Are you embarking on a new business venture and debating domain names? Many people wonder what the difference between domains ending in .com, .com.au, .co, .net, .net.au, etc are and which one is best for their business. You’re not alone. When I started my first business many moons ago I didn’t have a clue either.

In this post you will learn:

• What a domain extension is
• Which domain extension is best for your business
• How to choose a domain name and some important things to consider

What is a domain extension?

A domain extension is the name given to characters appearing after the . in a domain name. For example in the domain name exmaple.com, the “.com” part is the domain extension. In the domain example.net.au, the domain extension is “.net.au”.

So what type of domain extension is the perfect fit for your business?

In a nutshell, it comes down to where your customers are from. If you’re an Australian business selling to Australian customers then a .com.au or .net.au domain name is for you. Unlike the .com, .net and .co domains, .com.au and .net.au domain names have stricter regulations which require the owner to have an Australia Business Number (ABN) in order to register the domain. Australian consumers can trust these domains more because the .au extension implies that you’re an Australian business. They also rank higher on Australian search engines such as Google.com.au

If you’re a global business meaning you sell to customers all around the world or have the intention to expand to this level, then a .com .net or the funky .co is the way to go. You should then also consider registering local domain names for each country you want to sell to. For example, if you hope to have customers in Australia, New Zealand and the UK you should register .com.au, .co.nz and .co.uk as well. Unfortunately, as .com domain names can be registered by businesses all around the world, the ideal domain name for your business might be harder to come by than the local domain name would be.

Tips for choosing a domain name for your business

So now you know what domain extension is best for your business, it’s time to come up with the actual name.

There are a few things to consider when choosing the perfect domain name. It’s best to ensure:

1. your domain name isn’t easily misspelt.
2. it’s easily pronounced: Can you say it to someone and they will most likely know exactly what to type into their browser to find you?
3. it represents your business and isn’t misleading.
4. it isn’t too long: The longer the domain name means the more room there is for a spelling error or missed character. On top of that you need to remember you’ll be adding your website address to business cards, signage and other marketing material. Something succinct will be easier to fit on various marketing collateral.
5. it is memorable.

Need some help deciding on the best domain name for your business? Look no further. Check out my Beginner’s guide to choosing the perfect domain name.