As Canadian businesses pivot to digital amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA) is working with Digital Main Street and Google Canada to offer .CA domain names to the thousands of Canadian small businesses accessing the ShopHERE powered by Google programme.
As Canadian businesses pivot to digital amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA) has announced it’s working with Digital Main Street and Google Canada to offer .CA domain names to the thousands of Canadian small businesses accessing the ShopHERE powered by Google programe.
ShopHERE powered by Google helps small, independent businesses and artists that lack the expertise and resources to build their online stores to get selling online.
As Canadians prefer to visit and do business with .CA websites, as is the case with most countries and their ccTLDs around the world, CIRA is proud to help give these small businesses a boost with a .CA domain name. According to survey data, CIRA claims Canadians are four times more likely to choose a .CA website over a .com when shopping online. It is estimated that as many as 40 per cent of Canadian businesses are still without a website.
“Small businesses are the heart of the Canadian economy—and the core of our customer base,” said David Fowler, vice-president, marketing and communications at CIRA. “We are proud to join the ShopHERE programme and do what we can to help the thousands of small businesses who are still without a website to get online and thrive in a difficult economy.”
In announcing the new collaboration, CIRA say they expect to see as many as 3,000 .CA domain names as part of the first phase of the ShopHERE powered by Google programme. Google though through Google Domains has been helping Canadian businesses get online since 2016 with a website and email from Google.
“Being able to provide our businesses with access to .CA domains through this unique partnership will allow us to continue to expand our support offering for businesses through the programme and ensure these businesses can secure a domain that helps them stand out to their customers,” said John Kiru, Executive Director at Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas (TABIA).
“Google Domains aims to make it easy to find, buy and use domain names,” Matthew Bilsland, Head of Business, Google Domains. “We’re delighted to join ShopHERE powered by Google and help Canadian businesses find their place online.”