What you need to know about registering a domain for your business
A domain name is your business address online. Without it, people won’t be able to find your website and buy what you have to offer.
So once you decide on your business name, find the perfect domain for it, and you have a registrar lined up, it’s time to register your domain.
What is "domain registration?"
‘Registering a domain’ sounds very grown-up, as if it’s a serious, official, lengthy process. But really, it’s as simple as choosing a domain name you like, providing some basic contact information, and paying for it online. Not that different from online shopping.
So… why do we keep saying ‘register?’ Isn’t it just buying and owning a domain for your business? Not exactly.
Domain names are not ‘owned’ in the usual sense — they are not a one-off purchase, they are registered for a certain period of time and renewed. While your domain is registered, it is exclusively yours to use for your website, email or application.
Think about it like an annual software license or a streaming subscription — while you have it, the possibilities are endless. The only difference is that a domain name enables endless possibilities for your business, while streaming takes away hours you could spend doing business. We are joking, having both your streaming subscription AND your domain name is the best.
Did you know?
There are many domain name extensions, or top-level domains (TLDs) you can register.
- Two-character ones are country code top-level domains or ccTLDs. Aotearoa New Zealand ccTLD is .nz.
- Generic top-level domains or gTLDs can have 3 or more characters. Usually they are pretty descriptive: .kiwi signals ‘New Zealand,’ .store says ‘shopping.’
What do you need to know if you register a domain in New Zealand
There are no set rules for registering a domain name as a Kiwi — it really depends on the policies for the domain name extension (TLD) you choose.
Usually, you find a registrar (also called a domain name provider) and register your domain of choice. You must provide accurate contact details and an email address. Keeping access to this mailbox is crucial because all renewal notices and important emails regarding your domain name will come to it. Then, there are specific requirements for each TLD — your registrar will let you know if you need to comply with any additional rules.
While there are many TLDs to choose from, .nz domains are the most popular choice for New Zealand-owned and operated businesses. Seventy percent of businesses that have a domain name choose the .nz option. Second in popularity is .com — 30 % of businesses that have a domain name choose it.
So, if you are a proud Kiwi starting a business in Aotearoa New Zealand, here’s what you need to know about our national ccTLD specifics:
- .nz domains are registered on a first-in-first-served basis.
- You don’t need to prove you are in New Zealand to have it.
- The most popular option is .co.nz (think trademe.co.nz) - that’s about 70% of all .nz domains. 20% are .nz domains (like one.nz). Whether to go with a longer or shorter option is truly your choice — they are equally reliable because they are a part of the same TLD.
We registered both jumpstarter.co.nz and jumpstarter.nz to protect our brand, and we like both domains equally:). - Over 70% of New Zealand businesses and 67% of consumers feel that .nz is more trustworthy than other domain names.
- 76% of consumers in the country look for domains that end with .nz when searching online.
- .nz TLD supports te reo Māori, so you can have domain names with macrons.
Do I need a privacy addon for my domain name?
What is a ‘Privacy option/addon’ that is often offered with a domain name registration? Information about a domain name holder — such as their name, address, contact details, registrar, and more — is called WHOIS information and is available online via WHOIS search services. A privacy option/addon allows you to hide contact details and addresses from WHOIS search results.
However, different TLDs have different rules about privacy. For example, .nz rules allow privacy option only for individuals who are not in ‘significant trade.’ It means that if you use your .nz domain name for business, you can’t apply privacy to your contact details. On the bright side, you can save money on the privacy addon when registering your domain.
WHOIS search for all .nz domains is available on the Domain Name Commission website.
If you don’t renew it, you lose it
If you let your domain name expire, your associated website and email will stop working. There’s usually a brief period to restore a domain name after the expiration date. Your registrar will be able to assist you with this process. Don’t wait too long, though, or your domain will eventually become available for anyone to register.
A good reminder to renew in time
A respected dog breeder, Olga spent years building her reputation, network, and kennel’s brand. For years, she used her website to publish news and announce litters, so everyone who wanted a puppy from her kennel knew where to go. Until the domain name failed to renew. Olga ignored a few renewal reminder emails from her registrar, thinking she had time to renew later, and then it was too late. The domain got released and immediately registered by a cybersquatter who put up a webpage with dodgy puppy mill ads. The squatter offered to sell the domain back to Olga for a hefty five thousand dollars fee. She refused to do it and had to find a new domain name and rebuild her online presence.
Action point
Set up a calendar reminder to renew your domain 3 months before the expiration date. If your registrar allows auto-renewals, consider turning it on for your domain name for your peace of mind.
Can you register a domain for free?
You know what they say about free cheese and mousetraps, do you? So if someone offers you a free domain name, it’s a good idea to do some research before grabbing it and using it for your business. A few things to consider are:
- Do your customers know and trust the domain extension/TLD that is being given away for free?
- Are there many similar businesses in New Zealand using the same extension?
- Will you be recognised as the official domain name holder, or will it be in the name of someone else?
- What about the reputation of the freebie TLD? Were there any controversial stories, security breaches, or data leaks associated with it? Five minutes in your favourite search engine may save you a massive headache later.
Does it sound like an overkill to you? After all, it’s just a free domain, right? Well, we believe that a domain name is a key digital asset for your business, and we’d hate for you to invest in your brand, advertisement, and marketing just to have to change a domain name later — because a free one was a piece of cheese in a mousetrap.
