.co.uk or .com for UK market

**mymoon** · 11-11-2009, 02:13 PM

I have an idea to start a forum to UK people. Both, .com and .co.uk is free.

Which one should I use as the sitename?

Is .com or .co.uk is most commen in UK?

Thanks

**ezhilraja** · 11-11-2009, 02:18 PM

buy all three - .com, .uk and .co.uk and use .co.uk and redirect others to .co.uk

**stewie** · 11-11-2009, 02:21 PM

Originally Posted by ezhilraja

buy all three - .com, .uk and .co.uk and use .co.uk and redirect others to .co.uk

i agree, or redirect to .com either way take them all

**rns621** · 11-11-2009, 02:22 PM

Originally Posted by mymoon

I have an idea to start a forum to UK people. Both, .com and .co.uk is free.

Which one should I use as the sitename?

Is .com or .co.uk is most commen in UK?

Thanks

http://www.google.com/trends?q=.com%...ate=all&sort=0
^that is a link to the historical prevalence of .com, .co.uk, within the UK
.com is more popular but .co.uk is relatively more prevalent than it was 2 or 3 years ago. hope this helps

**jmcc** · 11-11-2009, 02:22 PM

Originally Posted by mymoon

I have an idea to start a forum to UK people. Both, .com and .co.uk is free.

Which one should I use as the sitename?

Is .com or .co.uk is most commen in UK?

The .co.uk would be the best choice. Register the .com as well and point it to the .co.uk.

Regards...jmcc

**Leading Names** · 11-11-2009, 02:38 PM

Originally Posted by ezhilraja

buy all three - .com, .uk and .co.uk and use .co.uk and redirect others to .co.uk

Good luck trying to register a .uk

.co.uk first but both .co.uk and .com are widely used - register both if it's an option.

- Rob

**nparkin0** · 11-11-2009, 03:46 PM

Go for .co.uk then perhaps redirect the .com to it.

lol...I'd love to know where you'd get a .uk from

**mymoon** · 11-11-2009, 04:16 PM

I have also thinked about buying the both domains but was confused about to use .com or .co.uk.

I think the bost will be .com as main domain and pointing .co.uk to .com. The google trends show .com's using much more. And it's easy to spell than .co.uk

Thanks for the information

**fuelcells** · 11-12-2009, 12:21 AM

Originally Posted by mymoon

I have also thinked about buying the both domains but was confused about to use .com or .co.uk.

I think the bost will be .com as main domain and pointing .co.uk to .com. The google trends show .com's using much more. And it's easy to spell than .co.uk

Thanks for the information

I think I read somewhere that most of the users out there prefer.co.uk ... they also might specify in a google search that they only want to view websites based in the uk (up to 45%)... best to have site on co.uk, also have it hosted there, and have com point to it. Definitely don't forgo the cctld... and get the com if you can.

**newvista** · 11-12-2009, 09:31 AM

UK users seem to prefer a .co.uk extension especially if the site is aimed at the UK market, obviously buy the .com and redirect as others have advised.

**Onward** · 11-12-2009, 09:35 AM

If both are available...quit looking at this thread and go buy them both - now...then debate on what to use...

I think this is an easy debate though...if it is a UK audience...use the .co.uk and forward the .com/

**Dale Hubbard** · 11-12-2009, 09:42 AM

I'd suggest very strongly indeed that if your audience is the UK, you should use the .co.uk and have the others point there.

**britishbulldog** · 11-13-2009, 07:47 PM

for the sake of $20 get both,surely your not that desperate ?

**mymoon** · 11-15-2009, 03:02 PM

Thanks for your comment, but the problem is not about money.

It's about which to use as main site name, .com or .co.uk?

I'm still confused, but going to use .co.uk as main address.

Originally Posted by britishbulldog

for the sake of $20 get both,surely your not that desperate ?

**SIKHboy** · 11-15-2009, 03:04 PM

for uk people and rank good in search engine for uk people.

then develop the .co.uk and reg the .com as well and redirect to .co.uk and u will get more uk traffic.

**britishbulldog** · 11-15-2009, 04:25 PM

Originally Posted by mymoon

Thanks for your comment, but the problem is not about money.

It's about which to use as main site name, .com or .co.uk?

I'm still confused, but going to use .co.uk as main address.

.com is king although u.k people search for u.k first (apparently) and redirect u.k to .com

No confusion,go for .com for definitely

**Zeeble** · 11-16-2009, 04:36 AM

I would recommend using the .co.uk domain if you are doing business in the UK.

A lot of UK customers assume that you are a US based company unless you are using a .uk extension. UK customers usually like to think that they are dealing with someone from their own country (due to a touch of xenophobia).

**gpmgroup** · 11-16-2009, 08:44 AM

If you want to rank well in the UK search engines -

A .co.uk can be hosted anywhere
a .com must be hosted in the UK*

* it is possible to do it outside the UK but it will take a lot of extra effort.

Some of our clients use .co.uk some use .com

.co.uk works well if a physical presence in the UK would be seen as an advantage .i.e. goods bought sold, guarantees, telephone support and shipping costs.

.com can many you look "bigger" i.e. a worldwide company rather than a local UK business