Is It Worth Getting a .bo (Bolivian) Domain Extension?

Bolivia probably isn’t first on your list of countries into which want to expand with your website-based business. There are certainly larger Latin American nations you might consider first – Brazil and Argentina may be priorities – but that doesn’t mean that the Tibet of the Americas is a complete no-go. It’s a big car country for instance (vehicles are its second largest import market) so any company that sells products in that sector may find Bolivia to be a fruitful market.

Does that sound like your business?

Or do you have a web-based business offering other types of products and you’re wondering if Bolivia is right for your next expansion?

Let’s find out.

Why Get a .bo Domain Name?

Beyond opening up your business to a country that has a population of 12.5 million people – 70.6% of which is urban and thus likely to have access to the internet – there are a few reasons we can think of to get a .bo domain name.

Reason 1 – It’s Really Easy

One of the recurring challenges of registering domain extensions for other countries is the residence requirements those nations often have. In other words, you have to prove that you have a registered home of business location to even be considered for registering an extension. Registrars can get around this for you via trustee services – the registrar uses their own in-country address on your behalf – but it’s still a hassle.

You don’t have to worry about that with a .bo domain extension.

Bolivia has no requirements for you to prove that you’re a resident or that you have an address in the country to get your hands on a domain name. They’re available for the taking no matter where you’re located – you just need to be willing to pay the price for the .bo extension you want.

Reason 2 – Bolivian Business Is All About Getting Personal

As the International Trade Administration points out, Bolivians prefer to be up close and personal with the people with whom they do business. It’s a very networking-oriented country with a culture that emphasizes personal contacts and maintaining a local flavor in your dealings.

On the website side, that means one thing – Bolivians are more likely to trust (and thus welcome into their networks) companies that have a .bo domain extension. You demonstrate a commitment to the way business is done when you register this type of extension ahead of the more generic .com you may already be using. Plus, your .bo extension opens up the opportunity to create a Spanish-language version of your existing website that you may not be able to meld into your current site structure. That’s important given that most Bolivian business is conducted in Spanish.

So, it’s really all about trust. You can take advantage of Bolivia not having residency requirements for domain registration to get an “in” with the country’s consumer and business-to-business sectors via a .bo extension.

Reason 3 – You Don’t Have a Lot of Competition

You might assume that Bolivia being such a local-centric country in terms of doing business would mean that companies have been jumping at the chance to have a .bo extension. That’s not the case – only 12,939 websites have this extension as of 2023. This lack of registration isn’t a sign that companies aren’t expanding into Bolivia. Rather, it means they’re doing so without understanding just how important localized trust factors are in the Bolivian business sphere.

What does that mean for you?

In a word – opportunity.

This relatively small number of .bo domain extension registrations opens up plenty of avenues for your business. On the domain naming front, it means you’re far more likely to get the specific name you want to complement your brand and make your mark in Bolivia. Plus, you get a leg up on the competition. While others are sticking with generic top-level domain extensions (such as .com) you get to separate your brand as one that not only does business in Bolivia but is committed to the country.

Get Your Hands on a .bo Domain Extension Today

There’s nothing stopping you from registering a .bo domain extension today – you can do it from the comfort of your home or office. The only real criterion is that you’re willing to purchase the extension for a minimum of one year. Meet that criterion and expansion into Bolivia via a country-focused domain awaits.