A .au domain name is a simple but powerful way for Australian auction and valuation businesses to strengthen trust online, protect their brand, and improve how clients find them. With registrations issued on a first-come, first-served basis under auDA’s rules, securing your .au alongside your .com.au can help future-proof your digital presence.
Registering a .au domain name supports a strong online presence for auction and valuation businesses. While many firms already have an established .com.au website, the shorter .au domain name option can be easier for clients to remember, quicker to type, and cleaner to display in advertising and marketing. In a sector where reputation matters, the domain name you use can play a small but meaningful role in how professional and credible your business appears.
For auction and valuation businesses, the website is often the first point of contact for prospective clients. It is where people check upcoming auctions, review catalogues, confirm valuation services, verify trading details, and ensure they are dealing with a legitimate Australian business. A short, recognisable web address also helps when promoting auctions through catalogues, signage, invoices, email signatures, and social media.
According to auDA, the body that manages the domain name registration framework for Australia, it now provides almost 4 million domain names. A report conducted by auDA also found three out of four Australians were more likely to trust a business if its website ended in .au, as Australians were more likely to trust it because they recognised it as Australian and trustworthy. This matters for the auction and valuation sector, where clients are often making high-value decisions and want confidence in who they are dealing with.
Importantly, registration of .au domain names operate on a first-come, first-served basis, provided the business registering meets the criteria set out in the .au Licensing Rules. This means that even if your business name is well established, another eligible party may register the matching .au domain before you do, potentially creating confusion for clients and forcing you into an alternative option later.
Once you’ve chosen an available .au domain name, check you meet the eligibility and registration requirements. This includes meeting the Australian presence requirement and any applicable eligibility and allocation criteria for your preferred .au domain name. Registering both your .au and .com.au gives you flexibility, strengthens brand protection, and helps ensure clients can find and trust your business online.
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