.co.uk or .com: which domain is right for your business?

The short answer

If your customers are mainly in the UK, a .co.uk domain is a sound choice. It tells visitors straight away that you are a UK business, and most British people are used to seeing it. If you sell internationally or plan to, a .com may suit you better. If you can, register both and point one at the other.

The case for .co.uk

• It signals you are local. A customer in Manchester looking for a roofer may feel more comfortable with a .co.uk address than one that could be anywhere.
• Good names are often still available. Short, descriptive .com names have long been snapped up, while the same name in .co.uk may be free.
• It matches what people expect. Many UK customers will type .co.uk by habit when guessing a business's web address.

The case for .com

• It is familiar worldwide. If you sell to customers abroad, .com does not tie you to one country.
• People guess it by default. Some visitors, especially younger ones and those using phones, assume .com.
• It suits online-only businesses. If you are not tied to a place, .com reflects that.

What about .uk on its own?

Shorter .uk addresses are also available. They work perfectly well, but they are less familiar to many customers, who may add ".co" when typing. If you own the .co.uk, it is worth checking whether the matching .uk is free too, if only to stop someone else using it.

Does the ending affect Google?

Google treats country endings such as .co.uk as a signal that a site is aimed at that country. A .com can also rank perfectly well in the UK when the content, address and business details clearly point to the UK. In practice, what matters far more for local search is useful content, a properly set up website and a well-kept Google Business Profile.

Choosing the name itself

The ending matters less than the words in front of it. A good domain name is:

1. Easy to say out loud. You will read it over the phone and customers will tell their friends. If you have to spell it out every time, think again.
2. Easy to spell. Avoid unusual spellings, numbers and hyphens where you can. "Smith and Sons" written as "smithnsons" will cause confusion.
3. Short. Shorter names are easier to remember and fit better on a van.
4. Your business name, if possible. It is the most memorable option. If it is taken, adding your town or trade often works.
5. Clear of other people's trade marks. Do not use a name that copies another business or brand.

Practical tips

• Register it in your own name. Not your web designer's, not your nephew's. You must be able to control it if you change provider.
• Turn on auto-renew. A lapsed domain can take your website and email down, and someone else could register it.
• Keep the login safe. Note which company your domain is registered with and keep the account details somewhere secure.
• Consider buying common misspellings only if they are genuinely likely. You do not need dozens.
• Use the domain for email. An address at your own domain looks more professional than a free webmail address.

Already have a domain?

If you have been trading under one domain for years, think carefully before changing it. Customers, directories, vans and business cards all carry the old address. You can always register the other ending and redirect it to your main site, so both work. If you are replacing your website, you can keep your existing domain; see how moving your website works.

Using your domain with Site Shifter

With Site Shifter you keep your own domain, whether it is .co.uk, .com or anything else. The security certificate is handled automatically, so your site shows the padlock without you lifting a finger. If you are coming from another builder, our guides to switching from Wix and switching from GoDaddy explain the move step by step.

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