Your domain name is your address on the internet. It appears on your business cards, vehicles, invoices and social media. Changing it later is painful, so it is worth a few minutes of careful thought.
What the extensions mean
The ending of a domain is called the extension. For Tanzanian businesses, the common choices are:
- .co.tz – the standard choice for companies and businesses in Tanzania.
- .tz – the country extension on its own, short and clearly Tanzanian.
- .or.tz – for non-profit organisations, associations and NGOs.
- .go.tz – reserved for government institutions.
- .ac.tz – for universities and academic institutions.
- .com – the global extension, recognised everywhere.
Tanzanian extensions are managed locally, and registration usually goes through an accredited registrar (often your hosting company).
When .co.tz is the better choice
Choose .co.tz if most of your customers are in Tanzania. It tells visitors immediately that you are a local business, which builds trust for things like delivery, payments and in-person services. It can also help your website appear for searches made from Tanzania, because the extension is a signal of where your business operates.
When .com makes sense
Choose .com if you sell to customers across East Africa or internationally, for example in tourism, exports or software. A .com feels neutral and travels well. Many businesses register both: they use one as the main address and forward the other to it. This also stops someone else from registering your name on the other extension.
How to choose the name itself
A good domain is:
- Short – fewer characters means fewer typing mistakes on a phone.
- Easy to say – imagine reading it out on the radio or over the phone. If you have to spell it every time, it is too complicated.
- Free of hyphens and numbers – "abc-traders2.co.tz" is easily misheard.
- Close to your business name – customers will guess your domain from your name, so match it if you can.
- Not tied to one product – if you sell only cement today but plan to sell all building materials, avoid a name that boxes you in.
Say the name out loud in both English and Kiswahili to check it does not sound strange or confusing in either language.
Register it in the business's name
This is the most important point in this article. The domain should be registered with your business as the owner and with a business email address you control. Too many organisations discover, years later, that their domain is registered to a former employee or a developer who is no longer reachable. If that person stops renewing it, your website and email can disappear overnight.
Ask your developer or registrar to confirm:
- who is listed as the owner (registrant);
- which email address receives renewal notices;
- when the domain expires.
Keep a note of the registrar's login details somewhere safe within the business.
Renew on time and for longer
Domains are rented for a period, usually one year at a time. When they expire, websites and business email stop working. If a domain is left expired long enough, someone else can register it. Where possible, renew for several years at once and switch on automatic renewal.
Use the domain for email too
Once you own a domain, set up email addresses such as info@yourbusiness.co.tz. An address on your own domain looks far more professional than a free email account, and it stays with the business when staff change.
Quick checklist
- Pick .co.tz for local customers, .com for regional or international ones – or register both.
- Keep the name short, clear and close to your business name.
- Register it in the business's name with an email you control.
- Note the expiry date and renew early.
- Use it for professional email.
Need help registering a domain or setting up business email? Talk to Daraja.