London, UK, 4th March, 2015 – 123-reg, the UK’s largest domain registrar, is today announcing the general availability of the .wales and .cymru domain name extensions. The launch of the domains will support Welsh businesses in digitally identifying their nationality and increasing relevancy for local customers.
Purchasing a geographic domain is a way to cement your business in a local target market. These domains, such as .wales and .cymru, can provide businesses and entrepreneurs with the chance to diversify by showcasing their offerings and local pride, reaching new customers, and protecting their brand in different online markets.
The launch of Welsh domains has already been positively accepted, as demonstrated in a poll of over 1,000 Welsh internet users. Through the survey, 123-reg discovered that half of the respondents believed that a Welsh domain name would lead to positive outcomes for Welsh businesses. The respondents were also asked how important Welsh identity is to those businesses already trading in Wales and over half stated that it was either very important or important.
Nick Leech, Digital Director, 123-reg commented: “These results demonstrate the importance of businesses being local and relevant to their potential customers, even while aspiring to operate on a national or international basis. There is growing confidence in Welsh businesses, with statistics from BIS showing a 12 per cent increase in enterprises in Wales between 2013 and 2014. The .wales and .cymru domain names will help businesses in Wales demonstrate their national identity, whilst helping businesses to continue to establish a strong online presence.”
Steve Dimmick, organiser and compere of Ignite Cardiff, commented: “Having a Welsh identity is very important for our event. I am sure that promoting business through the use of a .wales and/or .cymru will further help enterprises across Wales showcase their talents. I am proud to support this landmark occasion. ”
Businesses in Wales have been able to register for Welsh domain names since November 2014. With the general availability of .wales and .cymru, all Welsh businesses will be able to buy domains on a first come, first served basis.
