Domain name - should I register if someone already has the .com suffix?

[James bossi]

Hey guys
I'm hoping to start a new business in Australia and I have a business name that I quite like. When I went to see if this name (as a domain name) was available I noticed that the .com.au was available but the .com was not. I navigated to the .com website and found that this business is in the same market as the business I want to create except in America. My question is, is it wise to buy and use the .com.au domain name if the .com is the same type of business but in a different country?

Thanks

[elizabeth]

If you want to stand out, no it isn't a good idea to use the same domain name. If you're happy being associated with this other, older, business, then go for it. I'm not completely sure you'd be able to do this legally, though.

[Daniel]

It depends if that person has developed the website or used the website to advertise a popular business or not. If the domain name with the .com suffix has barely been used, then you can definitely register a .ws, .net, .org, .co, or a domain name with another suffix.

If the website that uses the .com domain name has been developed well, I would recommend choosing another domain name and different phrases.

In addition, a .com.au is specifically designed for Australian users, so if you want to generate traffic from other countries in addition to Australia, you may want to consider a domain name that has a suffix that is used internationally!

Best of luck :-)