Why should I register the same domain name with multiple extensions?

Paul Middleton

— 2 min read
Why should I register the same domain name with multiple extensions?
Photo by Clay Banks / Unsplash

Registering the same domain name with multiple extensions like .com.au, .au, .com, .co, etc., is often a strategic decision for businesses and individuals aiming to protect their brand, enhance online visibility, and prevent potential issues.

Here's 8 reasons why this might work for you.

1. Protect Your Brand

Prevent Cybersquatting:
By securing multiple extensions, you prevent others from registering variations of your domain (e.g., yourdomain.com.au, yourdomain.net.au, yourdomain.au) and potentially benefitting from your brand awareness and marketing efforts.

Avoid Reputation Risks:
Someone else owning a similar domain with a different extension could damage your brand by misusing or misrepresenting it.

2. Local Relevance and Trust

Appeal to Local Audiences:
Registering your domain name in a local ccTLD (ending .au) immediately signals that your website is specific (or tailored) to Australia, making it more appealing to local users.

Build Trust:
People tend to trust websites with local ccTLDs because they associate them with entities operating within their country and subject to local regulations.

All domain names ending .au are subject to strict eligibility criteria that mean the registering entity must have a legal presence in Australia.

3. Improved Local SEO

Boost Search Rankings:
Search engines like Google often prioritize local ccTLDs in country-specific search results. For example, a domain name ending .au is more likely to rank higher for users searching within Australia.

Localized Marketing:
A ccTLD helps you target marketing efforts to users in a specific geographic area.

Redirect Traffic:
Users sometimes mistakenly type the wrong extension. Owning these variations allows you to redirect visitors and consolidate traffic on your primary domain name.

4. Branding and Identity

Geographic Branding:
A ccTLD like .au reinforces your commitment to serving Australia, whilst a non-geographic extension like .com indicates that you have global aspirations.

Cultural Alignment:
A .au domain name shows that your brand understands and caters to local preferences, customs, or languages.

5. Access to Regional Markets

Market Penetration:
For businesses expanding internationally, using different ccTLD can help you establish a stronger presence in specific markets.

Regulatory Compliance:
In some countries, certain business operations may require using a local domain to comply with local regulations.

6. Protect Your Brand

Regional Exclusivity:
Owning one or more ccTLD domain names prevents competitors from establishing a presence with your brand in a specific country.

7. Resilience Against Geopolitical Barriers

Regional Internet Policies:
In some regions, local users may prefer or even be required to use ccTLDs for government or institutional access. Having a ccTLD ensures you align with these policies.

Avoid Legal Disputes:
Owning multiple extensions ensures others cannot legally exploit your brand or domain name.

auDA has changed the rules so that there is no longer a 'hierarchy of rights' for domain name registration (source: Domain Name Eligibility and Allocation Policy Rules for the Open 2LDs (2012-04), section 3.3).

Changes to the rules around domain monetisation mean that purchasing domains to resell (at a profit) is increasingly popular.

Questions? Drop us an email if you have any questions on the content above or just wanna say "hi" 👋

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