.au direct domains will finally be open for public registration starting 4 October 2022 8AM (AEDT). This means all unallocated names will be up for grabs to everyone with an Australian presence at the same time.
Secure first dibs on your business’s domain name by pre-registering your ideal .au domain now. The pre-registration starts on 21 September 2022 up to 3 October 2022 — a day before the public release.
How is it different from the Priority Allocation Period?
The Priority Allocation Period — which ran from 24 March to 20 September 2022 — allowed existing .au family domain name owners to register their exact match .au direct name before anyone else does. Only top-level domains with .com.au, .org.au, net.au, etc., were eligible for this allocation period.
Since the Priority Allocation Period has now ended, anyone can now pre-register their ideal .au domain name starting today to secure it once it is released on 4 October.
Why a .au Domain is the Best Choice for Your Local Business
An effective online presence starts with a trusted domain.
A .au domain is a country code top-level domain (ccTLD) specific to Australia — like how .id is for Indonesia, .sg for Singapore, etc.
Top-level domains like .com or .net domains are globally recognised, but a .au extension helps you attract local markets. Recent statistics show that over 92% of Australians link .com.au with local business — more so if it’s the latest .au direct domain.
Besides being a leading and dependable name among the Aussie market, there are also other benefits to using a .au domain name.
It’s a stamp of credibility and trust
Did you know that 96% of Australian consumers are more likely to support Australian businesses? This is because people within the locale only trust brands registered to Australian Consumer Law’s (ACL) tight quality and safety standards.
A .au domain is your authenticity stamp. No business can secure the domain unless they meet the Australian Domain Name Authority’s (auDA) criteria. This increases your brand’s credibility within the local market and to the rest of the world.
It lands you on top of local searches
Search engines like Google are meticulous when it comes to placing websites at the top of search results. They have a set of factors that help them filter the most relevant answers. One of them is location.
A .au domain conveys information to search engines about your business address. This means you’ll be among the top picks for local searches about your products and services. It increases your visibility and improves your search engine ranking.
Recommended: 7 Ways to Optimise Your Website for Local Search
It’s readily available
Top-level domains such as .com and .org are constantly in demand and difficult to secure. You can always resort to back-ordering the domain you want. But you’ll have to wait for an uncertain amount of time before it becomes available. Worse, you might compromise with a domain that’s not a perfect fit for your brand.
A .au domain avoids this problem. There are currently around three million .au domains registered. It may sound like a lot, but that’s less than 1% of all registered domain names — giving you a better chance of registering the domain you want.
It’s unique, concise, and memorable
It’s getting more and more challenging to stand out online. Give people a reason to choose and remember your business with a .au domain.
It helps you stand out as a trusted Australian brand, raising your credibility within the country and abroad.
It’s also shorter and easier to remember. For example, you no longer need to register your au-based web design agency as webdesignaustralia.com. Instead, go for a shorter and more memorable domain like webdesign.au.
It protects your brand from malicious entities
Business is cutthroat competition. Other agencies could upstage your brand by claiming a similar domain. This can mislead your customers and potential clients.
Malicious entities can also infringe your brand by using your exact match .au domain for scams, fraud, and crime. This bad rap can put off potential buyers and affect your bottom line.
Register your domain’s .au counterpart so you can prevent others from using it to malign your business.
Recommended: How Does a Domain Name Help You and Your Brand?
Pre-register Your Ideal .au Domain Now
Domains are crucial in building up your internet presence. Getting the appropriate one can make or break your business’s success. Establish a strong online presence by registering a short, simple, and secure domain name with .au direct.
Make the first move, avoid the hassle, and set a reservation. Get ahead of your competition. Pre-register your ideal .au domain and get more chances of securing it before the public release.
