.co.uk or .com

[khalid]

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]

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

 

[springer]

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]

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]

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]

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]

Thanks for the replies guys, really helps!

 

[neildonn]

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]

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]

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

 

[domainseller200]

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

Yep I would 100% agree with Scott on this. I have lots of experience of this happening too and have been doing SEO for 5 years+ myself.

I have also heard this echoed by lots of top class Seo people also (David Naylor included)

 

[nnh]

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.

US based servers will not effect a .co.uk ranking in google.co.uk at all...Its the .uk that counts...

 

[itrends]

Yup, Dave N did make a rant about it... however that was back in May, not long after this option came out.

Plus:


John Mu:
"Hi Dave, in general it can take quite some time for the effect of this setting to be visible. How long ago did you set it? I’ve moved my personal site all around Europe with this setting (it’s currently enjoying the sun in Italy ) and it has generally worked as expected."

Someone else:
and "Takes 8-14 weeks to kick. I was told by one of their team that it is/was being worked on, so this might have come down by now."

Either way, I guess it all comes back to the "per case" basis for every site to be honest. Depends on niche, content, competition in addition to the usual optimisation, links etc etc.

Will just agree to disagree at this junture as I have seen nothing but great success (traffic, rankings and sales) on 30+ sites that I have used this set up on... but I will admit up front that I host most of them on UK servers which is likely making a difference.

To be safe / sure you should go with .co.uk and uk servers then as I may be an exception to the rule.

 

[springer]

US based servers will not effect a .co.uk ranking in google.co.uk at all...Its the .uk that counts...

Yes mate, which is exactly what i said: "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".