.com, .co.uk, .net or all 3 for new start up website?

[Chloe Brown Summers]

we are starting our new website and would like to know if we should buy .co.uk only, or .com, and or .net?
All 3 are available.
Also, shall we just register the names first and then look for hosting packages/sites once we are ready to move on?
As we are not sure of success, should we register the names initially for one year, or longer?
Thanks

 

[Lucan Unlordly]

Not sure about .net, but I always buy .com and .co.uk when available.

For the few pounds a year they cost, why do otherwise?

 

[webhostuk]

I would personally be fine with .co.uk and .com if both are available.

 

[TotalWebSolutions]

.com and .co.uk are the main two to cover so if these are available grab them in the first instance and then you can add hosting/website when ready (safe in the knowledge you can market on your registered names).

As for how long to register them for you will be getting 1 year minimum but can extend them by up to a further 9 years in the first instance should you decide the business is a success and you want to make sure you secure them long-term. That being said, some would argue that Google and other search engines would look more favorably on a domain with a longer expiry date.

Best of luck with the new website/business.

 

[CharlieHooray]

I went for .com and .co.uk but only use .co.uk currently...only cost £6.99 a year so thought might as well buy before a competitor or someone else snaps it up

 

[Craig3141]

Google will rank you differently depending on if your .uk or .com

While some people only trust .com.

Selling internationally? Buy both redirect .uk to .com. selling locally? Everyone searching on Google UK for you? Buy both. Redirect .com to .uk.

 

[EddyRock]

If you sell your products/services globally, choose .com
If you sell your products/services in UK and other nearby countries, choose .co.uk
Do not use .net

 

[glengraving]

any experiences with newer / regional suffixes, such as .scot ?
getting in with one of these (if it makes sense for your target market) could give you access to a simpler/more iconic url

however, it could just confuse the layman who expects everything to be a .com/.co.uk

 

[fisicx]

It confuses a lot of people. Stick with the standard TLDs.

Another thing to consider is if you have something.scot and someone else has something.co.uk people won’t know which one to click on.

Abound the only way it can work is if all your marketing is via email, social media or some other online source excluding the search engines.

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

My company was one of the first transport companys to have a website in Devon and Cornwall

It is totally irrelevant unless you are trading out of the UK . Com is good but .co.uk just confirms what country you are in

It does not make any difference .Aim to start your site with the view to gaining some good reviews from real genuine customers within the first three months

Make sure these reviews are easy for your potential customers to see and back it up with some social media

 

[GURUCLOUD]

If they are free now I would register them rather than a few years down as you can bet your mortgage that someone else will if you don't (and then try to flog it to you!)