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Our UK website is hosted in the States, our target audience is UK, yesterday someone told us we might have a problem with google searches from the uk as our site would be listed as "american".
This has given us cause for concern, what can we do?
We own the co.uk to our website.
Thanks.
If you're specifically targeting the UK, then I'd suggest using the .co.uk domain you own, if you''re not already doing this, as from my experience SE's give far more weight to country-specific domains as opposed to georgraphical locations of web server (although this is still a factor)
Only you can decide whether it;s worth using a UK-based web server instead, but put it this way - I have a site aimed specifically at the UK market, and I'm using a .com, and the site is hosted in the UK; I'm receiving lots of relevant hits to it, using google.co.uk for very competitive keywords.
Hope this helps
James
Where does your site come up on UK-based searches right now?
Winners Respond. Losers React.
Singapore Web Designer
Hey Jimbo, thanks for your time, how do I find out that information?
redhillccwebmas, thanks for your time too, when people type myurl.co.uk it still goes to .com site.
It doesn't really matter about what URL your demographic type in to get to your site; it depends what domain you're actively using and promoting. Which one of the domains is indexed by Google and other SE's?
If you are looking for UK traffic and targetting myurl.co.uk as your main site, then you must opt for server in UK which will be better for you in terms of rankings. Also your .com site will rank well if the server is in UK but you need to decide which site you want to target .com or .co.uk.
there would be no problem if you host in US or UK,Originally Posted by 187skillz
Google only sees the content and PR of a website while deciding the rank of the website!
No it doesn't - it does take into account the geographical location of the website (IP address)
It's as simple as searching google.co.uk for your search terms. Also, use your analytics tools (I would recommend Google Analytics if you're not using one now) to see which percentage of your visitors come from Google.
Yups...agree with redchilli...it certainly does play some part in it.
Winners Respond. Losers React.
Singapore Web Designer
How many years have you worked as a Google algorithm programmer? Why are you so sure? Could you please provide evidence to support your claim?Google only sees the content and PR of a website while deciding the rank of the website!
Brandon
Right, there's a lot of crap posted here. If your indexed website is the .co.uk then you do NOT need to be hosted in the UK. If your indexed site is the .com then you must be hosted in the UK for a UK search.
Basically you either need a .co.uk domain or a UK located host to rank for a UK search. You do NOT need both.
What makes u so sure of your assumptions?
It's my job.
So Jake- you actually work at Google as an algorithm programmer then?
Check these posts out:-
http://www.webmasterworld.com/google/3240958.htm
http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showthread.php?t=9938
http://www.searchengineforums.com/ap...forum::google/
http://www.comauth.co.nz/the-seo-guys-blog/2006/10/
Check my post out, right here. Feel free to disregard what I've said. Up to you. But like I said, it's what I do.
Sorry, just want to clarify what you do - do you actually work for Google as an algorithm programmer or do you work as an SEO guy for a company? And which post of yours do you recommend me checking out; it's not that clear to which one you're referring to.
Cheers
James
This post.
As you are no doubt aware Google programmers do not post algorithm details on public forums. All information about how rankings work is derived from experience and experimentation.
Ignore me if you like, but don't spread false information to newbies.
You either need a UK hosted site OR a .co.uk TLD to rank for a UK search, you do not need both.
Well thanks for clarifying that with me then. If you don't mind, I'm going to go with what the majority of what my research (some from SEO experts) around the net says. And I don't think I am spreading false information to newbies; I am simply stating what I believe to be the case and pointing out relevant, established websites that say the same thing - my opinion has been made from hours of researching in this veery subject.
Thanks for your time
You obviously haven't researched it that much then, just do any search for any term on google.co.uk, chooses 'pages from the UK' and see how many of the top 10 are hosted outside the UK.
SEO isn't rocket science, it's common sense.
http://www.google.co.uk/search?num=1...UK%7CcountryGB
...for example, the site 'Cards by Carly' is hosted in the USA.
Hmmm, I've just read through your posts again for this thread, and I think you're agreeing with me on what I said before you entered the discussion - that the geographical location of where the site is hosted does play a factor.
Thats all that I was trying to reiterate to people
Almost, what I have said quite clearly and repeatedly is that geographical location is not important if you have a country specific TLD.
Many of my sites for example are hosted with 1and1 Internet, who have their servers physically located in Germany. Yet my .co.uk domains all rank for 'Pages from the UK' searches because they are .co.uk domains.
Once again, you either need a UK located server OR a .co.uk to rank for a UK search, you do NOT need both. So if your site is hosted in the USA, but it's a .co.uk TLD you WILL rank for a 'pages from the UK' search.
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