Wanting iceinspace.com.au :(

iceman (Mike) · #1 10-01-2005, 02:34 PM

I want to register iceinspace.com.au so that people doing an "Australia only" search in google or other, will find this site..

But the rules for registering a .com.au domain name are sooo strict.. you have to have an ABN or ACN, meaning you have to be a registered business or company.

I had a registered business name a few years back when I was doing some contract programming work, but that has long since expired..

Now it looks like i'll have to register a new business name at the pricely sum of $129, just so I can spend another $60 on iceinspace.com.au

$200 that I could've spent on telescope accessories!!

hmm.. as I was writing this I just had a light-bulb moment.. I think "iceinspace.net.au" would still be found by "australia only" searches, because it's the ".au" that it's looking for, not the ".com.au".. and then I don't need to register a business name..

Does anyone know if this is indeed correct?

iceman (Mike) · #2 10-01-2005, 02:42 PM

hmm it looks like I still need a registered business name even for a .net.au domain

rumples riot · #3 10-01-2005, 04:07 PM

Dont do it, you will have submit BAS statements, tax returns and report you affairs to the Commonwealth Gov.

The site will grow with time and people will find the place either via word of mouth or by leaving the site address with lots of other sites.

ving (David) · #4 10-01-2005, 04:31 PM

if you wanted help i am sure that the community and i would chip in (speaking for myself here) to help

just a thought... got a paypal acct?

[1ponders] (Paul) · #5 10-01-2005, 07:41 PM

count me in

iceman (Mike) · #6 10-01-2005, 07:43 PM

Paul I'm pretty sure you don't need to submit BAS statements etc just for a registered business name do you?
Especially since I won't be earning an income from the business name, it's purely to use the RBN or BRN (whatever it's called) when registering the .com.au domain.

Ving (and Paul #2), thanks for the offer.. i'll give it some thought.. i'm not sure how many people would be willing to chip in, but it's an idea nonetheless. I don't have paypal but direct deposit into bank acct is just as easy these days.

[1ponders] (Paul) · #7 10-01-2005, 08:09 PM

You're welcome Mike.

I'm sure you'll keep us informed of developments. I think its a great idea. Particularly the .net idea. Personally I think that a .net lends more to the impression that it's an iformation based site (which it is) and not a commercial site, therefore not trying to get money out of people. Have you considered a .org.au. Any potential there?

Good luck

iceman (Mike) · #8 10-01-2005, 08:19 PM

Paul, anything with .au at the end suffers the same strict rules regarding the requirement of a registered business name, or ABN/ACN.

I could potentially register any of iceinspace.net.au, iceinspace.org.au, iceinspace.com.au, it's about $80 for a 2-year registration of ".com.au" and ".net.au", and $50 for a 2-year registration of ".org.au".

The ".com" i've got now is only $25 for 2 years.

I could get iceinspace.net and iceinspace.net.au, or iceinspace.com and iceinspace.com.au, i'm not sure about iceinspace.org - I don't know what the rules are regarding that.

[1ponders] (Paul) · #9 10-01-2005, 08:23 PM

Sounds like another government money grubbing exercise to me. If it wasn't there would be a .something for non-profit organizations to use that would be free or if costing then the registration restriction would be reduced.

Keep us informed

Saturn%5 (Graeme) · #10 11-01-2005, 09:55 AM

Hi Ice,
Im not sure about the rules on getting that stuff done, I think .com.au sounds good and would be only too glad to chip in some dollars to help you.

seeker372011 (Narayan) · #11 11-01-2005, 10:02 AM

ditto

rumples riot · #12 11-01-2005, 12:05 PM

Mike I think that you will find that you have to have an ABN to register a business name, well at least you do here in South Australia. Once you have an ABN then you will have to do all the rubbish that comes with that registration. Even if the rules are different in NSW regarding business registration, you will still have to do an imcome tax return each year especially if you receive donations of support (which I would be more than happy to do). Even not for profit organisations still have to go through all this nonsense. But Howard did say "we will never have GST in this country while I am prime minister of this country". And people still vote for them. No accounting for stupidity

Yes there is a money grabbing exercise by the government. Just something to consider. If nothing else I would contact the local authorities and ask exactly what you will need to do for each type scenario.

Best of luck

Vermin (Tom) · #13 11-01-2005, 07:19 PM

I wonder if it would be cheaper and less hassle to buy a listing with Google?

EDIT: or maybe not, I just had a read of their "About" page. The best you could do would be one of the paid for adds that are search term related. One off payment and a cost per click.

How about advertising in the Bintel newsletter?

On a related note, I just noticed they used one of my Aurora photos. I'm not really fussed at not being contacted before they used it, especially as there is no way to contact me listed on the web site they took it from. Still it was a bit of a shock to see it there.

https://www.bintelshop.com.au/NightSky/NightSky.pdf

jackenau · #14 11-01-2005, 09:58 PM

Hi Mike

Is interesting, that if you do a google search without the "australia" selection you can easily find the ICEINSPACE website. But with the "australia" search selected it takes you to a couple of selections on the astronomy online forum, which depending on your postings can be used to find this site.

I think, if you were to register the name iceinspace etc for the purpose of people being able to link to this site etc. then unless they were already aware of the name of the site then they would not readily find it.

Just my thought. However more then happy to contribute if you require.

Ken M

iceman (Mike) · #15 12-01-2005, 06:04 AM

Quote:

I think, if you were to register the name iceinspace etc for the purpose of people being able to link to this site etc. then unless they were already aware of the name of the site then they would not readily find it

That's true of course, but generally what they'd search for is "astronomy forums" or "amateur astronomy" or "buying a telescope", etc.

Using the content in the IceInSpace site and these forums, combined with meta tags in the header of the HTML, the idea is that the IceInSpace site will be found using those keywords.

Thanks for your thoughts.

iceman (Mike) · #16 14-01-2005, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Even if the rules are different in NSW regarding business registration, you will still have to do an imcome tax return each year especially if you receive donations of support (which I would be more than happy to do). Even not for profit organisations still have to go through all this nonsense.

Got some advice from ITP, and he reckons that if you register a business name (eg: Mike Salway trading as "IceInSpace"), and as long as i'm not earning income, then I won't have to submit BAS forms etc.

But I need to ring the ATO or someone and find out what it means if I accept donations of support as some have offered.. I don't think it should matter if the money is just a person to person thing, and not a donation the IceInSpace entity or something.

It's all so complicated.. just to get a .com.au domain.

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #17 13-02-2005, 04:07 PM

I have found that there are thousands of Oz sites without the .au

It is easy to place links on other sites. I did it all over the world for a Rugby League site.

There are some in oz you can link from.

There are also sneaky ways to get found by search engines. I will have to PM that method.