14 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
14 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

UK Domain Names: .co.uk/.com

by Warrior Markets
12 replies
Just a quick question:

If I wanted to set up a website which was only relevant to the UK market, would it be better to get the .co.uk domain name or the .com (both are available).

I am also aware getting both would be best, but if I had to choose, which would be the better choice?

Thanks
#couk or com #domain #names
  • Profile picture of the author howinfo
    I agree with Traffic Bug, I do have some sites as well that are only for UK market and I did get .co.uk extension. I do live in UK myself and if I do a search for something in UK I do tend to click on .co.uk extension fist.
    Signature
    webhow.org
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1837770].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Graham Maddison
    I would also consider .eu

    I have a couple of .eu domains which bring in visitors from uk
    Signature
    Trade without Boundaries.
    Start with $30 Trading Bonus.
    No Deposit Required
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1838092].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Mohsin Rasool
    Hi,

    I would go for .co.uk

    I have a niche site which caters to a topic which is related to UK only, and I picked for that .co.uk and it is performing good. Google gives you love in google.co.uk search results and also users of UK like your domain and spend time there as they know it is related to them and not to whole world out there.

    Regards,
    Mohsin
    Signature
    Warriors4Hire: WordPress & GENESIS Experts | Custom WP Theme | WordPress Troubleshooting | Customizations | WP Security | Responsive Themes

    My Business site: WarMarks - Web Development | My Personal Blog: Mohsin Rasool
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1838157].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Adam Sussman
    Ist choice would .co.uk with a redirect to .com
    2nd choice .co.uk
    Signature
    "He elicits the same kind of admiration one would feel for a streaker at Queen Victorias funeral."

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1838559].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Kenneth L
    I personally like .sco!

    Secondly, I quite like .eu.

    I'm not too sure if I like .co.uk... feels more out of date everyday... anyway I almost always take .com if I can get it.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1838753].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Magpieguy
    I always go .com but good advice from traffic bug, so both I suppose
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1838779].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author lisatorres
    Banned
    [DELETED]
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1838819].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Frank Donovan
      I agree with Traffic-Bug.

      It would be a folly, IMO, to build up a business/reputation on, say, a .co.uk domain and then have a competitor/emulator waltz in and feed off all that goodwill by snapping up the available .com. You need to get them both.

      With a UK-specific business, my advice would be to set it up on a .co.uk domain and a UK-based host/server. Then redirect the .com URL to your main site.

      Depending on how you intend to grow your business, I'd also consider getting the .net and .org URLs.


      Frank
      Signature


      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1838966].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
    Banned
    I've read that co.uk is preferred by UK users ... they will click on that first if it is UK specific topic they are interested in.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1838927].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
      Originally Posted by sbucciarel View Post

      I've read that co.uk is preferred by UK users ...
      I certainly prefer it, and I'm American.

      And geez, Suzanne, WTF with the avatar change?! Who do you think you are, Dick Bong?
      Signature
      "The Golden Town is the Golden Town no longer. They have sold their pillars for brass and their temples for money, they have made coins out of their golden doors. It is become a dark town full of trouble, there is no ease in its streets, beauty has left it and the old songs are gone." - Lord Dunsany, The Messengers
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1842029].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Ruth P
    I will give my opinion as a browser - if I'm searching for a topic relevant to the UK and need specifically UK info/services etc I would rather click on a .co.uk domain than a .com domain (purely because I scan the results, and a lot of the time google brings non-UK based info, so clicking a UK domain as a searcher is a safer option for me).

    If I were looking for UK information I'd also rather click a .co.uk than a .eu domain.

    But I agree with comments above, if you can get both but then use the .co.uk as your main site URL.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1838961].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Warrior Markets
      Thanks for the replies.

      Yes, this is one of the factors I was looking at, ie, as a user, would you be more likely to click on a .co.uk domain; it seems that only a few years ago, people would only consider the .com domains, but now .co.uk domains are easily able to hold their own - at least with regards to UK-specific websites.

      The other factor is who Google would look upon more favourably: bluewidgets.co.uk or bluewidgets.com (all other things being equal).

      Originally Posted by Ruth P View Post

      I will give my opinion as a browser - if I'm searching for a topic relevant to the UK and need specifically UK info/services etc I would rather click on a .co.uk domain than a .com domain (purely because I scan the results, and a lot of the time google brings non-UK based info, so clicking a UK domain as a searcher is a safer option for me).

      If I were looking for UK information I'd also rather click a .co.uk than a .eu domain.

      But I agree with comments above, if you can get both but then use the .co.uk as your main site URL.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1841976].message }}

Trending Topics