How to increase trust and success with a .au domain name

Is your business based in Australia? Are you looking to sell to the Australian public? If you answered yes to both of those questions, then a .au domain name is right for you. Gain a competitive edge by instilling an immediate sense of trust in your Australian customers and let Google know your website is relevant to your Australian audience.  

 

So, why a .au domain? 

Choosing a good domain name is vital for your business. It becomes part of your online identity. Not only should it be memorable and easy to find but it can also indicate what type of business you are. As an Australian business, you can be easily recognisable with a .au domain name. But, if that isn’t enough reason for you, here are a couple more:  

• Having a .au domain name makes you instantly recognisable as an Australian business. Studies show that 7/10 Aussies will choose an Australian business over an international one. Since you must meet certain criteria to have a .au domain name, just having one creates a sense of trust between you and your potential website visitor.  
• Just as .com is better for global reach, .au domain names are favoured in Google searches within Australia. Google knows that your website will be more relevant to Australians and you are more likely to reach your local audience.
• You may choose a .au domain for the simple reason that your desired .com name is taken but the .com.au is still available. Rather than choose a clunkier, less catchy name, just add the .au at the end.  

Are you eligible for a domain name ending in .au?

In order to register for a .au domain, you need to meet a set of criteria. What this means is that .au domains come with an inherent level of trust.  

To be eligible to register for a .au domain you must be:  

• an Australian registered company; or 
• trading under a registered business name in any Australian State or Territory; or 
• an Australian partnership or sole trader; or 
• a foreign company licensed to trade in Australia; or 
• an owner of an Australian Registered Trade Mark; or 
• an applicant for an Australian Registered Trade Mark; or 
• an association incorporated in any Australian State or Territory; or 
• an Australian commercial statutory body. 

Which domain extension is best for your business? 

Just as businesses come in different shapes and sizes, so do .au domain names. Just as the name you choose will help to identify your business online, so will the extension you choose.  

The most common extension is .com.au, however depending on what sort of business you have, you might find that .net.au, .org.au or .id.au is more applicable to you.  

.com.au & .net.au: A fantastic choice for commercial businesses currently registered and trading in Australia 

.org.au: This domain name is suitable for non-commercial entities including charities and non-profit organisations 

.id.au: Intended for personal uses only, this domain name is suitable for Australian residents and citizens 

What about a .au direct domain?

Soon to be launched, the .au direct domain means you can register for ‘yourdomain.au’ rather than ‘yourdomain.com.au’. One of the many benefits of this is simplicity and memorability of this direct domain in comparison to domain extensions.  

Another core reason for registering for a .au direct domain is to protect your current domain name. If you hold the .com.au, there’s a chance your competitor might snatch up the .au, and in turn, potential customers.  

Tips for choosing your domain name 

So, you’ve decided that a .com.au (or similar) domain would be best for you. The next step is to choose the name that the domain will follow. Here are 3 simple tips to keep in mind when you are choosing your domain name.  

1. Keep it short, make it memorable 
2. Leave out hyphens and numbers 
3. Consider your audience 

So, there’s just one thing left to do, register your Australian domain name. We’ve made this a simple process with automatic reminders for renewal. However, if you have any questions, our team are here to help.