What is a domain name?

A domain name is the address on the internet where your website lives. A domain name always includes an extension, such as .com or .com.au. Below are some examples of domain names – the extensions have been underlined:

headjam.com.au
google.com
bbc.co.uk

A domain name makes up part of the URL (Uniform Resource Locator, also known as web address) a user will see when browsing a website. For example, the URL below will take users to the the “Contact Us” page on Headjam's website. The domain name within the URL is underlined. http://www.headjam.com.au/contact-us

A domain name is just an address – nothing more, nothing less. It is a way of directing users to a web host – a specific section of the internet that contains your website and its content.

What is a good Domain Name?

A good domain name should contain the name of your business or organisation. It must be at least three characters, while ideally still being short and easily remembered.

Common extensions – such as .COM.AU, or just .COM – should be preferred over cheaper, more obscure extensions. For example, example.com.au would be preferable to example.ind.in, even though both are valid domain names.

Can my website have more than one domain name?

Yes. You can have multiple domains that all take a user to your website.

Is .COM.AU better than .COM?

Country-specific domains, such as those ending in .COM.AU, are good for targeting users in within that country as they can rank higher in search engines. However, if you're targeting a global audience, a .COM might be preferable.

You are able to have more than one domain name associated with a website, so you can purchase both the .COM and .COM.AU versions of your domain name if they are available.