What is the real difference between .co.uk / .com / .org etc

#1 LuluG

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Posted 13 December 2011 - 08:00 PM

I am putting together a small, static website for a creative group I am involved with as a showcase for our work, and to interest new members. I hope to test the site live in the new year and have been reading up about domain names. I understand what all the top and second level domain names means such as .com and .org.uk.

However, I don't really understand the real benefits or disbenefits of going for one over another, ie .co.uk as opposed to .org or .org.uk etc. The most obvious difference I can see is that .co.uk is cheaper than .org and .com. I have checked other, similar groups across the country and they all have different top and second level domain names so that didn't help.

Can anyone help me out here?

Many thanks.

#2 Renaissance-Design

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Posted 13 December 2011 - 08:11 PM

.org is generally for non-profits and charitable enterprises. If you're UK-based you should be looking at a .uk TLD whether it's .co.uk or .org.uk. If you're global, go for .com or .org.

#3 LuluG

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Posted 13 December 2011 - 08:17 PM

Renaissance-Design, on 13 December 2011 - 08:11 PM, said:

.org is generally for non-profits and charitable enterprises. If you're UK-based you should be looking at a .uk TLD whether it's .co.uk or .org.uk. If you're global, go for .com or .org.

Hi, and thanks for getting back to me. We are definitely UK based. What are the benefits of going with a .uk TLD?

#4 Renaissance-Design

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Posted 13 December 2011 - 08:20 PM

It's a signal to Google that you're UK-based, so (in combination with hosting in the UK) it'll give you a boost in google.co.uk-based searches.

#5 LuluG

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Posted 13 December 2011 - 08:53 PM

Thanks again! I'll go for a .uk TLD We are probably somewhere between non profit and commercial. Is there by any benefit in going for .org.uk over .co.uk?

#6 WBC

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Posted 13 December 2011 - 09:43 PM

For that one think about your target audience, in most cases they will be more familiar with .co.uk, if you go with .org.uk and another business takes the .co.uk they could potentially steal your custom.

#7 LuluG

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Posted 13 December 2011 - 10:00 PM

Thanks. We don't really sell much, except at exhibitions. The site is more to showcase our work and draw new members. That said, I think .co.uk is more well known. Does it affect the order of search results at all?