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Should You Own Multiple Domain Names?
Domain companies would love each of us to by 10 domains but the reality is we are wasting our money buying more than one possibly two. Don’t get fooled; here are the facts.
Though the companies that sell domain names would have you believe that it is essential for you to own multiple domain names for your business it is likely to be a complete waste of your money.
The argument for buying multiple domains is to stop other companies from getting a name like your name. While this may have been an interesting idea, reality is that most people will type in the name that you advertise.
This being the case, if you advertise www.yourcompanyname.com.au it is unlikely to be any benefit to you owning www.yourcompanyname.info or www.yourcompanyname.net.au. After all why would people suddenly use that name.
If you have a product that you are marketing here in Australia, if at all possible secure the domain name with a .com.au ending. This is the most commonly recognised domain name within Australia. If someone was unsure of your domain name it is most likely the ending they will put after your name.
Having said that, they are increasingly difficult to achieve and that is why there are so many combinations of names. This includes .biz or .info and a number of other so combinations. If your primary marketing is via search engines then this is fine, however if it is traditional marketing means, then try to get the .com.au if gives people confidence in your business being an Australian company.
Many “junket” websites by the “alternative” ending domains simply because they save some money when purchasing them. Like most people, I am always cautious, even a little skeptical, of such domains and will always chose a .com.au where I know they have a registered Australian business name and ABN. I immediately know they have been through a checking process because you can’t buy a .com.au name within a registered business name and ABN.
The people who are selling domains names will tell you stories about how buying many domains protects you and is better for your business, reality is that it is better for their commissions and their business. I would suggest putting your money into where if can make you money – a good website.
Warning
Don’t work with or believe web development companies who try to sell you multiple domain names with the intention of setting them all up to point to your website. This is specifically stated by Google as one of the areas that they do not consider acceptable within the terms and conditions of using Google – in plain and simple English, you can end up getting your website banned from Google.
