A) Get a top-level domain such as .net or .info?
B) Get a country code level domain such as .us or .cc?
.org is better - there's wikipedia, craigslist, wordpress, thepiratebay, all in top 100.
If you look at alexa top sites, there's not a single .net or .info site in the top 100.
First .net site: secureserver.net (106th place)
First .info site: com-net.info (807th place)
First .us site: imageshack.us (132th place)
First .cc site: wretch.cc (287th place)
C) Lookup the information of the current owner and try to buy it from them
Assuming you can find them and they answer the email filled in their whois.
D) Keep the same name but add something to the end of it,
e.g. "burgersapp.com" instead of "burgers.com" (if it's an
app for burgers)
No.
E) Think of a different name for your product
That's definitely one of the best ways, if rebranding is not an issue. Notice that most of the top websites have completely made up names that don't say much about the business - google, youtube, yahoo, linkedin, amazon.
F) Something else (please explain)
Check out domain auctions, you might find something short and sweet for a reasonable price.
Not necessarily. I don't think SquareUp.com is horrific or anything if they never end up acquiring Square.com. It's not ideal but it doesn't have to be horrific either.
If you look at alexa top sites, there's not a single .net or .info site in the top 100.
First .net site: secureserver.net (106th place)
First .info site: com-net.info (807th place)
First .us site: imageshack.us (132th place)
First .cc site: wretch.cc (287th place)
Assuming you can find them and they answer the email filled in their whois. No. That's definitely one of the best ways, if rebranding is not an issue. Notice that most of the top websites have completely made up names that don't say much about the business - google, youtube, yahoo, linkedin, amazon. Check out domain auctions, you might find something short and sweet for a reasonable price.