.co.uk or .com

khalid · 28-10-2008, 03:55:56 PM

Hi all,

Not wanting to open a large discussion over which is better, my question relates to UK searches only.

In your opinion, to rank better in Google.co.uk, should I use the .com or the .co.uk?

Thanks,

Khalid

ScottJ · 28-10-2008, 04:13:50 PM

For ranking in Google.co.uk in my experience your better with the .co.uk

springer · 28-10-2008, 04:20:56 PM

Where your nameservers are located may also have some bearing on how well you rank in Google UK. If your nameservers are for example in the US then you may not show up in Google UK.

However, in my experience if you have nameservers outside of the UK but have a .co.uk domain name then you should still feature in UK searches.

khalid · 28-10-2008, 05:01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DomainDailyUK

Where your nameservers are located may also have some bearing on how well you rank in Google UK. If your nameservers are for example in the US then you may not show up in Google UK.

However, in my experience if you have nameservers outside of the UK but have a .co.uk domain name then you should still feature in UK searches.

Thanks Scott.

My nameservers are in the states.

Would you buy both the .com and .co.uk or just go for the .co.uk???

ScottJ · 28-10-2008, 05:14:00 PM

Depends on what it was, if it had search traffic and was a global interest/product I'd reg the .com as well if it was available but if it was a UK specific term/product then unless it was free to reg or cheap I wouldn't concern myself about the .com. Really varies case by case for me though.

springer · 28-10-2008, 05:20:19 PM

If the domain name has keywords that people search for (use the google keyword tool) then register the .com also. If only those in the UK search for it then stick with .co.uk.

Personally, i would always register the .com if it is available.

khalid · 28-10-2008, 05:22:39 PM

Thanks for the replies guys, really helps!

neildonn · 28-10-2008, 05:42:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DomainDailyUK

Where your nameservers are located may also have some bearing on how well you rank in Google UK. If your nameservers are for example in the US then you may not show up in Google UK.

However, in my experience if you have nameservers outside of the UK but have a .co.uk domain name then you should still feature in UK searches.

From my experience you would be better changing them to a UK server, but placing them onto a server in the US will only effect search results to a minimum.

As you are looking at the UK market only I'd go for the .co.uk.

itrends · 28-10-2008, 07:34:04 PM

Doesn't matter.
Create a webmaster tools account with Google.
Log in.
Go to the geographic target page.
Set your site to target the UK.
Job done.

So you can use either domain.

But for brand / business building I would get both extensions and maybe even .net if it is there.
If the business starts growing quickly then buy up anything else you can too before its too late.

Also remember that people in the uk still often go to www.google.com. And unless they have the google toolbar or the UK cookie, it wont redirect them to google.co.uk. (Hat tip, if you go to google.com and it redirects you, you can go to www.google.com/ncr which stands for no country redirect. Will keep you on .com

)

I have been an SEO specialist for 6+ years.

ScottJ · 28-10-2008, 08:03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by itrends

Doesn't matter.
Create a webmaster tools account with Google.
Log in.
Go to the geographic target page.
Set your site to target the UK.
Job done.

So you can use either domain.

I'd have to disagree from experience that running .net's & .com's against a .co.uk on the same server under tests do not do so well, that's with setting the geo domain in webmaster tools which does not work as it should.

I have heard of others experiencing the same

28-10-2008, 03:55:56 PM	#1 (permalink)
khalid Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 708 No Classified Ratings Domain Trader Rating: (100% / 11)	.co.uk or .com Hi all, Not wanting to open a large discussion over which is better, my question relates to UK searches only. In your opinion, to rank better in Google.co.uk, should I use the .com or the .co.uk? Thanks, Khalid __________________ Khalid \| Edinburgh Taxi \| Glasgow Taxi \| Finance Backlinks \| Double Glazing \| Factual Finance

28-10-2008, 04:13:50 PM	#2 (permalink)
ScottJ Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Aberdeenshire, Scotland Posts: 1,362 No Classified Ratings Domain Trader Rating: (100% / 16)	For ranking in Google.co.uk in my experience your better with the .co.uk __________________ Sites: SJ : Ring : Genes Blog: : Self Made Minds : Twitter

28-10-2008, 05:14:00 PM	#5 (permalink)
ScottJ Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Aberdeenshire, Scotland Posts: 1,362 No Classified Ratings Domain Trader Rating: (100% / 16)	Depends on what it was, if it had search traffic and was a global interest/product I'd reg the .com as well if it was available but if it was a UK specific term/product then unless it was free to reg or cheap I wouldn't concern myself about the .com. Really varies case by case for me though. __________________ Sites: SJ : Ring : Genes Blog: : Self Made Minds : Twitter

28-10-2008, 07:34:04 PM	#9 (permalink)
itrends Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 404 No Classified Ratings Domain Trader Rating: (0% / 0)	Doesn't matter. Create a webmaster tools account with Google. Log in. Go to the geographic target page. Set your site to target the UK. Job done. So you can use either domain. But for brand / business building I would get both extensions and maybe even .net if it is there. If the business starts growing quickly then buy up anything else you can too before its too late. Also remember that people in the uk still often go to www.google.com. And unless they have the google toolbar or the UK cookie, it wont redirect them to google.co.uk. (Hat tip, if you go to google.com and it redirects you, you can go to www.google.com/ncr which stands for no country redirect. Will keep you on .com ) I have been an SEO specialist for 6+ years. __________________ oooo Dog stuff at the DogPod. Last edited by itrends; 28-10-2008 at 07:39:16 PM.

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28-10-2008, 04:20:56 PM	#3 (permalink)
springer Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 453 No Classified Ratings Domain Trader Rating: (100% / 14)	Where your nameservers are located may also have some bearing on how well you rank in Google UK. If your nameservers are for example in the US then you may not show up in Google UK. However, in my experience if you have nameservers outside of the UK but have a .co.uk domain name then you should still feature in UK searches.

28-10-2008, 05:20:19 PM	#6 (permalink)
springer Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 453 No Classified Ratings Domain Trader Rating: (100% / 14)	If the domain name has keywords that people search for (use the google keyword tool) then register the .com also. If only those in the UK search for it then stick with .co.uk. Personally, i would always register the .com if it is available.

28-10-2008, 05:22:39 PM	#7 (permalink)
khalid Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 708 No Classified Ratings Domain Trader Rating: (100% / 11)	Thanks for the replies guys, really helps!