.com or .co.uk

[Blue Sky Accounts]

Hi Guys.

I have just finished my application for a Limited company.

My next step is to get a website/email address set up. I have purchased both .com and .uk web addresses.

What extension do you thing is more professional? or does it not matter?

Thanks for your help in advance!

 

[RobertN]

I'd recommend you to use the .com domain as your main and only. Don't use any others to avoid any effect on further SEO scoring. There is no explanation why you should go for .com it is my personal opinion - however, it has to do something when it comes to branding and you would like your business to be appreciated worldwide.

 

[tukhnet]

If your business is international, then you should use the .com domain. But if your business is only in the UK, then use the .co.uk domain.

 

[Ian J]

If your business is international, then you should use the .com domain. But if your business is only in the UK, then use the .co.uk domain.

Agreed

 

[susanhiggscreative]

If you are only ever going to be aiming at the uk market then .co.uk is fine ( it's good that you have bought .com too thought to reserve the name and stop anyone else buying it )

If you plan on offering services worldwide at any point then use the .com

Either way you can set something up so if someone visits the other by mistake it will automatically forward them onto the 'active' one.

Hope this helps

 

[Blue Sky Accounts]

Hi guys.

To start with I will be targeting uk registered companies. But it may be international one day (you need to dream big!).

Would you recommend buying the other extensions (.uk .org etc) or would that be overkill?

 

[Chris Ashdown]

Just keep the two .com and .co.uk

Many people when googling put .co.uk after the search to cut out the dross

 

[webhostuk]

Right you need to keep both , but use .com for your main website design.You can have 301 redirect for co.uk domain to point to the main site.

 

[pentel]

Just to clarify... in the title of the thread you mention .co.uk, but in the body you mention .uk. I would only go for the.co.uk option of these 2, but would definitely register the .com version as well.

 

[susanhiggscreative]

I use .com for mine. Whilst I mainly work for UK clients - I am able and willing to work for non UK clients so I've just set it to that from the start.

There is no harm using the .com one. Like I said, set up the .co.uk one to automatically divert people to the .com one if they end up at the wrong site.

Personally I wouldn't bother with all the other versions if you have .com and .co.uk but others may know better

 

[dbzane1]

.com ofc

 

[Ashley_Price]

My feeling is if people want to find you, they will find you, it doesn't matter whether you have .com or .co.uk.

When I had the transcription business and the web address ended .co.uk - I got a long term contract with a company in Western Australia and was hired by a government-backed organisation in Abu Dhabi.

Would you want to hide your postal address so it doesn't show which country you are located in, just in case it puts people off using you? Why should a web address extension be any different?

Admittedly, the firm I now sell mobile phones for, although based in the UK, has a .com address, but that's because their full name is "Lewes Mobile Communications" so they play on it with "Lewes Mobile.Communications" in their advertising and paperwork.

 

[DontAsk]

My feeling is if people want to find you, they will find you, it doesn't matter whether you have .com or .co.uk.

+1

Would you want to hide your postal address so it doesn't show which country you are located in, just in case it puts people off using you? Why should a web address extension be any different?

+1

It really doesn't matter IMO, but do register both to prevent a competitor muscling in.

 

[NiceCat]

As others have said it's not going to make a massive difference either way, the main thing is you have both so one can redirect to which ever you choose.

 

[RobertN]

Guys, it will make a massive difference if you're talking about branding. All serious brands have .com and don't use local domains that they started with for reason. Becaus, later on it will have sense. What if French people would avoid your business because it co.uk and so on....

 

[NiceCat]

Guys, it will make a massive difference if you're talking about branding. All serious brands have .com and don't use local domains that they started with for reason. Becaus, later on it will have sense. What if French people would avoid your business because it co.uk and so on....

Good point

 

[NCapital]

As mentioned, the only real difference between domains these days is people's perception of them. For me personally, I'd register a few of the "big" top-level domains (.com, .net, .org, etc.) and simply redirect them all to one site (the .com, for example). Although, for me, it's more about preventing others from registering a similar domain, rather than there being a real need to have different domains myself.

Also, don't forget that there hundreds of new top level domains for specific areas of interest. You might find quite a niche domain name that perfectly fits your business. (I myself have registered a .capital domain name.)

 

[menetworkjadaltd]

haha, I've never heard of anyone putting .co.uk in the search engines before... maybe I should try

 

[Ian J]

Guys, it will make a massive difference if you're talking about branding. All serious brands have .com and don't use local domains that they started with for reason.

I've spent the morning buying stuff from amazon.co.uk as well as flights from monarch.co.uk which disproves your theory

 

[RobertN]

Well if you alone can disapprove another 2billion+ of internet users then yep. Amazon uses multiple domain names because SEO doesn't affect them anymore. They also have multiple departments across the world with different currencies related to different products and promotions - that's why you simply cannot buy from amazon.com and get items shipped to UK you will be forwarded to their UK department.

It is not based on people's opinions it's based on psychological behaviour etc. but you have to do deep research how domain name will affect your business in future and what is your business vision. If you're a local small business then you choose local domains if your business vision is an international brand you have to have .com. Don't overwrite history with just an opinion

 

[Rob @ Love2night uk]

Your lucky getting both - Id stick with .co.uk if your not fussed about bring global you will rank higher in UK search

 

[jamesbaldock]

If your business is international, then you should use the .com domain. But if your business is only in the UK, then use the .co.uk domain.

I agree. If you're in the UK, use the .co.uk

 

[menetworkjadaltd]

Logistically, it doesn't really matter.
It may matter to your customers though.
What do you think they would prefer?

 

[ethical PR]

Guys, it will make a massive difference if you're talking about branding. All serious brands have .com and don't use local domains that they started with for reason. Becaus, later on it will have sense. What if French people would avoid your business because it co.uk and so on....

I don't agree lots of global brands have URL's linked to individual countries ie Amazon. Airbnb.

 

[mattr888]

my view is if you are going to only be uk then use .co.uk I think it gives it a bit more of a personal touch and makes it feel less corporate, as it feels more local if that is the approach you are going for currently.

In the future, you can always setup forwarding so you can move everything to .com when your bigger and multi national or more corporate and use that as your site then.

 

[John123john]

I think the same! Better to use .com cause this one used everywhere, so co.uk tell, that your website is only for UK.

 

[Ashley_Price]

It really doesn't matter IMO, but do register both to prevent a competitor muscling in

How likely is that to happen unless your website becomes especially popular?

Over the years I have had several website addresses for different businesses, all ending ".co.uk" and not once has someone bought the .com version to try and "mirror" my services.

I have received emails from scam domain name agencies saying someone is looking to buy the ".com" version of my address and I can secure it for just $XXX, but, strangely enough, the supposed purchaser disappeared when I ignored the email.

 

[mcmm]

I have a UK Limited company and opted for the .com as my main site and a simple redirect for my .co.uk I personally think the .com is easier for people to remember

 

[Free.stockphoto.com]

Domain names are marketing tools. Tools to help gain, convert and retain customers. Their value lies in their ability to do so (and the value of those customers).

I think the decision to go with com or uk depends on which customer you're targeting and whichever customer brand recall would be better. If you're unsure then my tip is to check out what your top competitor is doing. For example, if you're competing with Sports Direct then I would use the .com like they do.

Hope that helps.

 

[Ian J]

Over the years I have had several website addresses for different businesses, all ending ".co.uk" and not once has someone bought the .com version to try and "mirror" my services.

I think that it depends on what you are selling. In my industry for example everyone seems to want the word factoring somewhere in the domain so are more likely to grab a variant of an existing name if it's available

I have received emails from scam domain name agencies saying someone is looking to buy the ".com" version of my address and I can secure it for just $XXX, but, strangely enough, the supposed purchaser disappeared when I ignored the email.

I tend to reply saying that your client can have it as I don't want it

 

[splashweb]

For me .com's are better than ccTLD's if you want a strong corporate presence, but for many of us that will remain a dream, so being realistic about the future is important too. The beauty of .uk names is the .uk extension, it can help with both click-through and conversion rates in your marketing, which makes sense if you're serving UK traffic; it tells everyone where your business is based (usually!). I'd be tempted to acquire some of the ccTLD's from other countries you think you may move into at some point, and consider using them for local presence. Use the .com for sure, but perhaps later on, more as a central hub for your corporate presence. Depends on the product and other factors too though, no clear cut rules with these decisions.

As far as defensive registrations are concerned then I would definitely include the .uk as well as the .co.uk. Most new sites I develop I now launch on .uk, with forwarding setup on the .co.uk. It may well be some years before the .uk gains any real traction, but personally I'm confident it will eventually, and leave .co.uk behind. The .uk domains will become more topical once the registration of them is opened up on 10th June 2019. Important for all businesses to own both though, as the process (if it happens) will take years.

As for the new TLD's I'm very sceptical. There are a few which feel like they may be viable, eg. .web, but the large majority of them I wouldn't consider; no geographical locator in the address, plus uncertainty about whether the TLD will remain viable in the medium to long term, plus the registration fees to achieve this.

 

[webdesignnewcastle]

If you have both use the .com

 

[LeasingEval]

Will redirecting the ..co.uk site to the .com one have a negative impact on SEO?
I do this and am having real problems with my site ranking on google.

 

[ThePrufeshanul]

What's the main reason startups fail?

Cashflow.

You don't ewant to be deluged with orders you can't fulfill.

Use the .co.uk and get things running correctly. When you are ready to expand to the global market you have the .com address anyway so you can cross that bridge when you come to it. IN teh meantime build your identity and brand.

 

[webdesignnewcastle]

Will redirecting the ..co.uk site to the .com one have a negative impact on SEO?
I do this and am having real problems with my site ranking on google.

If you do a redirect Google only sees the live domain name. The redirect does not register on Google. Only your live domain name.

Buying both .co.uk and .com all you're doing is protecting your brand online. If you want to truly protect your domain name and brand online buy a file for a trademark.

I have some customer use DPML - Domains Protected Marks List which is expensive and you need a trademark but protects your trademark online for 5 years. The Domains Protected Marks List (or DPML) protects trademark holders against cybersquatting at a fraction of the cost of defensively and individually registering the terms across all Donuts domains. DPML stop cybersquatting trying to buy other domains like .guru .business ect.

 

[Coversure Hull]

If your business is international, then you should use the .com domain. But if your business is only in the UK, then use the .co.uk domain.

This. But if you plan on moving international from just trading in the UK then get the .com