Ten tips for choosing a name
- Keep it short. Fewer characters means fewer typing mistakes. Aim for under fifteen.
- Make it easy to say and spell. If you have to say "that's with a Z", pick another name.
- Avoid hyphens and numbers. They are easily forgotten or mistyped when someone says the address aloud.
- Use your brand name where you can. A name people already know is easier to remember and to search for than a string of keywords.
- Add a keyword only if it reads naturally. A descriptive name such as yourtownbikerepairs.co.uk says what you do. A stuffed keyword string does not help you rank and looks untrustworthy.
- Check trade marks. Search the UK register on GOV.UK (opens in a new tab) and see the rules on company names (opens in a new tab), so you are not building a business on a name someone else owns.
- Check social media handles. A matching handle on the platforms your customers use keeps your name consistent.
- Think ahead. A name tied to one product or town can feel limiting if the business grows.
- Look at the name written without spaces. Some names create unfortunate words when run together. Check before you print it on a van.
- Register the variations. The same name in other extensions, and the likely misspelling, can be registered and pointed at your main site.
.co.uk, .uk or .com?
Your extension (the ending of the address) tells visitors and search engines something about you. The prices below are Cloud Cabin's current first-year and renewal prices.
| Aspect | .co.uk | .uk | .com |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who it suits | UK businesses, shops and services | UK businesses that want a short address | Businesses with customers worldwide |
| Signal to visitors | A familiar, trusted UK address | A modern, clearly British address | The most recognised extension anywhere |
| Signal to search engines | Country-code domain: targets the UK | Country-code domain: targets the UK | Generic: no particular country |
| First-year price at Cloud Cabin | £12.99 | £12.99 | £15.99 |
| Renewal price at Cloud Cabin | £12.99 | £12.99 | £15.99 |
| Transfer in to Cloud Cabin | £0.00 | £0.00 | £15.99 |
Google treats .com and the other generic extensions as having no particular country, and uses a country-code domain such as .uk as a signal that a site is meant for that country (see its guidance on multi-regional sites (opens in a new tab)). The extension itself does not give a ranking advantage, so choose on trust and memorability, not on SEO myths.
A practical rule: a business serving UK customers should lead with .co.uk or .uk. A business selling worldwide, or planning to, often leads with .com and adds .co.uk for the UK market.
Variations, privacy and renewals
- Variations. Registering a second or third extension protects your name and catches mistyped addresses. Redirect them all to your main site.
- Privacy. Every domain at Cloud Cabin includes WHOIS privacy where the extension supports it, so your contact details stay out of public records.
- Locking. A registrar lock stops the domain being transferred away without your say-so. It is included.
- Auto-renew. A domain that lapses can be lost, or can cost extra to recover. Leave auto-renew on and keep a current email address on the account.
Ready to register?
Search a name across more than 20 extensions on our domain registration page. If you already own a domain elsewhere and want it with us, see the guide to transferring a .co.uk domain. Prices for every extension are in the domain price table.
Frequently asked questions
Neither is better for search rankings. .co.uk tells UK customers and search engines that you serve the UK, and .com is recognised worldwide. Many UK businesses register both.
Yes, if the matching .uk is available. Registering both protects your name and lets you point either to the same website.
As short as you can make it while keeping it clear. Under about fifteen characters is easy to type, say and remember.
Yes, but it takes care. You would move the site, redirect every old address to its new one and update your email, so choose well first.
Only slightly, if at all. A clear, trustworthy name that people remember brings more search traffic over time than a keyword string.
