Webnames.ca Staff
For Canadian businesses stepping into the digital realm or looking to build their brand recognition, choosing the right domain name isn’t just about having a web address – it’s about establishing trustworthy online presence that resonates with Canadian customers. While we have always been huge fans of .CA, given our origin story as the original .CA registrar, the data suggests that a .CA domain remains your best choice for digital success in the Canadian market. Let’s explore why that is!
The Canadian Trust Factor
When it comes to shopping, Canadians have shown a strong preference for supporting local businesses. Even if you are not an ecommerce business that is selling online, a majority of Canadians are researching online for information about local retailers, preferring to spend their money in the communities where they live when given the option to do so. Two-thirds (66%) of Canadians say they make efforts to buy from small businesses rather than ordering from large online retailers, according to the Canadian Federation of Small Business. Moreover, a similar number of Canadians, 62%, have a strong preference for using Canadian retailers for their online purchases, when provided a choice. For context, nearly 50% of Canadian online shopping takes place with Canadian businesses right now.
Given the desire of Canadian consumers to actively try to buy from Canadian retailers when shopping online, using a .CA domain name over other extensions makes sense – particularly if you’re serving a local or regional customer. It immediately signals that you’re dealing with a Canadian entity … the digital equivalent to hanging a “Proudly Canadian” sign on your brick and mortar storefront.
SEO Benefits: Standing Out in Local Searches
Using a .CA domain can give you a notable edge in local search results. When Canadian customers search for products or services, search engines will prioritize .CA domains for users located in Canada. In order to register a .CA domain, registrants have to meet certain presence requirements such as having a personal or business address in Canada – while not foolproof, it signals that they do indeed have a Canadian affiliation. This means you’re more likely to show up in local search results because of relevance, potentially leading to:
- Higher visibility in Canadian-specific searches
- Better targeting of local customers
- Improved regional SEO performance
- Enhanced geographical relevance signals to search engines
- Higher distrust of less familiar domain extensions by Canadians
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The Case for Owning Both .CA and .COM
While a .CA domain is crucial for your Canadian presence, whenever possible, best business practices advocate securing both your .CA and .COM domains. Think of it as a digital insurance policy for your brand. Here’s why:
- Brand Protection: Prevent competitors or cybersquatters from using your brand name in another extension
- Future-Proofing: Support potential international expansion without domain complications
- Traffic Capture: Catch visitors who automatically type in .COM (it’s still the most commonly used extension)
- Marketing Flexibility: Use different domains for different market segments or campaigns
Your business name and brand are the cornerstone of your intellectual property, so registering them as domain names – for as long of a term as possible – protects them from being registered by other parties and helps you own the online space around your name.
Pro tip: in addition to registering your .CA and .COM, if both are available, try to secure matching or close match related social platform handles at the same time for a cohesive brand footprint online.
Additional Benefits of .CA Domains
.CA Domains are More Secure than Other Options
SpamHaus Project, an international non-profit that tracks spam and cyber threats, notes that .CA is among the “least-abused” domain name extensions. Data shows that .CA domains are far less likely to host malware or be used to send spam, compared to other domain names which have less stringent registration requirements or extremely low registration fees. .CA domains also include WHOIS privacy protection at the registry level by default, so your contact information aren’t published in a publicly accessible database for anyone to scrape.
Eligibility Requirements
As noted earlier, the .CA extension has Canadian presence requirements, which means only individuals and organizations with Canadian connections can register them. This exclusivity adds credibility to your business and helps build trust with Canadian consumers.
.CA Funded Projects are Making the Canadian Internet Safer and Increasing Usability
The Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA), which manages .CA domains, reinvests in Canadian internet infrastructure and digital literacy programs. By choosing a .CA domain, you’re indirectly supporting these initiatives – including free cybersecurity services for Canadians like CIRA’s Canadian Shield public DNS resolver, online safety curriculum for organizations and schools, improved infrastructure to underserved communities.
Canadian Data Sovereignty
Choosing to host the website and DNS of your .CA domain on Canadian servers such as those operated by Webnames can help meet data sovereignty concerns, compliance with Canadian privacy laws, among other benefits, which is especially important for businesses and organizations that handle customer data.
Making the Most of Your .CA Domain: The Bottom Line
In today’s digital marketplace, your domain name is more than just an address – it’s a public statement about who you are and who you serve. A .CA domain effectively tells your customers that you’re part of the Canadian business community, understand their needs, and are committed to serving the Canadian market.
Whether you’re a small local shop or a growing national brand, .CA helps to establish your Canadian identity and build trust with your target audience. To further increase the value of your .CA domain, we recommend the following marketing, content and branding tactics:
- Use it prominently in all Canadian marketing materials
- Ensure your website content speaks to Canadian audiences
- Consider Canadian-specific promotions and pricing in Canadian dollars
- Highlight your Canadian identity in your branding and messaging
- Include Canadian-specific content and references
Your domain name is often the first impression customers have of your business. Make it count by choosing an extension that speaks to your identity and resonates with your target market. In Canada, that means embracing your .CA identity.