What Is a .uk Domain? How to Register a Domain in the UK?

A .uk domain name is the official ccTLD (country code top level domain) of the UK and has been available since 1985. As of now, there are approximately 11 million live sites that use the .uk domain name and can be registered by either companies or individuals. 

 

What does a .uk domain name represent? 

A .uk domain name signifies the digital identity of the United Kingdom. When people visit a .uk site, they will instantly recognize it as being from the UK and therefore, it will provide them with a sense of reliability, local presence and credibility. 

Having a .uk domain name for global companies looking to target the UK audience will enhance their local SEO performance and increase their visibility on the local search engine result pages. 

 

Popular .uk Domain Variations

• co.uk → This is the most commonly used for business use 
• org.uk → Charities, non-profit organizations, community initiatives 
• me.uk → Personal sites, portfolios etc. 
• net.uk / ltd.uk / plc.uk → These are variations for certain business types 

 

Why Use a .uk Domain Name? 

• Local Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Google favors .uk domains for search queries in the UK. 
• Trust/Credibility: Having a .uk based domain name adds a high degree of credibility to your business. 
• World Wide Accessibility: With the vast majority of the world speaking English, .uk domain names will attract traffic from across the globe. 
• Easy to Remember: .uk domain names are easy to remember and short making them ideal for branding purposes. 

 

How Do I Get a .uk Domain Name? 

It is simple and fast to register a UK domain name. There are many global registrars you can register through but Nominet UK is the main registrar for UK domains. 

Steps to Register a .uk Domain Name: 

1. Check if the domain name you want is available. 
2. Use a reliable registrar that is either ICANN accredited or Nominet accredited. 
3. Select how long you want the domain name to be registered for. Typically between 1-10 years. 
4. In some instances, you may need to verify the domain name registration process with your UK address or have a representative in the UK. 

 

Who Should Use a .uk Domain Name? 

• Businesses/Organization based in the UK 
• Companies/organizations that are planning to expand into the UK 
• Bloggers/eCommerce sellers targeting the UK audience 
• NGO's, Agencies, Associations 
• Individuals that are creating a personal site/portfolio 

Getting a .uk domain name is an important part of establishing credibility and visibility in the UK marketplace. Whether you are a small UK business owner or a large international corporation, a .uk domain name will give you credibility and SEO advantages in the UK marketplace.