Domain Name

If you do not already own a domain name, this is one of the very first things to consider when starting your new website project.

Buying A Domain Name

To buy a domain name, you will need to use a domain name registrar. Although there are lots of domain registrars out there that you can use, below are my two recommended ones:

GoDaddy

If you want a .com.au domain name, I recommend GoDaddy – https://au.godaddy.com/.

NameCheap

For .com or other types of domain names (.net, .org, etc) I recommend Namecheap – https://www.namecheap.com/.

NameCheap also provides domain privacy for free, where the majority of other domain registrars charge for this. Domain privacy is handy, as it hides your contact details which reduces the amount of spam you receive.

Be aware that you cannot get domain privacy for Australian country code top-level domain (TLD) being .com.au or .au domain names.

Domain Name Availability

Although you may have the perfect domain name in mind for your business, you will need to check whether it is actually available to purchase!

You can use either the GoDaddy or Namecheap websites to check whether your desired domain name is available or not. There is a search function on the main page of each website where you can type in the domain name and it will advise its availability and price to register.

Once you start your search, you may find that some domain names may be available to purchase, but are classed as premium domains, where the initial registration price could be in the thousands of dollars.

It is up to you whether you think it is worth paying the increased cost to secure the domain name. If you do buy a premium domain name, the annual registration fee will revert back to the normal price when it renews.

Choosing A Good Domain Name

Here are some extra tips to help choose a great domain name:

  • Make sure it is not too long and simple to remember.
  • Avoid using numbers if you can as it can cause confusion.
  • Don’t use hyphens as it makes it harder for customers to remember plus it looks less professional.
  • Check social media availability, such as facebook and instagram usernames, plus twitter handles.
  • If you are choosing a .com.au domain, but see your business expanding internationally in the next few years, it’s a good idea to check the availability of the .com as well. You will need to make a decision on whether to buy both or risk potentially losing it to someone else.
  • If you choose a .com domain, you may still want to check whether the .com.au is available. As not as many people are able to register a .com.au domain, these are usually available, however not in all instances. Once again, you will need to make a decision on whether to buy both or risk losing it to someone else.
  • Trademarks can throw a spanner in the works as even though a domain name might be available, it may be protected by Trademark(s). Check your domain name at IP Australia to see if there might be any potential issues.

Registering Your Domain Name

Once you have found the perfect domain name, create an account with the domain registrar. We recommend creating the account using your new business gmail account to keep your business accounts separate from your personal ones.

After creating your account, go ahead and make your purchase. As your domain name is considered a business asset, we recommend you purchase your domain name directly so you have full control of it.

Renewal & Fees

Also, it’s good to remember that once you buy a domain name, you don’t actually “own” it in the normal sense. Think of it as leasing.

As long as you continue to pay the registrar fee, you maintain control of the domain name and can do what you want with it. You can also choose to transfer it to another domain registrar if required.

If for some reason you fail pay the required registration fees, the domain will eventually go “back into the pool” and be made publicly available for re-purchase. Once this happens you lose all control over the domain name.

To avoid any disasters, it’s recommended to set up auto renew for your domain and keep your credit card details up to date! Your domain registrar should also send you reminder notices leading up to the renewal date, so make sure you use an email that you check regularly when setting up your account.

Legal Aspects

To purchase a .com.au domain name, you will require an ABN or ACN. The .com.au domains also require an initial minimum 2 year registration period when you first purchase.

Note: For .com.au domains, if your domain name doesn’t include your personal name, then you may need to have it registered as a business name / trading name. It is recommended to speak with your accountant about what you need to do for your particular circumstances.

To Do List

  • Once you have completed the above steps, please provide the email and password to the domain registrar account as access will be needed to complete the domain mapping process.
  • Once everything has been set up and the website project has been handed over, the account password can be changed if you feel the need to.