.co.uk – The original domain name for UK business

Frequently Asked Questions

• Can I Get Registry Lock For This Domain?

  Yes, you can lock this domain extension at the registry level for greater security. The Blacknight Registry Lock Service allows domain holders to request registry-level protection for their domain names and / or hosts. Registry Lock sets specific status codes on domain names and / or hosts, to prevent malicious or inadvertent modifications, deletions and transfers. It’s like locking your doors and windows before going to bed at night. Your domain is one of the most valuable business assets you own – protect it from fraud with Registry Lock from Blacknight. Learn more about Blacknight Registry Lock here.

• Can I transfer my domain name to Blacknight?

  Yes! The methods of transfer vary for different types of domains. Initiate your domain transfer here or view our Domain Transfer Guide for more information on the domain transfer process.

  Contact our sales team if you have any questions.

• Can I transfer my website to Blacknight?

  Yes! You can upload your websites files and database to your new hosting plan with Blacknight or, if you don’t have the time we’ll do it for you. Talk to our migration team today about moving your website.

• Do I need to host my website with Blacknight to use your domain registration services?

  No. We are more than happy to offer domain registration services only.

  Blacknight is a full-service domain registrar and hosting company, and for optimum convenience we recommend you use us as a one-stop shop! However, it is not necessary to have your domain registration and hosting with the same company.

• What are generic Top Level Domains?

  The term ‘generic Top-Level Domains’ (gTLDs) describes long-established domains such as .COM, .NET, .ORG, and .BIZ, as well as hundreds of ‘new gTLDs’ which have appeared in recent years, such as .BLOG, .IRISH, .DESIGN or .ROCKS.

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  These types of domains are called ‘generic’ to distinguish them from ‘country-code TLDs’ (ccTLDs) such as .IE or .FR.

• Why should I choose one of the new generic Top-Level Domains?

  The main benefit to choosing a new gTLD (generic Top-Level Domain) such as .BLOG, is availability. The older long-established domains like .COM have millions of registered domain names, and it can be difficult to find a memorable, meaningful name which has not already been registered by someone else. The new gTLDs have opened up hundreds of new namespaces, with new opportunities for great domain names.

  The second benefit of new gTLDs is that many of the new domain extensions are valuable keywords in their own right, and not merely a redundant suffix. A new gTLD is a more efficient. Compare BlueSuedeShoes.com with BlueSuede.shoes.

• Does Google recognise new generic Top-Level Domains?

  Yes, Google and other search engines rank new gTLDs the same way as the ‘old’ gTLDs.

• How do I pick the right generic domain extension?

  The general rule is to make sure it’s relevant to the business, service or information you’re providing. So if you’re selling shoes, something like yourcompany.shoes  would be a good start.

• Should I switch my company’s website to one of the new generic Top-Level Domains?

  The question of whether to migrate an established website to a new domain is one that requires careful consideration and planning. If your website is established and you’ve put a lot of effort in promoting your current domain name then we would not advise you to suddenly switch your website to a new domain, irrespective of the TLD. You could start by simply redirecting the new TLD to your current domain name and move to the new TLD once a proper migration plan is in place.

  Alternatively, you might choose to use a new gTLD to highlight a different aspect of your business, for example: Blacknight.blog; Blacknight.careers.