is .ca a profitable domain?

12 years ago

It definetly can be a good choice if you target local keywords. It also is as rankable as any other domain but maybe less brandable if you try to build a brand.

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Tyree

12 years ago

Here's some Interesting Facts i found online
Canadians order billions of dollars' worth of goods online every year (over $12 billion in 2007), and more than half of their purchases are from Canadian businesses. (Reference:Statistics Canada, 2005 Canadian Internet Use Survey)
Over 60% of Canadians say they prefer to shop on a .CA web site. For every $100 spent by Canadian adults online in 2005, $63 was spent with Canadian vendors. (References:Statistics Canada, 2005 Canadian Internet Use Survey, Statistics Canada, 2005 E-commerce: Shopping on the Internet Survey, Statistics Canada, 2007 E-commerce: Shopping on the Internet Survey, Strategic Counsel 2008 Canadian Internet Users' Attitudes Toward and Perceptions of The .CA Domain Survey). So i yeah i think you'll be good since you're targeting a Canadian market

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dalegolden

12 years ago

Originally Posted by Tyree

Here's some Interesting Facts i found online
Canadians order billions of dollars' worth of goods online every year (over $12 billion in 2007), and more than half of their purchases are from Canadian businesses. (Reference:Statistics Canada, 2005 Canadian Internet Use Survey)
Over 60% of Canadians say they prefer to shop on a .CA web site. For every $100 spent by Canadian adults online in 2005, $63 was spent with Canadian vendors. (References:Statistics Canada, 2005 Canadian Internet Use Survey, Statistics Canada, 2005 E-commerce: Shopping on the Internet Survey, Statistics Canada, 2007 E-commerce: Shopping on the Internet Survey, Strategic Counsel 2008 Canadian Internet Users' Attitudes Toward and Perceptions of The .CA Domain Survey). So i yeah i think you'll be good since you're targeting a Canadian market

If Canada itself have got such a vast online market, a .ca domain can be very profitable. Because it will get some extra advantage in Canadian search engines. This is what I think.

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higherluv 12 years ago

Not if you want to take it worldwide. .com might be better... but the most important thing is to have a unique approach on preselling your customers. Do that and it won't matter whether people prefer to buy from their own country or not.
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larryboy03 12 years ago

For a local business yes it can be, anywhere else then probably not.
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sbucciarel

Banned 12 years ago

According to dnjournal, CDNAir.ca sold for $8,475 last week through DomainNames.ca, so it depends on the domain name really and who you market it to.

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ladywriter

12 years ago

As sbucciarel suggests, it is not the extension that is important. It is a matter of actual site content and who you are targeting.

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Pedro Ferreira

12 years ago

Originally Posted by cortsmith

Its all about .com, .org, and .net when it comes to niches, I know.. But can .ca be profitable in the niche game if Im targeting a canadian market?

If you're targeting a Canadian market it's the right extension to use...

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webproishere

12 years ago

The only thing worth it is .com
That's it, that's all

I' ve lost time and money with EVERYTHING ELSE (online since 97 here)

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butters 12 years ago

Originally Posted by webproishere

The only thing worth it is .com
That's it, that's all

I' ve lost time and money with EVERYTHING ELSE (online since 97 here)

I disagree here, there are many scenarios which come to my mind where a country specific extension will be just as useful as a .com. Only because you lost on them doesn't mean that they are not a viable option.
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cortsmith 12 years ago

Originally Posted by webproishere

The only thing worth it is .com
That's it, that's all

I' ve lost time and money with EVERYTHING ELSE (online since 97 here)

Why is that? Any examples you can provide?
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Istvan Horvath

12 years ago

If the Canadian segment of your niche is big enough, then it is worth getting the .ca domain, especially, if you target that demographic group.

Of course, it also depends on the kind product that you will be offering: in case of downloadable info-products of any kind, it doesn't really matter... although having .ca extension AND Canadian hosting, improves your chances in google.ca

However, when it comes about physical products, buyers are very careful to buy from Canadian businesses - and that means not only the extension. You also have to ship the goods from Canada, to avoid additional expenses like duties when crossing the border, additional sales taxes (GST, PST, HST), international shipping etc.

Which means there is no one single answer that would fit for any and every business.
But when people ask vague questions... they get similarly vague answers, which they deserve, of course

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cortsmith

12 years ago

Originally Posted by Istvan Horvath

If the Canadian segment of your niche is big enough, then it is worth getting the .ca domain, especially, if you target that demographic group.

Of course, it also depends on the kind product that you will be offering: in case of downloadable info-products of any kind, it doesn't really matter... although having .ca extension AND Canadian hosting, improves your chances in google.ca

However, when it comes about physical products, buyers are very careful to buy from Canadian businesses - and that means not only the extension. You also have to ship the goods from Canada, to avoid additional expenses like duties when crossing the border, additional sales taxes (GST, PST, HST), international shipping etc.

Which means there is no one single answer that would fit for any and every business.
But when people ask vague questions... they get similarly vague answers, which they deserve, of course

Fair enough. I was trying to get a sense of what it would mean for both micro niche blog/info sites and an ecommerce site for a physical product. The sense I'm getting is that for .ca may be tough to rank as a niche site, but could provide a nice boost if you're selling products to a Canadian market (I am Canadian, so hopefully they'll let me!)

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123andyt 12 years ago

I am from the UK and if I am buying physical products from within the UK I tend to look for co.uk domains .... it's just a natural thing....

My advice would be to just go for it but it really does depend on what you are promoting
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sbucciarel

Banned 12 years ago

Just keep in mind, not everyone can buy a .ca. There are restrictions.

Canadian Presence Requirements

Registrants of .ca domains must meet the Canadian Presence Requirements[4] as defined by the registry. Examples of valid entities include:

a Canadian citizen of the age of majority
a permanent resident of Canada
a legally recognized Canadian organization
an Inuit, First Nation, Métis or other people indigenous to Canada
an Indian Band as defined in the Indian Act of Canada
a foreign resident of Canada that holds a registered Canadian trademark
an executor, administrator or other legal representative of a person or organization that meets the requirements
a division of the government
Elizabeth II in her capacity as head of state of Canada

.ca - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Istvan Horvath

12 years ago

Yep, both Betty and I can buy a .ca domain

Originally Posted by sbucciarel

Just keep in mind, not everyone can buy a .ca. There are restrictions.

Canadian Presence Requirements

Registrants of .ca domains must meet the Canadian Presence Requirements[4] as defined by the registry. Examples of valid entities include:

a Canadian citizen of the age of majority
a permanent resident of Canada
a legally recognized Canadian organization
an Inuit, First Nation, Métis or other people indigenous to Canada
an Indian Band as defined in the Indian Act of Canada
a foreign resident of Canada that holds a registered Canadian trademark
an executor, administrator or other legal representative of a person or organization that meets the requirements
a division of the government
Elizabeth II in her capacity as head of state of Canada

.ca - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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bmw040

12 years ago

I personally think a .com is still the best way to go for domain extensions primarily for long term search engine ranking and branding.

However, I would use a .ca if a decent .com is not available.

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Sue McDonald

12 years ago

If you are in Canada marketing to the local people go for it but if you want to market worldwide I would look at dot com.

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cpoalmighty

12 years ago

This is very simple. If you are targeting Canadian buyers. You can't go wrong with .ca domains. It's all in the marketing really. Your conversion pages must have a great non generic design which attracts even non Canadians. You will need to do research within that country to find promotion material which is also specific to Canadians to allow them to feel connected to what you are selling 'locally'. Ensure you do your research thoroughly because this is key and will be the determining factor of if they buy from you or not. Since we are on the topic of buying, you need to check and double check your systems to ensure they are working in all respects. Ensure buyers know what they have to do or at least what YOU want them to do. Do not leave any room for them to think if they want it or not. Offer specials around their holiday systems, special events AND ensure your medium of advertisements are Canadian based or targeted. Although that is basic I thought to add it in there because you can do all the research in the world and hire the most experienced designer God gave to man and NOT choose the right channels to get your message across and ultimately be a failure since you were advertising to the wrong crowd. Best of luck to you and this business

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ptcworld

12 years ago

they alwsys say .com is the best because they are global but ca is definately getting more popular