What You Need to Know About Getting a Senegalese Domain

Domain names are the little bits of text found at the end of website addresses, like .com, which features on close to half of all websites in use today. There is a category of domain names called country-code top level domains (ccTLDs), which are assigned to individual nations.

Let’s take a look at one of these ccTLDs - .sn, the official domain name for Senegal.

An Overview of the .sn Domain

As touched on above, .sn is one of the top level domains (TLDs) known as ccTLDs. Other examples of ccTLDs include .fr for France, .br for Brazil, and .ru for Russia. They vary widely in popularity, but some ccTLDs rank among the most used domain names in the world, with millions of registered websites.

.sn is the ccTLD for the African nation of Senegal, and registrations for this TLD are overseen by an official entity called NIC Senegal. Like many other ccTLDs, .sn was originally intended just for use among Senegalese citizens and businesses. But these days, anyone from anywhere can create a .sn site.

How Do You Obtain a .sn Domain?

Many ccTLDs require you to meet certain regulations and criteria before you can register one. In some countries, for example, you have to be a resident there or hold a registered trademark in that territory. Fortunately, there are no such restrictions with .sn in Senegal.

In other words, you don’t necessarily have to live or work in Senegal to get a .sn address. Instead, .sn domains are handed out on a first come, first served basis. All you have to do is find a trusted .sn domain registration provider, verify that your desired name is available, and pay the fee to register it.

Why Choose an .sn Domain?

Like other ccTLDs, .sn has one obvious and clear usage – to enable businesses in Senegal to build their own national digital identities. But that’s not necessarily the only use case for this domain name. There are other situations where it might be in your interest to opt for an .sn web address.

You’re Based in Senegal

As mentioned, the most common use case for any ccTLD is to target the people who live and work in the country of reference. Those based in Senegal should strongly consider setting up a .sn address, as it’s the go-to choice in the country, and is seen as a sign of credibility in the eyes of the local population.

Businesses Expanding into Africa

You might be looking to expand into the African market and to start targeting customers from countries like Senegal. In that case, setting up a new .sn website for your brand can be a savvy way to secure your brand’s name in the Senegalese market and generate leads there.

SEO Performance in Senegal

Google’s algorithm tends to favor sites that are most relevant to the people who use it. So, for example, if you’re using Google.fr in France to look for banking services, banks with .fr web addresses are more likely to show up on the first page of results. It’s the same for Senegal – having an .sn address can help you to rank higher in Senegalese search results.

An Out-of-the-Box Address

Some people might not want to go the usual .com or .net route when setting up their website. They might want something different, an alternative to the norm, an out-of-the-box idea that sets them apart from the rest. Well, .sn definitely fits the bill. It’s not one of the most commonly-seen domain names, which may give your site an edge.

When .com Isn’t Available

.com is the go-to domain name for the majority of site owners. It’s widely-recognizable and trusted, but it’s also saturated. So many names are already taken with .com web addresses, and finding one that’s still free can be quite a challenge. If the .com TLD is already taken for your brand name, you could claim the .sn alternative instead. It might even be cheaper.

Register Your .sn Domain

So, if you feel like a .sn site is the right fit for you, don’t delay. The longer you wait, the more chance there is of someone else coming along and taking your name first. Find a trusted registration provider and get your .sn domain up and running ASAP.