There are now more than 1,000 suffixes that can appear after the final dot in your web address, from .ac to .zone.
But luckily for anyone with the attention span of a mere mortal, we will just focus on just two of them. Those all-time classics: .com and .co.uk.
For most British businesses and webmasters outside of the non-profit sector, one of these two suffixes – or top-level domains (TLDs) – is likely the most logical choice for bookending a web address. But which one should you choose? Well, the answer mainly depends on what type of business you run and where your customers are based.
What’s the difference between .com and .co.uk?
The difference mainly comes down to geography, in the sense that a .com suffix flags up a website as being either based in the US or operating as a global player. Most American companies use .com as their TLD, as the local .us extension has never really taken off across the pond, while firms that trade internationally choose it for obvious reasons.
A .co.uk top-level domain, meanwhile, signposts your business as being based in the UK, or at least lets the internet know that it trades there exclusively.
At this point, we need to throw in a quick disclaimer as these rules are not absolute. Some big-name UK firms – lastminute.com, for example – have found success while turning their nose up to a .co.uk. But make no mistake, they’re as British as the Last Night of the Proms.
What about the .uk domain?
In 2014, a curveball was thrown into the world of domain names, and it landed firmly in UK territory. Domain registry Nominet added the .uk suffix to the mix in June of that year, though its introduction didn’t complicate the .com vs .co.uk debate too much.
The .uk top-level domain was brought in as an alternative to .co.uk, and is often chosen purely because it can make a web address look punchier. There’s no real difference between the newer .uk domain and the tried-and-tested .co.uk, aside from that.
That said, some businesses go with .co.uk simply because it’s more established and therefore more widely recognised. It’s possible to own both TLDs for an otherwise identical web address, and snapping up the two variations isn’t uncommon.
Should I use a .com or .co.uk for my website?
There’s a lot to think about when weighing up the choice between a .com or a .co.uk. Picking the wrong top-level domain could seriously harm your company or website’s chances of success, especially if you’re a small business or a start-up.
If you’re based in Britain and only targeting customers and traffic from this side of the Atlantic, a web address ending in .uk can help you build trust with your target audience. Don’t just take our word for it. Research from Nominet has found that a whopping 93% of British internet users prefer to frequent websites with a .uk suffix.
The internet’s heaviest hitters are well aware of this. Why do you think US-based Amazon and Microsoft have snapped up .uk domains, in addition to their .com sites?
As well as the strong customer preference for .uk TLDs in this country, choosing one over a .com can save you money. This is because a .com web address is nearly always more expensive than its .co.uk equivalent.
Sure, the cost-saving and trust-building benefits of .uk domain names are well documented, but there are circumstances where .com is absolutely the way to go. If your business is targeting an international customer base, keep in mind that people in other countries might be put off by a .co.uk domain, automatically assuming your firm only does business in Britain.
As we’ve already touched on, having to shell out for a .com instead of a UK-based address can put strain on the old business bank account, but for companies with the potential to reach customers around the globe, this could be seen as a no-brainer investment.
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