Should UK businesses operate their Web sites from a .com or .co.uk domain?

I often get asked this question, so here’s an answer:

Although .com officially means global ‘commercial’, many UK users perceive .com to mean US/American or more specifically, NOT domestic/UK.

This becomes an issue when users are scanning through lists of Web addresses or search results – .coms can be dismissed immediately if users are looking for a home-based business. In this respect, .co.uk has a more comfortable and trustworthy feel to it.

So, for a genuinely global business, .com is the boss, although localised domains should still be used.

For predominently UK-oriented businesses, .co.uk is the most appropriate choice and can actually enhance your credibility on-line.