7 replies to this topic

[T.N]

Hello,

is there any good for using a domain like: .uk.com ?

I've a client that doesn't locate on UK but his website targets mainly UK.

Is it good to use a .UK.COM domain? or rather use a domain like: MyDomainUK.com ??


Thanks in advance..

[torka]

If his website targets the UK, then a UK-based domain would probably be preferable, IMO. That way, the search engines have a better idea that he's targeting that region.

You may also want to read this pinned form thread: How do engines know which country a site is from? and take a look at some of the other threads in our International Search Marketing Issues section.

--Torka

[piskie]

I would say first choice is domain.co.uk as I have never rated domain.uk.com very much.
Also, uk.com is very expensive, about 8 or 10 times the price of a .co.uk

Client eligibility and location for a .co.uk will most probably not be a problem.
Try to register one and see how you go.

I have had .co.uk sites hosted in the USA and they perform well in Google and other SEs. IMO just as well as they would if hosted in the UK.

[chrishirst]

It doesn't seem to have held back Avon UK

[piskie]

Avon UK is a very long established business even pre-dating the Internet.
Extremely well established with ooooodles of incoming links. So no I wouldn't expect it to be held back even though it is hosted in the UK.
However .co.uk remains my first choice for a UK targeted site and it makes sense just on price alone.

[T.N]

Thank you all.

So, we all agree that Domain.co.uk is the first choice. So, what is the second and the third?

Domain.uk.com

OR

DomainUK.com

Thanks in advance..

[chrishirst]

Avon UK is a very long established business even pre-dating the Internet.
Extremely well established with ooooodles of incoming links. So no I wouldn't expect it to be held back even though it is hosted in the UK.

All true and absolutely FAR MORE relevant than caring about what variation of a host name may or may not have some influence over what person 'A' may get in their version on "rankings" than person 'B' will.

BUT as this discussion is about the minutae of ranking and as the ubiquitous Mr. Cutts has said, the location that the IP maps to is now more important than the localised TLD.





Which has always seemed a little ODD to me because the server IP will resolve to the location of the IP "owner" and NOT necessarily the country the server is actually located in.

1plus1 for example, have servers in several countries but all their IPs will say Germany because that is where their headquarters are.

[piskie]

I have experience of .co.uk domains moving host in both directions between UK and USA.
In each case, I have not noticed any measurable change in either search position or visitor numbers.

However .com sites are a different matter.
Even using Googles Geo-locator is not 100% and can have inertia.
A .com hosted in the UK and targeted at UK visitors is fine in all respects, but move it to a USA host and it becomes like swimming while wearing an overcoat.

As for the original scenario, I have no finite experience of .uk.com sites but would not go that route by choice.
They are after all, a sub-domain of a .com