moving wordpress domains -.co.uk to .com

[joert]

Hi all, just looking for some general thoughts on this.

Say I have joesfreebets.co.uk, and joesfreebets.com, both wordpress.

Now say I have a site up on google analytics etc. and with some content on it on the joesfreebets.co.uk, and nothing on .com.

The .co.uk with the bit of content is only aged about 3 months with a few links.

I'm starting to regret not starting with the .com and using the .co.uk for links - it was a bit of a rookie mistake possibly?. My options are to just keep the .com redirecting to the .co.uk, or acknowledge my possible mistake and start moving the content over and start again with the .com, so people from around the world wont feel like theyre going to a UK-only site.

What would you do? ( sorry if ive been confusing anywhere).

Thanks

[MrDeposit]

First I have to ask whats your target market? Every visitor outside that market is only a bonus. Stay focused on your targeted market.

[joert]

Hi Kushmoney, thats a good question. I think the main target would be the UK and europe mainly, but hoping to get traffic from around the world as alot of the bookmakers work outside that target.

I just wonder if the .com would work in the UK and europe just as well as the current .co.uk does, and I also get the rest of the world in on the .com too?

[lowrisk]

If you are targeting the UK, then stick with the .co.uk domain, and use the .com for SEO purposes. However, if you are wanting to go beyond the UK, then shift all of your site to the .com domain, and 301 redirect the .co.uk to the .com.

Also, bare in mind that you can always Geo target with a .com domain, for your preferred market. Essentially meaning that your telling google, that the UK may be the main one, but you will still come up in other countries too. Whereas with .co.uk you can't geo target, as it's already set as UK by default.

[sweetbet]

Personally, I would 301 the co.uk to the .com site. Then I'd either edit the google analytics account to track the .com site, or set up a new google analytics account for the .com site. You can always geo-target any region with a .com site. However, if your main market is the UK, then I'd keep the co.uk domain and 301 the .com to it.

[michael1981]

Maybe you should develop both sites, and market them both. If you want to target the US, and the UK at the same time, you should do this. Otherwise, you should pick one geographical location, and 301 to the website you prefer.

[joert]

Hi all, thanks for coming back to me on this. Micheal - I don't think i'd be able to do separate content for both sites, it's just me on my lonesome, and i find it hard enough as it is haha

1. I want to keep targetting the UK, which i could do with the same analytics account I have for all my little sites, I just feel like people from outside the UK will be more inclined to visit seeing the .com, and UK people wont mind either way. Is there general agreement on this?

2. If I take my content from the .co.uk to the .com, will google penalise me for duplicate content do you reckon?

3. From what you guys are generally saying, i'm thinking go with the .com, get all of the info up there for sports casino etc, build links to that, and then maybe use the .co.uk as a sort of blog on new offers and keep linking to the main .com? Does This sound decent?

Thanks again everyone

[MrDeposit]

I see UK affiliates choosing to use the .co.uk and then say they wish they would have used a .com but the reason isn't for seo reasons but branding reasons. Everybody is so use to typing in .com but seriously if your site build its brand in the UK with the .co.uk domain and the rest of the world start to visit your website. Then you will have a solid brand regardless of which domain you use.

Ask yourself do you want a brand with .co.uk or .com? If you plan on having this site for years then your brand is highly important.

[universal4]

I think I would have suggested originally using bit domains, but since you stated you wanted to continue to target the UK it should be simple since you have already made the decision. use the UK domain and 301 the .com to it.

Providing you keep both names and keep the 301 in place there is no branding issue since thouse who type the .com will always be redirected.

Rick
Universal4

[joert]

Hi guys.

Universal I do want to target the UK but also attract visitors from around the globe. As Kushmoney said, it's about branding and I think the brand would look better maybe with .com

[universal4]

Sorry, I was just going by what you stated.

1. I want to keep targetting the UK,

Rick
Universal4

[joert]

No need to apologise Rick

I want to target the UK, but this is my question -

uk visitors wont mind .com, but visitors outside will prefer .com. I didnt really know much about this when I started that domain in July and I didn't know I can target the UK with .com./ I know now though!

So from what the guys have said I think i'm going to swap to .com and use the .co.uk for a blog and links

[rak]

I'd go the .com and 301 .co.uk .. but saying all that.

how much of a footprint do you already have with the .co.uk... if its a big one, do you want to risk losing all that hard work.

[joert]

Hi Rak,

its only about three months old so not too big a footprint.

ive decided to change everything over to the .com, and just leave the landing page on the .co.uk for SEO purposes, linking to the different sections

Thanks everyone for the input

[universal4]

how much of a footprint do you already have with the .co.uk... if its a big one, do you want to risk losing all that hard work.

Do NOT overlook this point...

Rick
Universal4

[PayPerHead]

I just joined this forum today and hope you find this reply in time...

There best way to do this is with a "change of address request" via Google Webmaster Tools. Here is a quick overview of the steps.
If you need more detail you can send me a message I'd be glad to help you.

Step 1: Register for Google Webmaster Tools (if you haven't done so)
Step 2: Once register you will have to verify that you own both sites. (This requires you to upload a google .html file on both sites to verify)
Step 3: After this is done select the "co.uk" site and under the Configurations tab (in the left nab) select "Change of Address"
Step 4: In the next screen there will be a drop down with you ".com" (this will not appear if you have not verified both sites), select and hit submit
Step 5: Your DONE

The great thing about this is method is google will then apply the SEO and ranking from the .co.uk to the .com (which is what you want)
As a side note you will still have to setup 301 redirects as everyone has mention because if you have any linkbacks, banners or emails out in the "wild" with your .co.uk you don't want those to break.

HOPE THIS HELPS, CHEERS

[christmaslots]

Oh yes,
That was very helpful!
Thanks a lot!

I just joined this forum today and hope you find this reply in time...

There best way to do this is with a "change of address request" via Google Webmaster Tools. Here is a quick overview of the steps.
If you need more detail you can send me a message I'd be glad to help you.

Step 1: Register for Google Webmaster Tools (if you haven't done so)
Step 2: Once register you will have to verify that you own both sites. (This requires you to upload a google .html file on both sites to verify)
Step 3: After this is done select the "co.uk" site and under the Configurations tab (in the left nab) select "Change of Address"
Step 4: In the next screen there will be a drop down with you ".com" (this will not appear if you have not verified both sites), select and hit submit
Step 5: Your DONE

The great thing about this is method is google will then apply the SEO and ranking from the .co.uk to the .com (which is what you want)
As a side note you will still have to setup 301 redirects as everyone has mention because if you have any linkbacks, banners or emails out in the "wild" with your .co.uk you don't want those to break.

HOPE THIS HELPS, CHEERS

[thebookiesoffers]

stick with the co.uk site, seriously. If you change to .com google may think you aren't targeting the UK anymore and act accordingly and even if you change the geo location target in WMT they may not be interested.

users will have the same amount of trust for a co.uk site as a .com so don't worry about that and you can still get some traffic from other places. But this is worth thinking about. Users in the uk will want something different to user in europe and users in the states will want something different from both, basically, everywhere is different so if you try and catch everyone your site will look pants. Just target uk and see who else pops along

on another point 301ing is the easiest way, but if you want to benefit from both domains why not stick a blog on the .com and link to various relevant pages on the uk site

[MrDeposit]

Also don't forget about geo-targeting your call to actions within your content. If you're using wordpress then this plugin should help you with that.

http://www.epikmedia.com/shop/epik-geoip-plugin/