Choosing a name for your local business directory

I live in a large metropolitan area, so it would be a much wiser choice to build my local business directory to include all of the cities it comprises. My target advertiser base is much greater, and the traffic potential to the site increases exponentially as well because of the combination of populations.

So, with that being said, my dilemma is finding a well-structured domain name. I've been brainstorming for a few days and everything I choose has already been taken. Mind you that none of the domains actually resolve to anything other than a default place page, but the point is that they're aren't available for registration. And considering that a local business directory can be a very profitable project, I'm not sure why none of them are being used.

I plan to maintain my directory on a long-term basis, thus, generating a recurring long-time income. Of course, the idea is just in the planning stages right now, but I do actually intend to implement every thought. In fact, I've got 3 days until the new year, and I've set that as my deadline for actually getting the directory online.

I need something that will be relevant and memorable at the same time. Does anyone have any suggestions that they would be willing to share? Here are the few that I've come up with so far:

<metro city>guide
<metro area>guide
<metro city>business directory
<metro area>business directory
<metro city>town central
<metro area>town central
<metro city>town guide
<metro area>town guide

Try
<city>local.com
<city>places.com
<city>zone.com
<city>point.com
thingstodoin<city>.com
stufftodoin<city>.com
<city>area.com
<city>turf.com

Came up with those right now.

Axelz said:

Try
<city>local.com
Came up with those right now.

Click to expand...

If you did <city>-local.com and played off the color/graphic scheme of local.com you would have instant credibility. Most people know of local.com but don't use it. Their stock kinda tanked this past week. Made me sad.

Hia mate

I am interested in trying to create a business directory here in my town. What tools will you be using? Will you be created the whole website from scratch or WP?
Total noob here btw ^^

I'm trying out...

in<city>.com
in<city><state>.com
in<city>local.com
in<city>localarea.com
in<city>region.com
in<city>area.com
in<city><state>local.com
in<city><state>localarea.com
in<city><state>region.com

Take a look at the WP Local Pro WordPress theme.

I'm trying it out on a WP multisite setup, and am considering using subdomains for the different markets:
dentist.in<city>.com
plumber.in<city>.com

If I were to go with subdirectories, then I would end up with URLs like...
in<city>.com/dentist
in<city.com/plumber

Both have SEO advantages, so I'm still not sure which structure to go with.

How are you guys doing it? I am thinking of starting a local business directory in my city/area but there 2 things yet.

One is, what`s the best platform for web directories? I was just doing some research and find out that Joomla! with Sobi2 is a very powerful tool. But at the same time we have some good WP plugins/themes, which I know how to use, but never used Joomla!.

The second thing is, in my country we already have the yellowpages with a super organized system, customer can list their biz for free and advertise for a monthly plan, also can choose the plan and pay for it online and etc. This makes me wonder if is it worth to go on, but in my mind I think I should go for it. I`ll target local and if there is one thing that yellowpages does not have at all is SEO. Nothing.