Selecting the right domain name is a very important decision for any new business owner. A good choice or a bad choice can mean the difference between countless amounts of lost earning potential.
Equally important is the domain name extension you choose. You can go with the standard .com option, or venture off course to something more unique like .org or .biz. That brings us to the very Canadian .ca domain name, a favourite of many local business owners.
Although a .ca domain name can have many benefits, it’s often not clear to the average Canadian business owner what those are. Afterall, how much could it matter really?
Here are the Top 6 Reasons a .ca domain name is a good idea for your Canadian business, and why you may want to strongly consider it as your first choice.
1. Show your proudly Canadian – This sounds overly simplistic, but customers tend to support local businesses first. A .ca domain name shows your loyalty and patriotism. Being in touch with your customer’s identity is important, so even smaller details can have influence. Especially in an age of intense political drama, showing your “allegiance” will not go unnoticed.
2. No misinterpretations of where you are located – When you see a .com website, it’s not instantly obvious where that business is located. A .com domain name could refer to literally any place on the planet. It should also be noted that there are several cities in the world with the same name. When customers do a Google search, they want to know right away they’ve found the option closest to them. A .ca domain name cuts through the clutter much quicker.
3. Can improve SEO rankings for local searches – This may come as a surprise to many, but a .ca domain name can actually help your local SEO rankings. When someone does a Google search, the search engine’s goal is to return the most accurate data possible. A .ca domain name helps narrow it down, whether it’s for local or organic results. A .ca domain name can often provide an SEO boost a .com name does not.
4. Proceeds from your purchase support Canada – Whenever you buy a .ca domain name, funds are reinvested into the Canadian internet community. This is known as CIRA’s Net Good Program, which supports infrastructure, digital literacy programs, and non-profit organizations. If you claim to “support Canadian businesses first” this is an easy way to put your money where your mouth is.
5. Better brand protection and security – Bottom line, using a .ca domain name highly reduces the chances of someone else trying to steal it later. When you choose a .com name, you are literally competing against every other person in the world interested in that same choice. A .ca domain name limits the demand to the Canadian market only. This discourages the interest of those wanting to purchase expired domain names, and sell them back to the owner at marked-up prices.
6. Trust factor and credibility – Using a .ca domain name increases the trust factor and overall credibility of your website. New customers are far less likely to doubt the legitimacy of your business if they see the .ca name extension first. Scam websites exist everywhere nowadays, although they can appear very real. Registering a Canadian domain name adheres to stricter government rules and restrictions, where they will verify your residency in greater detail.
If you’re looking to register a domain name, or are in the need of full-scale web design services, visit us at advancewebsolutions.ca for more information. Or feel free to send us a message with any questions or inquiries you may have. We always look forward to hearing from you!
