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Types Of Domain Name  
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What types of name can I register?

Let's say you have your heart set on the domain "happy-holidays" , the options open to you are any (or all!) from this list:

  • happy-holidays.com
  • happy-holidays.net
  • happy-holidays.org
  • happy-holidays.biz
  • happy-holidays.info
  • happy-holidays.co.uk
  • happy-holidays.org.uk
  • happy-holidays.me.uk

Are there any rules or restrictions?

No! Although each of these domains has been set up with a particular use in mind (apart from the .com type which is general purpose), there are no qualifying rules or regulations and you are free to order any type you like.

Which one is right for me?

People sometimes seem to think that the .com name is the "best" type, but that is often a mistake. Of all the different types of domain name the .com says the least about you. It reveals nothing about where you are based or what kind of activity you're involved in. Of course some organisations and activities are truly global and wide-ranging. In those cases the .com domain type is perfect. But for all other cases the use of such a "vanilla" flavour is at best not helpful and at worst positively harmful.

A survey carried out by YouGov in April 2007 revealed that British Internet users are six times more likely to choose a .uk rather than .com address when looking for information via an Internet search engine.

  • 62% believed a .uk address suggested a company is local or more relevant than a .com
  • A third (32%) believed that it is important for international companies to have local domain names in order to attract local customers
  • When asked about searching for a particular company on the Internet, 72% said they would visit a .uk web address above any other and only 5% of respondents said they would try the .com option first.
It pays to work with the domain name system, not against it by choosing the type of domain that most accurately reflects what you do. That helps search engines and directories list your web pages accurately and it helps your web site communicate the right message to web surfers.

What the different types of domain convey

Obviously a UK domain name says something about where you are based. The three types that you can buy from us are as follows:

  • .co.uk ~ for businesses
  • .org.uk ~ non-commercial organisations
  • .me.uk ~ for personal use

The other types of domain - the "generic" types carry no information about your geographical location. If you are based in the UK they may be appropriate if your target audience is global. In addition to the non-specific '.com' type these are as follows:

  • .biz ~ for businesses
  • .info ~ sites whose primary purpose is to provide a helpful resource - whether commercial or otherwise
  • .org ~ non-commercial organisations
  • .net ~ for Internet service providers (ISP's)