Ultimate extension for UK

[techtimmy]

With my yearly OTE looking like its going to be over £300 for the few domains i own I thought it's time to invest in myself a bit.

I have my list of domain names i'm interested in and what extensions are available. So, I sat down last night to purchase some and was overcome with nerves. Couldn't buy a single one.

Problem is, after buying some crappy names when i first started, i don't want to buy any more crappy ones. I want them to be perfect, but not everthing is available in .co.uk. I have to consider different extensions and even hyphens.

I though this might make a good thread. So, based on say 'Board Games' (just a random idea) can you list what you consider to be your top 5or10 ultimate extensions for a UK site IF all extensions were available?

eg... (and i'm pretty much just guessing)

1 boardgames.co.uk
2 boardgames.com
3 boardgames.org.uk
4 boardgames.org
5 board-games.co.uk
6 board-games.com
7 boardgames.net
8 boardgames.me.uk
9 board-games.org.uk
10 board-games.org

Would you consider .com's better than .co.uk's. Hyphenated - would you even go there. .nets better than .org.uk's

So may to choose from it does my head in

 

[tifosi]

1 boardgames.co.uk
2 boardgames.com
5 board-games.co.uk
6 board-games.com
7 boardgames.net
3 boardgames.org.uk

resorted and deleted the ones I woulddn't (personally) consider.

S

 

[bensd]

For me the order would be:

boardgames.co.uk
boardgames.com
board-games.co.uk / boardgames.org.uk
board-games,com
boardgames.net
board-games.net
board-games.org / boardgames.me.uk

TBH though if i was only left with hyphenated .net / org etc i would hunt for an alternative domain

 

[techtimmy]

Keep em coming gang. I'll do a results total at the end when we have some more

 

[Edwin]

I would have to go with the following:-

boardgames.com
boardgames.co.uk
boardgame.com
boardgame.co.uk
board-games.com
board-games.co.uk
boardgames.net*
boardgames.org**
board-game.net
boardgames.org.uk
board-game.org

*I would only go as far as .net or .org for exceptionally great terms
**I wouldn't personally register anything below this except if they're fantastic terms (e.g. "life insurance" or "credit card" or something like that)

Given that your example of "board games" are very "global" in scope and can easily be shipped anywhere. If it was something that was just a little more specific to the UK market, I'd reverse the .com/.co.uk in a heartbeat.

 

[nnh]

1 boardgames.com
2 boardgames.co.uk
3 boardgames.org

 

[newguy]

I'm surprised that some put the .co.uk above .com

 

[Edwin]

I'm surprised that some put the .co.uk above .com

If you're targeting the UK market, that's a logical choice. Easier to SEO, and more trustworthy (seen as more "local" by UK users).

 

[newguy]

Yes, I hadn't thought of the user perception of a local extension. Now that you say it, I recall an article posted here a little while back, saying that most uk visitors prefer the .co.uk extension. As for SEO, a .com extension shouldn't really be a drawback in my opinion, as long as you convince google that your site is aimed at a UK market (UK hosted, set to UK in google webmaster tools etc). Admittedly, with a .co.uk domain that process is more straightforward too.