{"id":13862,"date":"2021-11-04T04:30:02","date_gmt":"2021-11-03T20:30:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.crazydomains.com\/learn\/?p=13852"},"modified":"2022-07-21T10:53:35","modified_gmt":"2022-07-21T02:53:35","slug":"au-direct-vs-current-au-family","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.crazydomains.com.au\/learn\/au-direct-vs-current-au-family\/","title":{"rendered":".AU Direct vs Current .AU Family"},"content":{"rendered":"

Think of your business domain name as the physical location of your store. If customers cannot find their way to your store, you will not generate any revenue. Similarly, if your business is in a sketchy part of town, people won\u2019t feel confident in availing of your offerings.<\/p>\n

The domain name that you choose for your business website represents its digital identity. It not only helps clients locate your business but also establishes trust in your brand. Thus, it\u2019s crucial to choose a domain name that\u2019s both accessible and credible.<\/p>\n

There are common concerns around domain naming that arise at the time of registration. One is whether you stick to the current .au family or go for the .au direct. Let\u2019s address this concern.<\/p>\n

What is .au<\/a>?<\/h3>\n

\"au<\/p>\n

The internet is divided into several domain names and domain extensions, with the country code top-level domain (ccTLD) explicitly reserved for countries or sovereign states. In this context, the .au corresponds to the ccTLD of Australia and was first created in 1986.<\/p>\n

The registration and domain name policy for .au is managed and monitored by a not-for-profit organisation and industry self-regulatory body, .au Domain Administration (auDA). And recently, they announced the launching of .au direct domains on 24 March 2022<\/a>.<\/p>\n

It will not affect the existing .au domains. Instead, it will give organizations and individuals a new way to expand their brand online.<\/p>\n

READ:\u00a0<\/span><\/span>.au\u00a0<\/span>Domains Are Coming Soon: What Does This Mean for<\/span>\u00a0You?<\/span><\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Current .au Family vs .au <\/a>Direct Domain<\/h3>\n

\"Aussie<\/p>\n

The current .au namespaces only allow specific entities to register.<\/p>\n

Although the .au domain is reserved for Australia, there was a need for a more granular domain allocation to indicate the purpose of websites clearly. As a result, second-level domains (2LDs) were created for all Australian states and territories.<\/p>\n

The open (accessible to the public) 2LDs include:<\/p>\n