.co.uk Domain Names

There are now a large number of Top Level Domains (TLDs) that can be registered for creating a website. A large majority of the current TLDs are country specific, being administered by the host country ostensibly to manage their own citizen’s needs for domain names.

Two such Top Level Domains are administered by the United Kingdom for UK companies, and those wishing to set up UK websites. The most common TLD in the UK is the .co.uk domain name. This is also the least restrictive of the domain extensions. Practically anyone can register a .co.uk domain simply by searching for open availability and registering a .co.uk domain with a certified registrar. The registry which oversees the .co.uk domain extension is Nominet. You can view the entire list of registered Nominet registrants here: http://www.nominet.org.uk/registrars/becomeregistrar/taglist.

According to their website, Nominet has a total of 115 members of staff, including six members of the senior management team plus two executive directors. Annual top line revenue (also known as turnover in the UK) is £18 million – this approximates to just over $30,000,000 at today’s exchange rates. The company describes itself as follows on the Nominet website, “Nominet operates at the heart of e-commerce in the UK, running one of the world’s largest Internet registries with over seven million domain names. With highly respected industry credentials, we are entrusted with the management of the .uk registry.”

So why bother registering a .co.uk domain name? Is it just for United Kingdom companies? Often companies that conduct business online in English find that a transition to expanding business into Europe can most easily adapt to the English speaking market in the UK. This can mean developing a local online presence in the UK – which means creating a website at the Internet address: www.yourcompany.co.uk. As was mentioned earlier, anyone can obtain a .co.uk domain name provided that they go through a Nominet registrant.

One such certified Nominet registrar is .co.uk domain registrar – 34SP.com. Based in Manchester, United Kingdom the company does a brisk business in .co.uk domains. Co-founder Daniel Foster explained why the .co.uk domain extension was so important in the UK, “The .co.uk Top Level Domain identifies your website as being specifically created for the UK marketplace. It gives UK residents confidence that you understand the UK market and will be responsive to the needs of UK buyers. If you are serious about conducting online business in the UK, the .co.uk domain extension is a must for your website.”

Another reason often cited for registering your brand’s domain name in other TLD’s – in this case .co.uk – is to prevent cyber squatting or brand confusion. Cyber squatting is when someone other than a designated representative of your company registers a TLD with your exact domain name. Often the cyber squatter will attempt to sell the domain name back to you at a highly inflated price. By registering your domain name in as many popular TLDs as possible, you reduce the likelihood of cyber squatting.

Check out the registrar list above if you would like to register your brand in the .co.uk domain extension. Good luck with your UK website!