Domain extensions

[Jase]

How important is a domain extension? I am registering some new sites but cant get the .com and co.uk for all the domains - on most I can only get one but not the other.

Does the extension make any real difference especially when it comes to search engines? Am I at a real disadvantage by only having the .uk domain for a "global" site?

Jase

[JP]

How important is a domain extension? I am registering some new sites but cant get the .com and co.uk for all the domains - on most I can only get one but not the other.

Does the extension make any real difference especially when it comes to search engines? Am I at a real disadvantage by only having the .uk domain for a "global" site?

Jase
What type of sites? Paysites I'd want to have all main extensions & variations ... free sites, tgp's etc dont matter so much imo ...

Google uses your domains IP addy to determine country of 'origin' ... msn uses the domains extension as far as i'm aware...

[Jase]

JP its for my review site - I have registered a few good .co.uk but in each case the .com is gone so now what Im thinking is to look for something generic to use where I can get all the main extensions and then use the .uk domains to drive traffic to the main site.

So in the case of Google a .uk domain makes no real difference as my hosting will be US based and therefore so will the IP and as far as Google is concerned its a US site?

Jase

[JP]

So in the case of Google a .uk domain makes no real difference as my hosting will be US based and therefore so will the IP and as far as Google is concerned its a US site?

Jase
Unfortunately, yeah .... my .co.uk's used to do well for uk specific searches in G ... but now google identifies them as being Canadian, as thats where my server is :-/

As it goes tho I wouldnt put half as much effort into finding a domain for SE purposes as I used to ... Having a generic'ish main domain and a bunch of feeder domains sounds like a good enough plan to me :)

[Jase]

Thanks JP - now to find a domain with all the extentions available that Im happy with.....

[dvtimes]

I think most people type .com or .co.uk as a habit now.

I think if you have a .net, then people may type .com by accident.

[-HF]

Google uses your domains IP addy to determine country of 'origin' ... msn uses the domains extension as far as i'm aware...
that'd be a clever move of them. as we all know .com is for communist block.

[matt]

I'd always try to get the .com, though for a UK site go for a .co.uk as it performs just as well in google.com as a .com domain and it'll get a boost in the local .co.uk SERPS.

[dvtimes]

I'd always try to get the .com, though for a UK site go for a .co.uk as it performs just as well in google.com as a .com domain and it'll get a boost in the local .co.uk SERPS.

If you go for a .co.uk try to also get the .com

My cousin just started a business, though she is not interested in the net, I got the.co.uk (the .com has been taken) just in case she ever wants a site.

[Rosie]

.co.uk's are a pain the arse. Used a registrar for years with some of my co.uk's and they went out of business so administration reverted to Nominet who want a trillion pounds and your birth certificate written out in virgin's blood before they'll even let you update DNS