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You may have seen some emails from your website host urging you to claim your .au domain but not had time to read them because you’re busy. The switch to this type of website address is actually worth taking notice of.
What is a .au domain?
The Australian government recently made it possible to register a new type of domain name.
Previously, Australian domain names always ended in .com.au, as in www.aussiebusiness.com.au. Now there is the option to drop the .com, instead becoming www.aussiebusiness.au.
Having a .au domain can be a benefit for your business.
It is shorter and simpler, making it more memorable and easier for branding and brand recognition. It also creates a distinct Australian presence.
Claiming domains
Some people make money by ‘hoarding’ domain names. Domain campers, or cybersquatters, will search for domain names that match the name of businesses and then register themselves. They do this in the hope that when the business comes to register the domain name themselves, they will have to pay an unreasonable amount to secure it.
To share an example, internet rogue Michael Doughney registered the domain name peta.org and named it ‘People Eating Tasty Animals’ just to make life difficult for PETA, the People For the Ethical Treatment of Animals.
PETA did not end up having to pay the domain camper for the right to use peta.org in the end, but the organisation lost time and money to legal proceedings.
There may not be anyone out to make trouble for you the way Doughney intended to make trouble for PETA, but every business with a website is currently at risk of losing their .au domain name to domain campers.
Why you need to register asap
Until very recently, Australian businesses had priority in registering .au domain names. As of late September, .au domain names are available to all Australians.
As you saw above, missing out on any variation of domain name can cause difficulties for your company. You may find someone starts a rival business and redirects the .au domain name you would use to their own website.
The last thing you want when people search for your company is to have results turn up that don’t lead directly to you.
And yes, it will be possible to claim copyright and force the other party to surrender the domain name to you, but this is time-consuming and expensive.
How to claim your .au domain
There are lots of online methods to claim your own .au domain name.
Follow the advice given by business.gov.au:
- Check if your domain name is available: Clearly, you can’t register a domain name that is already taken. This is why you should move fast.
- Find domain options and providers: The advice of business.gov.au is to head to the .au Domain Administration Ltd (.auDA) website, where you will find a list of domain types, a database of registered domain names, and links to accredited registrars.
- Register your Australian .au domain: To register your domain name, you will need either an ABN or ACN.
Other domains to consider claiming
The .au domain is not the only domain name you should consider claiming.
First, there is, of course, .com.au, the long-standing domain for Australian businesses.
If you are a charity or non-profit organisation, you will also want a .org.au address.
Incorporated associations, political parties, trade unions, sporting and special interest clubs can use .asn.au.
If you truly want to be thorough, you can also claim .net, .info, and .biz, among many, many others.
.au and .com.au are the most commonly used and the most valuable for your business to utilise. You can expect to see more websites popping up with .au addresses in the near future.
Want help to protect and grow your business? Talk to the Gold Coast’s leading accounting team today.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this news post is general in nature and is intended to provide a general summary only and should not be relied on as a substitute for professional advice. Whilst the information is considered to be true and correct at the date of publication, changes in circumstances after the time of publication may impact upon the accuracy of the information.
