purpose: To Reveal Changes In Web Content

The “screenshots” tell evolutionary changes from before to now and shows if a particular site has changed, added or modified their marketing efforts and focus. Here, you’ll be able to see new product offerings, services, site improvements and implementations.

The API works by capturing screenshots in a regular or timed manner while storing the data in an external location. The update of images can prove to be invaluable for keeping an eye on your strongest niche or industry competitor.

Uses of Screenshot API

Monitoring Competitors

Screenshots will be able to tell in a visual cue any struggles or strengths a particular site has in relation to its products, services and offerings. WHOIS APIs are inherently dynamic and have robust signaling capabilities, which can be combined with the Screenshot API for research purposes.

Monitoring Your Own Website

Regular screenshots can keep web designers and owners up to date on how their brand or business website is looking. Imagery keeps things simple and you’ll be able to tell at a glance which design aspects have changed, and if it’s in line with your marketing goals and campaigns.

IP Geolocation API

Primary Purpose: To determine your website visitor’s location.

Geolocating an IP address won’t give you an exact address; rather, the system puts out coordinates that serve as the origins of the IP address.

Uses of IP Geolocation

Regulatory Compliance

Very handy when your business needs to check on visitors who come from regions that have regulatory compliance protocols in place. The most famous example of this is the GDPR in the EU region. Site owners can set notices and additional elements to keep GDPR compliant while still being able to provide a great user experience as they browse in your website.

Digital Protection

Licensed content providers will need a Geolocation IP database to ensure they’re showing the appropriate content to viewers on any and all regions. A classic example would be Netflix and its geo-locked shows and movies. You can block out non-US viewers from accessing region-locked content with a message “This Content Is Not Available In Your Region”.

Site owners will also be able to adjust currency to reflect the region’s fiat or put out landing pages that cater to a specific area. This gives visitors a more customised and better experience overall.

Targeted Ads

Online marketing can get a nice boost when they use geolocation services to target a specific audience with products or services they’re attuned to. For instance, you may show a pop-up display for visitors, compelling them to take advantage of a new product that’s exclusive to their area. Marketers and entrepreneurs can harness this technology to add to their client’s advertising array.

Targeted ads can certainly help with sales and profits as they improve conversion rate, making your ad services much more valuable.

Businesses must use any and all available technologies, platforms and tools in order to keep ahead of the pack and protect themselves at the same time. The action to take is to be proactive in acquiring IP geolocation databases, screenshot APIs and utilising the WHOIS system, which altogether can give you what you need to succeed and grow your business to new heights.

Bio:

Ross Norvell is the founder of JsonWhois.io, which specialises in WHOIS and domain API tools.

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