Domain names

[Dogsbody]

Hello all,

Is it really necessary to get both the .com and the .co.uk domain names for a business website?

My current site has both, the .com directed to the .co.uk which is the one that is advertised.

I'm investigating a new offshoot company which will trade seperately and I've already got 5 domain names purchased - e.g. name1.co.uk and .com, name2.co.uk and .com and name3.co.uk. As the business takes shape name1 and name2 have bitten the dust! I'm now thinking of a variation to name3, so should I get yet another two names or just settle for the .co.uk?

Your thoughts would be appriciated.

 

[Dominic Taylor]

I'd always get .com and .co.uk to avoid confusion and cover all bases.

We're vidahost.com but have many people visit us via vidahost.co.uk for example.

 

[SpencyCWS]

To be honest, the only reason we normally buy both is to stop others trying to do a quick piggy back.

Also, some people do just type in your company name and then what they guess is the domain extension, so again, from this point of view is worth getting both focusing on one and then just redirecting the other.

 

[Posilan]

I'd always get .com and .co.uk to avoid confusion and cover all bases.

^^ This.

It's much easier to register the domain name when starting out than it is to try and get it from someone a few months down the line that may be trying to take your trade.

It's worth a tenner or so a year to protect your brand.

Steve

 

[5wire]

.com wasn't available for us but we still receive a few visits from .org and .biz.

 

[ecenica]

Hello all,

Is it really necessary to get both the .com and the .co.uk domain names for a business website?

My current site has both, the .com directed to the .co.uk which is the one that is advertised.

If the .com equivalent of your domain name is free to register than yes, I would recommend registering it before someone else has the same idea. As others have said, it can save lot's of time and money later down the line.

If it's not free then just register a couple of other TLDs like .net and .eu, or the same domain name with a hyphen in the middle. Both methods help to boost your ownership of the brand and increase chances of stray users finding your website.

Another benefit ot the .com is if your visitor enters your domain name minus the TLD bit (.com, .co.uk etc.), some browsers auto complete the domain name by tagging the .com to the end of the entry. For example, entering ecenica into Safari on this iPad then tapping enter auto directs to ecenica.com.

Do you mind me quickly asking what domain name company you registered your domain names with? Also what made you choose them? Eg price, recommendation, features, killer-offer etc.

Cheers, Rich.

 

[Dogsbody]

Rich,

I register with 123-reg who I've used before. I find their whole processes very easy to find my way round, I don't know if they are the cheapest or not, but ease of use is a high priority for me.

I have now purchased the .com to go with my .co.uk!



Many thanks to all who replied - and confirmed what I felt all-along.

Best wishes,
Martin.