.co.uk domains are the gold standard for UK businesses. .uk is growing but .co.uk still commands more trust. Check both before settling on alternatives.
Why .co.uk Matters
72% of UK consumers trust .co.uk more than .com for local businesses. It signals "we're here, we're local, we understand UK regulations."
The Trust Factor
How to Check Availability
Use Trademark Lens to check .co.uk, .uk, .com, and 12 other extensions simultaneously. See what's available in 30 seconds.
If Your Domain is Taken
Don't panic. Here are proven strategies ranked by effectiveness:
Strategy 1: Add Location
MyCompanyLondon.co.uk or MyCompanyUK.co.uk. Works if you're region-specific anyway.
Strategy 2: Use "Get" or "Try"
GetMyCompany.co.uk. Implies action. Works for services and apps.
Strategy 3: Different Word Order
"Blue Ocean Consulting" taken? Try "Ocean Blue Consulting" or "Consulting Blue Ocean."
Strategy 4: Slight Variation
Add "HQ," "Official," or industry term. CarRepairHQ.co.uk, OfficialCarRepair.co.uk.
Avoid: Hyphens (blue-ocean.co.uk), numbers (blue2ocean.co.uk), or misspellings (blu-ocean.co.uk). All hurt SEO and customer memory.
Should You Buy .com Too?
Yes if affordable. Prevents confusion and protects brand. But prioritize .co.uk for UK-focused businesses.
New Extensions (.io, .ai, .tech)
Work for tech startups but confuse mainstream customers. .co.uk + .com beats exotic extension 9 times out of 10.
When New Extensions Work
If your brand already includes the extension (Fitness.io for fitness app, Design.studio for creative agency). Otherwise stick with .co.uk.