Securing a domain is one of the first and most important steps to starting a website or protecting your brand name. Best of all is that domains are very inexpensive so you don’t have to fork out a lot of money upfront.
If you are planning on making your own website, then you have come to the right place. I have created this guide on how to register a .co.nz domain name plus tips on how to maximise your website performance.
Ok, lets get stuck in!
5 Tips On How To Register a .co.nz Domain Name!
1. What Type Of Website Do You Want To Make?
Before deciding on a domain name, I would first recommend refining what type of website you would like to make and your target audience location. After doing this, you can determine what type of domain extension will be right for you.
For local businesses like cafes, restaurants, plumbers or NZ based blogs, then a .co.nz or .nz would be suitable as you will be targeting a Kiwi based audience.
If you plan on targeting an international audience then I would opt for a .com domain as you can receive 90% more traffic.
2. Whats Your Budget?
When possible, I always recommend to nab up all of the alternative .nz extensions if your budget allows. Say for example you purchase aotearoadirectory.co.nz and begin to make your website.
While you secured that domain, there is still the possibility of competitors to come in and purchase aotearoadirectory.nz or aotearoadirectory.net.nz. So to secure your brand and growth of your business, it is worth also purchasing the alternatives when possible.
3. Choose The Right .nz Extension
I briefly touched on it above whether a .co.nz or .com is suitable for your business or website. So if you are going down the .nz route, now you have to decide which extension is right for you.
The rule of thumb is to always use a .co.nz when possible for your website. This is because the .co.nz is the most recognised for Kiwi internet surfers and is associated with many trusted businesses. Below is the full list of NZ domain extensions available.
- .nz
- .co.nz
- .net.nz
- .org.nz
- .ac.nz
- .gen.nz
- .geek.nz
- .maori.nz
- .school.nz
- .kiwi
- .kiwi.nz
4. Find a Reputable Domain Registrar
If you are ready to lock up your first .co.nz domain and begin your website journey. You can check out my in-depth comparison of the best domain registrars for Kiwis. I have included a wide range of companies from that have every .nz extension under the sun.
5. Things To Avoid When Purchasing Your Domain
Domains are very cheap things to purchase. But I often see domain registrars try and up sell customers on unnecessary extras on the checkout process. When I purchased my first domains, I opted for all these extras which I have now found to be almost useless. Here are some things to avoid.
- Don’t pay for SSL Certificates: Many hosting providers like BlueHost will include this for free when you connect any domain. This can save you hundreds over the long term as opposed to paying a recurring fee with the domain registrar.
- Avoid The Custom Email Up Sell: A lot of registrars will try and push you on a custom email like contact@aotearoadirectory.co.nz. Typically this is a monthly fee for a very clunky service. I would stay away from this and opt for a G Suite account which is done through Gmail.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully this guide on how to register .co.nz has helped you with your journey to creating your first website. I always remember a quote which I think applies to starting a business or blog.
“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.”