The au Domain Administration, or auDA, launched .au direct domains on 24 March 2022. This new launch brings new and exciting things to the table to help individuals, businesses, and organisations establish a well-built online presence.
A .au direct domain can give you a shorter and more memorable domain. But only organisations, local businesses, and individuals with a local association in Australia can register for a .au direct domain.
As one of the most trusted IT support providers in Australia, we highly encourage you to reserve your domain equivalent as soon as possible.
So if you own an Australian domain under a .au extension (e.g., com.au, gov.au, org.au, edu.au etc.), you can have first dibs on any .au equivalent top-level domains.
Reasons why you should register your .au direct domain before 20 September
Everyone with an Australian presence or connection to Australia can register for a .au direct domain. This rule includes people with a permanent Australian residency or businesses legally registered to operate in Australia.
Businesses and individuals who own second-level .au domain names are automatically eligible for a Priority Status. So, there’s no need to fight against the other buyers of the same domain.
But even if that’s the case, you should register your desired .au direct domains ahead of time. This advantage gives you a higher chance of getting the best .au domain matches and other variations.
.au direct domains will be open for everyone by 20 September 2022. So, ensure you register your matching .au domain before the deadline if you don't want someone else to snatch it.
It is a quick and low-cost process with easy-to-follow licensing rules that will benefit your business greatly. Here’s how it helps your business:
Protect your brand
If you already have a second-level domain (e.g., com.au and net.au), getting the exact .au domain is best to secure consistency in your online branding. So, all traffic and searches for your brand will go straight to your domain.
Failure to do so leaves your brand vulnerable to other entities and cybercriminals ready to use it for evil purposes.
Inexpensive
You can only register .au direct domains on auDA accredited registrars.
Prices may vary for every registrar, so look around other sources to get the best deals.
Boost your online presence
When customers easily remember your domain, they can find you quickly online. And this indirectly boosts your online presence, making you rank higher on search engines like Google.
Instead of having your customers type out yourbusinessname.com.au, you can use a shorter version like yourbusinessname.au and redirect it to your existing domain address.
So, you no longer need to create a new website with your newly acquired .au direct domain.
Steps to register your .au Direct Domain
Businesses and individuals with an Australian presence are qualified to register for a .au direct domain on any participating auDA accredited registrars. You must be a permanent Australian resident, a registered business/organisation, or an establishment with an Australian business number (ABN).
If you own an existing au domain (e.g., com.au, gov.au, org.au, edu.au etc.), you can sign up in the Priority Allocation Process from 24 March to 20 September 2022.
If you don’t register your equivalent .au direct domain within that timeframe, it will be available to the general public starting on 21 September 2022. Anyone from that date onwards can purchase your .au equivalent domain for various reasons other than good.
Wondering how you can claim your .au direct domain? Follow this easy step-by-step guide:
- Register your preferred .au direct domain before the 20 September deadline through one of auDA’s many accredited registrars.
If you don’t register your .au direct domain beforehand, it will be publicly available for sale on 21 September. - Guarantee that you are qualified to sign up for a .au direct domain. They will check your qualifications once you apply for an equivalent .au direct domain.
- Make sure to acquire a priority token to get your application approved.
You will have to enter details such as domain and requestor name to register for priority status. But note that only domains licensed before 24 March 2022 can join the priority token application process. - Once approved, you can register your .au direct domain and use it shortly after with no issues.
Get expert help from OSIT.
Need help acquiring your .au equivalent domain?
Office Solutions IT can help you with that. Start here!
We can do all the hard work for you, from the pre-registration process to successfully securing your .au direct domain name. We can also tackle domain issues, which typically include rights disputes and brand protection. I guess it's safe to say that we offer a very well-rounded IT support service.
Take this opportunity to secure your .au name and protect your brand online from opportunistic cyber criminals and many others.
