A question for my US and other nationality friends...would a .co.uk put you off?

[Gary And Billy]

Hi

I created a product that was initially targetted to a targetted UK bricks and mortar niche audience.

All of my marketing is done by direct mail which works well.

However, I think that I am wasting a valuable opportunity by not opening up my product to an International audience and letting affiliates promote it.

The only problem is, in my shortsightedness, I set it up on a co.uk domain name. The domain was perfect but the .com had already gone, although the owner isn't using it for anything and hasn't for a some months.

As a non-UK citizen, would you be put off buying from a co.uk site or would it not make a difference to you?

I would be interested in your thoughts.

Thank you

Gary

[Kay King]

I'd be put off only if it were a physical product.

[Gary And Billy]

Originally Posted by Kay King

I'd be put off only if it were a physical product.

Thanks for your thoughts Kay.

It is a monthly digital product, so hopefully everybody else will think the same as you

Gary

[abo28]

No, it wouldn't put me off.

I generally trust British merchants on the net.

[David Raybould]

Hey Gary,

Why not contact the guy and make him
an offer?

You can quite often grab the domains
for a song, especially if they aren't
being used.

And if you can, did you check the .net
version?

That can work just as well

David

[Lloyd Buchinski]

It wouldn't make the slightest difference to me what the extension is, if it is something I'm interested in. One of the more frequently recommended free image sites around here, and the only one I've used so far is sxc.hu and I suppose the .hu means Hungary? but never bothered to check. Never saw the slightest whimper about it not being a .com.

Of course I live in Canada where the .com is the one you don't want to type in. Dell.com is the one that won't deliver to Canada (at least the last time I checked) and dell.ca is the one you want to go to.

[Dan C. Rinnert]

Originally Posted by Gary And Billy

As a non-UK citizen, would you be put off buying from a co.uk site or would it not make a difference to you?

It depends. The .co.uk isn't the issue, though. It's only that it highlights that you are UK-based.

You mentioned that your product targeted a "UK bricks and mortar niche audience." The question I would have is how applicable is it to the U.S. (my) market? For example, if the members of your audience are electricians, I would have doubts as to how applicable a "business for electricians" product would be for a U.S. market. Not only are the electrical systems different, but there are differences in business regulations as well.

So, if that's the type of product you have, the fact that it's UK based is going to be an issue.

If the product is something where such differences don't exist or matter, then it wouldn't be an issue at all.

[Gary And Billy]

Originally Posted by Dan C. Rinnert

It depends. The .co.uk isn't the issue, though. It's only that it highlights that you are UK-based.

You mentioned that your product targeted a "UK bricks and mortar niche audience." The question I would have is how applicable is it to the U.S. (my) market? For example, if the members of your audience are electricians, I would have doubts as to how applicable a "business for electricians" product would be for a U.S. market. Not only are the electrical systems different, but there are differences in business regulations as well.

So, if that's the type of product you have, the fact that it's UK based is going to be an issue.

If the product is something where such differences don't exist or matter, then it wouldn't be an issue at all.

Thanks for taking the time to reply everybody. I appreciate it.

I was putting off contacting the person in case he realises there is a value to the dot.com name, so am sitting back waiting for it to expire.

Dan, although the product isn't country specific there are some things that would need to be tweaked in the product to make it truly universal, but apart from that it would be applicable to any of the outlets around the world in this niche.

I think I have enough confidence to move ahead with this now.

Thank you very much every one.

Gary

[Ernie Lonardo]

I must admit YES it would effect me in my buying decision.

I would get the feeling that the product was focused on UK residents even though it may not be the case.

[Gary And Billy]

Ernie, Ernie, Ernie...

That put a fly in the ointment, just as I had made my mind up LOL

Gary

[JimmyD]

I know this sounds odd, but I would be a bit put off and I'm from London...
as someone else said, get the .net or otherwise get a very similar .com or .net and wait for the drop on your one.

[Gary And Billy]

Originally Posted by JimmyD

I know this sounds odd, but I would be a bit put off and I'm from London...
as someone else said, get the .net or otherwise get a very similar .com or .net and wait for the drop on your one.

Jimmy

It DOES sound odd...considering you are only 300 miles down the road from me LOL

Now I am in a quandary. I'm blaming you and Ernie

Gary