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The Benefit of Using Country Code TLD for your Business Website

Oct 25, 2022

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When building a business website, it is essential to choose a domain name that best represents your brand. Part of this is selecting the perfect domain extension, whether that’s a country code top-level domain (ccTLD) or a generic top-level domain (gTLD).

While gTLDs are not limited to any geographic location or criteria, a ccTLD is used to represent a certain country based on its ISO code.

For example, IPS uses the .net gTLD, derived from the word “network.” Meanwhile, Rakuten uses a .jp ccTLD, which refers to Japan's country code. You can check the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) database to see the official list of all TLDs.

Although a gTLD like .com and .net is popular among business owners, a ccTLD can be a great option for businesses as it also comes with many advantages. In this article, we’ll explain the benefits of using a ccTLD in detail. Let’s begin!

1. Target Local Traffic


By using a ccTLD, you can target customers from your area and generate local traffic – even if you run an international business. That’s because search engines often generate different results based on the user's IP address, helping them to get the most relevant answers to their queries.

For example, if you have a business in the United States and want to attract local customers, use the .us domain for your site. This will help your business become more recognizable by people in your city or country.

Many international companies such as Unilever, Amazon, and Google use country code domains to cater to different local markets and differentiate content. ccTLDs are also useful for promoting your website on local business directories to increase local traffic.


2. SEO Benefits


A country code domain name can improve your search engine optimization (SEO) efforts. That’s because it helps search engines easily determine your website’s target region, so they know that your business site is particularly relevant to users in that geographic location.

For example, if users in Canada open the Google website, they will be redirected to google.ca instead of google.com.

Another advantage of using a country domain is that local businesses don’t need to rely on geo-targeting ads to attract relevant customers in a specific market, which would be the case with a gTLD.

However, note that the costs to register and renew a ccTLD might be pricier than other top-level domains. Also, some ccTLDs have specific requirements. To use .ca, for example, you must be a Canadian citizen, have permanent residency, or run a Canadian corporation.

3. Increase Visitors’ Trust


Using a country code extension in your domain name might lead visitors to see your site as more credible and reliable. For example, users might be more willing to complete a purchase on your eCommerce store as their orders won’t be subject to costly international shipping fees or import taxes.

Showing that you have a local business address will also make customers feel more confident about their buying decisions, as they won’t have to wait weeks for their orders to arrive. It can also give consumers a sense of security, knowing they can swiftly process exchanges or returns.

In addition, many people prefer to complete transactions in their local currency and language. For instance, when you visit amazon.co.uk, it automatically showcases popular items in the United Kingdom with prices listed in pound sterling.

4. More Available Than .com


Since .com is the most popular domain extension, new website owners may have trouble finding a good domain name that is still available. Therefore, choosing a ccTLD can be an excellent alternative for those who want to have a larger selection of premium domain names.

What’s more, it’s possible to register a domain name with a country code extension similar to another website’s domain. To illustrate, you can register myexample.us instead of myexample.com if the latter is not available.

We recommend using a domain name generator like Nameboy to help you find the best domain name ideas for your business. It can also show if your chosen domain name is available with a specific ccTLD.

5. Great for Domain Hacks


A domain hack is a creative way for businesses to establish a strong brand image around their domain names. This happens when a word or name is generated by combining both the domain name and ccTLD.

For example, you can have mov.ie instead of movie.com using the ccTLD for Ireland. With these names, your brand is more likely to attract customers’ attention due to its uniqueness. There are no limitations on the types of name combinations, so businesses can develop their own creative domain hack.

Here are some popular ccTLDs that you should consider:

  • .me – a country code extension for Montenegro suitable for personal sites or actionable brand names, such asme and call.me.

  • .io – refers to the British Indian Ocean Territory country code. It is one of the most widely used domain extensions in the tech industry and among start-up companies. IO can mean input or output in computer programming.

  • .gg – represents the country code for the Bailiwick of Guernsey, which might be a suitable fit for gaming companies. GG stands for “good game,” which is used to compliment opponents or teammates.

  • .tv – a country code for the island of Tuvalu that can be a perfect option for media companies. This extension also reads as “television,” which is excellent for businesses in the film, streaming, or video broadcasting industries.


Conclusion


Since many memorable and SEO-friendly domain names have been registered with generic TLDs like .com and .net, opting for ccTLDs can be an excellent alternative.

As we discussed in this article, ccTLDs can bring various benefits to your business site. Here’s a short summary:

  1. Make local targeting easier.

  2. Improve SEO ranking on local search results.

  3. Build visitors’ trust.

  4. More domain name options.

  5. Excellent opportunities to create domain hacks.


We hope this article has helped you better understand how a ccTLD can benefit your business website.

Tags: English