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How to Register a .AU Domain Name: A Quick Guide


Table of Content

1. Why Choose a .AU Domain?
2. Choosing a Domain Name
3. Types of .AU Domain Names
4. Requirements for Registering a .AU, .COM.AU, or a .NET.AU Domain Name
5. Steps to Register a .AU, .COM.AU, or a .NET.AU Domain Name
6. FAQ: .AU Domain Registration
7. Post-registration Considerations
Conclusion


Do you run an Australian business and want to create a website with a .au domain name for it? There are over four million websites with a .au domain, and these sites receive around three billion search traffic queries daily. Using this type of domain name can help you advertise and represent your brand.

A .au domain name indicates a connection between your business or organization and Australia. Moreover, it allows your target audience from across the globe to connect to your sites and email services. Continue reading to know more about .au domain names and the domain registration process.


1. Why Choose a .AU Domain?

There are several advantages of using a .au domain name over other domain extensions.


Improve Australian online presence

Search engines consider location when giving search engine results page (SERP) rankings. By using a local Australian domain, you give these programs vital data about your business address. Thus, your site is more likely to get a good search ranking, especially when it comes to local search queries. This translates to higher online traffic, leads, and conversion rates.


Boost credibility

Around 96% of Australian consumers prefer locally produced or sourced products and services. This is not only because of nationalism but also the established brand credibility of Australian-manufactured merchandise. Using a site with a .au domain name means that you have met the .au Domain Administration (auDA) criteria. It will help make your brand trustworthy and allow you to penetrate even larger markets.


Enhance security

Phishing, fraud, scams, and other forms of malicious activities are rampant in the online space. This is especially true in the United States where the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) reports around 2,000 complaints a day. If you want to target U.S.-based clientele, using an Australia domain name is a good start. A .au domain registration demands strict requirements and validation protocols. Hence, there’s a significantly lower chance of data or security compromise.


2. Choosing a Domain Name

Here are a few tips on how to choose a domain name for your Australian website.
 

Use your business name as your domain name

If you’re already operating a company, use its name as your site’s domain name. This will not only help you establish brand consistency but will also prevent you from falling victim to cybersquatters and illicit, anti-competitive practices. You can rest assured that your business name remains secure and under your full control. 
 

Ensure the availability of your domain name

It’s frustrating to go through the .au domain name registration process only to find out that your chosen domain name isn’t available anymore. Make sure that your chosen domain name is still available and that you haven’t violated any trademark laws by first going through the Australian Business Name (ABN) registry. 
 

Optimize your domain name: Keep it brief and accurate

Adult internet users only have around an eight-second attention span. Moreover, they want website names that are easy to remember and type in the search or address bar. To accommodate these preferences, make your domain name short and simple.

It’s enough that it bears the main name of your company or brand. You can put the rest of the details on your landing page or other sections of your website. It is sufficient for the primary name of your company or brand to be prominently featured. Additional details can be effectively presented on your landing page or within other sections of your website.

 

3.Types of .AU Domain Names

If you’re looking for domain extension Australia options, these are six types of open .au extensions or namespaces you can use depending on the nature of your organization. 

  • .com.au: Commonly used by commercial entities or organizations. Companies with an Australian Company Number (ACN) an Australian Business Number (ABN) or a trademark filed in Australia.

  • .au: A shorter and newer alternative to .com.au. You may find your desired domain name is more likely to be available under the .au extension.

  • .net.au: Used by Commercial entities (historically only ISPs, but the use has been broadened.

  • .org.au: A namespace or extension used by accredited non-profit and charity institutions.

  • .asn.au: Used by corporations and other incorporated associations. It’s also the namespace for sports groups, political parties, and trade or labor unions.  

  • .id.au: Used by websites owned by either Australian residents or citizens.

 

4. Requirements for Registering a .AU, .COM.AU , or a .NET.AU Domain Name

Here are the Australian domain requirements and a quick guide if you’re planning to register .au domain names. 

  1. The registrant must hold an active ABN, ACN or a trademark filed in Australia that exactly matches the domain name.

  2. If the evidence is based on an ABN or ACN then it must be a match, acronym or abbreviation of the name of the holder; or a match of the name of products, services, events, programs, premises or activities associated with the domain name holder.

  3. If the evidence is based on a trademark, the domain name you use must be an exact match of a registered or pending Australian trademark application. If you haven’t registered your trademark yet, you should file a trademark application. We at Nominus can file it for you. Just go to our Australia Trademark Registration page, click on “Trademark Application Filing”, then in the order form, select “Word Mark”, enter your desired trademark, select class 38, and type “For .au domain registration” in the “list the goods or services” textbox.
     

5. Steps to Register a .AU, .COM.AU, or a .NET.AU Domain Name

Once you have the perfect domain name and the requirements, it’s time for your .au domain registration. Here are the steps you need to follow:

  1. Choose a registrar: When choosing a registrar for your .au domain registration needs, it's crucial to select a trustworthy provider. Nominus.com offers expert guidance throughout the entire process and is one of the best choices available.

  2. Verify the accessibility of your desired domain name: Keep in mind that if your preferred name is already claimed under .com.au, you might still be able to register it under .au or .net.au. After identifying the ideal name, proceed with acquiring your .au domain.

  3. Choose your DNS (Domain Name System) servers: By configuring your DNS servers ahead of time, you ensure smooth accessibility for visitors to reach your website effortlessly once registered.

  4. Complete the registration request payment: Nominus.com accepts Visa, Mastercard and AMEX credit cards, and also PayPal.

  5. Verification of Requirements: This includes sending your ABN, ACN or Australian Trademark number. The registrar will carefully review and verify the validity and active status of your submitted documents. This step ensures that all necessary requirements are met before proceeding with the registration process.

  6. AUDA reviews your complete Application: The .au Domain Administration will review and approve your domain name registration request. Once approved, you can start using your .au domain name for your business.



6. FAQ: .AU Domain Registration

Provided below are some of the most frequently asked questions about .au domain registration.


What kind of characters does a .au extension support?

All alphanumeric characters are supported. Hyphens are supported too. However, hyphens cannot appear at the beginning, end, or third and fourth position of the domain name. Moreover, you cannot use IDN characters since the .au registry currently does not support them.


Is there a character number limit for domain names?

Yes. The minimum is two characters, and the maximum is 63.


When can I start using my .au domain name?

You can start using your .au domain name as soon as it becomes “Registered” in your account. Most domain extensions are registered in just a few minutes. However, some of them can take more than a day to be processed. 


What is the minimum registration term?

A .au extension has a one-year minimum registration term.

 

7. Post-registration Considerations

There are some factors you need to consider after registering your Australian Domain Name


Domain management

Proper domain management will allow your website to deliver optimum performance and functionality. If you transfer domain name administration to Nominus, we can provide free email forwarding, DNS admin, Web redirect and use of DNS servers.


Domain name renewal

To avoid losing your domain, you must renew it before the expiration date. Nominus also provides domain renewal services. Our system can even automatically renew your domain so that you won’t have to keep track of the expiration date.


Conclusion

From improving local online presence to enhancing security, there are many reasons why you should get a .au domain name. By choosing the right domain name and type, submitting the essential requirements, and partnering with the right .au registrar, you can quickly register your preferred .au domain name. 

Consider Nominus.com when registering your .au domain name. Consider Nominus.com to register your .au domain name and learn more about our services.