[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.22″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.7.7″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”]<\/p>\n
Although they are often overshadowed by generic TLDs (.com<\/strong><\/a>, .net<\/strong><\/a>, .xyz<\/strong><\/a>, etc),\u00a0ccTLDs<\/strong> have always been available to provide a more targeted and local extension for your website domain name.<\/p>\n A country code top-level domain (ccTLD<\/strong>) indicates that your website is geared towards a particular geographic regions\u00a0<\/span>or country. For example, .us<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0is for the United States,\u00a0.uk<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 for the United Kingdom<\/span>,\u00a0.ch<\/a><\/strong> for Switzerland, etc. The Internet Assigned Numbers Authority<\/strong> (IANA) functions as the governing body that maintains technical standards that help run the Internet \u2013 publishes a domain\u00a0list of ccTLDs available<\/a>.<\/p>\n There are several advantages to picking a ccTLD (country code top-level domain<\/em>) over a generic domain name. If you are looking to target a local market, then consider going with a ccTLD too in order to coordinate your online marketing efforts.<\/p>\n Thanks to their local nature, country code TLDs <\/span>boast a number of local market advantages over global domain extensions, these advantages are as follows:<\/p>\n Search engines like Google always try to serve content that is relevant to users. Along with\u00a0showing sites located in the country of the user, they also give priority to websites using ccTLDs.<\/p>\n This ties into your Search Engine Optimization (SEO) value as well. Using a ccTLD gives you a higher SEO value for country-based search results. This is because search engines return different results, including many local ones, depending on the IP address of the person doing the search.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This is because a country domain<\/span> is recognized by Google as the clearest sign of what country\/region a website is targeting.<\/p>\n That said, ccTLDs are the most powerful way to rank a website in a certain country organically.<\/p>\n Websites using their local country-code extension are approached with more confidence and trust by local markets. With the help of ccTLDs, you can target specific markets even if you are not physically located there. If you are running an international business and are operating in a completely different country, you could easily target that country\u2019s local market by registering your site under the corresponding ccTLD.<\/p>\n For instance, by using .de<\/strong><\/a> ccTLD you could target customers from Germany, without being there physically.<\/p>\n A domain name on a given country-code extension makes prospects from that country feel safer to make purchases.\u00a0ccTLDs are good for credibility and they give visitors to your website more confidence. Since they consider the website to be local, visitors may feel that it\u2019s easier to make purchases, especially if they see that the address is somewhere that they recognize rather than a foreign address. Also, many people prefer to complete transactions and visit sites in their own currency, and region.\u00a0<\/span>The national aura that a ccTLD adds to a site may cater to users\u2019 patriotism and make them feel proud they support a website that they share the same culture and language with.<\/p>\n Short, memorable and SEO-friendly domain names are usually already taken with global TLDs such as .com<\/strong><\/a> or .net<\/strong><\/a>. And even if they are available, they are usually offered at an unreasonably high price (these are known as \u201cpremium domains<\/a>\u201d).<\/p>\n A clever trick that some companies have been using to build a strong brand around their domain name is using what\u2019s known as a\u00a0<\/span>domain hack<\/strong>. This is when a word or name is formed using both the domain name and ccTLD together. For example,\u00a0<\/span>mov.ie<\/strong>\u00a0uses the Ireland ccTLD, and\u00a0<\/span>press.in<\/strong>\u00a0uses the Indian ccTLD. It can even be a phrase or call to action like\u00a0<\/span>check.in<\/strong>\u00a0or\u00a0<\/span>save.us<\/strong>. There really are no limits to the variety of combinations you can come up with! Keep in mind that Thexyz offers all of the above ccTLDs, making it easy for you to come up with your very own creative domain hack.<\/span><\/p>\n Almost every single country or region in the world has its own ccTLD assigned to the domain names system<\/span>. This means there are hundreds of registries that are taking care of ccTLD management. Each of these companies has their own tactics and strategies to bring generic top level domains\u00a0<\/span>to the attention of the public and to raise awareness about their local market benefits over the generic TLD choices. Some of the registries stand out from the crowd due to their creativity and enthusiasm in popularizing country code\u00a0top level domains (ccTLDs)\u00a0<\/span>.<\/p>\n We\u2019ve compiled a list of the top creative registries for you:<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”Domain Row” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Canada: .CA domains” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”]<\/p>\n CIRA <\/a>\u2013 the registry behind\u00a0.ca<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 the official ccTLD for Canada, has launched an active ad campaign that plays on a sense of patriotism and national responsibility.<\/p>\n Their website is targeting Canadian individuals and businesses with a special message \u2013 choosing a .CA domain is a question of national pride. Unlike other\u00a0IDN ccTLDs, CIRA offers all registrants the choice of using a their own DNS service. This allows CIRA to not only be the registry, but also the DNS\u00a0root host.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Moreover, the preference of .ca over the generic top-choice TLDs such as .COM and .NET testify their engagement with Canada. Another benefit to .CA domains is that they come with free domain privacy protection. This allows the required contact information for\u00a0technical and administrative contacts on the domain to be masked and private.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In 2012, CIRA introduced support for the latin alphabet and a full range of French accented\u00a0characters in .CA domain names: \u00e9, \u00eb, \u00ea, \u00e8, \u00e2, \u00e0, \u00e6, \u00f4, \u0153, \u00f9, \u00fb, \u00fc, \u00e7, \u00ee, \u00ef, \u00ff.\u00a0 When a .CA is registered, all variations of a domain name with these Latin characters are reserved for the registrant and cannot be registered by anyone else.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_video src=”https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=S6F8mZrPFMw” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”][\/et_pb_video][et_pb_toggle title=”.CA domain registration requirements” admin_label=”requirements” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”]<\/p>\n To purchase this ccTLD, you must meet the requirements of\u00a0CIRA<\/a>. These requirements include but are not limited to being one of the following: a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, Canadian corporation, association, educational institution or trademark.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_toggle][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ admin_label=”Tweet Row” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_code admin_label=”tweet 1″ _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”]<\/p>\n What are ccTLDs?<\/h3>\n
Benefits of ccTLDs over gTLDs<\/h3>\n
1. Improve local SEO and secure a top search position in local searches<\/strong><\/h3>\n
2. They target local markets easily<\/strong><\/h3>\n
2. Inspire loyalty and trust in your website visitors<\/strong><\/h3>\n
4. Domain name hacks to getting the name you want<\/strong><\/h3>\n
5. Creative registry operator\u00a0<\/span>campaigns to promote ccTLDs<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\ud83c\udf41\u00a0<\/span>Canada: .CA domains<\/strong><\/h1>\n