.uk vs .com domains

I quite often get asked which type of domain name to register, .uk or .com mainly, and I bring up all the usual considerations that folk should think about before deciding on what, at the end of the day, could be a very important asset to them, bearing in mind I'm talking about UK businesses now... Factors like:

• What are your geographic markets?
• Do you particularly want to be seen as a british company?
• If your market is local a country specific domain name will indicate to your customers you are from the same country - although for example there are non-UK companies that buy .uk domains. There's always an exception isn't there?
• A .com is slightly shorter to type
• Although your main market is local you may want to trade internationally, and therefore to "future proof" you may want to go for a .com domain.
• Would some potential customers think you're bigger if you have a .com domain?

But today I got to thinking about some of the more obscure reasons that don't often get considered by folk, or the 'experts' don't feel are worth mentioning, or haven't even considered themselves. So, before making that "difficult to go back on" decision, let's look at some not so obvious stuff... Nominet, the only registrar for .uk domains, was founded in 1996 as a not-for-profit organisation. Although you can buy .uk domains direct from Nominet they will set you back £80.00 + VAT. Therefore, the way 98% of companies in the UK buy a .uk domain is through a domain name registration agent - Nominet charges those domain name registration agents £5.00 + VAT per two years. Many Web designers will use their hosting service provider as the domain registration agent - but I digress. Now we come to the nitty-gritty. There are two main factors to consider when registering a .uk domain (.co.uk, .org.uk, .ltd.uk and .plc.uk - forget about .me.uk - it's personal). One, the nominet system of transferring control of a your domain is by means of an IPS tag (aka IPSTag). Who ever's IPSTag it is manages your domain; this is important. So, other things being equal, it is quite easy, with the co-operation of the parties involved, to transfer the IPSTag for your domain elsewhere. But if your Web designer or his/her hosting service provider controls it, then make sure you haven't fallen out with them. But assuming everything is OK and the IPSTag change does go through, the name servers can then be changed and you're up and running with a new hosting service provider. Now, with .com domains it's different, but trust me - if you're going to be transferring a domain the Nominet system is much less complicated. Now with .com domains because there are literally hundreds of ICANN approved domain registrars whose procedures can vary, the situation can end up being a real nightmare and the transfer can become protracted; this usually means the owner of the dommain name can get very frustrated at the delays. I have some real horror stories about .com transfers, which will be the subject of future blog entries. But it seems that the usual problems arise because the "losing registrar" is somewhat inefficient when it comes to transferring domains away to another registrar. Again, the solution is to manage the domain name independently of the hosting service provider so that the domain does not have to be transferred to another registrar: A point most Web designers and hosting service providers almost certainly don't want their customers to know! However, if the domain name is independently managed all that needs to happen is to point the name servers to the new hosting service provider. So, when it comes to transferring domains that aren't independently managed then all other things being equal it's simpler with a .uk domain as opposed to a .com. Of course, managing a domain independently like we do means none of the above problems arise! The other major factor is what happens if the domain name isn't registered in the correct name in the first place, or circumstances change such as a company goes into liquidation or changes its name. With .uk domains you're going to have to jump through Nominet's hoops to prove that a change in the name of the legal registrant is bona fide and legitimate. For example, if a company changes its name then you'll need to fax a copy of the companies house "Change of Name" certificate and an accompanying letter (on letterhead paper), signed by a director or the company secretary confirming the change of name. Also, depending on differing circumstaces there may be fees to pay. However, if you have a .com (or other gTLD like .net or .org) you may be able to change the name without notifying the registrar - see below. Another circumstance where the name of the legal registrant needs to be changed is because the Web designer registers the domain name in their own name; this is a deplorable practice as the Web designer becomes the legal owner of the domain. Unfortunately, it still happens. You can get the legal registrant changed in these circumstances, but only if you can prove certain things - just make sure whoever registers your domain does it in the name you give them! However, if your Web designer has registered your domain name in their name if you have an invoice from them that states part or all of the charges relate to registering your domain name then Nominet will accept this as proof of your legal ownership. If you don't have such proof you may have to instigate Nominet's Dispute Resolution Service. With a .com domain, and I can only speak regarding the registrar I use, then there is no problem changing the legal registrant's name. No permission is needed and the change can be done online. I do stress given there are hundreds of .com domain registrars out there they may not all be as accommodating as the one we use. So there we have it. I'm afraid there are pros and cons regardless of whether you choose a .uk or .com domain. But just remember, unless your domain name is managed independently, you could be in for a lot of hassle should you ever decide to move hosting service providers.