US Domain

A .us domain is the official web address of the United States. It signals presence, accountability, and commitment to the American market.

For businesses, organizations, and individuals, it provides an identity that says: we are here, and we serve Americans.

Unlike .com, which is crowded and global, .us is still widely available and affordable. Many short and powerful names that would cost thousands under .com remain open under .us.

This is a rare chance to secure a premium domain that ties directly to the U.S.

Customers trust what feels familiar. A .us domain does that instantly. Whether you are a startup, a nonprofit, or a service provider, it shows your brand belongs to this country.

What is .us?

The .us domain is the country-code top-level domain (ccTLD) for the United States.

It was first delegated in 1985 and is overseen by the U.S. Department of Commerce through the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). Neustar, under contract, operates the registry.

Unlike generic domains, .us is not a free-for-all. You must meet a Nexus requirement to qualify:

• U.S. citizen or permanent resident
• U.S.-based organization with a principal office in the country
• Foreign entity with a bona fide U.S. presence, such as an office, distributor, or regular business activities

WHOIS privacy is not allowed. This ensures accountability and transparency for anyone using .us.

Pricing overview

At Truehost, you can secure your .us name at affordable rates.

Compare this with .com or other popular extensions where most good names are long gone and aftermarket prices run into thousands.

With .us, you often find shorter, cleaner domains still available for a fraction of the cost.

Why .us is valuable

Several features make .us distinct from other extensions.

1. Eligibility requirements ensure that only U.S.-connected individuals and organizations can register. This filters out spam and fly-by-night operators.
   
2. Transparent WHOIS creates accountability. Customers know who is behind a website.
   
3. Local search advantage helps businesses rank in U.S. searches. Search engines recognize .us as a geographic signal.
   
4. Availability of short names allows brands to secure domains that are impossible under .com.
   
5. Cultural alignment supports businesses that market themselves as American-made, veteran-owned, or locally sourced.

This mix of trust, relevance, and opportunity makes .us a hidden advantage for U.S.-focused businesses.

Who benefits most from .us

Not everyone needs a .us domain. But if your market is the United States, it gives you an edge.

Local businesses

A roofing contractor in Texas or a dentist in Minnesota can use .us to signal local identity. It looks authentic and is easier for customers to remember.

E-commerce brands

Shoppers care about buying from U.S.-based businesses. A .us domain adds credibility when your promise is fast shipping, U.S.-made goods, or reliable support.

Startups and tech companies

The .com market is saturated. Most short names are gone or overpriced. .us lets startups register concise names without spending huge amounts.

Civic organizations and NGOs

Community groups, chambers of commerce, and nonprofits benefit from the trust and clarity of .us. It feels more legitimate than global extensions.

Contractors and suppliers

Companies involved in federal or state contracts can show their alignment with U.S. systems by operating under .us.

How to choose the right .us domain

Naming is strategic. The goal is to pick a domain that is simple, brandable, and unmistakably American.

• Keep it short: One or two words are best.
  
• Use clear American spelling: Avoid confusion and pass the “radio test.”
  
• Pair with .com if possible: If you already own .com, secure .us for campaigns. If you start on .us, buy .com later to protect your brand.
  
• Plan for growth: Use .us as your main hub for U.S.-focused marketing.
  
• Defend your brand: Secure obvious variants, such as singular / plural or hyphenated forms.

Example: A startup selling outdoor gear could register patriotgear.us — short, relevant, and instantly tied to American identity.

Meeting the Nexus requirement

The Nexus requirement is what sets .us apart. You must prove a connection to the United States.

• For citizens and residents: Provide accurate personal or business details during registration.
• For U.S. organizations: Use incorporation records or a principal office address.
• For foreign companies: Show a bona fide U.S. presence such as an office, distributor, or regular business engagement.

Practical tip: Keep your WHOIS, invoices, and site footer consistent. Inconsistencies can trigger verification checks. If you rely on a distributor, document the relationship clearly.

Privacy and transparency

Unlike other domains, .us does not allow whois privacy or proxy services. This can worry individuals, but businesses can manage exposure responsibly.

• Use a business address instead of a personal one.
• Create role-based emails such as info@brand.us or support@brand.us.
• Provide a business phone number.
• Publish a contact form with spam protection.

Transparency builds trust. Customers can see you are a real business, not a hidden operator.

Security setup for .us domains

Security should be in place from day one. For .us, best practices include:

• DNSSEC: Protects against spoofing.
• CAA records: Restricts which certificate authorities can issue certificates for your domain.
• HTTPS with HSTS: Ensures encrypted traffic and prevents protocol downgrades.
• SPF, DKIM, DMARC: Authenticate email to block spoofing and phishing.
• Secure subdomains: If you use shop.yourbrand.us or help.yourbrand.us, give them separate certificates and email configurations.

This foundation prevents common attacks and signals reliability to customers.

Leveraging .us for local SEO

Owning .us gives you a local advantage, but you need to connect it with SEO.

1. Create and verify your Google Business Profile with the same business details as your site.
2. Add schema.org markup for LocalBusiness, Organization, Product, and FAQPage.
3. Build city-specific pages only for places you serve. Include unique photos, reviews, and directions.
4. Offer U.S.-friendly payments such as credit cards, PayPal, and Apple Pay.
5. Publish state-specific guides on laws, rebates, or permits to earn backlinks and authority.

This combination builds both visibility and trust.

Compliance essentials

Using .us ties you to U.S. law.

• Made in USA claims: Follow FTC standards.
• CAN-SPAM Act: Clear subjects, identification, easy opt-outs, and a U.S. address in every email.
• ADA accessibility: Design to WCAG 2.1 AA standards to avoid lawsuits.
• COPPA: If you target children under 13, comply with parental consent rules.
• State privacy laws: CPRA (California), VCDPA (Virginia), CPA (Colorado). Provide opt-outs and policies.
• Sales tax nexus: Understand where you must collect tax for physical goods.

Compliance is not just legal — it reassures customers you follow rules.

Locality domains and substructures

The .us namespace also allows structured domains like city.state.us. These are mostly used by schools, municipalities, and libraries.

They tie identity to a specific place.

Private businesses usually stick with standard .us and build their own subdomains such as careers.yourbrand.us or shop.yourbrand.us.

This gives clarity while keeping control.

Using .us with .com

Many companies pair .us with .com.

• If .com is taken, .us is a strong alternative. You can acquire .com later and redirect traffic.
• If you own .com, use .us for U.S.-specific campaigns, customer support, or American product lines.
• Global brands often run .com as the hub and .us as the U.S. branch.

This dual strategy balances local focus and global reach.

Migrating to .us

If you are moving from another domain:

• Export all existing URLs.
• Map one-to-one redirects to .us pages.
• Launch with identical content for consistency.
• Verify .us in Google Search Console and submit sitemaps.
• Update citations, social handles, and profiles.
• Maintain redirects for at least 12–18 months.
• Run dual email systems during transition and align authentication.

A careful migration preserves SEO and avoids disruption.

Converting trust into sales

The signal of .us must be supported with clear promises. Customers want proof.

• Publish U.S. support hours and provide a toll-free or local number.
• State shipping windows by carrier and region.
• Replace vague seals with specific claims such as Ships from Ohio or Free 30-day returns.
• Show local reviews with customer names and states.
• Build holiday landing pages for Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, and Black Friday.

These touches make .us more than a domain — it becomes a conversion tool.

Email best practices on .us

Email works seamlessly with .us. To keep it reliable:

• Use role-based addresses such as support@ or sales@.
• Authenticate with SPF, DKIM, and DMARC.
• Warm up sending gradually.
• Comply with CAN-SPAM — include a physical U.S. address and one-click unsubscribe.

This ensures deliverability and compliance.

Content strategies for .us

Content should match the U.S. focus. Effective ideas include:

• State-by-state explainers on regulations and processes.
• Behind-the-scenes posts from American facilities.
• Local buyer’s guides with region-specific tips.
• Consumer rights and safety standards in plain language.
• FAQ hubs for major products or services.

Such content builds authority and shows you understand the U.S. market.

Demonstrating U.S. presence

Customers trust what they can verify.

• Publish a full business address.
• Add a local or toll-free phone.
• List hours with time zone.
• Name carriers like USPS or UPS.
• Display tax calculations at checkout.
• Share short team bios with names and roles.

These signals reassure visitors that you operate from within the United States.

US Domains FAQs

Can foreign companies register a .us domain?

Yes, but they must maintain a bona fide U.S. presence. This means a real, verifiable connection such as:

• A U.S. office, warehouse, or mailing address
• A distributor or sales partner with a U.S. presence
• Active, lawful business operations in the United States

The registry may ask for proof. Acceptable evidence includes incorporation documents, contracts with U.S. partners, or lease agreements for U.S. offices.

Without these, a foreign company cannot keep a .us registration.

Why is WHOIS privacy not allowed on .us?

Unlike many other extensions, .us requires transparency of ownership. Proxy and privacy services are banned under the us TLD policy.

The reason is simple: domains tied to the United States should remain accountable and not hide behind anonymous services.

If you are concerned about exposure, the best approach is to:

• Use a business address instead of a personal one
• Provide a business phone number
• Create a role-based email such as info@brand.us

This keeps your compliance intact while protecting individual privacy.

Are some names restricted under .us?

Yes. Certain categories of names cannot be freely registered. These include:

• Government-sounding names (e.g., whitehouse.us, senate.us)
• Misleading geographic names
• Names reserved for official use by state or federal entities

If you attempt to register such names, your request may be denied or suspended. Always choose names that reflect your actual business or brand.

How long should a .us name be?

The ideal range is six to fourteen characters. Short names are easier to type, remember, and brand.

While longer names are allowed, they are less effective in marketing and harder for customers to recall.

Tips for effective length:

• Avoid double letters that cause typing errors
• Use hyphens only if they clearly improve readability
• Skip unnecessary words like “the” or “online” unless essential to your identity

Do IDNs work on .us domains?

Yes, .us supports Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs).

This means you can use accented or non-ASCII characters. However, before you market heavily with IDNs, test them across browsers and email clients to ensure consistent rendering.

For example: café.us will map to its punycode form xn--caf-dma.us. While technically valid, not all users are familiar with such encodings, so test carefully.

Will migrating from .com to .us hurt my SEO?

If done properly, SEO equity can transfer smoothly. The key steps include:

• Mapping every old URL to an equivalent .us page with 301 redirects
• Maintaining identical or improved content on launch
• Updating canonical tags to the new domain
• Submitting updated sitemaps in Google Search Console
• Keeping redirects active for at least 12–18 months

Handled this way, Google recognizes the move as a permanent relocation rather than a brand-new site. Expect a short adjustment period but no long-term loss.

Does a .us domain improve paid advertising (PPC)?

Yes. In ad campaigns, the domain appears in the visible URL path.

A .us extension can:

• Increase click-through rates for American audiences
• Reinforce local trust by showing you are U.S.-based
• Differentiate you from overseas competitors using .com or exotic extensions

For example, an ad showing patriotgear.us will often outperform patriotgear-intl.com in American markets because it signals local presence.

Can I keep my .us domain if I leave the U.S.?

Yes, but only if you maintain a qualifying U.S. presence. If your company shuts down all American operations, you no longer meet Nexus and risk losing the domain.

If you plan to relocate personally, ensure your business retains a U.S. address or partner. Many foreign companies solve this by maintaining a registered U.S. agent.

Are locality domains like city.state.us available to businesses?

Generally, no.

Locality domains are delegated for municipalities, school districts, libraries, and county programs. For example, springfield.mo.us might be reserved for a city government or school board.

Private businesses typically register standard .us domains. They can then use subdomains like shop.brand.us or careers.brand.us to structure their online presence.

Will using .us limit my global reach?

Not if you structure your web presence carefully. The best approach is:

• Use .com for global branding
• Use .us for U.S.-specific campaigns, compliance, and customer support

This hub-and-spoke model allows you to tailor experiences. International customers land on .com, while American customers get local relevance through .us. Proper redirects and targeting prevent overlap.