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Guide to Selecting Your Domains
Choosing the best domain name comes down to selecting one (or more) that shouts out who you are or helps you stand out from the crowd.
If you want to really secure your online presence make sure you:
- Register your main company or business name in ALL the popular domain spaces e.g. xyz.com, xyz.com.au, xyz.net etc
- Register your product and service names e.g. xyzchairs.com.au
- Register generic terms relevant to your business e.g. chairs.com.au, bench.com.au, seats.com.au, furniture.com.au
- Secure names in global markets e.g. xyzchairs.co.nz, bench.asia, seats.cn, furniture.co.uk
What if my domain is taken?
If your preferred name is taken then search for an abbreviation, change the order of words around, add hyphens, or add your city, state, or country to come up with something unique.
Choosing the Best Domain Extension
All domain names have an extension that suits your activity type (i.e. .com for companies, .org for non-profit organisations etc.). You may like to secure multiple extensions depending on how you are promoting your activity, and in which country.
It's generally regarded that there are two types of domains – those for 'global use' and those for 'local use'.
Often referred to as 'Top-Level Domains', global use domains look like www.YOURDOMAINNAME.com. Local use domains, often referred to as 2nd Level domains, are associated with the country of activity. In Australia this looks like www.YOURDOMAINNAME.com.au. Each country has its own 2nd level extension and sometimes more than one.
In Australia it is important to know that to register a local use domain (i.e. .com.au or .org.au) the purchaser must provide details of an ABN and if relevant, proof of charitable status.
.com (.au) |
Can be registered by anyone. They were originally intended for businesses and commercial organisations, however very popular with individuals. |
.net (.au) |
Can be registered by anyone. They were originally intended for network infrastructure providers and IT businesses. |
.org (.au) |
Can be registered by anyone. They are popular for non-profit organisations or political groups. |
asn.au |
Strict policy ensures that only non-commercial organisations including incorporated associations, political parties, trade unions, sporting and special interest clubs, charities and non-profit organisations are eligible for asn.au Domain Names. |
.info |
Can be registered by anyone. They are intended for information resource websites, but are also popular for personal websites. |
.biz |
Can be registered for commercial or business purposes. |
.tv |
Suitable for video content or program streaming websites |
Registration Rules
.com, .net, .org |
Only letters, numbers, or hyphens ("-") are allowed. The domain name cannot begin or end with a hyphen. The domain name must have at least 2 characters and less than 63 characters, not including .com, .net or .org. |
.info |
Only letters, numbers, or hyphens ("-") are allowed. The domain name cannot begin or end with a hyphen. The domain name must have at least 3 characters and less than 63 characters, not including .info. |
.biz |
Only letters, numbers, or hyphens ("-") are allowed. The domain name cannot begin or end with a hyphen. The domain name cannot have two hyphens in a row. The domain name must have at least 3 characters and less than 63 characters, not including .biz. |
Industry Structure
For a detailed understanding on the structure of domain names available around the world please visit WikiPedia.
