How to Register a Local Canadian Domain Name .CA for Your Business

Table of Content

Tips for Getting a Local Canadian Domain Name
Understand the Requirements
Choose a Domain Name that Aligns with Your Business
Register the Domain Name Before Someone Beats You to It
Use Your Domain for Marketing
Why You Shouldn’t Ignore the .CA Domain Name?
Final Thoughts


Many Canadians prefer buying locally or using local services. If you want to establish a strong online presence in the Canadian market, you should opt for a local Canadian domain name .ca for your business. A .ca can establish your company as a trusted and credible entity in the Canadian market.

Acquiring a .ca domain is not an easy feat. The individual or business entity must meet certain requirements to be eligible for this local domain. In this article, we will provide some helpful tips that will help you get a local Canadian domain extension for your business.

Tips for Getting a Local Canadian Domain Name

Understand the requirements

Before you start the process of acquiring a .ca domain extension, it is important to ensure that you are eligible for one. To register a .ca domain, you must meet the Canadian Presence Requirements (CPR). This means that you must either be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada, a legally recognized Canadian organization, or have a registered Canadian trademark.

If you don't have a Canadian residence, you can opt to register a trademark in order to comply with these .ca requirements. There are also some conditions to be met between the trademark and the domain name when requesting a trademark for a .ca domain, but you can get in touch with Nominus' experts to better understand it and request and register a Canadian trademark.

Choose a domain name that aligns with your business

Once you have determined that you can get a .ca domain extension, the next step is to choose a domain name that represents your business accurately. Choose a domain name that is easy to remember and spell because it will allow your customers to keep it in mind and access your website easily.

You can check the availability of domain names here. Type the domain name you want to get and click ‘Search’. If the domain name is available, the search will show it. You can also check out the price of the domain here.
 

Register the domain name before someone beats you to it

After choosing the desired domain name, the next step is to register it. This generally involves entering the contact information, providing proof of eligibility, and completing the payment process. Double-check all the information before completing the registration to ensure there are no mistakes, and you register the right domain name.
 

Use your domain for marketing

Once you have acquired the .ca domain extension, you can use it in your marketing efforts to establish your brand and drive traffic to your website. Make sure to include your domain name in your business cards, email messages, flyers, and other marketing materials. 
 

Why You Shouldn’t Ignore the .CA Domain Name?

Provides Canadian identification

.ca is the only domain extension identifying your entity as a Canadian business. It is an invaluable asset because Canadians trust local businesses, and they are more likely to buy from them and use their services. If you are operating in Canada and don’t have a .ca business, consumers might not trust you even if your website says you are in Canada. You must have a .ca extension to show that you operate in the country.

Increases traffic

A .ca domain extension can help increase traffic to your website from Canadian customers. The reason is that customers searching for businesses in Canada are more likely to click on websites with a .ca domain extension, as they indicate a local presence.

Improves local SEO

A country-specific domain also provides local search engine optimization (SEO) benefits to your business. For instance, a .ca domain will increase your chances of ranking for specific keywords on Google Canada. That could prove to be a game changer for your business. It can drastically improve your local search engine ranking and increase your chances of popping up in local search results. 

Protects your brand

By registering a .ca domain extension, you can protect your brand from being used by others in Canada. This can help prevent trademark infringement and shelter your entity from potential legal issues.

Enhances credibility

A .ca domain extension can enhance the credibility of your business in Canada. Customers are more likely to trust businesses with a local presence, as they perceive them as more reliable and legitimate.

Over 60 percent of Canadians say that they would prefer shopping at a .ca website. Moreover, Canada is respected and has a strong regulatory framework. A .ca website is internationally recognized as a Canadian symbol for entities.

Final Thoughts

In a nutshell, if you wish to increase your credibility among Canadians and increase your chance of selling your products and services in Canada, get a local Canadian domain extension .ca for your business.

We have explained the process of registering a .ca domain name and the requirements you must meet to be eligible for it. If you are looking for a registrar to help you register a .ca domain name, Nominus is a great choice. With every domain name you get from us, you will receive email forwarding, web redirection, and Anycast DNS server free. With email forwarding, you can forward your email messages to an existing email account. Web redirection allows you to redirect your domain to a website of your choosing. Anycast DNS servers improve uptime, reduce lag, and increase protection against DDoS attacks.

The minimum registration term for .ca domain extensions is 1 year. You will get a discount if you register the domain for five years or more. In case you have any questions about domain registration in Canada, get in touch with the experts at Nominus and they will guide you further.