MYNIC's CEO tells how the .MY domain offers businesses added advantages
My, oh, my!
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have your own .MY domain?
If you're a Malaysian, an individual residing in Malaysia, or own a business registered in Malaysia, you are eligible to register with MYNIC, the official .MY domain registry.
Recognised by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, the agency provides Malaysian organisations and individuals with unique brand identity on the Internet.
MYNIC chief executive officer Datuk Ts Hasnul Fadhly Hasan said the .MY domain is the most desired website address in the world as it spells out an English word "my", which refers to one's belongings.
"We have been getting requests and demands to make .MY a globally accessible domain, but at MYNIC, we believe it should be available only to the people of this country," he said.
THE CATEGORIES
The everyman may not see the importance of having his own domain name, but for well-known individuals and business owners, having a domain registered may be the first step to success.
There are nine domain name categories administered by MYNIC, which are .my, .com.my, .biz.my, .org.my, .net.my, .edu.my, .gov.my, .mil.my and .name.my.
As the name suggests, the .edu.my domain is reserved for Malaysian educational organisations. Government agencies can use .gov.my, and .mil.my is exclusive to military organisations.
Network-related organisations in Malaysia can choose to use .net.my domain.
What about .my, .com.my, .biz.my and .name.my? .name.my allows you to personalise your online presence with your very own name, especially for branding purposes, and .com.my is mainly used by commercial organisations.
Hasnul encourages people who own a business, big or small, to register for .biz.my because it stands out; customers will know that it is an enterprise.
A FORM OF VALIDATION
He also suggests that businesses or aspiring business owners start practising domain blocking — an exercise which is common in developed countries.
"It is a common practice to domain-block as it ensures your brand name belongs to you. Imagine you've worked hard to build your brand, but someone else has registered your brand name, and is getting all the traffic and benefits from your hard work," said Hasnul.
BENEFITING ALL
"Having a domain name is more than just for the sake of having one," said Hasnul.
"For businesses, customers don't necessarily remember your website but they will search for what they remember, usually your brand. If they search for the brand, but land on a different site, and not yours, imagine your loss," he said.
"Domain names represent who you are, what you are offering and where you are located. Ultimately, creating a professional brand which brings value to you," he added.
Hasnul said having a domain name is a form of validation. People are getting smarter and are going to a registered, validated business for safer transactions.
"On top of having visibility for businesses, it is good to consider the customers too. For a business to have a registered domain with MYNIC, there are criteria to meet. We require registration details and only after verification will it be registered.
ASSISTING BUSINESSES
Understanding the challenges that some businesses face, MYNIC launched an initiative called Prime (Program Realisasi Impian Ekonomi Digital) to cultivate digitalisation of micro-, small- and medium-sized businesses, and also in the hope of strengthening the nation's digital economy.
Prime provides enterprises with the digital platform, tools, solutions and training programmes, as well as a holistic digital presence, including website, social media pages, e-marketplace and search engine optimisation to maximise business opportunities, especially from the aspect of e-commerce.
"For a start, the programme offers free .BIZ.MY digital branding for one year," said Hasnul, adding that MYNIC also offers the GO2 Brand package.
The .BIZ.MY, even without a website, can be linked to multiple applications such as social media platforms, messaging platforms and even navigation platforms to make business accessible.
DOMAIN FOR EVERYONE
Technology is one of the most inclusive tools. With this in mind, MYNIC also offers special packages to persons with disabilities (PwD).
"We hope to accelerate their digital adoption by providing a special price for the .MY domain name. This provides them opportunities to be included in the global digital economy. The benefit is open to all Malaysian PwD aged 18 years old and above. All we require are MyKad and the PwD card issued by the Social Welfare Department," explained Hasnul.
FROM NEIGHBOURHOOD TO NATIONWIDE
ROSLIZA Osman's decision to quit her day job to start a business selling baking mould is finally putting smiles on her face. The 22-year-old used to promote her mould products in neighbouring bakeries.
She said having a website changes everything. She registered her domain name similar to her moulding brand — azizjaafar.my. Although the website was basic, showcasing only her products and contact details, azizjaafar.my has brought in more customers from all over the country. They are not only limited to individuals but baking suppliers as well.
SAMBAL GO GLOBAL
PRIOR to having the goldburoqglobal.my website, Zanariah Abdullah promoted her products only on social media platforms. But she became more confident after launching the website. Now Sambal Cik Midah, a product line Zanariah created using her late mother's name, draws customers from even outside of Malaysia.
Zanariah believes that having a website has opened up more opportunities, enabling her to penetrate the overseas markets.
Goldburoqglobal.my sells Cik Midah ready-to-eat sambal and paste, which can be delivered by post within Malaysia, as well as to Singapore and the United Kingdom.
TALENT DISPLAY SITE
WITH 35 years of experience in the creative industry, Francis Maluda believes that having a website has helped him to generate a lucrative income, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic .
He started to move his business to the digital platform after joining Pendigitalan Ekonomi Anak Seni (Malaysian Artistes' Economic Digitalisation Programme) or Perantis, a collaborative programme between MYNIC and the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia.
Francis' sabahitvnetwork.my site has made him "visible" and presented him with more opportunities to produce content, including for the Sabah Tourism Board.