Best way to handle two domains for one site

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TimWhite

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Oct 17, 2007
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I'm setting up a website selling an assortment of goods to the UK and therefore have a co.uk domain name and a .com

My advertising will definately use the .com version but my thinking is that I should put the site on the co.uk domain and forward the traffic to the .com

Do you think this is the best approach? My belief is that as I only require UK traffic the co.uk will SEO better. I also assume customers wouldn't be put off when the .com redirects to the co.uk. Maybe this isn't the best strategy though? What are your thoughts?
 


You could certainly go that route, and just use your .com as sort of a review blog or such of the .co.uk site. That way there's nothing mysterious in the eyes of a visitor when they get transferred.
 
If you are only selling to the UK market, using the co.uk shows your customers that you are local, and gives them something to identify with. Are your competitors using .co.uk or .com? Why use the .com with your customers at all? All depends on how well perceived the .co.uk is over there, which is something I have NFI about. In the same situation here, I would only use .com.au
 
Thanks for the responses. In the UK co.uk is viewed well but people still default to .com in their thinking all too easily. I also think .com is viewed with more authority here. All our well known local sites are .com and those advertised TV for example all use .com. I guess I was thinking I could pick up a few more SEO points by putting the site on the co.uk domain instead and forwarding traffic from the .com

Most competitors own both and do it the opposite, forwarding traffic from the co.uk to .com. Lol I guess there could be a good reason for that. It all depends on the value of the co.uk for local search traffic
 
I would use the .co.uk and save the .com.

Maybe put up a one page site on the .com stating that the other site is your main site and a link to the address.

Later if you get a chance develop the .com for the USA market with a link to the GB version. And visa versa....
 
Definitely CO.UK since you are targeting customers from UK...Google display ads based on geographical location.
 
but in some way it gives problem, like one will give complete business satisfaction while other will irritate
 
I think your idea to build the site on the co.uk is correct if your market is all British. I don't know how competitive your niche is but the country specific tld should help you in google.co.uk

301 the dotcom to your co.uk, that way all the people who are trying to get to your store actually get there.
 
Thanks for all the responses. lol it's an odd conundrem but I think I'll initially place the site on the co.uk for SEO purposes and 301 the dot com.
 
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