Dare to dream... the optimistic thread

[Edwin]

For the purpose of this thread only, could we please leave cynicism at the door?

It would be nice to talk a little bit about what happens if Nominet's most optimistic view turns out to be right about .uk and a strong demand materialises for the extension, with significant interest from businesses.

What might that do to the aftermarket? To the UK namespace's "relative value" relationship with .com? To online marketing in general, and the UK internet economy?

Could it for example help push more companies (especially the small biz/sole trader segment) into finally taking the plunge and getting a web presence organised?

Will a "good" (i.e. high quality generic) domain become seen as more of a badge of quality than it is now?

Please jump in and share your thoughts. The above are just a few questions to kick things off - they're not meant to shape or limit the debate...

 

[Stephen]

.uk future

I think the advertising and news items on all the new GTLD's will bring domain names and websites on to the agenda for many businesses, organizations and individuals.

The GLTD's although I see a lot of them flopping will attract new speculation to the domain market place, new shiny things, first floor buying and registration price not secondary market prices driving demand.

However I think the more serious businesses will look to .uk as a great option to start new online ventures.

When it is clear the best/cheapest way to obtain .uk is to register your .co.uk (it would be helpful if Nominet launched the tool to show if it would definitely get the .uk, sooner than later) it should holt the decline of the UK registry which has been effectively static for at least 3 months.

A fuller registry helps hold or improve secondary prices.

My experience is for every new online idea I have, when I go and check .co.uk domain availability 9 out of 10 are already registered, so to obtain the .uk you effectively take the 1 in 10 and register it or you purchase the .co.uk, if the price is right for your venture.

So .uk sales I believe will increase but they will massively increase with .co.uk / .uk being bundled, it just makes the sale easier but I feel clients will not want to pay twice for the same thing.

Yesterday I had a rare enquiry that was looking at spending over £1,000 (I know I don't have the best portfolio, mine usually sell £200 / £500) but it is sign of hope.

Under the 5 year rule, if it is explained properly to registrants and businesses, I don't think you will see a huge rush to register and start seeing them on vans so take up and knowledge will be slower than some might expect.

 

[Edwin]

I think we'll start to see companies taking advantage of having 2 "attractive" web addresses, especially if they're spending heavily on Adwords and the web addresses in question are relevant generics.

At the moment, they may well have to compromise on the index page of their site, because it has to serve both organic and paid search visitors.

But they could take one or other of the .co.uk/.uk names and dedicate it to Adwords/PPC i.e. make the whole site on that domain name one big lead/sale generation funnel. That way, the marketing team can A/B test to their heart's content, without mucking up the navigation/usability of the main site for regular visitors.

 

[tifosi]

More web development work, especially small business sites & ecommerce.

 

[fish]

To those just starting out with a web presence it will mostly be down to (trusted) advice they get from their designer/tech/host person. The extension recommend will be what they will use be it .uk .com .anythingelsethatfloatstheirboat

With those who already have established online presence I think most of the SMB will continue with what they are using.

For the larger company many will take the lead from their competitors or indeed be the trend setters themselves.

At the end of the day it's like having two cars in the garage, you'll have your favourite but use the one most that is demonstrably reliable and continues to work well for mission critical tasks.

 

[tifosi]

Sorry if it's already been asked and answered elsewhere but do we know if Google (and other search engines) see co.uk, org.uk etc.. or if it just see's the .uk.

Interesting question to put to Matt Cutts.

 

[Stephen]

not used separately

I think we'll start to see companies taking advantage of having 2 "attractive" web addresses, especially if they're spending heavily on Adwords and the web addresses in question are relevant generics.

At the moment, they may well have to compromise on the index page of their site, because it has to serve both organic and paid search visitors.

But they could take one or other of the .co.uk/.uk names and dedicate it to Adwords/PPC i.e. make the whole site on that domain name one big lead/sale generation funnel. That way, the marketing team can A/B test to their heart's content, without mucking up the navigation/usability of the main site for regular visitors.

I know you want to keep this optimistic but I disagree, that if you own both domains you will not want dilute 'brand' and traffic by using both .uk and .co.uk domains separately as 2 websites.
One will be chosen as main and the other a 301 redirect.

You can already use different pages and sub domains for experimenting, different devices, tracking ppc and marketing efforts under the same domain and adjust 'no follow' and robot instructions.

I can see 2 different owners doing different websites with .co.uk and .uk version but only time will tell if that is a common or rare occurrence.

But what might happen as .uk domain is shorter is new use of sub-domains for targeted purposes e.g. app.product.uk for app access or downloads?

 

[DarrenTSO]

Sorry if it's already been asked and answered elsewhere but do we know if Google (and other search engines) see co.uk, org.uk etc.. or if it just see's the .uk.

Pretty sure google sees the whole extension, hence why .me.uk doesn't rank as well as .co.uk.

 

[websaway]

The most positive thing that can now happen is that people understand domains can be a huge asset. If this is realised then people will invest more in domains and promote the .uk extension.
What is overlooked by many is that a domain name has an asset value to a business, not least if that business is sold, unfortunately most business owners look at the cost of a domain name and overlook the value.

 

[Murray]

Sorry if it's already been asked and answered elsewhere but do we know if Google (and other search engines) see co.uk, org.uk etc.. or if it just see's the .uk.

It might be a slight factor, but if it is I'm sure it's almost negligible and will be trumped by one good link.

Pretty sure google sees the whole extension, hence why .me.uk doesn't rank as well as .co.uk

You wouldn't expect anyone serious to build a site on me.uk though.

 

[Skinner]

If businesses can't get the .co.uk and they want a *.uk, they wouldn't know better. Have you seen some of the abomination names out there ?

I was behind a van the other day it was something like "The Cheshire Fine Antiques, Preservation and Restoration Company" and the domain name was tcfaprc.co.uk, I was like WTF.

Behind a big ass ford pick up truck, and in pink script writing was a domain name, which I couldn't even read despite being less than 2 meters away.

You could argue the same over hyphens also when it comes to leakage, or the people who register the .co.uk when the .com is available.

The only .me.uk that comes to mind as being top of google is Grand-national.me.uk, always remember it being right up there. Dunno if it still is.

You wouldn't expect anyone serious to build a site on me.uk though.