Whether you’re aiming to be the next Alibaba or you want to pioneer something completely unique, the online space is clearly where it is all happening.
Online shopping has become an everyday occurrence for many consumers and if you are an entrepreneur or running a startup, you’ll want your own website and unique domain name in order to take advantage of this growing phenomenon. It’s time you get your piece of the pie.
Whether you’re aiming to be the next Alibaba or you want to pioneer something completely unique, the online space is clearly where it is all happening. No matter how good you think your products and services are, you still need to get your foot in the door and get noticed. Apart from optimising the SEO and UX design of your website, what matters most is your unique brand name and the domain name extension you choose to register it in.
Are domain names that important?
Believe it or not, YES! The right domain names enhance your overall brand value by providing the public with a unique online identity and point of contact for your products and services. With the right domain name, you can set yourself apart from your competitors and make a meaningful and lasting impression in the market. You just need to take the first exploratory steps into the digital world by securing your very own unique domain name. If your business is based in, or targets Africa, we recommend .Africa as the best domain extension for you and your business.
“There’s a sense of renewal in the air and well-regarded brands like ABSA are to be commended for leading this charge into a promising African future”
– Mr. Lucky Masilela (CEO) ZA Central Registry
Here are two important reasons to consider a .africa domain name for establishing and reinforcing your unique online identity:
1. It’s the perfect geo-ending URL for an African based business
Many people continue to rely on the world wide web to fulfil their retail and information needs. Website URLs that stand out and are immediately recognisable and trusted will give you a competitive advantage in the already cluttered online market space. According to an article published by eshopworld, over 1-billion potential customers are emerging from the growing middle class in African… and retail investors are starting to take note.
“In Nigeria, Jumia with a year on year increase of 265% is one of the largest e-commerce enterprises operations in Africa.”
pic: techcrunchThere is no better opportunity to engage with the African market than to show your association with the continent and its people through your own unique .africa web identity.
You may already have an existing domain name for your business, but nothing stops you from also securing a corresponding .africa domain to gain better access to this new emerging market.
2. Best Way to Safeguard your Brand in this Emerging Market
Your loyal customers know and trust your brand… and rightly so. You’ve worked hard to build your brand identity and to distinguish your products, services and information from those of your competitors. The last thing you want is for someone else (i.e. a competitor) to piggy-back off your brand’s success because you were not quick enough out of the starting blocks.
Proactively securing your brand name as a .africa domain name makes complete business sense; and it is more cost effective than you may think. Act now to protect your brand and also take advantage of the new markets that .africa represents.
If you’re still not sure how to go about it, check out this article for tips on picking the perfect domain or speak to one of our customer support representatives via email (support@dns.business) or our online chat system on portal.gateway.africa.
Posted by Kilana Chohan
