“A domain name is your address, your address on the Internet. We all have a physical address; we're all going to need an address in cyberspace. They're becoming increasingly important.” - Bob Parsons

A domain name is your online address where customers can reach your website. Rather than using numbers like a street address, the internet uses a system that relies on domains to make things easier. This name could be anything you like, but it’s very important that it makes sense and pertains to your business.

For example, if you own a car sales company, you wouldn’t want your domain name to talk about bicycles. The more closely you can match your domain name to your actual business name, the more success you’ll have with customers being able to find your site. If you’re planning to register your business as Fred’s Motors Geelong, then registering that exact domain name, ‘www.FredsMotorsGeelong.com.au’—if available—is the best approach.

Your domain also serves a larger purpose in terms of branding: the more you can put your business name in front of your customers, the better. A great benefit of utilising your domain name as a marketing tool is that once you register your name, no one else can register the same name. This ensures that you have total control over your business’s internet presence.

Tips for Smart Domain Name Registration

Businesses in Torquay, Geelong, and other parts of Australia have enough work to do when it comes to starting their business, so they don’t need more headaches when registering a domain name. While it’s not overly complex, there are a few key points that can help simplify the process.

Tip 1: Cover Your Bases

Your domain name can have several different types of extensions at the end of it to create your unique url. One of the more common domain extensions you’ll see in Australia is ‘.com.au,’ which can only be registered by a company that resides in the country and has an Australian Business Number.

Some companies choose to also register a ‘.com’ to spread their marketing reach even farther. This serves to protect your brand and cover all your bases, thus preventing others from registering domains that are similar to yours.

Tip 2: Maintain Your Domain

Your domain name registration isn’t a one-time event that never needs a second thought. After one year, a ‘.com’ domain comes up for renewal, while a ‘.com.au’ domain has a two-year lifespan. Your domain name will expire if it’s not renewed in time, meaning that your competition could potentially register it for themselves.

To safeguard against your domain name expiring, consider implementing automatic renewal payments or setting yearly reminders to yourself regarding your domain renewal.

Tip 3: Set Up Professional Email Accounts

Once you’ve registered your domain, make sure to set up email accounts that utilise that domain. Having an email address with your business’s official domain looks far more professional than using a generic email service like Gmail or Yahoo. For example, ‘This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.’ sounds much more official than ‘This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.’.

Domain Name Registration Done Right

Our experts can help with choosing and registering a domain, setting up official email addresses, and designing and developing your new website. We’ve served many businesses in Geelong, Torquay, and outlying communities and we’re eager to help you excel in your new business endeavour. Contact us today to get started!