The .yt domain is perfect for YouTube creators and European businesses, offering short, memorable branding with strong regulatory support.
Benefits of the .AT Domain You Should Know
When registering a name for your website, you'd usually be inclined to find a .com or .org that fits into your business's name or strategy. But since anyone can register these domains, they're oversaturated. A country-code top-level domain (ccTLD) can offer a similar benefit of getting a short and sweet name with the added security.
Here's why the .at domain in particular can be a great choice for you.
Table of Contents
1. What Is the .AT Domain?
The .at domain is the ccTLD for Austria, and one of the more popular domains in Europe (which we'll discuss a bit later). The domain has been managed by nic.at since 1998 and operates under Austria's Internet Foundation oversight. The .at domain also has a subdomain .co.at for legal entities (which slightly restricts how it can be used).
As with many European country-code domains, this domain is open to registration by anyone, making it extremely accessible for individuals and companies alike to nab. But with over 1.5 million registered domains, you might find it a bit difficult to get the exact name you want. Still, it's a good alternative to .com, which has hundreds of millions of registered domains.
The domain is also a bit peculiar as it allows single-letter domain names (which are taken), various diacritics, or even domains made only from numbers.
2. Who Uses .AT Domains?
The .at domain naturally lends itself to companies operating in or from Austria, and Google naturally displays the websites with this domain for local searches in that country, but also possibly within the region.
But beyond that, .at opens the door for a few other possibilities, which can influence the availability of names.
2.1 Domain Hacking
With many words ending with "at" (or similarly with "ate") or phrases utilizing the word "at" on the end (such as "arrive at" or "look at"), the domain has become popular for domain hacking. However, many of these domains sit registered and unused in a practice called domain name speculation, where they're available for sale for much higher prices than usual. This naturally cuts down on the number of options you might have.
Curiously, the third-level domain extension .co.at is itself a word, which can help companies in the fashion industry when you want a short URL.
2.2 Tech Startups and Creative Agencies
The short, punchy extension appeals to technology companies and creative professionals looking for memorable web addresses. The domain hack potential noted above makes it particularly popular among startups wanting to stand out with innovative branding.
2.3 Location-Based Services
Companies offering services "at" specific locations could find the domain extension as a natural branding opportunity.
3. Why Choose an .AT Domain?
Apart from its regional SEO benefits and the potential for domain hacking, the .at domain can be beneficial for brevity and security.
Being one of the few two-letter domain extensions available, the .at domain is excellent at providing memorable and short domain names that are practically impossible with .org or .com names.
With registration going through the national provider, there's an added layer of security and verification checking during the registration process. This sends a clear signal to your audience that you're willing to invest more and are a legitimate service.
At under $20 per year, the .at domain is relatively cheap, making it a low barrier to entry. However, note that domain hack names are likely going to cost a lot more due to the speculation practice.
4. How to Register an .AT Domain
With barely any requirements for registration, the process is simple.
1Go to the Register.Domains page for .at domains.
2Enter the desired name for the .at or .co.at domain.
3The .at registration period is for one year only, with automatic renewal available for longer periods.
4Enter your contact and payment information.
5Make sure that your website's design is ready and the hosting provider is set up, as the registration takes only a few minutes before your new site can go live.
5. Registration Requirements
There are no restrictions on the .at domain. Anyone from anywhere in the world can register a .at domain, making it accessible to international businesses and individuals. The domain name can be between 1 and 63 characters long, and you can use standard characters or German umlauts, diacritics, and a few other special characters.
6. Stay at the Top With an .AT Domain
With plenty of wordplay options, added security, or inherent SEO value for the local central European market, the .at domain is understandably popular and valuable for companies. But it's still much easier to get a unique and interesting name than .com or .org. So use this opportunity to find a name that perfectly fits your company's vision.
Register your domain today with Register.Domains so you get the best picks at excellent prices.
