Is .uk the future?

[amfletchers]

As an example, I own OldDomain.co.uk which is a long established website.

I have bought the domain NewDomain.co.uk and .uk which is a far superior domain from a user and keyword standpoint. I'm planning to move the entire site over to the new domain but this brings an important question. Is the .uk the future and should I be using this as my main domain? Or should I stick with the .co.uk?

 

[lazarus]

This is down to individual perception.
Personally I think yes but the next guy will say no.

 

[martin-s]

Happy to be the next guy

 

[lazarus]

Ah in timely fashion too

 

[Edwin]

Stick with the .co.uk, especially if you plan to bring your audience with you - they're used to the extension.

 

[dee]

I think uk will take over. Its shorter. People like shorter. More sites will start to proliferate as the right to own finishes and it will become normal.

 

[Sam]

Stick with the .co.uk, especially if you plan to bring your audience with you - they're used to the extension.

Yes very true stick with co.uk its going to take many years for the uk to gain any sort of traction

 

[dee]

Stick with the .co.uk, especially if you plan to bring your audience with you - they're used to the extension.

Yes very true stick with co.uk its going to take many years for the uk to gain any sort of traction

Okay... so appreciate you guys have probably much more experience than me, so genuine question. If you have the co.uk and uk and one is forwarded to whichever extension you decide to use, is traction an issue ? Surely if you decide to go shorter with the uk then they end up there anyway, and if you retain the customer/visitor it just become normality to them anyway.

 

[Lucky Luke]

The .uk will get there - it will take a little while, but not as long as some .co.uk diehards believe, in my humble opinion.

 

[martin-s]

Okay... so appreciate you guys have probably much more experience than me, so genuine question. If you have the co.uk and uk and one is forwarded to whichever extension you decide to use, is traction an issue ? Surely if you decide to go shorter with the uk then they end up there anyway, and if you retain the customer/visitor it just become normality to them anyway.

Depends if you care about brand recognition - why make the battle harder?

 

[dee]

Depends if you care about brand recognition - why make the battle harder?

Thats the bit I dont get though. Surely the brand is whatever you make it. If you make it the uk version then it becomes that. For instance... bit.ly

 

[Murray]

Has there ever been a case where a second level has been historically used then the top level has been made available and taken over?

 

[martin-s]

Thats the bit I dont get though. Surely the brand is whatever you make it. If you make it the uk version then it becomes that. For instance... bit.ly

You'll have to spend more time explaining .uk to people than you would .co.uk.

 

[dee]

Has there ever been a case where a second level has been historically used then the top level has been made available and taken over?

Has the top level been made available happened much with other cc's ?

 

[dee]

You'll have to spend more time explaining .uk to people than you would .co.uk

mmmmm... possibly, but then people are getting so much more tech savvy these days. I dont think that many people pay attention . You dont have to explain the difference beteween a net, com or a co.uk . People just either click the link or type it in if its where they want to go. I think people are generally becoming extension blind ( as long as its trusted in a general sense, obviously not many brits would type in a com.au)

 

[scottmccloud]

People just either click the link or type it in if its where they want to go.

I can probably count the number of times I've typed a full domain in the last 12 months on one hand.

 

[dee]

I can probably count the number of times I've typed a full domain in the last 12 months on one hand.

Good point.... I hadnt even thought of browser auto complete( if thats what you meant) Surely that makes the extension even less important. Or did i miss the point?

If youre a return visitor that is.

 

[scottmccloud]

No, you didn't miss the point. It does make the extension less important (which could be said to be good for the .uk) but it also means there's no real reason for a company that has a strong .co.uk brand to convert to the .uk.

 

[dee]

No, you didn't miss the point. It does make the extension less important (which could be said to be good for the .uk) but it also means there's no real reason for a company that has a strong .co.uk brand to convert to the .uk.

No of course... not suggesting anyone with a strong co.uk should suddenly do rebrand. If you own both then the punter end up at the same place anyway.

 

[dog]

Why we moved to .uk

https://www.heartinternet.uk/blog/why-we-moved-to-uk/